Cognitive Life Skills

• The acid test for any counseling program is to what extent, if any, it can have an effect on resistant offenders.
• Resistant people are self deceived; that is, they are in denial, always blaming others when they are the real problem.
• The problem with self deception is the person doesn’t “think” he/she is the problem. They think everyone else must be wrong. They can’t see that the biggest problem they have is themselves.
• People who are self deceived instill in others the very behavior they dislike and then in point to that behavior to justify their treatment of that person.
• Self deceived people are angry, contentious, demeaning, selfish, calculating, and arrogant. They objectify, control, marginalize, and physically and physically and /or emotionally abuse others.
• Self deception can reach such a level in a person’s life that they lose empathy and turn people into objects who can be abused without guilt or mercy. Thus, for example, men can beat their partners or molest toddlers without remorse.
• The vast majority of criminals appearing before judges are self deceived, but don’t know it. This is especially true of drug  and alcohol abusers who will say to the judge, “ I want to quit.” but the truth is really don’t want to quit, they are only lying to themselves.
• Self deception is extremely difficult to overcome without intervention such as cognitive restructuring. Not just any cognitive restructuring will do, it has to go to a level where people are willing to change.
• Cognitive restructuring is tailor-made to combat self deception.
• Stepping outside the “box” of self deception empowers offender to move their lives forward. They are no longer deaf and blind to their condition, but have new cognitive skills that will help them make better decisions.

                                                 By Larry Lloyd, Lifeskills Counselor            See www.accilifeskills.com