Over the past several decades, treatment approaches for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have significantly advanced, evolving from behaviorally focused interventions, such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), to cognitive approaches like appraisal-based CBT (A-CBT). However, both approaches primarily conceptualize OCD from the perspective of a phobic model of development, failing to address the reasoning distortions and inferential errors that lie at the core of obsessional doubt.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) offers a paradigm shift in understanding and treating OCD. Rather than focusing on fear or appraisals, I-CBT conceptualizes OCD as a disorder of reasoning, driven by “inferential confusion,” where imagined possibilities are mistaken for reality. This presentation will provide an introduction to the core principles of I-CBT, starting with an overview of traditional CBT models, highlighting their contributions and limitations in addressing OCD, before offering a bird’s-eye view of I-CBT’s framework.
Unlike traditional approaches, I-CBT targets upstream reasoning and imaginative processes, helping clients disengage from obsessional narratives and distinguish imagined fears from reality-based judgments. This reasoning-first approach enables clients to view obsessions as irrelevant, shifting the focus from confronting fears or tolerating distress to correcting faulty inferences.
The practical application of these principles, as they translate into treatment interventions, will be briefly illustrated, showcasing how I-CBT addresses the distorted reasoning processes underlying OCD. The presentation will also offer a concise summary of the clinical trials supporting I-CBT, emphasizing its effectiveness in tackling OCD at its cognitive roots. Attendees will leave with a foundational understanding of I-CBT’s principles, including:
- Reframing Obsessions as False Inferences: Recognizing obsessional doubt as a product of reasoning distortions rather than uncontrollable thoughts or fears.
- Identifying and Restructuring Obsessional Narratives: Understanding how obsessional doubts are upheld by flawed reasoning and creating balanced, reality-based narratives.
- Distinguishing Reality from Imagination: Addressing inferential confusion to separate hypothetical possibilities from real-world probabilities.
- Disarming the Feared Possible Self: Recognizing the feared self as a fictional construct of OCD and detaching it from one’s true identity.
Aiming for Resolution: Moving beyond tolerating obsessional doubt to fully eliminating the cognitive distortions sustaining it.
Through this exploration, participants will leave with a clearer understanding of I-CBT as a compassionate and innovative model for treating OCD.
📋 Event Details
📅 Date: February — 1:00 to 2:00 PM ET
🏢 Hosted by: Florida CBT Association
💰 Cost: Complimentary for Florida CBT members | $15 for non-members
📧 RSVP: intake@cbtdbtassocs.com
