Helping our patients with the should and must thinking

In Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT, we sometimes refer to the “should and must thinking” and how it may create problems and excessive stress.

However, “should and must thinking” doesn’t mean bad or “an error” in thinking per se.

It helps us with motivation, focus, and pushes us towards taking action.

The problem is only when we apply it to “unhelpful things”, or things that we cannot change or influence.