Padesky and Mooney have developed a model which is based on the premise that if we understand our strategies for managing obstacles in our daily life, then we can also apply these strategies in situations that are more difficult.
The model has four steps:
1. Search: Think of a daily activity such as cooking. Now consider what you do when you encounter an obstacle, eg you realise you have run out of one of the ingredients for the dish. What strategies do you apply to address the obstacle? E.g. you may ring your friendly neighbour's bell and ask if they have the ingredient. Or you may decide to make the dish without the ingredient.
2. Construct: Look at the specific strategies that you have employed in Step 1 and see whether you can generalise them. E.g. Asking your neighbour for the ingredient can be generalised as 'Ask for Help'. Making the dish without the ingredient could be generalised as 'Be flexible' or 'Making do'.
3. Apply: Identify an area in your life which requires more resilience. Look at the list of strategies that you have noted down in Step 2 and plan how you might use them. The focus at this stage is on building resilience not to problem solve.
4. Practice: Now it's time to put your strategies into action. Consider a situation that is challenging for you. Make a prediction as to how challenging the situation will be. Now try out your new strategies and re-evaluate the challenges.
Padesky, C. A., & Mooney, K. A. (2012). Strengths‐based cognitive–behavioural therapy: A four‐step model to build resilience.
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 19(4), 283–290.
https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1795For more information about how to improve your relationships,
click here to visit our website.