About "Reframing"

     Human choices and behaviors are rooted in personal beliefs. Often, "reality" and related beliefs can be interpreted or "framed" in opposing  ways, depending on the context and other factors. For example, "abor-tion" can be framed as "a mortal sin and an immoral, selfish act of mur-dering a defenseless infant," or "a heart-wrenching, compassionate decision to spare a vulnerable child the life-long horror of growing up unwanted and wholistically neglected and wounded."

      The first view promotes significant personal and social shame, guilt, condemnation, disgust, conflict, and rage. The latter view can promote acceptance, forgiveness, healthy grief, and acceptance of painful real-ities.

        Professional counselors, therapists, and supervisors can promote positive clinical outcomes by (a) objectively learning clients' key beliefs about their presenting problems, and (b) strategically suggesting and modeling appropriate different views ("reframings)" to increase clients' awareness and options, and free them from toxic perceptions and be-liefs. Two factors affecting reframing effectiveness are (a) whether clini-cians are guided by their true Self, and (b) the clinician's own core atti-tudes, beliefs, values, and flexibility.

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