COGNITIVE

BEHAVIOURAL
THERAPY

PRACTITIONER
CERTIFICATION

 THE LAZARUS
TECHNIQUE
 THE LAZARUS TECHNIQUE

The Lazarus Technique is a focusing technique that was put together by

Professor Arnold A. Lazarus, a pioneering figure within CBT. This technique
offers a very effective way of getting to the root of a person's problem.  

Consider the last time you dealt with an irate employee, staff member, family
member, or spouse. When someone is fully immersed in their problem, they're
stuck in their own perspective. They're unwilling at that moment to consider
anyone else's perspective other than their own. When you're faced with a situation
like this and the person with the problem is in a high energy state, this technique
can help to bring focus.  

The Lazarus Technique involves asking the individual to use just one word to
define their problem. This then provokes them to simplify their problem which then
allows you to use further questioning techniques to better understand and get to
the root of their problem.

EXERCISE:

Why not try out this technique the next time you're in a conversation with
someone who is fully immersed in their own problem. Ask them to 'stop', and
once you've got their full attention, ask them to 'use one word to define their
problem'. You can then help them get to the root of their problem through
further questioning.

Following the conversation, take some time to reflect:

1. How did you find using this technique?

2. What was the outcome - did it help the other person to focus? 
3. Were you successful in being able to get to the root of their problem? If not,
what prevented this?
4. Were there any other main learnings?
 THE LAZARUS TECHNIQUE

NOTES/REFLECTION:

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