What is I-CBT?

People with OCD tend to tell themselves fictional, or near-fictional, stories about what would happen if. We call these the obsessional stories.  Here are some examples:

If I touch this doorknob, I will get sick three days later and ruin my weekend.  

I must say “I love you” to my family members every time I leave the house or something horrible will happen.  

I need to get straight As, because that is who I am.  

I am bad luck and I cannot let myself be close to others because I will bring my bad luck into their lives.  

In I-CBT (Inference-based CBT), the therapist helps the client ask the question: how did I come to accept this obsessional story?  Furthermore, why is it that the obsessions or doubts feel so real?  We get attached to the stories that we tell ourselves and these fictions begin to define us.  

Why are we so stuck on our assumptions? For most with OCD, our anxiety brains assume that the world is unsafe or that we are unworthy.  

Inference CBT is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) created by Dr. Stephen P. Shuchter and Dr. Robert L. Leahy in the 1980s, primarily for the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The approach emphasizes on identifying core beliefs and underlying assumptions that are associated with OCD, and reframing them in a more positive manner to facilitate recovery. 

Inference CBT encourages individuals to explore their own inferences and assumptions through questioning and challenging them, as well as developing new ways of thinking that are less anxious. 

Through this process, the individual is able to gain insight into their thought patterns and shift their perspective on situations or experiences. We lean away from the distorted thought patterns and towards healthier, more accurate views of the world and ourselves.  

The ultimate goal of Inference CBT is to help individuals gain greater mastery over their thoughts and behaviors, and learn to manage the distressing symptoms associated with OCD more effectively.

By focusing on underlying beliefs and assumptions, as well as providing a platform for self-reflection, Inference CBT helps individuals alter their current patterns of thinking and behavior, which can ultimately lead to improved psychological wellbeing.  This form of OCD treatment can also be especially powerful for those clients who are not ready to jump into ERP treatment and do not feel any intrinsic motivation to face their fears.  

For more information on I-CBT, visit the founder’s website https://icbt.online/ and reach out to Kairos Wellness Collective today.