Slogans : Positive self-instructions
Slogans are short, punchy, understandable and clear sentences that are repeated. But what exactly are slogans for? This is a good introductory question to ask your patients. Slogans are used to influence people in their choices.
Key takeaways
- Slogans are short, memorable phrases repeated to influence patient choices in therapy.
- Patients usually write slogans by hand, sometimes with an added explanation to clarify meaning.
- Examples include "I can do it", "Anxiety is temporary, it will pass" and "The cave I enter contains the treasure I seek".
- Patients can adapt wording, replacing "I must" with "I will", and keep only their five most meaningful slogans.
- Slogans should stay close at hand for moments when anxiety takes over.
WHAT IS A SLOGAN ?
Slogans are short, punchy, understandable and clear sentences that are repeated. But what exactly are slogans for? This is a good introductory question to ask your patients. Slogans are used to influence people in their choices. By dint of hearing it repeated, we write it into our memory in spite of ourselves. If I tell you 0 hassle 0 blah, you all think of MMA. This power of subjection of the slogan is used in therapy.
Usually, practitioners who use this method invite patients to write down slogans manually on a bristol board to help them memorize them. Sometimes it is necessary to add an explanation at the time of instruction to make the meaning of the slogan clear.
EXAMPLES OF SLOGANS
Here are some examples :
I have to force myself
Explanation : by forcing myself I am able to do more things than I can imagine.
I need to get started
Explanation: sometimes we tend to overthink.
I can do it
Explanation : often we can do more than we imagine.
I don't know until I try
Explanation : sometimes we imagine that it will be difficult until we try.
I have to take risks
Explanation : when you want to evolve you have to leave your comfort zone, you have to take risks.
I have to surprise myself
Explanation : sometimes you have to get out of your habits, for example, I used to take the elevator, this time I take the stairs.
I am here to change
Explanation : in order to evolve as for example to be perhaps less anxious.
I must conquer this place / I am conqueror
The slogans are flexible and can be freely changed by the patients to better appropriate them. So instead of conquering the place, they can say I am a conqueror. The primary purpose of a slogan is that it should work.
Anxiety is temporary, it will pass
Explanation : it is hard at the time but it will pass.
What is my power now ? I have the power of choice
Explanations : We can't control our emotions but we can choose.
I don't have to prove anything to anyone
I must bury the judge in me
Explanation : The notion of judge is often linked to the "I must", the judge that is in oneself could make the patients say: I must always be good, I must not make mistakes, I must succeed in everything, I must be nice to everyone. It is necessary to know how to bury the judge in oneself because it is normal to make mistakes, one cannot be nice to everyone, it is necessary to take into account that nobody is perfect.
A first step is the beginning of a great journey
Explanation : the first step is the most difficult but once it is done the rest is easier.
I want to evolve
Explanation : you can always change your mind.
No matter how long the night is, the sun always rises eventually
Explanation : even if we go through a difficult period it will eventually end.
The cave I enter contains the treasure I seek
Explanation : the cave is a dark, narrow, unknown place, which represents the place where one is afraid, which one dreads, but at the bottom of this cave is also a treasure which is the freedom not to be afraid anymore. Nevertheless, one must enter the cave to find one's freedom.
Anxiety is there to protect me
Explanation : according to gray's neurobiological model, anxiety is a protective mechanism of the individual which is there to protect him.
The force is with me
Some people are more sensitive to slogans in the form of questions, so we can offer them :
Who says I can't do it ?
Once all the slogans have been entered, two important things should be mentioned to the patients. Firstly, the possibility to change the beginning of the slogan if they wish. The term "I must" has a notion of control, it can be replaced by "I will".
Secondly, the set of slogans will not be suitable for everyone, the goal is to rewrite it keeping only the five most significant slogans for the person concerned.
Finally, they should always have their slogans with them or close by in moments when anxiety takes over because they may not remember them.
Generally, it is requested that they also put the following on the back of their name cards for greater efficiency AWARE method.
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Frequently asked questions about slogans and virtual reality
What is the purpose of a slogan in therapy?
A slogan is a short, punchy and clear sentence, repeated until it embeds itself in memory. It is used to influence patients' choices and support them during difficult moments, such as anxiety-provoking situations.
How do patients memorize their slogans?
Practitioners usually invite patients to write their slogans manually on a bristol board. An explanation is sometimes added at the time of instruction to clarify the slogan's meaning.
Can patients change their slogans?
Yes. Slogans are flexible and patients can freely adapt them to better appropriate them. The primary purpose of a slogan is that it works for the person using it, not that it follows a fixed formula.
How many slogans should a patient keep?
The goal is to rewrite the initial set of slogans and keep only the five most significant ones for the person concerned. Not every slogan suits every patient.
When should patients use their slogans?
Patients should always have their slogans with them or close by, especially in moments when anxiety takes over. They may not remember them spontaneously without a physical reminder, such as a name card.
Can I feel nauseous while using the headset?
It can happen and is called cybersickness, a phenomenon well known to scientists that affects a portion of the population. It is reversible: starting with static environments, then adding slight head movements, helps the body adapt.
What is the AWARE method mentioned with slogans?
The AWARE method is referenced as a complementary technique, generally added on the back of patients' name cards alongside their slogans for greater efficiency. It is presented on a dedicated C2Care page.
Author
C2Care
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