The Down Arrow Technique: What It Is and How It Is Used In Therapy

Our thoughts are cognitive products that are shaped by these beliefs, which in more conscious phases take the form of assumptions that explain what happens if certain terms.

However, behind all this there are our most basic core beliefs, which are durable and difficult to change. Core beliefs are, as we have said, behind much of our way of seeing reality and ourselves.

In this sense, those people with especially rigid beliefs or who have internalized values ​​and deep beliefs that conflict with how they are or how they live may feel great suffering, and may require psychological help to modify them. To do this, the first thing to do is bring the core beliefs to light from our thoughts, something for which we can use techniques like the down arrow technique.

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Down Arrow Technique

It receives the name of the descending arrow technique to a basic technique within the cognitive-behavioral current that is characterized by

seek to locate the core and deepest beliefs of the subject, in such a way that we can make these beliefs aware and work them in the event that they turn out to be maladaptive.

It can be used in any type of problem, although it is especially useful in those in which the subject manifests some kind of difficulty with himself or because of the existence of some way of acting that is dysfunctional.

The technique in question has a seemingly simple basis: it involves starting from the patient's thoughts to ask about the meaning of these thoughtsWhat do they say about the subject itself or what would it mean for the subject if they were true or not.

From the answer to this question, the question asked is repeated or some other equivalent is used with the in order to look for thoughts and beliefs in which the thoughts that have arisen after the reflection. This process repeats over and over again until the person cannot give an answer, or it is not credible to you.

To give an example, a person may state that he is a very perfectionist and that he needs to do things well, which when he is Asking what this means for that person, you can answer that when he does things well, he is congratulated, which can lead to analyze the idea that they need to be recognized by others, which in turn can lead to the belief that the person does not see themselves as valid at herself.

How is it used in therapy?

The name of the downward arrow comes from the fact that it goes from a specific thought (which is generally sought to be be with respect to a dysfunctional aspect, a self-demand or a difficulty with oneself) towards the beliefs that sustain, getting deeper and deeper into the most core elements and beliefs and deep.

In addition to evaluating beliefs, it can also be used to assess what elements we use when drawing conclusions regarding a specific event, specifically when assessing what evidence or elements are used to arrive at a specific conclusion.

The down arrow technique is a useful technique in order to be able to identify deep beliefs on the part of a patient. This already has a certain therapeutic effect, since it allows to bring to light and express deep beliefs and thoughts in such a way that the subject reflects and processes contents that sometimes he does not recognize himself.

However, in general, this technique is usually only a first step, prior to performing other techniques that make it possible to verify or modify said beliefs in the event that the patient finds it dysfunctional. In this sense different cognitive restructuring techniques are usually used, as well as Socratic dialogue or the formulation of behavioral experiments.

However, although the downward arrow is fundamentally cognitive, this does not imply that the techniques that have to follow it have to be as well: it is It is possible to apply techniques from other psychological currents such as systemic, humanistic or even psychodynamic to work on the nuclear beliefs that are find out.

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What problems is it used for?

The downward arrow technique is a fairly basic and useful technique that can be used in a great majority of disorders and alterations that are explained by beliefs of the patient and the possible biases that these generate.

Among the many difficulties in which it can be applied, some examples within the field symptoms may be major depression, obsessive compulsive disorder or disorders of the personality.

In general, it can be used in any problem in which there are rigid beliefs or a high level of self-demand. Even without any type of disorder, people who have had a rigid environment or education or present Self-esteem issues can benefit from using the down arrow to dive into beliefs that sustain.

Bibliographic references:

• Bados, A. and García Grau, E. (2010). The technique of cognitive restructuring. University of Barcelona. Faculty of Psychology, Department of Personality, Avaluació i Tractament Psicològics.
• Burns, D.D. (1990). Feel good. Barcelona: Paidós.