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Writer's pictureDeric Hollings

Tactically Strategic

 

I was on voluntary appellate leave with the Department of Defense from 2003 to 2007. Wanting to continue use of skills attained from my background in the military police field, I gained employment as a security police officer, subcontracted with the Department of Energy, from 2004 to 2008.

 

In particular, I worked in the field of nuclear security. Although I learned of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons when serving as a Marine, I received enhanced education and training about these forms of weaponry when at the primary United States nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility at which I worked.

 

According to one source, “Tactical nuclear weapons, also called nonstrategic nuclear weapons, are generally designed for battlefield use and have a shorter range than strategic, or long-range, nuclear weapons, which are designed to directly attack an adversary’s homeland.”

 

Having long since left behind the skills attained through law enforcement and nuclear security to become a mental, emotional, and behavioral health care provider, I draw upon knowledge from my former employment to better inform people about the psychotherapeutic modality I practice.

 

In my personal and professional life, I use Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to help reduce suffering in my own life as well as in the lives of my clients. For context, it may be useful to know how this is accomplished.

 

REBT theory uses the ABC model to illustrate how when Activating events (“Actions”) occur and people maintain irrational Beliefs about the events, these unhelpful assumptions – and not the actual occurrences – are what create unpleasant cognitive, emotive, bodily sensation, and behavioral Consequences.

 

Therefore, from a psychological standpoint, people disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.

 

As well, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unhelpful assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs. If there were a mathematical formula for the ABC model, it would be something like: Action + Belief = Consequence ÷ Disputation = Effective new belief.

 

Furthermore, this helpful psychotherapeutic modality uses the technique of unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional other-acceptance, and unconditional life-acceptance.

 

Additionally, a foundational component incorporated into REBT relates to Stoicism—a philosophical practice valuing four virtues (wisdom, courage, temperance or moderation, and justice) as a means of achieving eudemonia—a life well-lived. All of these techniques require frequent practice.

 

The manner in which I relate REBT to nuclear weapons may seem absurd to some people. This is understandable, given that nukes bring about suffering while REBT is used to alleviate suffering.

 

Nevertheless, I liken the short-range effects of a tactical nuclear weapon to the ABC model and the longer range impacts of a strategic nuke to that of UA. Allow me to explain.

 

If client X contacts me in regard to a problem with rage, hostility, or aggression when driving (“road rage”), I can teach this individual to deploy a short-range tactical solution for reducing self-disturbance through use of the ABC model. Initially, client X may subscribe to the mistaken notion of an A-C connection.

 

When someone cuts off client X on the highway (Action), this event is presumed to cause road rage (Consequence). However, what client X unproductively Believes about the Action is what results in an explosive Consequence.

 

Thus, when someone cuts off client X on the highway (Action) and the client Believes, “This sonofabitch shouldn’t have done this, so I’m gonna teach him a lesson,” this unhelpful form of absolutistic demandingness is what causes road rage (Consequence). Thus, the B-C connection is the issue.

 

Learning to Dispute unfavorable assumptions, or deploy a tactical delivery system to deal with the short-range problem, can help client X form more Effective new beliefs with which one may reduce suffering. This smaller-yield intervention can then be deployed elsewhere in life.

 

Client X can reduce suffering when people don’t respond to texts or when one fails to perform as expected on an exam. Because the ABC model is an agile form of conflict resolution, client X can deal with the immediacy of self-disturbing beliefs as they arise.

 

Still, client X has a long-range strategic method of reducing suffering. UA is a practice that has existed in one form or another throughout the centuries. This is where wisdom of Stoic philosophers, Buddhist practitioners, and Judeo-Christian theologians align.

 

Learning to employ the longer range strategy of tolerance and acceptance can have a more significant impact, or higher yield, on client X’s life than merely deploying tactical interventions as needed. Here’s how this may be accomplished.

 

When someone cuts off client X on the highway (Action) and the client Believes, “This moment, like any other, will pass,” there is no need to challenge the adaptive conclusion. Therefore, the Consequence of this true narrative may have the extraordinary effect of acceptance.

 

The strategic option can be highly effective at annihilating fear, anger, sorrow, disgust, and other unpleasant emotions. Likewise, it can be used in regard to oneself (e.g., failing an exam), others (e.g., those who neglect to text back), and life (e.g., past abuse).

 

Although I suspect some people may not appreciate my comparison of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons to REBT techniques, I suppose they can check their self-disturbing beliefs and allow others to benefit from this psychoeducational lesson.

 

Given the information outlined herein, how do you think REBT may benefit your life? Are the tactically strategic techniques I’ve addressed in this blogpost something you want to know more about? If so, I’m here to help.

 

If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

 

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

 

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

 

 

References:

 

Hollings, D. (2024, May 14). Check yo’ beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/check-yo-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2024, April 26). Eudaimonia. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/eudaimonia

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2023, May 18). Irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/irrational-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing

Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth

Hollings, D. (2023, March 20). Practice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/practice

Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation

Hollings, D. (2023, September 15). Psychotherapeutic modalities. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapeutic-modalities

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Sensation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sensation

Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2022, November 9). The ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-abc-model

Hollings, D. (2023, September 6). The absence of suffering. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-absence-of-suffering

Hollings, D. (2022, December 23). The A-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-a-c-connection

Hollings, D. (2022, December 25). The B-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-b-c-connection

Hollings, D. (2022, November 2). The formula. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-formula

Hollings, D. (2023, February 16). Tna. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/tna

Hollings, D. (2022, July 11). Unconditional acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance

Hollings, D. (2023, March 11). Unconditional life-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-life-acceptance

Hollings, D. (2023, February 25). Unconditional other-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-other-acceptance

Hollings, D. (2023, March 1). Unconditional self-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-self-acceptance

Union of Concerned Scientists. (2022, June 1). What are tactical nuclear weapons? Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/tactical-nuclear-weapons

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