Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
I-CBT Therapy in PA & MD
What is I-CBT?
Inference-Based Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for OCD that targets the reasoning behind obsessions—specifically, abnormal doubts about what might be true. Unlike traditional CBT, which often centers on anxiety and compulsions, I-CBT focuses on the narrative that gives rise to obsessions.
By examining the underlying structure of obsessional doubt (the iceberg) — including fears tied to identity and reasoning errors known as inferential confusion — I-CBT offers an alternative to ERP for those who find exposure-based methods distressing or ineffective. Its goal is to create lasting change by helping clients bring about natural resolution of obsessional doubts.
How Does I-CBT Work?
1
Targeting Dysfunctional Reasoning
We focus on how obsessions arise from dysfunctional reasoning. Specifically, a distrust of the senses and over-reliance on imagination. Unlike traditional CBT, which emphasizes anxiety and compulsions, I-CBT addresses the root cause: how clients reason.
2
Resolving Obsessional Doubts
Obsessions persist because they stem from flawed inferences, not just random intrusive thoughts.
I-CBT helps clients recognize that these obsessional doubts are different from everyday doubts and teaches them how to challenge and resolve them at the source.
3
Rebuilding Trust in Senses
A core element of I-CBT techniques is helping clients rebuild trust in their inner and outer senses. We focus on reducing the reliance on hypothetical "what-ifs" and weakening the power of obsessional doubt.
4
Addressing Inferential Confusion
Clients learn to identify “inferential confusion,” where abstract possibilities are treated as actual probabilities during reasoning. Those with OCD are more vulnerable to inferential confusion due to a specific vulnerable self-theme, often related to fears about their identity.
5
Behavioral Exercises
I-CBT avoids deliberate exposure and response prevention (ERP). Instead, it takes a more cognitive approach, focusing on resolving obsessional doubts naturally. I-CBT is specifically designed for OCD and targets unique cognitive processes not directly addressed in other treatments.