The visitor suddenly realized.
Experiencing an epiphany inside the consulting room, unlike any they’ve felt outside, can lead to a sense of enlightenment and renewal.
This then generates thoughts like "The visit was worth it" and "Psychology indeed has something valuable," inflaming greater enthusiasm for the upcoming sessions.
Zhuang Junzhe found himself in such a state at this moment.
"Teacher, are there more steps in this [Rational Emotive Therapy]?"
Of course, there are; what we’ve just completed is only the groundwork.
"As we know, after [A: event] occurs, your [B: belief] processes [A], leading to [C: emotion]."
"In a more formulaic way, it can be described as — [A+B=C]."
For someone with a scientific background, this description is particularly easy to grasp.
Nan Zhubin rubbed his fingers and said, "And [C] is a negative emotion that troubles you. If we want to change [C], we must change one of [A] or [B]."
"But [A] is an objective occurrence that we cannot change; therefore, the changeable part is your [B: belief]."
"In other words, the [B] that needs changing is an ’irrational belief,’ do you agree?"
Correcting cognition starts with recognizing errors in cognition for the visitor; however, such erroneous cognition has been fixed for so long that changing it abruptly will surely provoke [defense], consuming much time.
Adopting a formulaic description makes it easier for visitors with a scientific background to accept.
"I agree..." the visitor nodded, seeming somewhat hesitant.
There was still some resistance.
Nan Zhubin smiled slightly and slowed his pace: "Within the [ABC therapy], there are three classifications for ’irrational beliefs’: [Absolute Requirements], [Overgeneralization], and [Catastrophizing]."
Nan Zhubin explained: "[Absolute Requirements] refers to beliefs stemming from one’s desires that something must or must not happen, often linked with words like ’must’ or ’should’ — for example, ’I must succeed,’ ’Others must help me,’ and so forth."
"[Overgeneralization] is displayed as an unreasonable way of thinking where a part is taken for the whole, like ’A child not marrying means they’re a failure,’ or ’Bearded guys in white socks are gay,’ and so on."
Zhuang Junzhe couldn’t help but chuckle.
"As for [Catastrophizing], it is a belief that if something bad happens, it will be very frightening or catastrophic. Specifically speaking..." Nan Zhubin thought for a moment, "’If I fail the university entrance exam, my life will be over.’
Zhuang Junzhe absorbed this knowledge intently and suddenly offered, "Then my [irrational belief] is ’I feel they can intern at big companies, so they must be more capable than me.’ It should be classified as... [Overgeneralization]?"
This time he said it smoothly.
"Correct." Nan Zhubin affirmed.
While in his heart he smiled, now they could proceed further with the process.
Analyzing one’s thoughts and confronting one’s beliefs is just a prelude to [Rational Emotive Therapy].
"Since we have identified the irrational belief, it’s naturally to be changed."
"Next, what we’ll do is ’debate’ with the irrational belief."
Zhuang Junzhe repeated the last two words of Nan Zhubin: "Debate?"
"Read the [B] you just wrote down — which is the irrational belief."
"’I feel they can intern at big companies, so they must be more capable than me.’
"Then next, I will act as your ’irrational belief,’" Nan Zhubin continued, "You just seemed to argue that there’s something ’untenable’ about this belief. Why do you say that?"
Zhuang Junzhe pursed his lips, seemingly finding it hard to articulate.
He looked up at the consultant’s eyes, filled with encouragement. After a couple of rounds of self-introspection, he cautiously began, "Teacher, I suppose getting an internship at a big company doesn’t fully equate to capability..."
The moment the visitor’s words fell, it was as if a spring compressed to the limit released — Nan Zhubin promptly began to retort.
His emotions remained steady, enunciating stable and clear words, albeit rapidly: "How can interning at a big company not mean being capable? Can you get in?"
The tone bore a subtle yet genteel provocation.
Stunned by Nan Zhubin’s words, Zhuang Junzhe smiled faintly: "Teacher, didn’t I previously mention that during my grad school prep, I was simultaneously sending resumes? At that time, I passed JD’s interview."
Nan Zhubin maintained his fast and stable transition: "But in the end, you didn’t get in, did you? I’m actually working inside a big company."
Zhuang Junzhe blinked his eyes: "It’s just an internship."
"Interns get legitimate salaries for their work, which is much preferable to you studying remotely for a master’s degree without a job offer in hand."
"... A day’s pay for an intern in Jiangdu is only a hundred, and besides, I’m not just studying. I do freelance work along with my studies, and with the scholarships, I’m fully self-sufficient for tuition and living."
"But I’m a big company intern, which will play a crucial role on my resume when job hunting."
Zhuang Junzhe slowly adjusted his posture, no longer leaned back but starting to lean forward: "I’ve seen plenty of classmates who interned in big companies yet failed to secure a permanent position. You’re nothing special right now; rather, I’ve already started project work with a professor and several companies are reaching out to me for internships, even offering permanent positions."
"Those are merely inquiries and promises; they hardly count."
"There was an official invitation, but following my teacher’s advice, I’m holding out for a better option, so I turned down the current offer."
"Well, the ones extending offers to you aren’t like us big companies. You might have stability, but our benefits, management systems, and corporate structure are more advanced. Our company even has its own gym."
Zhuang Junzhe sat upright with a quick and precise tone: "You’re not unaware of your big company’s style, are you? Didn’t you previously mention six-thirty off but worked until nine-thirty? Constantly lamenting your coach’s high-pressure push and clamoring to tackle the clients..."
Zhuang Junzhe’s words came to an abrupt end.
In front, Nan Zhubin spread his hands open, making a "see" gesture.
"Looks like our ’debate’ yielded great results."
This time, the visitor didn’t show a sudden revelation but rather, furrowed his brows, beginning to reflect deeply.
Nan Zhubin didn’t interrupt the silence, patiently awaiting.
After a long while, he spoke, frowning, "I just refuted a lot of the irrational belief"
"Yes, a lot." Nan Zhubin nodded, "I switched several perspectives, and from each one, you managed to replace the ’irrational belief’ with ’rational beliefs.’ If you start adopting these ’rational beliefs’ again, you’ll surely avoid the negative emotions that trouble you."
Yet Zhuang Junzhe had more questions.
"But I suddenly realized... I’ve thought of these ’rational beliefs’ before," said Zhuang Junzhe. "I’m not someone who dwells on things. When I have bad thoughts, I try to convince myself. But when I used to think of these ’rational beliefs,’ they were fleeting and never as clear or... powerful as they are today."