the skill of utilizing a physical or mental cue to cease negative thoughts and redirect them to an unbiased or positive orientation. This skill is taught in some behavior therapies, whenever the therapy professional yells "Stop!" to disrupt a pattern toward unfavorable thoughts and trains patients to employ this method themselves.
THOUGHT STOPPING: "Thought stopping is an effective form of cognitive behavior therapy, especially during the period when the patient must learn to break bad habits."
Cite this page: N., Pam M.S., "THOUGHT STOPPING," in PsychologyDictionary.org, April 29, 2013, https://psychologydictionary.org/thought-stopping/ (accessed January 22, 2021).
