April 2, 2010
For a 18 year old dyslexic who has low self esteem, will Cognitive Behavior Therapy help ?
In Indian schools where Academic achievement is the ultimate symbol of sucess – a dyslexic is often made to feel like a Alien. Developing low self esteem is a natural consequence.
Suggested Reading:
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Comments on For a 18 year old dyslexic who has low self esteem, will Cognitive Behavior Therapy help ?
I’m no expert but from doing a little in Psyhology and reding some research can say Dyslexia has been widely seen as an effect of cognitive operations. It is presumed to operate on a different level from CBT. So the theory is perhaps that it will not help.
However specific training by Shaywitz showed that such feedback did affect achievement – the analysis showed that other areas seemed to show increased response to compensate. Therefore CBT which encouraged the person to try positively in the knledge they could adapt is very realistic: see:
SHAYWITZ, S. E. (1996) Dyslexia, Scientific American, 275(5), pp. 98–104.
cf. Geake and Cooper, Westminster Studies in Education; Jun2003, Vol. 26 Issue 1, p7, 14p
Yes, cognitive behavior therapy probably would be very helpful in developing your ability to understand your dyslexia and identify your strengths, which are probably numerous. Reading isn’t everything, regardless of what your school says. No one can make you feel bad about yourself without your consent. You can learn not to let that keep happening. You can have a successful life. Don’t give up on yourself, you have much to offer the world.
Best wishes.