Pacific Grove, Californiawww.beaconhouse.org

Denial ManagementDenial Management12 Ways We Lie to Ourselves and Others 12 Ways We Lie to Ourselves and Others

& What We Can Do To Stop& What We Can Do To Stop

Shari Corbitt, Psy.D.Shari Corbitt, Psy.D.

sharicorbitt@gmail.comsharicorbitt@gmail.com

310.848.5418310.848.5418

Denial is Natural ?!Denial is Natural ?!

Denial is a normal, even healthy part of life. Denial is a normal, even healthy part of life.

There is a crucial difference between “healthy” and There is a crucial difference between “healthy” and maladaptive denial. One allows us to function maladaptive denial. One allows us to function effectively in the world while the other prevents us effectively in the world while the other prevents us from handles life’s problem’s effectively.from handles life’s problem’s effectively.

Maladaptive denial minimizes consequences, Maladaptive denial minimizes consequences, obvious to others but not the addict and at times obvious to others but not the addict and at times the related family members. the related family members.

The 4 Levels of DenialThe 4 Levels of Denial

Level 1 Lack of InformationLevel 1 Lack of Information

Level 2 Conscious DefensivenessLevel 2 Conscious Defensiveness

Level 3 Unconscious DefensivenessLevel 3 Unconscious Defensiveness

Level 4 Delusion Level 4 Delusion

The Big 5 Denial TypesThe Big 5 Denial Types

Avoidance Avoidance (distraction, playing dumb, etc) (distraction, playing dumb, etc)

MinimizationMinimization Absolute DenialAbsolute Denial RationalizingRationalizing BlamingBlaming

The Little SevenThe Little Seven

Democratic Disease StateDemocratic Disease State Flight Into Health Flight Into Health ManipulationManipulation ComplianceCompliance Scared StraightScared Straight Strategic HopelessnessStrategic Hopelessness ComparingComparing

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Denial is not malingering.Denial is not malingering. Denial cannot be effectively addressed through Denial cannot be effectively addressed through

arguing, threatening or giving ultimatums.arguing, threatening or giving ultimatums. Denial is best addressed through joining with the Denial is best addressed through joining with the

individual through education of the various denial individual through education of the various denial patterns in a group format where shame is patterns in a group format where shame is minimized.minimized.

All of us experience denial – whether we All of us experience denial – whether we experience process addictions and/or substance experience process addictions and/or substance use disorders or not.use disorders or not.

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