“I am incapable”, “I do not matter”, “I am unlovable”. When these beliefs feel unquestionable, every setback can seem like further evidence against you. Trial-Based Cognitive Therapy (TBCT) helps you examine these accusations and build a fairer understanding of yourself.
Developed by psychiatrist Irismar Reis de Oliveira, TBCT is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It combines a structured formulation with the metaphor of a courtroom trial to work on negative core beliefs.
A cognitive therapy: understanding what keeps distress going
Situations, interpretations, feelings and actions influence one another. A comment at work may trigger “I will fail”, increase anxiety and lead you to avoid a task. Avoidance can bring short-term relief while preventing you from discovering that you could cope.
TBCT works at three levels: automatic thoughts in everyday situations, rules and assumptions such as “unless I am perfect, I will be rejected”, and deeper core beliefs about yourself. A shared formulation connects these patterns to the difficulties you want to change.
The courtroom metaphor: hearing the defence as well
The prosecutor represents the accusing voice and its selective evidence. The defence lawyer looks for overlooked facts, context and alternative explanations. Taking different roles, sometimes using different chairs, helps you step back and examine the arguments from a juror’s perspective.
Your therapist is not judging you. A belief is being tested. The aim is to acknowledge real difficulties without turning them into a global condemnation of your worth.
When might TBCT be helpful?
TBCT may be considered when self-criticism, shame, feelings of inferiority or rigid rules maintain emotional difficulties. Research includes social anxiety and depressive and anxious symptoms. Depending on the assessment, it can support work on avoidance, perfectionism and feelings of being an impostor.
Applications also exist in areas such as personality difficulties, OCD and trauma-related problems. The evidence is not equally developed for every condition. Clinical assessment and treatments recommended for the particular problem remain important.
What does the evidence show?
Clinical trials, including studies of social anxiety, and research on the trial-based technique report improvements. Some studies have small samples. The findings are encouraging, but do not establish superiority over all other CBT approaches or guarantee an individual outcome. Research references are provided below.
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
The Rosenberg scale offers a well-established measure of global self-esteem, useful when therapy addresses self-criticism. No single self-report scale can determine whether TBCT is the right treatment or measure every aspect of it.
Instrument type: Global self-esteem scale.
Ten statements assess global self-esteem. This presentation uses scores from 1 to 4, automatically reversing the five negative items; the total ranges from 10 to 40.
Strengths : Quick, easy to repeat and useful for discussing perceived self-worth.
Limitations : Does not distinguish life domains or directly measure competence or confidence in specific situations. A low score is not a diagnosis. Cutoffs for scoring from 0 to 30 cannot be applied directly to scoring from 10 to 40.
Complete the questionnaire
For each statement, indicate your agreement based on your general feelings about yourself. Answer spontaneously; negative items are automatically reverse scored.
Your answers remain in your browser. This form does not send or store them. Reloading the page clears them.
Discuss your needs in a session
We can explore your difficulties and how cognitive work may fit your care. Sessions in Singapore or by video call, in English or French. Sessions last 45–60 minutes and cost SGD 250.
Contact Franck DibouësBooks in English
Trial-Based Cognitive Therapy: A Manual for Clinicians
Irismar Reis de Oliveira. Routledge, 2015.
A clinician’s manual introducing the formulation, session structure and methods for changing core beliefs.
View on AmazonTrial-Based Cognitive Therapy: Distinctive Features
Irismar Reis de Oliveira. Routledge, 2016.
A concise professional introduction to the theoretical foundations and distinctive techniques of TBCT.
View on AmazonVideo in English
Irismar de Oliveira explains TBCT
Lindsay Simon interviews the developer of TBCT about the approach and its relationship with standard CBT. Selected from the TBCT Institute’s video resources. Watch on YouTube.
