Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is effective when counselling
older Chinese people suffering multiple diseases to change irrational
thoughts into more positive ones and reduce their distress. Citing
examples from counselling sessions with two older women suffering
from multiple and crippling diseases, this paper identifies how CBT
can be put into practice, by helping people recognise their automatic
or negative thoughts, how to use gentle confrontation to challenge
those thoughts, and how to consider alternatives, construct positive
views and develop problem-solving behaviour. At the same time, some
CBT practice adaptations are proposed to enhance its effectiveness,
including making it culturally sensitive, the building and use of a good
client-counsellor relationships as a platform for change, the recall of
past experiences, the provision of concrete assistance along with working at the cognitive and/or behavioural levels, and use of a slower pace
to meet the physical and mental abilities of older clients.

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