rescripting

Definition

A therapeutic technique that involves actively modifying the content or imagined outcome of a past distressing memory to reduce its emotional impact.

Etymology

The word is formed by the prefix 're-' (again) combined with 'scripting,' derived from the Latin 'scriptum,' meaning 'to write.' It originally referred to revising a written document, now adapted to describe the psychological revision of mental representations.

In the news

In this article, Imagery Rescripting is used to help patients imagine a supportive figure entering their past memories to counteract childhood criticism. This process helps transform painful, fixed memories into more manageable experiences.

A therapy that “rewrites” childhood memories can ease fear of failure

Science Daily

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