Reframing is the process of making a shift in the nature of a problem.  It is the process of changing a negative statement into a positive one by changing the ‘frame’ or reference used to interpret the experience.  If all meaning is context dependent and if you change the context or content, then you will change the meaning.  All content is reframable simply by changing the structure, the process or the context.

The basis of all reframing is to separate intention from behaviour and consequence.  Intention is the opposite of consequence.  It is how you precede an action or behaviour and consequence is what happens at the end of the action.  Consequences can be either positive or negative.

In order to reframe you have options.

• Redefine the words
• Change the time frame
• Explore the consequences
• Change the chunk size
• Find a counter example
• Ask for evidence
• Appeal to the positive intention behind the belief
• Change the context so that the relationship doesn’t apply in the same way