title: Possible Selves: Implications for Psychotherapy.
abstract: The paper is devoted to the therapeutic applications of theories and research concerning self-regulation issues. The key concept here is possible selves, defined as an element of self-knowledge that refers to what a person perceives as potentially possible. The main idea of using knowledge about possible selves in psychotherapy is based on their functions as standards in self-regulatory processes. The problem of the changeability of possible selves and self-standards is analyzed in the context of their role in behavior change. The paper also presents the assumptions of Self-System Therapy - a newly developed cognitive therapy for depression, drawing directly on self-regulation theory and research.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Al. Raclawickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Waclaw
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bak
keywords: Depression; Possible selves; Psychotherapy; Self-regulation; Self-standards