"Go Cognitive": Remaining Grounded in Facts and Goal-Directed Thinking During a Crisis
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Principal Consultant and Creator, AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness™
Nearly four decades ago, I began working in the greatest career as a psychologist. I quickly recognized the potential of crisis intervention: helping people in the aftermath of a traumatic experience.
I often thought about how emergency responders didn't wait to address profuse bleeding. And I wondered how we could similarly address the “emotional hemorrhage” that can occur during a crisis. This inspired me to create Acute Traumatic Stress Management (ATSM)—an evidence-based approach designed to prevent acute difficulties from becoming chronic and debilitating stress disorders.
Over the years, I had the privilege of consulting and presenting ATSM to diverse groups and organizations around the world. One of the concepts that I regularly spoke about centered around the words "Go Cognitive.” I emphasized the importance of helping people remain grounded in facts and goal-directed thinking during a crisis.
This principle is grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is based upon the well-established understanding that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected—or more simply, that our thoughts affect the way we feel and act.
More than two decades after creating ATSM, I continue to draw upon these two words as I confront challenges and changes associated with aging. “Go Cognitive” has become more than a crisis-intervention strategy or a tool. It’s a personal reminder that, when feelings can overwhelm me, I can return to what I know—the facts—and focus on what I can do.
The next time you face a difficult challenge or unexpected change, pause and tell yourself, "Go Cognitive.” Acknowledge what you feel—but don’t surrender your capacity to think. Focus on the present. Ground yourself in the facts. And identify your next constructive goal-directed action.
We can’t always control what happens to us. But even in moments of profound uncertainty, we can direct our attention, organize our thinking, and choose how we'll respond.
During a crisis, going cognitive may be where emotional wellness begins.