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Have you ever experienced that uncomfortable feeling when your actions don't align with your beliefs? Perhaps you value health but continue smoking, or you pride yourself on honesty yet told a significant lie. That mental tension you're experiencing has a name: cognitive dissonance. When we are holding these contradictory beliefs or experiencing dueling emotions, we call that a dual-reality.
As mental health professionals, we regularly help clients navigate these psychological phenomenons that can significantly impact wellbeing and decision-making.
What is a dual-reality?
In therapy, we often encounter clients grappling with dual realities—a psychological experience where a person holds two seemingly contradictory beliefs, emotions, or perceptions about themselves, others, or the world at the same time. This isn’t about being delusional or dishonest; it’s often a reflection of deep emotional conflict, trauma history, or internalized belief systems that haven't been fully reconciled.
For example:
This is where cognitive dissonance comes into play.
The human mind craves consistency—when we experience dual-realities, it creates emotional and psychological tension. Our brains are wired to resolve this tension, often by suppressing, avoiding, or rationalizing one side of the dual reality.
In mental health terms, this can manifest as:
What Is Cognitive Dissonance?
Cognitive dissonance occurs when we hold two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes simultaneously, or when our actions conflict with our beliefs. The American Psychological Association defines it as "an unpleasant psychological state resulting from inconsistency between two or more elements in a cognitive system".
This theory was first introduced by psychologist Leon Festinger in 1957. He proposed that humans experience psychological discomfort when their cognitions (thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes) are inconsistent, and this discomfort motivates us to reduce the inconsistency. We naturally want to resolve this inner conflict! It can be hard to live with contradicting feelings.
As Festinger explained, this mental tension acts as a drive—pushing us to resolve the contradiction and restore internal harmony. The greater the discrepancy between our beliefs and actions, the more intense the dissonance we experience.
How Cognitive Dissonance & Dual Reality Manifests in Everyday Life
Common Examples of Cognitive Dissonance/Dual Reality
· Health Behaviors: Knowing smoking is harmful yet continuing to smoke
· Financial Decisions: Overspending while trying to save money
· Relationship Choices: Staying in an unhealthy relationship while believing you deserve respect
· Work-Life Balance: Working excessive hours while valuing family time
· Digital Behavior: Valuing privacy but sharing personal information on social media
Examples:
When experiencing dissonance, people typically reduce it through one of these strategies:
1. Changing beliefs: "Maybe smoking isn't as harmful as they say"
2. Changing actions: Quitting smoking to align with health beliefs
3. Adding new consonant cognitions: "Smoking helps me manage stress, which is also important for health"
4. Reducing the importance of dissonant cognitions: "Everyone has to die of something"
The Mental Health Impact of Cognitive Dissonance
Living with ongoing cognitive dissonance can significantly affect your mental wellbeing. Recent research from 2025 indicates that unresolved cognitive dissonance is associated with:
· Chronic stress and anxiety
· Difficulty making decisions
· Rationalization of unhealthy behaviors
· Feelings of guilt, shame, or low self-esteem
· Internal conflict and psychological discomfort
As a 2025 study published in Greater Boston Behavioral Health explains, "Cognitive dissonance arises from the brain's innate desire for consistency and balance. When faced with conflicting thoughts or behaviors, the mind attempts to resolve the tension to restore harmony”.
How Therapy Helps Address Cognitive Dissonance
Therapy can be highly effective in helping individuals recognize and resolve cognitive dissonance. A therapist serves as an objective guide who can help you:
1. Identify inconsistencies between your beliefs and behaviors
2. Explore the origins of conflicting beliefs
3. Develop awareness of rationalization patterns
4. Create strategies to align actions with core values
5. Build resilience to manage discomfort during change
Therapeutic Techniques for Managing Cognitive Dissonance
As a therapist, part of the work is creating space to hold both truths—not to force resolution, but to increase tolerance for the discomfort and explore how both realities can coexist. Over time, this builds emotional resilience, self-compassion, and a more integrated sense of self. We also help guide you to make a healthy decision if that needs to take place to move forward.
1. Cognitive Restructuring
This technique helps identify and challenge irrational thoughts that maintain dissonance. By examining evidence for and against specific beliefs, you can develop more balanced perspectives.
2. Values Clarification
Understanding your core values provides a framework for making decisions that reduce dissonance. When you're clear about what matters most, it's easier to align your actions accordingly.
3. Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness helps create space between thoughts and reactions, allowing you to observe dissonance without immediately resorting to rationalization. This awareness is the first step toward meaningful change.
4. The Hypocrisy Paradigm
This therapeutic approach helps individuals become mindful that they're not practicing what they preach. Research shows this can be particularly effective for creating lasting behavior change.
5. Emotional Expression and Processing
Verbalizing the discomfort associated with cognitive dissonance can reduce its intensity. Therapy provides a safe space to express and process these challenging emotions.
How Our Practice Can Help
At our group therapy practice, we specialize in helping clients navigate cognitive dissonance through evidence-based approaches. Our therapists are trained to identify the sources of your internal conflicts and guide you toward greater alignment between your beliefs and actions.
The psychological discomfort of cognitive dissonance doesn't have to be permanent. With professional support, you can transform this discomfort into an opportunity for growth, self-awareness, and positive change.
Taking the First Step
If you recognize cognitive dissonance in your own life and it's causing distress, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. The journey toward internal consistency begins with acknowledging the discord and being willing to explore it in a supportive environment.
To learn more about our approach to cognitive dissonance or to schedule a consultation with one of our therapists, contact us today. Remember, seeking help isn't a sign of weakness—it's a courageous commitment to your mental wellbeing.
Are you experiencing cognitive dissonance? Our therapists can help you navigate these internal conflicts and find greater peace of mind. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment.
Keywords: cognitive dissonance therapy, mental health, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychological discomfort, resolving internal conflicts, therapy services