Cognitive Therapy Techniques: A Practitioner's Guide

by Robert L. Leahy PhD

Overview

This indispensable book has given many tens of thousands of practitioners a wealth of evidence-based tools for maximizing the power of cognitive therapy and tailoring it to individual clients. Leading authority Robert L. Leahy describes ways to help clients identify and modify problematic thoughts, core beliefs, and patterns of worry, self-criticism, and approval-seeking; evaluate personal schemas; cope with painful emotions; and take action to achieve their goals. Each technique includes vivid case examples and sample dialogues. Featuring 123 reproducible forms, the book has a large-size format for easy photocopying; purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials.
 
New to This Edition
*Numerous additional techniques and reproducible tools, including 48 new or revised forms.
*Chapters on decision-making problems, intrusive thoughts, and anger management issues.
*Incorporates the latest theory and research as well as cutting-edge techniques drawn from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), behavioral activation, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), emotional schema therapy, and the metacognitive model.
*Significantly revised chapters on emotion regulation and worries.
*Filled-out examples for many of the forms. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462529049
Publisher:	Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	02/21/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	517
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Robert L. Leahy, PhD, is Director of the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy in New York City and Clinical Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Leahy is Associate Editor of the International Journal of Cognitive Therapy and is past president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), the International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy, and the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (A-CBT). He is a recipient of the Outstanding Clinician Award from ABCT and the Aaron T. Beck Award from A-CBT. Dr. Leahy is author or editor of 29 books for mental health professionals and the general public, including If Only and The Worry Cure. His books have been translated into 21 languages.

Table of Contents

I. Beginning Cognitive Therapy
1. Introduction
II. Techniques
2. Eliciting Thoughts
3. Evaluating and Testing Thoughts
4. Evaluating Assumptions and Rules
5. Examining Information-Processing and Logical Errors
6. Modifying Decision Making
7. Responding to and Evaluating Intrusive Thoughts
8. Modifying Worry and Rumination
9. Putting Things in Perspective
10. Identifying and Modifying Schemas
11. Emotion Regulation Techniques
III. Specific Applications
12. Examining and Challenging Cognitive Distortions
13. Modifying Need for Approval
14. Challenging Self-Criticism
15. Managing Anger
16. Concluding Comments
References
Index 
 

Interviews

Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, counselors, and psychiatric nurses. May serve as a text in graduate-level courses.

Editorial Reviews

Well written and user-friendly….An exceptionally useful resource for cognitive therapists. It is likely to benefit anyone from the student to the expert in cognitive therapy...This is an excellent volume that will find a home not on the bookshelf, but in the hands and laps of many practitioners." (on the first edition)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Book Reviews

"I welcome Leahy's text to our academic reading list." (Eben L. McClenahan, MD, MS, on the first edition)

Psychiatric Services

"In this second edition of his classic work, Leahy provides a plethora of invaluable techniques for creating therapeutic change in cognitive therapy. Trainees and experienced therapists will find this volume an indispensable repository of strategies that work. The volume contains tools for use with clients and is expanded to consider newer approaches drawing from metacognitive therapy, acceptance and mindfulness, and the author's innovative work on emotional schemas."—Adrian Wells, PhD, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, United Kingdom

"Leahy again provides a master class on cognitive and cognitive-behavioral interventions for a wide range of psychological problems. The second edition not only provides expert guidance on traditional cognitive therapy, but also includes newer elements such as behavioral activation, acceptance, and mindfulness. Leahy blends scientific evidence with extensive clinical experience to create a compelling teaching experience for the reader. This book belongs on the shelf of any mental health clinician who wants to do state-of-the-art cognitive therapy."—David F. Tolin, PhD, ABPP, Director, Anxiety Disorders Center, The Institute of Living–Hartford Hospital

"Leahy—one of our most astute and knowledgeable cognitive therapists—synthesizes many years of clinical wisdom with a sophisticated understanding of current research. This book serves as a wonderful resource for novice cognitive-behavioral clinicians, but also offers much to skilled practitioners, who can find ways to augment their favorite strategies and techniques with the latest clinical advances."—John H. Riskind, PhD, Department of Psychology, George Mason University; editor, International Journal of Cognitive Therapy

"Substantially updated, this is the best available compendium of techniques spanning the broad range of current cognitive and behavioral therapies. Authoritative coverage of core techniques is now enhanced with techniques informed by more recent models, such as mindfulness, DBT, and ACT. Featuring clear, jargon-free language, clinical tips, illustrative examples, and practical forms, the book presents state-of-the-art tools applicable to treating a wide range of clients and disorders. An essential resource for both seasoned clinicians and those in the process of learning cognitive-behavioral therapy."—Drew Erhardt, PhD, Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine University

From the Publisher

Leahy writes in the first person with an easy to read style. It is always a pleasure to read his work and listen to his lectures….One strength of the book is the presentation of over 120 clinical and teaching forms….This new edition focuses on improvements within CBT over the last many years including metacognitive modeling, behavioral activation, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy. It also includes compassion-focused therapy and other approaches….This book would be an excellent addition to any graduate program or residency training individuals in CBT. It is an excellent adjunctive book to use in clinical supervision and a good review book for seasoned practitioners to make sure that they are using the full spectrum of armamentarium available.

Child and Family Behavior Therapy

"Dr. Leahy has done a great service by attempting to add vitality to the cognitive therapy line of scrimmage. The techniques he outlines will help engage the patient and the therapist....Leahy's approach is an empirical one—not one size fits all: find what works for the patient....This volume is an excellent introduction, refresher, and handbook for the busy general psychiatrist who wants to expand his or her therapeutic armamentaria." (on the first edition)

Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

Reviewer: Gary B Kaniuk, PsyD (Cermak Health Services)
Description: This is the second edition of a book detailing evidence-based tools for maximizing the utility of cognitive therapy and tailoring it to individual clients. It includes a list of forms, with a limited duplication license to use with individual clients. The first edition was published in 2003.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide clinicians with "a wide range of cognitive and behavioral interventions that can be used to address depression, anxiety, anger problems, relationship problems, and many other forms of psychopathology."
Audience: The purpose is to provide clinicians with "a wide range of cognitive and behavioral interventions that can be used to address depression, anxiety, anger problems, relationship problems, and many other forms of psychopathology."
Features: After an introduction to cognitive therapy theory and practice, the book explores specific techniques such as evaluating thoughts, assumptions and rules, information-processing errors, and intrusive thoughts. It discusses identifying and modifying schemas, along with emotion regulation techniques. The author describes each technique, proposes clinical questions and homework assignments, and identifies possible problems. Clinical examples demonstrate how the techniques are applied, and each technique is paired with a number of forms. The last part of the book examines specific applications. One foundational application is challenging cognitive distortions. For each distortion, there are a number of techniques that can be used. For managing anger, the book provides session content with patient-therapist dialogue. The book is very readable and contains helpful figures.
Assessment: To say the least, this book is excellent. It presents a wide variety of cognitive techniques, along with numerous clinical forms that can be used with individual clients. In the 14 years since the first edition, research has revealed new ideas, justifying this update.

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