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The Art of CBT: Individualised strategies to respond to common obstacles in therapy

$31.77  Paperback
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Chris Basten Australian author

  • The Art of CBT
  • The Art of CBT
    A master class in CBT: discover the art within the science of evidence-based practice.

168 pages
2019
ISBN: 9781925644302

A master class in CBT - discover the art within the science of evidence-based practice.

Chris Basten is a highly experienced therapist who has worked in public health and the private sector for over 25 years. He regularly trains psychologists and other health professionals in CBT and motivational interviewing. Now you can benefit from his clinical wisdom, years of practice, and study of the therapy process, distilled into this unique practical handbook.

The Art of CBT provides structured strategies and tips for any therapist who encounters common challenges, such as:

  • poor compliance with homework,
  • emotional avoidance,
  • the client struggling to identify which cognition to target,
  • difficulties maintaining boundaries, and
  • trouble dealing with the harder parts of CBT.

Chapters include content on building and maintaining motivation, and how to keep therapy focused and on track. An examination of the therapeutic relationship offers a concise summary of a wide-ranging topic area that even experienced clinicians will find illuminating. A chapter on cognitive therapy includes creative ways to uncover automatic thoughts and some new ways to engage all levels of cognition into therapy more easily (metacognitions, hidden assumptions, hot cognitions, rules and core beliefs). Readers will also discover a checklist to ensure that your behavioural experiments are effective.

Also included are practical ideas for building case conceptualisations or individual formulations, encompassing where to start your formulation sketch, how to use multiple formulations for the one client, establishing a rationale for treatment and incorporating comorbidity. The individualised nature of therapy is encouraged consistent with a transdiagnostic approach to complex psychopathology. The highly readable text is supplemented by practical examples of therapist statements and client case examples that unfold as you read. It is ideal for clinicians who wish to practice an evidence-based therapy but need to adapt CBT flexibly to negotiate the roadblocks that so commonly occur in the therapy process.

While CBT textbooks and manuals have their limits, The Art of CBT is the essential clinical handbook for all CBT practitioners.

Table of Contents

About the Author

Preface

Chapter 1: Three case studies

  • Amanda: A 31-year-old single woman experiencing panic attacks
  • Neil: 53-year-old married man with depression
  • Monica: 21-year-old woman with social anxiety, anxiety attacks and worry that causes a sleep disturbance

Chapter 2: Tailoring your formulations

  • Theoretical context
  • Tips on developing helpful formulations
  • Highlights and take-home messages

Chapter 3: Developing, managing and using the therapeutic relationship

  • What is the therapeutic relationship and alliance?
  • How important is the TA and relationship?
  • Therapist qualities and skills that deepen the bond and therapeutic alliance
  • Ways to monitor and measure the strength of your TA
  • Noticing and managing ruptures
  • Case studies
  • Working on your therapeutic relationships
  • Is there a risk of overemphasising the TA?
  • Highlights and take-home messages

Chapter 4: Understanding and maintaining motivational dynamics

  • What is motivation?
  • Understanding readiness to change
  • Common reasons for ambivalence
  • Key strategies to build motivation
  • Important caveats
  • Highlights and take-home messages

Chapter 5: Working with all levels of cognition

  • How to help clients identify their emotions and thoughts for cognitive therapy
  • Accessing automatic thoughts
  • Hot cognitions
  • Implicit assumptions
  • Metacognitions
  • Core beliefs
  • Summary: Identifying the right cognition to challenge
  • Highlights and take-home messages

Chapter 6: Creative behavioural experiments

  • The nine elements of a good behavioural experiment
  • Troubleshooting with behavioural experiments
  • Highlights and take-home messages

Chapter 7: Getting on track and staying on track: Avoiding therapeutic drift

  • Responsibility
  • Staying on track with homework
  • How does therapeutic drift occur?
  • Highlights and take-home messages
  • References

Appendix A: Four Visual Analogue Scales for Assessing Willingness

Appendix B: Layers of Cognition — Blank Client Worksheet

Appendix C: Worksheet to Practice Identifying Cognitions

Appendix D:

  • Part A. Client Handout on How to Learn Cognitive Therapy
  • Part B. A Brief Formula for Thought Challenging
  • Part C. Practicing Cognitive Therapy at an Effective Level

Appendix E: Example of a Behavioural Experiment Worksheet

Appendix F: Client Worksheet for the End of Each Consultation

Appendix G: Handout for Clients on Effective Therapy