Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has already helped millions of people overcome their issues and move their life forward – now it can really help you too. In this busy, demanding and often stressful modern world, it’s a struggle to find time to even think about what your dreams and goals might be, let alone work towards actually realising them. It’s so easy to get stuck in a routine, to opt for the easy answers, to feel a lack of inspiration and motivation and then wind up feeling anxious and depressed. Far from being an exciting or invigorating prospect, the mere idea of changing anything about your life soon seems hard work, scary and something to be avoided. But your life really can be better than it is now - you just need to learn how to really believe it can. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, can lend a hand. It will help you change the way you think and feel about yourself, about others and about the world around. As you begin to feel more positive, more motivated and more confident you’ll soon begin to realise that your future is fully in your control. The scientifically-proven techniques of CBT are a powerful force to harness. Written by a leading psychologist, Change Your Life with CBT will deliver these tried and tested tools in an accessible package full of exercises, examples and practical advice and guidance . So if you’re feeling that your life has got stuck in first gear, or even stuck in reverse, and if you believe that the main thing holding you back is probably yourself, Change Your Life with CBT can help you overcome your barriers and start to achieve your goals at home, at work and throughout your whole life. Table of Contents Contents Acknowledgements Part 1 Understanding the CBT viewpoint 1 How can I change my life with CBT? Time for change The change paradox Why CBT? How does CBT work? Introducing Mr Beck CBT: the popular theory Ideas at the heart of CBT: a taster Can CBT work for me? What would you really like to change? Setting goals Finally, making the decision to change So now the big question: is CBT for you? 2 Understanding what makes you tick Take a fresh look at yourself The CBT viewpoint Understanding how your thoughts tick You have your own unique point of view Resistance to change 3 Noticing your negative thoughts Spot negative thinking in everyday life Understanding emotions the CBT way Negative automatic thoughts Dysfunctional assumptions Core beliefs The forensic approach to your emotions Unhealthy emotions What to do with your Thought Record 4 Tracking and taming your ‘thinking errors’ A self-fulfilling prophecy Identifying 'thinking errors' Beck’s negative Cognitive Triad Top ten thinking errors 5 Testing yourself to get better Hot thoughts and triggers Understanding your own CBT ‘formulation’ Here comes the science bit The Vicious Flower exercise Safety Behaviours Exposure Involving others Reviewing the formulation 6 The ‘Change Your Life with CBT’ Plan: a reminder CBT revision Important reminder Part 2 How to use CBT to make your life better 7 Riding the tiger: overcoming anxiety, panic, trauma, phobias and obsessions What is fear for? Where does anxiety come from? Understanding ‘healthy’ anxiety How to tame your tiger Understanding your anxiety The kinds of anxiety you can experience Handling an anxiety attack effectively Dealing with phobias Dealing with trauma The power of exposure Dealing with obsessions Exercise and anxiety 8 Beating depression: chasing away your ‘little black rain cloud’ Stigma Specific triggers The relationship between anxiety and depression Symptoms of depression Typical depressed negative thoughts Activity scheduling Understanding your depression The main types of depression Understanding and dealing with your depression Maintaining your depression Mood changers Keep yourself active Therapy or drugs? 9 Slaying the dragon: channelling your anger The purpose of anger Healthy vs. unhealthy anger Being assertive vs. being aggressive Repression vs. explosion Understanding the roots of your anger Understanding yourself and your anger better The past is over The CBT approach to anger Learning to channel your anger Be strong, not weak 10 Boosting your confidence and self-esteem How to boost your confidence Remember the ‘change paradox’ Self-acceptance Cost–Benefit Analysis Mindfulness and meditation The way forward The obstacle is the course About the Author: Corinne Sweet is a leading psychologist, life coach, agony aunt, writer, broadcaster and lecturer, with over twenty-five year’s experience. She teaches in higher and adult education and runs a successful counselling/ coaching practice from home. She regularly writes for various publications, including The Guardian, The Independent and The Observer, amongst others. She has also presented on, TalkSPORT, and still appears regularly on many BBC and independent radio stations. Corinne lives in North London.
|