Practical CBT : using functional analysis, problem-maintaining-circles, and standardised homework in everyday therapy

It is the clinician’s task to take what they know works and to tailor it to the person seeking their help. Successfully “selling” this therapeutic model to the client relies on clearly explaining what is happening and reinforcing session achievements with effective change-directed homework. Practical CBT is designed for a range of mental health professionals who have a thorough grounding in cognitive–behaviour therapy and use it day-to-day in their practice. The book provides explicit assessment-to-treatment pathways with links to over 45 tried and tested ready-to-use homework scripts covering a range of common therapy issues including self-monitoring, self-esteem, decision making, depression, anxiety, sleep, and anger. The author is a highly experienced clinician with a firm adherence to the scientist-practitioner model and the use of evidence-based protocols. Whether a client's initial presenting problem is expressed in terms of situational stresses, negative cognitions, uncomfortable feelings, or maladaptive behaviours, may be of interest because it can reveal the client's focus, psychological model, or preoccupation. But it is the clinician's task to fill out the picture by asking for details about: (a) the presenting problem's frequency, duration, intensity, triggers, current attempts to cope, and so on ('How often have the memory flashbacks happened to you in the past week?'). This can be termed a 'narrow' functional analysis. (b)the cognitive, behavioural, affective, and situational correlates, causes, and consequences of the presenting problem ('When you're in a crowded shop, what are you saying in your head that makes you so nervous?'). This can be viewed as a broader or CBT functional analysis. (c) some universally important factors in psychological coping, such as support network, medications, employment, and so on Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Why CBT? A CBT Model The Initial Assessment Assessment-To-Treatment Decision Pathways Homework Prescriptions Self-Monitoring Homework Prescriptions Self-esteem, Assertiveness and Self-efficacy Homework Prescriptions Self-organisation/Decision-making Homework Prescriptions Depression Management Homework Prescriptions Sleep Homework Prescriptions Anxiety Management Homework Prescriptions Anger Management Homework Prescriptions Situational Factors Script 1 Self-Efficacy, Self-Esteem Restoration. Script 2 Introducing the CBT ModelScript 3 Individualised PMCs Script 4 Common or Expected Prognosis Script 5 Not Just 'Talk Therapy' Script 6 Education About Normal Anxiety, Grief, and Trauma Reactions References.