Divorcebusting.com Forums Open Forums For Newcomers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Temporary thread

I've finally decided to leave my IC after admitting that I've been paying for a decent, gentle, validating listener who has offered me no advice, no challenges, no tools/skills, no new approaches.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has piqued my interest.

I'd appreciate hearing from any who have experienced it. Advice, how to select/what to ask, what to expect, success, etc.
Thanks.

read up on Aaron Beck, Albert Ellis and Martin Seligman. I have never done any CBT but have read these three and it makes sense to me.

Change your thoughts, change your emotions, change your actions. TEA.

Dr. David Burns has an excellent book, which includes exercises, called "The Feeling Good Handbook".

Hi Gardener,
I do agree - I think a therapist needs to challenge their clients with trying new tools, strategies and actions. I know mine does and although it's tough to be pushed out of my comfort zone, that's the only way I seem to learn!

Your post caught my eye and thought because I think that's similar to what my IC is doing with me. When I first started working with her she had me start a list of what emotions I was having, and what event or thought triggered it. Then in our meetings we discuss actions I need to take to improve the situations and thoughts that have been causing me difficulty.

Granted, I've still got a lot to work through, but compared to where I was after Christmas, I've come a long ways. Oh, and also, my IC recommended my H and I read 'Hold Me Tight' by Dr Sue Johnson. Excellent, excellent read. Now this book is based on Emotionally Focussed therapy and Attachment Theory, (don't quite get the difference between those and CBT) but I've learned more from it than any other self-help book I've read.

Don't know if any of that helps or not, but thought I'd share in case it does! Good luck with your search!

Whoopsie! {Blush!} With regards to books, my IC recommended I read BOTH Hold Me Tight and the DB! And I meant to say that I've learned more from them BOTH than any other self-help books I've read to date. Yeesh sorry about that!

Hey Gardener,

I don't know that much about CBT, have read a little and it sounds good... makes sense that changing our thoughts would lead to changing our emotions and behaviors.

I just wanted to suggest finding an IC that does EMDR if you feel you have experienced emotional trauma during your sitch. I have had one EMDR session and it was unbelievable helpful for me. You can read more on my thread if you are interested, and you can google info on it.

Just a suggestion...

Hope you are doing well my friend! Listening to some more BTO?

Thanks, Coach.

Thank you all. Excellent resources and suggestions.

Sorry to highjack this thread . . . my wife is supposed to start EMDR next week. Does it work???

http://www.feelinggood.com/books.htm


The Feeling Good handbook and When Anxiety Attack books are based in that approach.


Some interesting CBT worksheets and mood logs:

http://www.specialtybehavioralhealth.com/pdfs-cognitive-behavioral-therapy