Summary of Seth J. Gillihan, Ph.D.'s Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Cognitive behavioral therapy is a solution-focused form of psychotherapy designed to reduce symptoms and boost well-being as quickly as possible. It includes both a cognitive component, which focuses on changing problematic patterns of thinking, and a behavioral component, which helps develop actions that serve us well. #2 The first half of the twentieth century saw the rise of psychoanalysis, which was based on Sigmund Freud’s theory of the mind and involved meeting regularly with a therapist for several years. Behavior therapy was developed by individuals like psychiatrist Joseph Wolpe and psychologist Arnold Lazarus. #3 The idea that our thoughts have powerful effects on our feelings and behaviors was first proposed by psychiatrist Aaron T. Beck and psychologist Albert Ellis. They believed that our misery arises from our thoughts, and that treatment first needed to identify the offending thoughts and then work to replace them with more accurate and helpful ones. #4 Cognitive and behavioral therapies are complementary and have been integrated into CBT. When we’re feeling anxious, we tend to have thoughts about danger, which increase our anxiety. These thoughts and feelings make us more likely to avoid what we fear, which reinforces our anxiety.