Description
Book SynopsisCognitive therapy, a core approach within a collection of psychotherapeutic techniques known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is fundamentally about changing peoples'' thoughts-helping them overcome difficulties by recognizing and changing dysfunctional thinking styles. Among other strategies, it requires encouraging the development of skills for rehearsing new habits of thought, modifying biases in judging and interpreting social and emotional information, and for testing assumptions underlying dysfunctional and negative, distorted thinking. In How and Why Thoughts Change, Dr. Ian Evans deconstructs the nature of cognitive therapy by examining the cognitive element of CBT, that is, how and why thoughts change behavior and emotion. There are a number of different approaches to cognitive therapy, including the classic Beck approach, the late Albert Ellis''s rational-emotive psychotherapy, Young''s schema-focused therapy, and newer varieties such as mindfulness training, Acceptance
Trade ReviewA very good read for any current or aspiring cognitive and behavioural therapist. * Carla Lane, The Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy *
Every now and then, and this book is a prime representative, almost every page has indicators of importance and, in some cases, whole pages and series of pages. . . It is very thought-provoking, clear, thorough, and well done. * Howard A. Paul, PhD, ABPP; Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 38:1, April 2016 *
The book is refreshingly non-partisan and does not attempt to convince the reader of the superiority of any particular approach to cognitive psychotherapy. Instead it discusses essential concepts, reviews the most important research in a clear and succinct way, and helps readers draw their own conclusions about the value of any particular approach. Rather than concentrating on unhelpful 'problematic' thinking, this book focuses on thinking that is constructive * that does us good, solves problems, improves relationships, and leads to better mental health including positive feelings and positive behavior change. The author's highly personable, non-technical, clear, and occasionally humorous writing style makes the content not only accessible to academics but to anyone interested in modern psychotherapy.Georg H. Eifert, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Crean College of Health & Behavioral Sciences, Chapman University *
Further advancing How and Why People Change (Evans, 2013), Evans presents the 'broadest possible interpretation of what cognitive therapy is all about' in this remarkable synthesis of diverse cognitive therapies with plenty of clinical case examples. Written in a beautiful style, How and Why Thoughts Change is a must-read for graduate students and professional clinical psychologists to appreciate general principles and methods of positive cognitive change in psychotherapies. * Junko Tanaka-Matsumi, Ph.D., Dean, School of Humanities, and Professor of Psychology, Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan, and Professor Emeritus, Hofstra University *
Evidence-based accounts of cognitive change in psychological therapies are still in the process of being refined. In this latest contribution, Dr. Ian Evans provides an important and timely conceptual synthesis of change mechanisms and how interventions directly and indirectly target a client's negatively biased thought content and process. The result is an elegant account of cognitive and cognitive-behavior therapies that will be useful for individualized case formulation and treatment planning, and the provision of clear rationales for interventions during consultation sessions. * Nikolaos Kazantzis, PhD, Associate Professor and Director the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Research Unit, Monash University, and author of The Therapeutic Relationship in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Cognitive and Behavior Theories in Clinical Practice *
Engaging, humorous, enlightening, and well-paced I would suggest that any practitioner who is interested in what a client thinks about their situation will benefit from reading ^iHow and Why Thoughts Change^r. I would also recommend it to clinical and counselling psychology students, as a foundational text which should be read before they dive into hardcore cognitive therapy. * Psychology Aotearoa *
Table of ContentsContents ; Preface ; Chapter 1: Introduction: Cogito Ergo Sum ; Chapter 2: Changing Thoughts in Practice: The Basic Concepts of Cognitive Therapies ; Chapter 3: Thinking About Thoughts ; Chapter 4: The "Stream" of Consciousness: Mind-wandering, Introspection, Rumination, ; Meditation, and Mindfulness ; Chapter 5: Distorted Thoughts ; Chapter 6: How Thoughts Influence Mood and Feelings-Or Is It the Other Way Around? ; Chapter 7: How Thoughts Lead to Action-and Why They Sometimes Do Not ; Chapter 8: General Principles of How and Why Thoughts Change ; Chapter 9: Can Cognitive Treatments Be Enhanced? ; References ; About the Author
