Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Master Your Brain and Emotions to Overcome Anxiety, Depression and Negative Thoughts

by Bill Andrews

Most of us are trapped in a roller-coaster of ‘automatic’ thoughts, emotions, and actions. Try as hard as we might, when we see certain people or heard certain things, we get emotional. These intense emotions then trigger us to say certain things out of habit. We also often feel pushed to act a certain way. This all plays out so quickly we feel we really have no control about it. Very much like being on a roller-coaster. Might as well just brace yourself for the ride, right? After all, it’s too easy to conclude that your ‘automatic’ reactions of fear, anxiety, depression, or anger are simply part of ‘who you are as a person!’ Well, you don’t have to keep making the same wrong decisions over and over again. You don’t have to be miserable, powerless, or small. You don’t have to keep defining yourself as a person who doesn’t have much power over your life and your world. What if I told you that you CAN get off the careening roller-coaster. that is your life? What if you can put an end to negative emotional reactions that consistently and constantly put you in a bad spot? The answer? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is a one of the most respected, thoroughly tested, and vetted psychiatric counseling systems in existence. Countless people have been liberated from personal prisons of helplessness, powerlessness, failure, anxiety, depression, and compulsive behaviors. Best of all, CBT doesn’t necessarily involve mind altering medication, hypnosis, or electro shock therapy. Instead, CBT works with a very basic whatever negative thoughts, psychology, verbal and habitual behavioral patterns you have are products of how you choose to interpret situations. These interpretations, in turn, are products of certain ‘truths’ you choose to believe. CBT zeroes in on the central fact that you have a lot of choice in how your life plays out. By simply choosing to think in a different way and interpret certain experiences differently, you can produce a massive positive change in your life. You no longer have to feel like certain negative mental and emotional states are natural and ‘automatic’ responses to certain triggers in your life. This workbook teaches you key Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy principles that will enable you to become a happier, more fulfilled, more effective, and more content person. Stop thinking that your world is spiraling out of control or you don’t have control over your life. This book/ guide teaches simple clear techniques that will enable you to start living life to the fullest.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 21, 2017

Reviews

[Cara Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straightforward

Easy, non jargon filled. Very handy book. Very easy to follow. Much easier for people to retain the information given.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A general guide on mastering the brain and emotions. These are effective techniques but one can only do it with full dedication.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative easy read. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a very important therapeutic/counselling method which helps thousands of people with various emotional and psychological issues. We all need a little help every once in a while. CBT practitioners don’t need either a psychology or medical degree so it is a welcome change to have a therapeutic technique that can be taught to many people wishing to learn to become practitioners which can help so many patients. This book concentrates on overcoming shyness and pushing one’s boundaries, which is only really possible when we have a more positive mental image of ourselves to have the confidence to overcome our often self-imposed insecurity of our reality. I would strongly recommend reading this book even if you don’t suffer from self-doubt because it can help to centre one' thoughts, identify areas that need improvement and adopt a more realistic image of ourselves. CBT involves some great relaxation techniques, irrespective whether one goes into transcendental meditation or simply practice deep breathing techniques. The message of this book is to ‘stay in charge and don’t allow negative feelings to run your life’.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads much more as a handbook for therapists than a layman's guide. It briefly touches on the benefits of CBT and how some facets of the therapy can be performed. However, the writing is highly academic and anyone without at least a basic knowledge of Cognitive Psychology will likely get lost.

That said, it is a handy (and short) guide to a highly effective (though relatively complicated) therapy. But if you don't have some background, you'll definitely struggle.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Angel Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is loaded with the tools needed to begin your journey to healing your negative thoughts and removing yourself from the dark cycle of repetition which leads to inevitable failure. Anything can be accomplished if you truly put in your best efforts. The author is also teaching from personal experience so you can be assured it's not a gimmick, healing CAN be achieved. This is a tool to help yourself and to teach and help others. It's never too late to transform yourself into the best person you can possibly be! Best of luck to us all!

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great choice for a generalized but concise introduction to CBT for a layman. Profound concepts are explained to allow for anyone off the street to get an idea as to how they can begin to make sense of themselves and the world around them.

I recommend this book for Intro Psych students, Jordan Peterson or Joseph Campbell fans or anyone who is ready to stop making excuses for what's going on in their lives and is ready to fix it.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview

Writing is predominantly clear and concise. Occasionally the reader can get confused with the pronouns, at least I did. I came away with an understanding of the main tenants of cbt. Also some of the struggles people face with applying it to their lives. I wish he would have addressed how or when to engage a professional.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this book to help me figure strategies for working with students. While helpful, it’s Chris focus is adults. Regardless, some of the techniques may be adaptable to the adolescent frame of mind.

[Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read and understand and implement

I am a former social worker so read lots of books about mental health. But this spells out actions clearly and easily. Since many people cannot get to clinics now, this is very helpful.

[Santosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read!!

Good read for everyone. It will definitely change the perspective on how we see the world! Very concise so can be read in one go.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great guide for someone like me with zero background.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Andrews made it easy for me to understand the broad meaning of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and its purpose. It was an informative read.

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book saved me on my research paper. Almost all I need to know about it's basic are stated here in straight forward manner.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but meaningful.

[Ansherina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fruitful read.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking

Makes you more of yourself, you relate to yourself and experiences and thoughts as you read.
Open mindedness is a must!

[Jim Pellerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This is exactly what I was looking for. Explained the problem and gave me a solution without needing all the history aND technical definitions of CBT.

[Pennycuts · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this long and repetitively

[Christiane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so distracted by the abysmal writing and total lack of editing that I could hardly concentrate on the content which seems to be a mishmash of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Buddhism and psychobabble.