Will Baum, LCSW

CBTer Judith Beck uses a client vignette to look at guilt and the “shoulds.”

John holds certain values quite dear and believes he is violating those values when he doesn’t quite live up to them. He is plagued with the shoulds: I SHOULD work harder; I SHOULD be a better husband/father/son/sister/community member. Every time John perceives that he is failing to live up to his exacting standards, he criticizes himself. He always feels he is lacking in one important area or another. John doesn’t have a psychiatric disorder. He isn’t suffering deeply. On the other hand, though, he doesn’t have peace of mind…

And here, a PT blogger provides a simple antidote: “I wish…” “I’d prefer…”

It’s free clinic day again at SCCC.  Just show up 2-6pm today (Oct 3, 2010) at 5615 W. Pico to get some one-on-one CBT help.  Not sure what CBT is?  Here’s my rundown.

WebMD reports on a new study: Anger Increases Pain in Women.  Treatment–in this case CBT–shown to help.

Treatment effects were significant, showing positive differences in pain, fatigue, and functional disability, and in anxiety and negative mood, the researchers say. “Our results demonstrate that offering high-risk [fibromyalgia] patients a treatment tailored to their cognitive behavioral patterns at an early stage after the diagnosis is effective in improving both short- and long-term physical and psychological outcomes,”

Science Daily:  Addressing Negative Thoughts Most Effective in Fighting Loneliness

[T]he four interventions that helped people break the cycle of negative thoughts about self-worth and how people perceive them were the most effective at reducing loneliness. Studies that used cognitive-behavioral therapy, a technique also used for treating depression, eating disorders and other problems, were found to be particularly effective.

A new page on the site begins to describe Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and links to the list of Cognitive Distortions and a blank ABCD Thought Log.

For everything–description, Cognitive Distortions, and Thought Log–in one package, click here (pdf).

Interested in trying CBT?  Call to discuss and make an appointment: (323) 610-0112.

Yes, free therapy:  The monthly Free CBT Clinic at the Southern California Counseling Center runs again today (Sept. 5, 2010) at 2 – 6pm.  No appointment necessary.  Just show up, get a free consultation:  5615 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019.  Future dates are announced on the clinic’s facebook page and  web page.

PsychCentral:  Train Brain To Reduce Cravings.

Smokers who are taught cognitive strategies, such as thinking about the long-term consequences of smoking, show increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain associated with cognitive control and rational thought.

It’s that time again:  the free CBT clinic at the Southern California Counseling Center runs from 2 to 6pm today, August 1st.  My quick interview with clinic founder, John Tsilimparis, is here.  The clinic website is here.

Judith Beck’s debut at the Huffington Post: The How and Why of Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

[N]ot all psychotherapy is the same. Some modalities have a strong evidence base that demonstrates their effectiveness. Other modalities have never been shown to be effective. Yet they continue to be practiced by psychotherapists who consider an evidence base to be unimportant.

Her collected posts are here (a second went up yesterday).

CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) quickly outlined in an NYT interview.  Simple and straightforward enough to invite DIY CBT-I–do it yourself:

Self-help books offering CBT-I are also available. Two that I really like are“The Insomnia Answer,” by Paul Glovinsky and Art Spielman, and “Quiet Your Mind and Get to Sleep,” by Colleen E. Carney and Rachel Manber.