In modern Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), discovering and developing individuals’ strengths, values, and aspirations are emphasized throughout treatment, drawing on important principles from Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R). Connection, meaning, and purpose become powerful tools that motivate people to overcome challenges, learn important skills, and develop resilience as they work toward their goals. Recently, we connected with New Leash on Life, a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia that uses animal-assisted therapy to help justice-impacted individuals tap into their strengths ..read more

Allen R. Miller, PhD, MBA When violent conflict erupts, it is natural for the public to react strongly. People who bear witness feel a range of emotions, including anger, sorrow, disgust, horror, fear, and grief. Violence is not new. Throughout history, violence has been a common way to resolve differences among individuals, groups, and nations. Nations have conquered nations, rival groups have fought for supremacy, and intimate partners have controlled one another with threats and actions. Imposing one’s will on others can force immediate compliance, but the long-term consequences are often ..read more

Stefanie T. LoSavio, PhD, ABPP, Beck Institute Faculty Trauma is ubiquitous in mental health settings, and many clients suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fortunately, PTSD is treatable, especially with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Clinical practice guidelines recommend CBT that is “trauma-focused,” which involves approaching the trauma memory directly so that recovery can occur. In CBT, we work to identify key cognitions—thoughts that, if addressed, are most likely to lead to symptom improvement. When considering key cognitions to address in trauma-focused CBT, it’s impor ..read more

Beck Institute hosts on-demand and live virtual trainings in CBT and Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R) throughout the year. Our expert faculty present courses on a wide range of conditions, helping health and mental health practitioners develop skills to help their clients more effectively.   In addition to our various on-demand courses and webinars, there are many interesting live trainings coming up to take advantage of.  CBT Training Online: Course Categories  Bipolar Disorder | Chronic Pain | Insomnia | Relationships | Depression | Trauma CBT for Bipolar Disorder Wo ..read more

Catastrophic Thinking: A Transdiagnostic Process Across Psychiatric Disorders Norman Cotterell, Ph.D. Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy Beck and Gellatly (2016) propose that catastrophic thinking is a central feature in psychopathology. Such thinking magnifies both the immediate and eventual consequences of any perceived threat. A variety of disorders can be conceptualized as such: Clients magnify external threats (accidents, attacks, arson) but most notably misinterpret and magnify perceived internal threats. Sensations, thoughts, and emotions are seen as signs of immediate physi ..read more

Patrick McElwaine, PsyD, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and a Beck Institute CBT Certified Clinician. Dr. McElwaine is an Associate Professor and the program director of the Graduate Counseling Psychology Program at Holy Family University and is a faculty member at Beck Institute. Dr. McElwaine has taught 33 workshops at Beck Institute.  Dr. McElwaine has been working in the psychology field for more than 25 years. His expertise lies in suicide prevention, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and substance use disorder (SUD). He has seen all sid ..read more

Rosanna Sposato, PsyD, specializes in CBT for a variety of disorders and presenting problems. She has led Beck Institute workshops geared toward mental health professionals as well as organizations. In her work with our Training for Organizations program this year, she has provided trainings focused on treating veterans, active-duty military, and their families for Cohen Veterans Network, Fort Hood, and the US Air Force. Prior to providing trainings for BI, Dr. Sposato completed her postdoctoral internship studying under Dr. Aaron T. Beck at UPenn and stayed on as a staff member. She began wor ..read more

Trauma Treatment: Evidence-Based Approaches versus Intuituve Approaches By Aaron Brinen, PsyD Sitting in her first session, a 24-year old, anxious woman sat across from the therapist. She was clearly anxious and uncomfortable in the office. She had been referred by a crisis center due to a complex and persistent case of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a prolonged assault. The therapist assessed her symptoms and history of treatment. The client described at least four courses of “trauma therapy.” The dialogue regarding her past therapy experiences went as follows: Woman: T ..read more

Exposure Strategies for PTSD Treatment By Aaron Brinen, PsyD Although Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was originally codified in the DSM-III as an anxiety disorder, clinicians working with survivors know that the shame and guilt experienced by these clients are some of the most toxic and difficult emotions to work with. While it can be expected that following a horrifying trauma a survivor would experience terror, the shame or guilt associated with self-blame for the event entangles the mind. In a recent study, Langkaas and colleagues (2017) hypothesized that in individuals with PTS ..read more

Behavioral Activation Tip Robert Hindman, PhD Depressed clients often isolate themselves from others and withdraw from life. A depressed client of mine I’ll call Adam did exactly this. He began feeling depressed after his marriage ended. He stopped responding to calls and social invitations from friends and family members. He also stopped going to the gym and gave up his favorite hobby, golfing. When clients withdraw from life, they give up any chance of meaningful or pleasurable experiences, so their depression is more likely to continue and become more intense. To counter the isolation and w ..read more