Evidence-Based Practice of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

From leading experts in the field—a practicing clinical psychologist and a renowned psychotherapy researcher—this book synthesizes the evidence base for cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and translates it into practical clinical guidelines. The focus is how clinicians can use current research findings to provide the best care in real-world practice settings. Within a case formulation framework, core cognitive and behavioral theories and techniques are described and illustrated with vivid case examples. The authors also discuss managing everyday treatment challenges; separating CBT myths from facts; and how to develop a successful CBT practice and optimize the quality of services.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Christopher J. Graver, PhD(Madigan Army Medical Center)
Description:Psychotherapy has always been entrenched in the realities of business, whether it is in terms of private practice or work in a clinic or hospital setting. Many training programs ignore the business aspects and instead focus on the therapeutic approaches themselves. This book takes a broader look at cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a practice within a larger healthcare and business setting.
Purpose:The intent is to provide instruction in CBT techniques and to do so within the larger systemic context without losing sight of the empirical basis for the approach.
Audience:The authors point out that this book is principally intended for individuals learning psychotherapy in the field of psychology, psychiatry, and mental health. They also hope that the ideas will reinforce the work being done by seasoned clinicians and offer some small nuggets of additional wisdom. The authors are university faculty and practicing clinicians.
Features:A case study runs throughout this book and each chapter includes abstracts. The book begins with an outline of an intake interview. There are suggestions for standardized measures, as well as a couple of very useful tables delineating pertinent information to gather and ways to phrase questions for different parts of the interview. Next the book describes the integration of information and case conceptualization with a sample report. Planning for therapy is next with a discussion of how goal setting in research may or may not apply to clinical settings. A sample therapy contract is provided to set realistic expectations and to specify business aspects of therapy, such as fee structure and policies. Single chapters cover basic skills, behavioral change, restructuring cognitions, and modifying core beliefs. While this is a good introduction to CBT, readers should not expect comprehensive instruction in CBT. The authors continue to weave in the practicalities of conducting CBT in a practical setting with some suggestions about how to make the most of the limited sessions clinicians have. There are discussions of the empirical basis for CBT, as well as common myths associated with this approach. Finally, a chapter is dedicated to starting a practice and methods for assuring competence of practitioners. The Cognitive Therapy Scale is included as an appendix.
Assessment:This is a worthwhile book for students becoming familiar with CBT. It reviews the tenets of CBT and updates information from classic texts. The integration of practical issues is valuable for navigating the systemic constraints placed on therapy by business realities. Supervisors and clinical faculty would greatly benefit from the book's resources in the instruction of trainees.

Deborah Dobson, PhD, is a psychologist with the Calgary Health Region and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Calgary. She also maintains a private practice, where she provides assessments and cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult clients, and is Director of Clinical Training for the Calgary Consortium in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Dobson is the President of the Board of the Canadian Mental Health Association-Calgary Division and was the Chair of the Clinical Section for the Canadian Psychological Association from 2007 to 2008. Her professional interests include client access to empirically supported treatments, clinical training, consumer advocacy, and cognitive-behavioral therapies.

Keith S. Dobson, PhD, is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary, where he is also Head of Psychology and Co-Leader of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute Depression Research Program. Dr. Dobson’s research has focused on cognitive models and mechanisms in depression and the treatment of depression, particularly using cognitive-behavioral therapies. His research has resulted in over 150 published articles and chapters, 8 books, and numerous conference and workshop presentations in many countries. In addition, he has written about developments in professional psychology and ethics. A past President of the Canadian Psychological Association, he is President of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and President-Elect of the International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy. Dr. Dobson is a recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Profession of Psychology.