Today we answer six questions submitted by listeners like you: Harald: How can I find the Show Notes for the Feeling Good Podcasts? Kristin: How do you help patients who obsess about past traumatic events, with intrusive thoughts about a cruel ex-lover or bullying by classmates? These thoughts can feed into the idea that their life is miserable and they can't move forward because they feel blocked by these harmful memories. Valentina: How are cognitive distortions, self-defeating beliefs, and fe...
Aug 27, 2018•44 min•Ep. 103
Suicidal thoughts and urges are very common among depressed patients. The vast majority of depressed individuals have thoughts of suicide from time to time, and some struggle with serious suicidal urges. The experts tell us that 10% to 15% of chronically depressed individuals do eventually commit suicide, even if they are receiving treatment for depression. It is hard for me to believe that suicide is that common, but even if it is only 2% or 3%, that's still very significant, especially if you ...
Aug 20, 2018•32 min•Ep. 102
Aug 13, 2018•34 min•Ep. 101
The famed neuroscientist, Dr. Mark Noble, from the University of Rochester, has developed a strong interest in TEAM-CBT and has visited our Tuesday group and Sunday hikes on three occasions this year. I (David) feel very fortunate to have his collaboration and interest! Mark is a Stanford-trained geneticist and molecular biologist who is considered one of founders of the field of stem cell research. He has been developing a model of how TEAM-CBT affects the brain, and graciously agreed to presen...
Aug 06, 2018•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 100
Lisa Nicole Bell is the host of the highly regarded podcast, Behind the Brilliance . In this lively interview, Nicole and David talk about David's path into the mental health field the difficulties and rejections David faced getting his first book, Feeling Good , published David's advice to listeners interested in therapy how he approaches perfectionism, depression, and anxiety with patients the joys of a life free from the need to be special— and much more! Lisa's show delivers a smart and funn...
Jul 30, 2018•59 min•Ep. 99
David and Jill do M = Methods, and show Lee how to respond to his wife more skillfully, using the Five Secrets of Effective Communication (link). Like everyone who is trying to learn the Five Secrets, Lee struggles with several blind spots: "I Feel" Statements. Lee has tremendous difficulties sharing his feelings openly, in a respectful manner. He seems indoctrinated with the cultural idea that men should not be vulnerable and express feelings. Lee makes the common error of "problem solving" ins...
Jul 23, 2018•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 98
David and Jill do A = (Paradoxical) Agenda Setting with Lee, starting with the Invitation: Jill asks Lee if he wants help with the relationship conflict, and if this would be a good time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Lee indicates that he does want help. They review the first two steps of his Relationship Journal, where Lee had recorded one specific thing his wife said to him, and exactly what he said next. Here's what he wrote down: Step 1 – She said: Write down exactly what the other...
Jul 16, 2018•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 97
For the past couple months, Fabrice has asked me to set up a live therapy session to illustrate how to treat troubled relationships using TEAM-CBT. I was fortunate to get an email request from a colleague named Lee who wanted help with his marriage. He explained that his wife was very controlling and critical of him and attributed this to the fact that she had a controlling mother. This is very typical in troubled relationships, most of us are convinced that the problem is the other person's fau...
Jul 09, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 96
How to select the techniques that will be most helpful for various kinds of problems, and how to individualize the treatment for each patient.
Jul 02, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 95
For a long time, Fabrice has wanted to do a show on my list of "Fifty Ways to Untwist Your Thinking" called "Fifty Ways in Fifty Minutes." So we finally did it, and it was fun! If I'm helping you overcome depression or anxiety, I'll ask you to fill out a Daily Mood Log, so you can list your negative thoughts and feelings at some specific moment when you were upset. You may be thinking, "I'm a failure," or "I should not have made that mistake," or "I'm unlovable." Your negative thoughts will near...
Jun 25, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 94
For a long time, Fabrice has wanted to do a show on my list of "Fifty Ways to Untwist Your Thinking" called "Fifty Ways in Fifty Minutes." So we finally did it, and it was fun! If I'm helping you overcome depression or anxiety, I'll ask you to fill out a Daily Mood Log, so you can list your negative thoughts and feelings at some specific moment when you were upset. You may be thinking, "I'm a failure," or "I should not have made that mistake," or "I'm unlovable." Your negative thoughts will near...
Jun 18, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 93
I recently did the first of three interviews with Stephanie James on her superb radio show and podcast, The Spark . Here's how Stephanie described the interview (with minor changes): We have amazing power within us to change our thoughts, our feelings, our actions, and our lives. This episode is an inspirational way to take control of your automatic negative thoughts today and transform them in order to create a more joyful present and a more fulling future. Join us as we talk with the legendary...
Jun 11, 2018•49 min•Ep. 92
I had a magical fantasies of what would happen once I was an "author." The reality was quite the opposite and quite painful, with almost endless rejections accompanied by feelings of self-pity and defeat. For example, soon after publication, I learned my book was at the top of my publisher's "loser list." Then I discovered that magazines, newspapers, and TV and radio shows had no interest in it whatsoever. I hope you enjoy the story. It's all about the celebration of failure and the conversion o...
Jun 04, 2018•28 min•Ep. 91
I was recently interviewed by author, professor, and documentary filmmaker Roy Germano for his outstanding Other Side Podcast. Fabrice and I thought you might enjoy this interview, and Roy graciously gave us permission to share it with you. You will get some personal glimpses into the early days of my career, including why I left academics to pursue a full-time private practice, along with some of controversies about antidepressants. You will also hear a story of what happened when I was trying,...
May 28, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 90
David and Fabrice answer five intriguing questions submitted by listeners: Joshua: How can I cope with panic attacks during job interviews? Dan: I feel traumatized by criticisms from my boss at work. what can I do? Susan: How fast can you taper off of anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants? Ross: What if a patient who's been the victim of trauma or abuse asks for a male therapist? Isn't this a form of avoidance? Should patients be matched to therapists based on gender? Isn't it best to avoid the...
May 21, 2018•34 min•Ep. 89
May 14, 2018•48 min•Ep. 88
The Devil's Advocate Technique is another one of the role-playing techniques in TEAM-CBT. You can use this technique for any habit or addiction, such as: Drug or alcohol abuse Overeating / binge eating Shopping addiction Internet addiction And procrastination, which is our problem for today. David and Fabrice are joined by Sara Shane, a member of David's Tuesday evening psychotherapy Stanford training group for northern California mental health professionals. Sara has volunteered to demonstrate ...
May 07, 2018•27 min•Ep. 87
Apr 30, 2018•47 min•Ep. 86
Apr 23, 2018•32 min•Ep. 85
David describes watching Dr. Maxy Maultsby do a demonstration of the Double Standard Technique when he was a psychiatric resident in the 1970s at the University of Pennsylvania medical school. He was quite surprised when the patient, who was severely depressed and suicidal following a break-up with her boyfriend, improved dramatically within an hour. David modified the technique in several ways, and tonight will present what is probably the most powerful way to use this technique. The technique ...
Apr 16, 2018•27 min•Ep. 84
David's explains that he began developing role-playing techniques in the early days of cognitive therapy because many of the Beckian techniques, such as Examine the Evidence and the Socratic Technique--while sometimes very helpful, were sometimes a bit dry, and he wanted to include punchier and more powerful and dynamic techniques in his therapeutic toolkit. These role-playing techniques are just one part of what sets TEAM-CBT apart from traditional, Beckian CBT. Today, he explains and demonstra...
Apr 09, 2018•39 min•Ep. 83
This interview was first published on Neil Sattin's highly regarded Relationship Alive Podcast . Although some of the material may be familiar, there's much that's new, and you will enjoy the chemistry between Neil and David as they discuss each of the ten cognitive distortions and raise many challenging questions, such as: Is it really true that only our thoughts--and NOT external events--can change the way we feel? If someone has the belief, "I'm unlovable," isn't that type of thought immutabl...
Apr 02, 2018•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 82
In this podcast, David and Fabrice answer five challenging questions submitted by listeners: Galina asks whether we always have to face our fears? Isn't it okay to be anxious sometimes? Courtney asks how to find the supplemental written materials, tests, and diagrams if you have purchased the eBook or audio-book copy of Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy . Carlos asks about the best treatment for smoking cessation. During the discussion, Fabrice asks if Paradoxical Agenda Setting is important fo...
Mar 26, 2018•33 min•Ep. 81
In this podcast, David and Fabrice answer several fascinating questions submitted by listeners: Jackie asks where our distorted thoughts come from, since they are so often irrational and distorted, and inconsistent with the facts. Why do we sometimes beat up on ourselves relentlessly with negative thoughts? Tyler asks if it possible to do TEAM-CBT in conventional, 45 minute sessions. And if so, how? It seems my patients are just warming up by the end of the session, and then we have to start all...
Mar 19, 2018•38 min•Ep. 80
"I'm a failure. . . I'm not good enough. . . My life will be empty and meaningless without . . . " Sound familiar? Sometimes, the messages we get from society, and the impossible standards that we accept, can lead to enormous, intense suffering. Several months ago I received a compelling email from a young woman named Daisy who asked about the message we get from society that lead to suffering. Fabrice and I were so inspired that we devoted an entire Feeling Good Podcast to it (Podcast 038: Nega...
Mar 12, 2018•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 79
Let's face it--nearly all of us fall into the black hole of depression, anxiety, shame, and self-doubt at times. Then it's time to ask yourself what you're telling yourself, write down your negative thoughts, identify the distortions in them, and substitute thoughts that are more positive and realistic. Sound too easy? The results can be mind-blowing! David and Fabrice discuss a therapy session with a woman who had been hiding something about herself for nearly ten years due to feelings of shame...
Mar 05, 2018•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 78
Feb 26, 2018•53 min•Ep. 77
Feb 19, 2018•21 min•Ep. 76
Procrastination is one of the most common causes of unhappiness, and this bad habit is almost universal. We all put off the tasks we dread because they make us anxious, and because we're tempted to do other things that are way more rewarding. But the longer you procrastinate, the worse you feel, and this robs you of motivation. As a result, you fall into a vicious cycle where procrastination triggers negative feelings like depression, anxiety, and guilt, and your negative feelings, in turn, redu...
Feb 12, 2018•36 min•Ep. 75
David begins with a brief discussion of the philosophy of happiness, including the ancient Buddhist idea that everything in the universe is transitory and constantly changing, including our positive and negative moods, so the idea that you will be hopelessly depressed forever, or endless happy, are both illusions. Happiness, or pleasure, are transitory, and can only be achieved at specific moments. However, you can significantly increase the number and duration of the happy periods in your life....
Feb 05, 2018•25 min•Ep. 74
