The Behavioral Activation Workbook for Depression: Powerful Strategies to Boost Your Mood and Build a Better Life

by Nina Josefowitz, Zindel V. Segal (Foreword), Stephen R. Swallow

Increase motivation, improve your mood, and build a better life—one step at a time. Do you often feel sad, numb, or hopeless? Are you overwhelmed by seemingly small things, or feel mentally or physically exhausted all the time? Do you find yourself easily agitated, or have difficulty concentrating? Have you lost interest in activities you normally enjoy? If so, you may be suffering from depression. It’s important to know that you aren’t alone, and there is hope for recovery. If you feel stuck in a negative cycle of low mood, lack of motivation, and feelings of despair, this workbook can help you find your way out. Grounded in evidence-based behavioral activation —a powerfully effective treatment for depression—this workbook offers an array of actionable strategies to increase motivation, connect with what matters, manage difficult thoughts and feelings, and start engaging in life again. You’ll also find skills grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—the gold standard for treating mental health issues such as depression—to help you develop a mood-boosting activity plan (and stick with it!). Finally, you’ll find tips and tools drawn from mindfulness, self-compassion, and gratitude to boost feelings of positivity and hope. Often the hardest step toward better mental health is the first one, but you don’t have to take that step alone. With this workbook, you’ll learn how to overcome the inertia of your depression, so you can once again engage in the activities that you enjoy, and that give you a sense of meaning and purpose in life.

200 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2024

Reviews

[Rebecca Epstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I unreservedly recommend Drs. Josefowitz and Swallows' excellent contribution to the Behavioral Activation and CBT therapeutic approaches to the treatment of depression . The book beautifully deconstructs overwhelming despairing thoughts and behaviors making the authors' suggestions and micro dissections very doable.The book is appealing because it is conversational, compassionate straightforward, no nonsense and most importantly HOPEFUL. This is all accomplished in the context of a deep knowledge and understanding of how debilitating and complex it is to live with depresssion. I have purchased these workbooks, given them to my clients and worked along side with them to start the process.The results are positive and encouraging. I hope to see foreign translations soon.
Dr. Rebecca Epstein Berkeley, California

[Elyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This workbook offers a step-by-step guide to combat depression using behavioral activation. I've incorporated many of the strategies in therapy sessions and found them helpful for my clients.