The Judgment Trap: Why We Judge, How It Hurts Us, and How to Break Free

by Matthew McKay, Erica Pool, Stephanie Catella

Find liberation from self-criticism, unleash your potential, and thrive in an increasingly challenging and judgmental world. Do you ever feel trapped in a culture of comparison, cancellation, and us-against-them thinking? Have you struggled with mental health issues such as anger, anxiety, or depression? Do you feel like you’ll never be attractive enough, smart enough, or successful enough? In our modern world of information overload and social media, it’s easy to measure ourselves against total strangers, and likewise, to cast judgment on others. But what if this judgment is actually the source of our suffering?Written by a dream team of mental health professionals and drawing on decades of clinical experience and cutting-edge research, this groundbreaking guide offers profound and practical insight to overcome “the judgment trap”—once and for all. Using proven-effective techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness practices, and insights from spiritual traditions such as Buddhism, you’ll learn to identify and challenge negative self-narratives, cultivate self-compassion, and build a lifelong foundation based on your most cherished values.You’ll discover four key skills to strengthen your mental health and Practice mindfulness to overcome negative thoughts Embrace what is and accept what you cannot change Cultivate kindness and compassion for yourself and othersValues-based Act on deeply held values, rather than impulseAnd, most importantly, you’ll learn to practice radical nonjudgment—awareness and acceptance of what is—to guide your life choices and cultivate wisdom, gratitude, connection, and joy.

168 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 1, 2026

About the author

Matthew McKay, PhD, is a professor of psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, and author of more than 30 professional psychology and self-help books which have sold a combined total of more than 3 million copies. He is co-founder of independent self-help publisher, New Harbinger Publications. He was the clinical director of Haight Ashbury Psychological Services in San Francisco for twenty five years. He is current director of the Berkeley CBT Clinic. An accomplished novelist and poet, his poetry has appeared in two volumes from Plum Branch Press and in more than sixty literary magazines. His most recent novel, Wawona Hotel, was
published by Boaz Press in 2008.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked to write an endorsement for this book. I can alway count on Matt McKay to write a relevant book. It seems like now, more than ever, is a great time to get in touch with our judgments.