The Stress Solution: Using Empathy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Anxiety and Develop Resilience

by Arthur P. Ciaramicoli

Therapeutic tools for fighting the anxiety, fear, and depression caused by stress

“We work too much, sleep too little, love with half a heart, and wonder why we are unhappy and unhealthy,” writes clinical psychologist Arthur Ciaramicoli. In The Stress Solution , Ciaramicoli provides readers with simple, realistic, powerful techniques for using empathy and cognitive behavioral therapy to perceive situations accurately, correct distorted thinking, and trigger our own neurochemistry to produce calm, focused energy. He developed this approach over thirty-five years of working with clients struggling with depression, anxiety, and addictions. Over and over again, he has helped sufferers overcome old hurts and combat performance anxiety, fears, and excessive worry. Ciaramicoli’s pioneering approach offers new promise to readers facing a variety of stress-based concerns.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology, Nonfiction, Health

232 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2016

About the author

Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, Ed.D., Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been treating clients for more than 30 years. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Massachusetts Psychological Association. Currently in private practice, Dr. Ciaramicoli has been on the faculty of Harvard Medical School for several years, lecturer for the American Cancer Society, Chief Psychologist at Metrowest Medical Center, and director of the Metrowest Counseling Center and of the Alternative Medicine division of Metrowest Wellness Center in Framingham, Massachusetts.

In addition to treating patients, Dr. Ciaramicoli is a consultant to the Johns Hopkins Civility Initiative, and has lectured at Harvard Health Services, Boston College Counseling Center, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore as well as being a consultant to several major corporations in the Boston area.

Dr. Ciaramicoli is also a seasoned media expert. He has appeared on CNN, CNNfn, Fox News Boston, Comcast TV, New England Cable News, Good Morning America Weekend, The O’Reilly Report, and other shows. He has been a weekly radio guest on Your Healthy Family on Sirius Satellite Radio and Holistic Health Today, and has been interviewed on The People’s Pharmacy, The Gary Null Show, and more than two dozen other radio programs airing on NPR, XM Radio, and numerous AM and FM stations.

Dr. Ciaramicoli is the author of Performance Addiction: The Dangerous New Syndrome and How to Stop It from Ruining Your Life (Wiley 2004) and The Power of Empathy: A Practical Guide to Creating Intimacy, Self-Understanding, and Lasting Love (Dutton 2000), which is now published in 7 languages and is soon to be released in Turkey. His first book, Treatment of Abuse and Addiction, A Holistic Approach(Jason Aronson, 1997) was selected as Book of the Month by The Psychotherapy Book News. He is also the coauthor of Beyond the Influence: Understanding and Defeating Alcoholism (Bantam 2000). Dr. Ciaramicoli lives in a suburb of Boston with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book with some good, helpful concepts. It was easy to read and if one is willing to do the work then a person could be successful in developing empathic listening, which I believe we all need to some degree or another. It was helpful to have stories from some of the people he did worked with one on one and in groups. It helped to put his ideas into perspective.
As with anything of this genre there are great pieces of information that really stood out and information that didn't quite resonate. I read this more for the information than to actually sit down and do the exercises though I did do the quizzes which yielded interesting results. Nothing that I already didn't know.
Wherever you are in your journey in life this book can be of use to varying degrees. I can think of worse books to read on this topic that wouldn't flow as easily as this one did.

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there are some helpful ideas, an understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy is expected. The book also implies that one needs to find someone else willing to reciprocate with empathy.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

skimmed through this book. Some good ideas but I couldn't get past relying on the empathy of others.

[Amal Hamdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The solution is to be like the author’s mom 🙄! Very few helpful ideas but I appreciate the author’s writing style

[Tara Wickens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I identified with the achievements in life defining worth and have a few take aways I'll take forward.

[Tristy at New World Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endorsements:
“Dr. Ciaramicoli offers something really new here — pioneering, in fact. If you’ve struggled with the effects of stress, this is the book for you.”
— Mira Kirshenbaum, bestselling author of I Love You, But I Don't Trust You: The Complete Guide to Restoring Trust in Your Relationship

“A wise and inspiring solution to the problems associated with stress.”
— Dr. Bruno A. Cayoun, director of the MiCBT Institute and author of Mindfulness-integrated CBT for Well-being and Personal Growth

“Dr. Ciaramicoli has written an insightful and instructional book on empathic CBT. It was a beautiful and growth-inspiring journey for me.”
— Dr. James P. Brennan, visiting professor at Lehigh University and author of The Art of Becoming Oneself: A Fresh Interpretation of Our Possibilities

“The Stress Solution is a must-read....Never before have I seen [CBT and empathy] brought together in such a creative and compelling, synergistic approach. How brilliant!”
— Chris Stout, PhD, clinical professor at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine

[Cathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this would be more about cognitive behavioral theory but he expects you to already understand the concepts. It's really about empathy. He has examples of how people used CBT to increase their empathy and thereby reduce their stress. Just made for dry reading.

Includes 3 questionnaires and 2 exercises, notes, index, and recommended reading list.