The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression: A Step-by-step Program

by Albert Ellis, William J. Knaus

Powerful Tools for Overcoming Depression Do you think that you could lessen or overcome your feelings of depression if only you had the right tools? Are you ready to help yourself stop feeling depressed? If so, then you've found a powerful resource. The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression is a complete, comprehensive, step-by-step approach you can use, on your own or working with a therapist, to manage and conquer depression. Using techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), you'll develop a plan for breaking your cycle of depression. You'll learn to recognize and dispute the irrational thoughts and depressive beliefs that keep you feeling down. You'll also discover ways to guard against emotions that often occur with depression, like anxiety and anger. As you proceed through the book's chapters and exercises, you'll build stronger defenses against depression, which will help you maintain your progress. The powerful tools in this book will help you:

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Education, Health, Counselling

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2006

About the author

Albert Ellis was an American psychologist who in 1955 developed Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). He held M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology from Columbia University and American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He also founded and was the President of the New York City-based Albert Ellis Institute for decades.
He is generally considered to be one of the originators of the cognitive revolutionary paradigm shift in psychotherapy and the founder of cognitive-behavioral therapies. Based on a 1982 professional survey of USA and Canadian psychologists, he was considered as the second most influential psychotherapist in history (Carl Rogers ranked first in the survey; Sigmund Freud was ranked third).

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some helpful tips in this book, but overall I felt this philosophy was putting the cart before the horse. The message came across as, "You feel depressed because you think depressive thoughts." It was sort of invalidating, implying, "You caused your depression and did this to yourself by thinking negatively." Also, many of the tactics revolved around combating depressive thoughts such as, "I am going to feel this way forever." But I don't think that way, and so all the suggestions for countering those thoughts were not of use to me. I feel my depression is mostly due to chemical imbalances in the brain causing depressed mood, anhedonia, and fatigue, but I don't think that I will feel this way forever and that there is no help. But again, there were some useful tactics in this book, and there are probably many people for whom it is a better fit.

[Jaylee]

This had some really good information, but it was couched in writing that was incredibly academic and clinical. One of the symptoms of depression is that your mind gets muddled and it's difficult to concentrate/think clearly. So........ while in the middle of a terrible depression, this book is really hard to focus on. However, I did learn some things in here, and since I couldn't afford therapy at the time, working on this book every week gave me a good start towards dealing with my mental health. However, it really did not work as a replacement for therapy. Seeing a therapist even a few times taught me that my issues were not solely with depression, not solely able to be solved by cognitive behavioral practices. I needed a lot of other things and topics dealt with, and so. Idk. This is a nice useful tool, but it's too hard to read and it needs to be supplemented with other forms of treatment.

[Lisa Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was way too "scholarly" for a workbook. While it had some good ideas, I found it a huge chore to wade through. A lot of the exercises, especially the "ABCDE" one, were ridiculously complicated. If a person is in the middle of an active depression, this material is simply going to be too difficult to put to use.

[John Sperling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alternatively frustrating and enlightening. It is very poorly written, but contains concrete steps that can be taken to fight depression. The bottom line is: it works.

[Lisbeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think cognitive behavioral therapy is incredibly effective, but this book is a lot of material to study when one is depressed. David Burns' book Feeling Good and/or his CBT workbook are so much better. I'm giving this three stars because I feel the author certainly tried and put a load of well researched info into the book, but it is just so much for a depressed individual to wade through. I took the book section by section over quite a bit of time and still felt overwhelmed, so I went back to Burns' CBT sheets from his workbook.

[Trisha Roberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would highly recommend for anyone who wants a toolkit for improving their mental health/fitness. I got a copy from the library to read and ended up buying a copy to keep as a reference.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lightweight. I only bought it because Elton John gave it a good review.

[Ibrahim Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cognitive behavioral workbook for depression
العلاج المعرفي السلوكي أثبت فعاليته بشدة في علاج الاكتئاب مدعم بكتلة صلبة من الأبحاث والدراسات العلمية والكتاب ده بيقدم اشياء غاية في الأهمية منه.
الكتاب ده جميل بحق ومفيد لأقصى الدرجات أنا قررت اقراه على وقت طويل جدا عشان يبقى منبه مكرر ليا مع حربي مع الاكتئاب وحقيقي مفيد جدا ابتديت فيه شهر ديسمبر السنع الي فاتت ولسه مخلصه دلوقتي مش عشان هز عملاق بس يعني بقرا على فترات متباعده بالقصد عشان ادي لنفسي وقت في تطبيق المحتوى والعودة ليه، المهم الكتاب بيقدم أساليب للعلاج السلوكي المعرفي بتساعدك في التغلب على الاكتئاب والقلق وتباعتهم وبيعرفك على مواطن الضعف في تفكيرك أثناء الاكتئاب والمغالطات والنقط الغير منطقية الي بيفرضهم عليك الاكتئاب ونوعية الأفكار وطريقة التفكير نفسها الي بتيجي بسبب الاكتئاب أو بتسبب اكتئاب وبتساعد على ثباته ويبتدي ياخد بايدك واحده واحده ويقدم حلول عملية لكل مشكلة وملاحظات غاية في الدقة الي بجد فادتني بشكل كبير جدا وعرفتني على أنماط تفكير سلبية كتيره بتعرقل العلاج والتشافي، حقيقي كتاب جميل ومهم جدا والكل لازم يقراه سواء بيعاني مع الاكتئاب أو لا، ويعني لو مطلعتش بأي حاجه من الكتاب فا يكفي إني اتعلمت ال ABCDE Method وحقيقي رائعة وجميلة جداً بتساعدك في محاربة كل أنواع الافكار الي بتلاقيها في مخك وبتثبطك، أتمنى من الكل يقرأه للاسف ملوش ترجمة عربي بس يعني يستحق صرف الوقت والجهد في القراءة.

[Natalie Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was interested in learning about CBT so I rented this from Libby. I was expecting to sort of flip through it to get a general understanding. But the author had such good and practical points and advice, I read the whole thing. I’ve had 2-3 bouts of depression in my life and what I read in here will absolutely help me shorten the next bout should it come or, perhaps, to prevent it entirely. Very glad I picked this up. It really changed my way of thinking. The only critique I have is that some points may be dragged out just a little long. I didn’t actually fill out any of the activities/fill in the blanks btw. I just read the chapters.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a decent step by step approach to combatting depression. Knaus offered a lot of ideas and philosophies behind depression and why it may affect certain individuals.
As a therapist, I wish that Knaus would have taught the concept of CBT a bit more precise. The concept of the book was easy for me to follow because I knew most of the material but I could easily see it being over someone who is not familiar with mental health’s head. Especially with depression that may make concentration and understanding more difficult

[Sarah Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the information and layout of this workbook enough that I decided to purchase my own copy for personal use and return the one I checked out. Often I only take bits and pieces away from books like these so I don't want to own the whole thing, but this one is worth while to own if you are working through depression or you are trying to help someone that is.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

a life-safer. Thank you! William J.Knaus

[Tree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was all over the map, trying to solve depression in as many ways as possible. It needed a focus. There were a few good ideas amongst irrelevant or odd ideas.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for structure

[Shanna benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to help my 16 year old daughter. I felt it was good! But she wouldn’t listen or try it... so I can’t rate on how well it really works when applied.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine - interesting in places but pretty repetitive toward the end. Not as engaging as I'd have hoped for.

[Marybeth Wood]

sound info on this therapeutic practice