The Case Formulation Approach to Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

Guides to Individualized Evidence-Based Treatment

by Jacqueline B. Persons

This eagerly awaited book shows how skillful case formulation addresses a critical challenge in psychotherapy today: how to use empirically supported therapies (ESTs) in real-world clinical contexts. The author explains the basic theories of cognition, learning, and emotion that underlie available ESTs and shows how the theories also guide systematic case formulation. By crafting a sound formulation and continually refining and monitoring it as treatment progresses, the therapist can smoothly "shift theoretical gears" and weave together elements of different ESTs to meet the needs of individual patients, who typically present with multiple problems. Hands-on tools, reproducibles, and many concrete examples are included.

Genres: Psychology

273 pages, Hardcover

First published August 14, 2008

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of useful information for clinicians, and the author's occasional attempts to be personable and warm (most CBT textbooks tend to be kinda test-tubey) make up for a less-than-dazzling prose style. Would be improved if a) it was in an easier-to-read paperback format--the size and weight of the book are unwieldy and b) showed more examples of actual step-by-step case formulations and formulation reports. This author contributed a chapter to Tracy Eells's Handbook of Psychotherapy Case Formulation that was much more concise and useful.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of ESTs.

[Tracy Witte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really terrific and straightforward approach to psychotherapy. A really nice way to integrate across all of the various EST's out there. I will be using this as the text for my clinical supervision group this Fall...

[stephanie]

want want want.

[Anna Tzvetkova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coursebook, feels somehow motivating to put it here, CBT in action.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for what it is but would benefit from increased focus on CBT interventions.