One of depression’s most troubling symptoms is a client’s chronically negative outlook—and understanding how to alleviate it is key to successful treatment. In this accessible video, Drs. Ari Zaretsky and Mark Fefergrad demonstrate essential techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address depression’s most intractable issues. Here, the two Toronto-based therapists outline core tenets and tools of CBT and, in an annotated series of clinical vignettes, show you how to integrate them into your work with depressed clients.
An evidence-based treatment rooted in the clinical discoveries of Dr. Aaron Beck, CBT emphasizes the interactive relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Zaretsky and Fefergrad cover important CBT techniques, strategies, and goals, and they discuss both the cognitive and behavioral issues clients may bring to your office.
You’ll then see each clinician apply these tools in their work with Clare, a mother of three whose fearful, self-critical thoughts about her parenting abilities leave her exhausted and overwhelmed. Zaretsky’s supportive inquiries into her “hot thoughts” and the challenging emotions they bring allow Clare to reflect and work collaboratively on CBT’s Automatic Thought Record. Cognitive restructuring is highlighted here as well. Then, Fefergrad guides Clare through the CBT exercises of homework, activity scheduling, and graded tasks, ultimately helping her design a realistic plan that meets her needs for exercise and self-care.
In both cases, the therapists support Clare through an illuminating, solution-oriented process, and after treatment has concluded, she reports feeling more at ease, more empowered, and more in control of her moods.
This video is an excellent resource for anyone seeking a CBT primer, tools for working with depression, or an understanding of psychotherapy from a cognitive standpoint. Don’t let this title pass you by.
This video is part of the six-video series, Psychotherapy Essentials To Go. Other self-study videos in this series include:
- Achieving Psychotherapy Effectiveness
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Techniques for Emotional Dysregulation
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression
- Motivational Interviewing for Concurrent Disorders
