The Negative Thoughts Workbook: CBT Skills to Overcome the Repetitive Worry, Shame, and Rumination That Drive Anxiety and Depression

by David A. Clark PhD, Robert L. Leahy PhD (Foreword by)

Overview

A proven-effective CBT approach to help you break the cycle of repetitive negative thinking

If you suffer from anxiety or depression, chances are you also experience unwanted, distressing, and repetitive thoughts. These negative thoughts are often grounded in anger, guilt, shame, worry, humiliation, resentment, or regret. And the more you try to gain control over these thoughts, the more they seem to spiral out of your control. So, how can you break free from this self-defeating ‘mind trap,’ and experience lasting peace and relief?

The Negative Thoughts Workbook offers a step-by-step program to help you target and effectively cope with negative thinking patterns. Based on effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies, this practical guide outlines a transdiagnostic approach to managing the thoughts that drive your emotional distress and threaten your mental health and well-being. You are not condemned to a life of constant, chaotic, or disturbing thoughts. If you’re ready to take shelter from the storm inside your head, the easy-to-follow activities in this evidence-based workbook will help you gain control over your cycles of negative thinking.

Discover powerful ways to:

• Identify your own thinking traps
• Deal with worry and anxiety
• Stop rumination before it takes over
• Confront shame and move beyond regret
• Find release from resentment

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684035052
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	10/01/2020
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

David A. Clark, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, and professor emeritus at the University of New Brunswick in Canada. He is author of several books on depression and anxiety, including Overcoming Obsessive Thoughts, The Anxiety and Worry Workbook, The Anxious Thoughts Workbook, and The Negative Thoughts Workbook. He has coauthored several books with the pioneer of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Aaron T. Beck, including Cognitive Therapy for AnxietyDisorders.
 
 
 


Robert L. Leahy, PhD, is author or editor of twenty-nine books, including If Only...: Finding Freedom from Regret, The Worry Cure, and The Jealousy Cure. He is director of the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy in New York, NY, and clinical professor of psychology at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Table of Contents

Foreword v

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Know Your Mind Traps 5

Chapter 2 Manage the Control Paradox 23

Chapter 3 Kick the Worry Habit 39

Chapter 4 Interrupt Rumination 69

Chapter 5 Move Beyond Regret 93

Chapter 6 Confront Shame 115

Chapter 7 Overcome Humiliation 137

Chapter 8 Release from Resentment 157

Conclusion 179

Acknowledgments 181

References 183

Interviews

Clark resides in eastern Canada.

Editorial Reviews

Here is an outstanding guide that helps people find freedom from the painful thoughts that make life miserable. David Clark—one of the most knowledgeable and esteemed experts of our time—distills the essentials into a single book. This is a comprehensive course that teaches you leading-edge approaches to free your mind from disturbing thoughts and emotions. I consider it essential reading for all those with a ‘sticky’ mind.”
—Martin N. Seif, PhD, ABPP, founder of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), and coauthor of What Every Therapist Needs to Know About Anxiety Disorders, Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts, and Needing to Know for Sure

Martin N. Seif

This is a timely and important book for those with anxiety and depression issues. It is increasingly recognized that dealing with rumination, worry, and shame is important to these and other problems. David Clark has worldwide recognition as a leading therapist, and has published widely in this academic area. He has used these skills in developing an accessible and helpful workbook that I would recommend to clients and therapists alike.”
—Richard Moulding, PhD, senior lecturer at Deakin University in Australia, editor in chief of Clinical Psychologist, and coeditor of The Self in Understanding and Treating Psychological Disorders

Richard Moulding

If you are struggling with repetitive negative thoughts causing anxiety, depression, regret, shame, guilt, humiliation, anger, or resentment, this clearly written and practical workbook can really help. As a world-renowned psychologist and researcher, David Clark integrates a range of cognitive-behavioral approaches to provide you with an effective, step-by-step guide to help you overcome repetitive negative thoughts. I will certainly be recommending this workbook to my patients, students, and colleagues.”
—Costas Papageorgiou, DClinPsy, PhD, coauthor of Coping with Depression, and coeditor of Depressive Rumination

Costas Papageorgiou

The Negative Thoughts Workbook offers a plethora of excellent, evidence-based, and well-presented strategies to address repetitive negative thinking related to anxiety and depression. If you engage in this type of thinking—and we all do from time to time—this book will help you to recognize your thought patterns and implement effective ways to change them. Written in an engaging and practical style by one of the world’s experts in the psychology of negative thinking, you will benefit from reading this book and using the skills it offers.”
—Keith S. Dobson, PhD, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary, and president of the World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies

Keith S. Dobson

David Clark is a go-to expert in understanding and overcoming negative thoughts. In this book, he brings together his scholarship and clinical experience to create an easy-to-use and highly effective guide to dealing with a wide range of negative thoughts that can otherwise plague our mood and ability to get things done. Highly recommended!”
—Christine Purdon, PhD, CPsych, professor in the department of psychology at the University of Waterloo, and coauthor of Overcoming Obsessive Thoughts

Christine Purdon

Repetitive negative thoughts can be distressing, and interfere with our daily lives. In this excellent and clearly written workbook, David Clark gives you concrete strategies and practical solutions to deal with worry, rumination, regret, shame, humiliation, and resentment. This masterfully written and resourceful book will change your life. A must-read.”
—Stefan G. Hofmann, PhD, professor at Boston University, and author of The Anxiety Skills Workbook

Stefan G. Hofmann

David Clark’s The Negative Thoughts Workbook is one of the most lucid and accessible workbooks I have seen. Solidly based in the latest scientific evidence, this workbook by one of the world’s leading experts provides the reader with the information, self-assessment tools, and step-by-step exercises that can help them to get more control over feelings of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other emotional problems.”
—John H. Riskind, PhD, professor of psychology at George Mason University, and coauthor of Looming Vulnerability

John H. Riskind

Following a negative life experience, most of us have had the experience of reliving the event in our minds, wondering why it happened and whether life will ever be the same. This repetitive negative thought process only serves to fuel emotional pain and suffering. Using thought-provoking exercises and illustrative case examples, The Negative Thoughts Workbook by David Clark teaches readers how to interrupt rumination and use effective strategies to move beyond disappointment, regret, and resentment. This book is extremely readable, and offers countless techniques that readers can tackle independently without the guidance of a therapist. It is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to worry less and live a more productive, meaningful life in the present moment.”
—Deborah Roth Ledley, PhD, licensed psychologist in private practice in Philadelphia, PA; and coauthor of The Worry Workbook for Kids

Deborah Roth Ledley

Instead of writing one or several books on anxiety, depression, guilt, anger, or other distressing emotions, David Clark takes us to what is behind these emotions: namely repetitive negative thinking like worry or rumination. Using the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and excellent and handy worksheets and exercises—and in a very kind, user friendly, step-by-step way—Clark helps us get rid of repetitive negative thoughts and related feelings.”
—Gregoris Simos, MD, PhD, professor of psychopathology in the department of educational and social policy at the University of Macedonia in Greece

Gregoris Simos