An Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Helen Kennerley, D.Phil, is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist (NHS) and a Senior Associate Tutor (University of Oxford). She has practiced CBT for over 40 years, having trained in Oxford and the US. Most of her time is dedicated to the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre (OCTC), where she leads the University’s postgraduate courses in Psychological Trauma & Personality Development, and Supervision & Training. Her clinical work has been predominantly with survivors of childhood trauma. She is a founding fellow of OCTC and has written several popular cognitive therapy books. Her book, “Overcoming Anxiety” was highly commended in the BMA medical book awards, as was the 3rd Edition of this text. At the BABCP 25th Anniversary, she was shortlisted for the award of most influential female cognitive therapist in Britain.Dr. Sarah Rakovshik is the co-Director for the University of Oxford Postgraduate CBT Programme and the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre. She is an experienced therapist who has worked with a wide range of clinical disorders in both adults and children. Her clinical interests include treatment of comorbid and complex presentations, as well as in the potentially positive effects of adverse life events. She holds a DPhil from Oxford University’s Department of Psychiatry. Her research has focused on training methods and their effects on therapists’ competence and patients’ outcomes. She has had an international role as a trainer, supervisor and consultant for CBT training programmes and research projects.Dr. Victoria Bream is Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Oxford Health Specialist Psychological Interventions Centre and the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre. She trained at the IOPPN, King’s College London, and completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy at the OCTC. She has practiced CBT in the NHS for 25 years. Her books, “Break Free from OCD” and “Break Free from Maternal Anxiety” were selected for the national “Reading Well” agency. She is a co-author of research and clinical papers focused on phenomenology and treatment of anxiety disorders and hoarding.

When the third edition of this book came out, I said that the reader should "Consider it mandatory reading for any trainee, supervisor or clinician who takes patient care seriously". Now we have the fourth edition, and I can only say that I was right last time - this is the manual on which to base our use of CBT across many disorders. I could not see how they could improve on that third edition. But I was wrong - the authors have added so much here, based on their experience and their extraordinary breadth of understanding.  This is the book that I wish I had had at the start of my time working with CBT. So my apologies - you should go out and buy this edition too.

• 1. The Psychological Foundations of CBT2. Distinctive Features of CBT3. The Therapeutic Relationship4. Assessment and Formulation5. The Empirical Nature of CBT6. Cognitive Techniques7. Behavioural Approaches and Experiments8. Physical Techniques9. The Course of Therapy10. Depression11. Anxiety Disorders: a transdiagnostic view12. Anxiety Disorders and OCD: Specific Models and Treatment Protocols13. Wider Applications of CBT14. Alternative Methods of Delivery15. Developments in CBT16. Using Supervision in CBT