Practicing Positive CBT – From Reducing Distress to Building Success

Fredrike Bannink is a clinical psychologist and Master of Dispute Resolution based in Amsterdam. She is an internationally recognized cognitive behavioral therapist and trainer, and co-founder and Chair of the Solution-Focused CBT Section of the Dutch Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapy.

About the Author ix Foreword x Preface xii Story: The Hundredth Monkey xiv Acknowledgments xv PART I THEORY 1 1 What is CBT? 3 Introduction 3 CBT Techniques 4 Empirical Evidence 5 2 What is Positive CBT? 7 Introduction 7 Shortcomings of the Problem-Solving Paradigm 8 Story 2.1: How to Not Be Unhappy 10 Towards a Strengths and Solutions Paradigm 10 Notes on Learning Theory 16 Story 2.2: I Can Choose 16 Changing Role of the Therapist 16 Differences Between Traditional CBT and Positive CBT An Overview 17 Story 2.3: Looking for Problems? 17 3 Possibilities of Positive CBT 19 Introduction 19 What is Positive in Traditional CBT? 20 Possibilities of Positive CBT 31 4 Two Positive Sources 34 Introduction 34 Source 1: Positive Psychology 35 Story 4.1: The Power of Positive Emotions 41 Source 2: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy 41 Story 4.2: Do Something Different for a Change 42 Story 4.3: Working from the Future Back 49 Short Comparison Between Positive Psychology and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy 50 Empirical Evidence 50 Neuroscience 51 Story 4.4: The Drip System 55 The Body 59 PART II APPLICATIONS 61 5 Enhancing the Therapeutic Alliance 63 Introduction 63 Building a Positive Alliance 64 Offering Acknowledgment 65 Story 5.1: Acknowledging the Problem 66 Enhancing Hope 66 Story 5.2: The Archer 69 Story 5.3: The Power of Hope 70 Reinforcing Strengths and What Works 70 Enhancing Cooperation 72 Story 5.4: Misery I Love You! 74 Story 5.5: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody 76 6 Assessment 77 Introduction 77 Case Conceptualization 77 Assessing Goals 79 Story 6.1: Top Performers 86 Assessing Problems, Complaints, and Constraints 87 Assessing Strengths and Resources 88 Assessing Progress, Motivation, Hope, and Confi dence 90 Story 6.2: At the Car Wash 92 Assessing Motivation to Change 93 Positive Self-monitoring 93 Positive Functional Behavior Analysis 95 7 Changing the Viewing 99 Introduction 99 Acknowledging Feelings and the Past 99 Changing What the Client is Paying Attention to 101 Story 7.1: Finding the Bright Spots 102 Story 7.2: The Dog I Feed Most 110 Story 7.3: Shake it Off and Step Up 111 Focusing on What the Client Wants in the Future 114 Challenging Unhelpful Beliefs 115 Using a Spiritual Perspective 124 8 Changing the Doing 128 Introduction 128 Story 8.1: For a Change Do Something Different 128 Changing Repetitive Patterns 129 Story 8.2: Sail Away From the Safe Harbor 130 Noticing What the Client is Doing When Things are Going Better 131 Story 8.3: Chocolate-chip Cookies 133 9 Changing the Feeling 138 Introduction 138 Reducing Negative Emotions 138 Building Positive Emotions 140 Balancing Positive and Negative Emotions 145 Story 9.1: Consider a Sail-boat 147 Story 9.2: The Nun Study 148 Positive Emotions in the Medical Setting 148 10 Homework Assignments 152 Introduction 152 General Suggestions 153 Basic Homework Assignments 156 Self-monitoring 157 Behavioral Experiments 160 Routine Outcome Measurement 165 Story 10.1: Brilliant Insights 166 Refl ecting on the Session 170 11 Subsequent Sessions 173 Introduction 173 Progress 174 Behavior Maintenance 180 Failures 185 Story 11.1: Ten Million Dollars Lost 190 Concluding Therapy 190 12 Role of the Positive CBT Therapist 193 Introduction 193 Watering the Flowers 193 Role of the Positive CBT Therapist 194 Supertherapists 196 Easy and Fun 198 The Alliance Revisited 200 Microanalysis 200 Benefi ts for Therapists 203 PART III MORE APPLICATIONS 207 13 Positive CBT with Couples and Groups 209 Introduction 209 Positive CBT with Couples 210 Story 13.1: The Norway Feedback Project 213 Positive CBT with Groups 215 14 Positive CBT with Children and Families 219 Introduction 219 Positive CBT with Children 220 Story 14.1: Little Squid 222 Positive CBT with Families 232 Transcultural Positive CBT 236 15 Positive CBT in the Workplace 237 Introduction 237 Positive CBT in a Team 238 Story 15.1: We Can Learn From Geese 239 Positive CBT in an Organization 243 Story 15.2: Swarm Intelligence 245 Story 15.3: What You Give is What You Get 248 16 Positive CBT and the Future 250 Introduction 250 Research 250 Training 251 17 FAQ 255 Introduction 255 20 Questions and Answers 255 Epilog 264 Story: On the Other Side 264 Web Sites 265 Appendix A Protocols for the First Session 268 Appendix B Protocol for Finding Exceptions 270 Appendix C Protocol for Subsequent Sessions 272 Appendix D Positive FBA Interview 274 Appendix E Externalization of the Problem 275 Appendix F Interactional Matrix (Changing Perspectives) 276 Appendix G Questionnaire for the Referrer 278 Appendix H Exceptions Journal 279 Appendix I Session Rating Scale (SRS) 281 References 282 Author Index 294 Subject Index 298