INI Book
BOOK REVIEW
Thoughts and Feelings-
Taking Control of Your Moods and Your Life.
1997 BY MATTHEW MCKAY, MARTHADAVISAND PATRICKFANNING. NEW HARBINGERPUBLICATIONS, CA.
TBhOUghts and Feelingsis a well written self-help
o r k b o o k describing the use of Cognitive
e h a v i o u r T h e r a p y in l a y m a n s language.
Although it is primarily directed towards motivated
i n d i v i d u a l s w h o are s e e k i n g to l e a r n s e l f - h e l p
strategies, it is also an excellent guide for mental
health professionals. The book can be used as an
adjunct to therapy by providing prescribed reading,
examples of t h o u g h t m o n i t o r i n g and a range of
homework exercises. It can also serve as a therapists'
guide, particularly for clinicians who are not highly
p r o f i c i e n t in t h e use of c o g n i t i v e - b e h a v i o u r a l
techniques, or for those who would like a guide to
the specific techniques that have proven efficacy for
treating particular problems. Within its 20 chapters,
Thoughts and Feelings presents the full range of
cognitive behavioural strategies that can be used to
tackle the most c o m m o n psychological problems.
The lucid writing style and frequent use of examples
makes the described psychological strategies
particularly accessible and easy to follow.
The first chapter of the book directs the reader to a
range of treatment protocols for the most c o m m o n
p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r o b l e m s , i n c l u d i n g worry, panic
disorder, perfectionism, obsessional thinking,
p h o b i a s , d e p r e s s i o n , s h a m e , anger, a v o i d a n c e ,
procrastination and low self-esteem. The reader is
referred to the relevant chapters for each condition.
F o r i n s t a n c e , t h o s e w h o w i s h to l e a r n a b o u t
managing panic disorders are referred to the chapters
titled "Coping with panic", "Stress inoculation" and
"Coping during exposure". Readers w h o w a n t to
overcome procrastination are directed to the chapters
on "Uncovering automatic thoughts", "Changing
p a t t e r n s of l i m i t e d t h i n k i n g " , " C h a n g i n g h o t
thoughts" and "Problem solving".
T h e early c h a p t e r s of t h e b o o k p r o v i d e an
e x p l a n a t i o n of the basic p r i n c i p l e s of CBT, and
d e s c r i b e h o w t h o u g h t s can be m o n i t o r e d a n d
ultimately, m o d i f i e d . T h e p r o c e s s of r e c o r d i n g
automatic t h o u g h t s in a j o u r n a l is described and
d e m o n s t r a t e d . Some of the c o m m o n p a t t e r n s of
maladaptive thinking as originally outlined by Beck
are described and illustrated. These include filtering,
polarized thinking, overgeneralisation, mind-reading,
personalisation and "shoulds'. The way in which a
thought journal can be used as a tool for identifying
EV,
a n d c h a l l e n g i n g m a l a d a p t i v e c o g n i t i o n s is t h e n
described. This description is further developed in
chapter 4, which illustrates how "hot thoughts" -
those which have a particularly strong impact on
mood, can be modified and controlled.
The subsequent chapters provide information and
strategies on a range of cognitive and behavioural
t e c h n i q u e s that have d e m o n s t r a t e d efficacy for
treating particular conditions. These include
relaxation techniques, worry control, thought-
stopping, flooding, coping imagery thought-stopping,
p r o b l e m s o l v i n g a n d stress i n o c u l a t i o n . E a c h
technique is accompanied by a brief description of
" s y m p t o m effectiveness" - that is, the s y m p t o m s
which have been shown to respond to the technique
being described. It also includes a "time for mastery"
statement, which suggests the period in which most
individuals can master the particular technique.
The c u r r e n t e d i t i o n of Thoughts and Feelings
should not be confused with an earlier version that
was published in 1981. While there is some overlap
between the two, the material from the earlier version
has been very substantially revised and expanded in
the current edition. According to the publishers, 14
n e w chapters have been added, and 90% of the
material from the earlier version has been revised.
The m o s t p l e a s i n g a s p e c t of t h e b o o k is t h e
simplicity of the language and descriptions. Like
most of the self-help publications by New Harbinger
books, it is highly informative, well set o u t and
eloquently written. While the book is not a detailed
clinician's text on the use of cognitive behavioural
strategies, it would never the less make a very useful
reference for both clinicians and patients.
Sarah Edelman
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY