This text provides readers with fresh insights into different cognitive behavioural techniques used to conceptualise and treat clients. It addresses the fundamentals of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) while being suitable for a broad audience, from individuals who have never encountered CBT to established practitioners interested in refining their skills. The book has 21 chapters that describe how to conceptualise clients cognitively, plan treatment, employ various cognitive behavioural techniques, assess the effectiveness of their treatment, and specify problems that arise in a therapy session. Each chapter begins with an introduction to the areas that will be covered within the chapter and the learning outcomes.

Coming from the perspective of a new psychologist, this book provides a comprehensive introduction and evaluation of the current techniques used in cognitive behaviour therapy. It describes the evaluation session and the layout of the subsequent first therapy session in detail and provides ideas for linking the information that was gathered together to form a cognitive conceptualisation. Once the client assessment is explained, you are introduced to the setting of the initial goals for intervention, relating your intervention plan and how to define the expectations for the intervention. Session 2 is also described in detail, and suggestions for future sessions are explained. Additionally, problems associated with having structure in a therapeutic session, such as harming client-therapist rapport and the therapeutic alliance, are discussed in the context of current therapeutic practice. Therapeutic areas of cognitive behaviour therapy, including the identification, evaluation, and ways of responding to automatic thoughts, intermediate beliefs, core beliefs, and additional techniques, are discussed in detail.

With its overview and in-depth update on the therapeutic application of cognitive behaviour therapy, the text will be of use to cognitive behavioural beginners and professionals alike. The techniques covered in this text would be useful in a wide variety of settings, such as with adolescents in a school setting or adults in the general population with severe mood disorders. This book provides a useful update on the current body of knowledge regarding cognitive behaviour therapy and provides an invaluable summary of the techniques currently supported by research. As a result, it is highly recommended for practising psychologists.