The Case Formulation Approach to Cognitive-Behavior Therapy
By Jacqueline B. Persons, PhD
978-1-59385-875-9, $35.00 Hardcover
Pub Date: September 2008

This eagerly awaited book shows how skillful case formulation addresses a critical challenge in psychotherapy today: how to use empirically supported therapies (ESTs) in real-world clinical contexts. The author explains the basic theories of cognition, learning, and emotion that underlie available ESTs and shows how the theories also guide systematic case formulation. By crafting a sound formulation and continually refining and monitoring it as treatment progresses, the therapist can smoothly "shift theoretical gears" and weave together elements of different ESTs to meet the needs of individual patients, who typically present with multiple problems. Hands-on tools, reproducibles, and many concrete examples are included.

OCD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
by Michael A. Tompkins
New Harbinger Publications (2012)

When someone is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), chances are they've been living with the symptoms for a long time. People with OCD may have long felt embarrassed by their thoughts and behaviors, which may include fear of contamination, the need for symmetry, pathological doubt, aggressive thoughts, repeating behaviors, and obsessive cleaning.

My Anxious Mind: A Teen's Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic
by Michael A. Tompkins and Katherine Martinez
Magination Press (2009)
2011 Winner of the Self-Help Seal of Merit

Anxiety can make everything seem unmanageable - from dealing with family and friends to managing schoolwork and extracurricular activities. It's been estimated that between nine and 15 million teens in the United States suffer from phobias, panic attacks, or extreme worry or anxiety. That's a lot of teens!

Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding, and Compulsive Acquiring
by Michael A. Tompkins and Tamara L. Hartl
New Harbinger Press (2009)

If you have a friend or family member who acquires an excessive amount of stuff (newspapers, old scraps of cloth, unworn clothes), has difficulty discarding things, lives in a cluttered space, and whose life is impaired by all of this stuff, it's likely that he or she is a hoarder. People who hoard often live in unsafe and unsanitary conditions because they are unable to throw anything away. Although hoarding negatively affects their quality of life, social relationships, and safety, people who hoard are often unwilling to end their behavior.

Guides to Individualized Evidence-Based Treatment Series
Series Edited by Jacqueline B. Persons
Guilford Press, (2005, 2004)

Providing evidence-based roadmaps for managing real-world cases, volumes in this series help the clinician develop treatment plans using interventions of proven effectiveness. With an emphasis on systematic yet flexible case formulation, these hands-on guides provide powerful alternatives to one-size-fits-all approaches. Each book addresses a particular disorder or presents cutting-edge intervention strategies that can be used across a range of clinical problems.

Cognitive Therapy of Schizophrenia
by David G. Kingdon and Douglas Turkington
Guildford Press (2004)

Treating Bipolar Disorder: A Clinician's Guide to Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy
by Ellen Frank
Guildford Press (2005)

Using Homework in Psychotherapy: Strategies, Guidelines, and Forms
by Michael A. Tompkins
Guilford Press (2004)
Paperback

A step-by-step guide for therapists who want to start implementing homework or to increase the effectiveness of assignments, this hands-on book is ideal for clinicians from any theoretical orientation. Presented are creative strategies for developing meaningful homework assignments, enhancing compliance, and overcoming typical homework obstacles. Nearly 50 reproducible forms are featured along with detailed recommendations for using them to accomplish five broad therapeutic goals: increasing awareness, scheduling activities, improving emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness, and testing assumptions. Also provided are tips for working with special populations, including adolescents, older adults, couples, and clients with severe depression or anxiety. Bursting with helpful tools, tips, and examples, the volume is designed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" format with lay-flat binding for ease of photocopying.

Essential Components of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Depression
by Jacqueline B. Persons, Joan Davidson, and Michael A. Tompkins
American Psychological Association (2001)
Hardcover

This volume presents the essential components of cognitive-behavior therapy for depression. Throughout, the authors emphasize the theory and practices of Aaron T. Beck to create a book that is grounded in the best of CBT's traditions but that refines and fleshes out the practical aspects of its application. The method described is flexible enough to be used in disorders other than depression, including eating disorders and anxiety.

Videos Series: Essential Components of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Depression
by Jacqueline B. Persons, Joan Davidson, and Michael A. Tompkins
American Psychological Association (2001)

The American Psychological Association's (APA) Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Depression Video Series is a 5-part demonstration of theory-driven, empirically supported interventions. The series is designed for mental health professionals and is appropriate for both new and experienced clinicians. The tapes teach important clinical skills in a systematic, step-by-step manner, providing hands-on demonstrations and clear guidelines for replicating the skills shown in the demonstrations. Each video includes an instructional booklet intended to facilitate the use of the assessment or intervention method taught in the video. The booklet is formatted for easy reproduction and clinical use.

Individualized Case Formulation and Treatment Planning
Jacqueline B. Persons, Michael A. Tompkins, Joan Davidson

Jacqueline B. Persons describes and demonstrates the fundamental steps involved in developing an individualized cognitive-behavioral case formulation and in using it to devise a treatment plan for a depressed patient.

Structure of the Therapy Session
Joan Davidson, Jacqueline B. Persons, Michael A. Tompkins

Joan Davidson describes the eight components of a structured session of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Dr. Davidson demonstrates agenda-setting and assigning homework, two of the most important components of a structured therapy session.

Activity Scheduling
Jacqueline B. Persons, Joan Davidson, Michael A. Tompkins

Jacqueline B. Persons demonstrates the use of activity scheduling to treat suicidality, passivity, immobilization and other behavioral problems commonly seen in depressed patients. The video outlines clinical situations in which activity scheduling is useful and describes six guidelines for success and demonstrates their use.

Using the Thought Record
Joan Davidson, Jacqueline B. Persons, Michael A. Tompkins

Jacqueline B. Persons describes and demonstrates the use of the Thought Record to help patients identify and challenge distorted thinking that drives negative moods and maladaptive behavior.

Schema Change Methods
Michael A. Tompkins, Jacqueline B. Persons, Joan Davidson

The video describes the role of schema change methods in the treatment of depression. Michael A. Tompkins demonstrates the use of the Positive Data Log to restructure maladaptive schema.

"This tape series and companion book offer an excellent overview on how to conduct cognitive-behavior therapy for depression. The rationales for the various interventions are given in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner. The interventions are well presented, and the authors offer specific instructions as to how to deliver the interventions. The accompanying booklets are also very useful. I highly recommend this program for beginning therapists."

"Jackie Persons and her colleagues Joan Davidson and Michael Tompkins have produced what is probably the best set of materials to date for teaching proven cognitive-behavioral approaches to depression. Every clinician should be aware of these materials."

Cognitive Therapy in Practice: A Case Formulation Approach
by Jacqueline B. Persons
Norton & Co. (1989)
Hardcover

This book gives a nitty-gritty account of cognitive behavior therapy in practice. The author introduces us to her patients, shares her thinking about their problems, and outlines interventions based on her understanding.

At the heart of this cognitive therapy model is the case formulation-the therapist's hypothesis about the psychological mechanism underlying the patient's problems. The book opens with a discussion of this model, emphasizing the connections between overt difficulties and underlying psychological problems, often encapsulated in such irrational beliefs as "I must be perfect or I am a failure," or "I don't deserve happiness." Using the strategies outlined here, the therapist will be ready to tackle the first therapeutic task: developing a detailed case formulation based on a problem list.

Video Series: APA Psychotherapy Videotape Series I: Systems of Psychotherapy Specialty: Cognitive-Behavior Therapy
Psychotherapist: Jacqueline B. Persons

Jacqueline B. Persons is featured in this videotape demonstrating techniques and interventions of cognitive-behavior therapy as part of The APA Psychotherapy Videotape Series on different orientations to psychotherapy.