Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Simple Path to Healing, Hope, and Peace

Mindfulness practice and traditional psychotherapy meet in this enlightening guide by psychologist Gillihan (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple). “More than finding a cure for suffering, our deepest longing is for peace,” Gillihan contends, and to that end he draws on personal anecdotes and patient stories to provide advice on alleviating mental illness and achieving wellbeing. To cope with everyday frustrations, he recommends changing one’s perspective, recounting how he was frustrated by his newborn’s sleeplessness until he realized the real problem was his “insistence that the situation should be different from what it was.” He adds that practicing “mindful awareness” is key to changing one’s perspective because it teaches one to be simply “aware” of one’s circumstances rather than to judge them. A core component of cognitive behavioral therapy, Gillihan posits, is letting go of false beliefs about oneself, which he illustrates with the story of his client who realized his belief that he was pathetic was baseless after Gillihan pressed him for evidence to support his negative self-perception. Additionally, the author urges readers to embrace mindfulness by expressing gratitude and reducing distractions while interacting with others. The author excels at making psychological insights digestible for lay readers, and his tone recalls that of a wise teacher. This will be a balm for the weary. (Dec.)