The Judgment Trap - by Matthew McKay & Erica Pool & Stephanie Catella (Paperback)

About the Book

In our age of information overload and social media, many people feel trapped in a culture of comparison, cancellation, and us-against-them thinking. It's all too easy to measure ourselves against total strangers, and likewise, to cast judgment on others. But what if this judgment is actually the source of our suffering? In this breakthrough guide, readers will learn to practice radical nonjudgment--awareness and acceptance of what is--to guide their life choices and cultivate wisdom, gratitude, connection, and joy.

Book Synopsis

Find liberation from self-criticism, unleash your potential, and thrive in an increasingly challenging and judgmental world.

Do you ever feel trapped in a culture of comparison, cancellation, and us-against-them thinking? Have you struggled with mental health issues such as anger, anxiety, or depression? Do you feel like you'll never be attractive enough, smart enough, or successful enough? In our modern world of information overload and social media, it's easy to measure ourselves against total strangers, and likewise, to cast judgment on others. But what if this judgment is actually the source of our suffering?

Written by a dream team of mental health professionals and drawing on decades of clinical experience and cutting-edge research, this groundbreaking guide offers profound and practical insight to overcome "the judgment trap"--once and for all. Using proven-effective techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness practices, and insights from spiritual traditions such as Buddhism, you'll learn to identify and challenge negative self-narratives, cultivate self-compassion, and build a lifelong foundation based on your most cherished values.

You'll discover four key skills to strengthen your mental health and well-being:

• Awareness: Practice mindfulness to overcome negative thoughts
• Acceptance: Embrace what is and accept what you cannot change
• Compassion: Cultivate kindness and compassion for yourself and others
• Values-based intention: Act on deeply held values, rather than impulse

And, most importantly, you'll learn to practice radical nonjudgment--awareness and acceptance of what is--to guide your life choices and cultivate wisdom, gratitude, connection, and joy.

About the Author

Matthew McKay, PhD, is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He is coauthor of The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook, The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, Thoughts and Feelings, When Anger Hurts, and others. His books combined have sold more than five million copies. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. In private practice, he specializes in the treatment of PTSD and anxiety. He lives and works in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Stephanie Catella, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist with expertise in transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for trauma, anxiety, and building emotional intelligence. After completing fellowships at the San Francisco VA and the University of California, San Francisco--she codirected the Berkeley Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Clinic with Matthew McKay. In addition to her private practice, she authored an FDA-cleared prescription digital therapeutic for fibromyalgia, and serves as an advisor to HealthTech companies.

Erica Pool, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist trained in modern behavioral therapies, including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and schema-based work--specializing in issues around anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, relationship dynamics, substance use struggles, problematic eating behaviors, insomnia; and issues of acculturation, cultural stress, and identity formation. She earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology and neuroscience at Yale University, conducted neuroimaging research with the Program in Rehabilitation Neuroscience at UC Berkeley, and earned her doctorate in psychology from the Wright Institute, where she now serves as adjunct faculty for the clinical program. She is a clinician, supervisor, and codirector of training at Peninsula Behavioral Health--a community mental health clinic specializing in evidence-based care. She has been a clinical consultant with several behavioral health startups, and has coauthored self-guided therapy books, including Healing Emotional Pain Workbook. She lives in Oakland, CA, with her partner, toddler, and beloved citrus trees: Tangelica, Elimeza, and Lemmy.