The Negative Thoughts Workbook - by David A Clark (Paperback)

About the Book

Emotional distress takes many forms--such as excessive worry, rumination, regret, shame, humiliation, or resentment. Managing these negative thoughts is essential for emotional healing and wholeness. In this workbook, renowned psychologist David A. Clark offers a transdiagnostic, cognitive behavioral approach to effectively target these unwanted thoughts. Using practical, step-by-step instructions and activities, readers will learn to free themselves from the addictive thought patterns that trap them in an endless cycle of negativity.

Book Synopsis

A proven-effective CBT approach to help you break the cycle of repetitive negative thinking

If you suffer from anxiety or depression, chances are you also experience unwanted, distressing, and repetitive thoughts. These negative thoughts are often grounded in anger, guilt, shame, worry, humiliation, resentment, or regret. And the more you try to gain control over these thoughts, the more they seem to spiral out of your control. So, how can you break free from this self-defeating 'mind trap, ' and experience lasting peace and relief?

The Negative Thoughts Workbook offers a step-by-step program to help you target and effectively cope with negative thinking patterns. Based on effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies, this practical guide outlines a transdiagnostic approach to managing the thoughts that drive your emotional distress and threaten your mental health and well-being. You are not condemned to a life of constant, chaotic, or disturbing thoughts. If you're ready to take shelter from the storm inside your head, the easy-to-follow activities in this evidence-based workbook will help you gain control over your cycles of negative thinking.

Discover powerful ways to:

• Identify your own thinking traps
• Deal with worry and anxiety
• Stop rumination before it takes over
• Confront shame and move beyond regret
• Find release from resentment

Review Quotes

"The Negative Thoughts Workbook offers a plethora of excellent, evidence-based, and well-presented strategies to address repetitive negative thinking related to anxiety and depression. If you engage in this type of thinking--and we all do from time to time--this book will help you to recognize your thought patterns and implement effective ways to change them. Written in an engaging and practical style by one of the world's experts in the psychology of negative thinking, you will benefit from reading this book and using the skills it offers."
--Keith S. Dobson, PhD, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary, and president of the World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies--Keith S. Dobson, PhD

"David Clark is a go-to expert in understanding and overcoming negative thoughts. In this book, he brings together his scholarship and clinical experience to create an easy-to-use and highly effective guide to dealing with a wide range of negative thoughts that can otherwise plague our mood and ability to get things done. Highly recommended!"
--Christine Purdon, PhD, CPsych, professor in the department of psychology at the University of Waterloo, and coauthor of Overcoming Obsessive Thoughts--Christine Purdon, PhD, CPsych

"David Clark's The Negative Thoughts Workbook is one of the most lucid and accessible workbooks I have seen. Solidly based in the latest scientific evidence, this workbook by one of the world's leading experts provides the reader with the information, self-assessment tools, and step-by-step exercises that can help them to get more control over feelings of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other emotional problems."
--John H. Riskind, PhD, professor of psychology at George Mason University, and coauthor of Looming Vulnerability--John H. Riskind, PhD

"Following a negative life experience, most of us have had the experience of reliving the event in our minds, wondering why it happened and whether life will ever be the same. This repetitive negative thought process only serves to fuel emotional pain and suffering. Using thought-provoking exercises and illustrative case examples, The Negative Thoughts Workbook by David Clark teaches readers how to interrupt rumination and use effective strategies to move beyond disappointment, regret, and resentment. This book is extremely readable, and offers countless techniques that readers can tackle independently without the guidance of a therapist. It is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to worry less and live a more productive, meaningful life in the present moment."
--Deborah Roth Ledley, PhD, licensed psychologist in private practice in Philadelphia, PA; and coauthor of The Worry Workbook for Kids--Deborah Roth Ledley, PhD

"Here is an outstanding guide that helps people find freedom from the painful thoughts that make life miserable. David Clark--one of the most knowledgeable and esteemed experts of our time--distills the essentials into a single book. This is a comprehensive course that teaches you leading-edge approaches to free your mind from disturbing thoughts and emotions. I consider it essential reading for all those with a 'sticky' mind."
--Martin N. Seif, PhD, ABPP, founder of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), and coauthor of What Every Therapist Needs to Know About Anxiety Disorders, Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts, and Needing to Know for Sure--Martin N. Seif, PhD, ABPP

"If you are struggling with repetitive negative thoughts causing anxiety, depression, regret, shame, guilt, humiliation, anger, or resentment, this clearly written and practical workbook can really help. As a world-renowned psychologist and researcher, David Clark integrates a range of cognitive-behavioral approaches to provide you with an effective, step-by-step guide to help you overcome repetitive negative thoughts. I will certainly be recommending this workbook to my patients, students, and colleagues."
--Costas Papageorgiou, DClinPsy, PhD, coauthor of Coping with Depression, and coeditor of Depressive Rumination--Costas Papageorgiou, DClinPsy, PhD

"Instead of writing one or several books on anxiety, depression, guilt, anger, or other distressing emotions, David Clark takes us to what is behind these emotions: namely repetitive negative thinking like worry or rumination. Using the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and excellent and handy worksheets and exercises--and in a very kind, user friendly, step-by-step way--Clark helps us get rid of repetitive negative thoughts and related feelings."
--Gregoris Simos, MD, PhD, professor of psychopathology in the department of educational and social policy at the University of Macedonia in Greece--Gregoris Simos, MD, PhD

"Repetitive negative thoughts can be distressing, and interfere with our daily lives. In this excellent and clearly written workbook, David Clark gives you concrete strategies and practical solutions to deal with worry, rumination, regret, shame, humiliation, and resentment. This masterfully written and resourceful book will change your life. A must-read."
--Stefan G. Hofmann, PhD, professor at Boston University, and author of The Anxiety Skills Workbook--Stefan G. Hofmann, PhD

"This is a timely and important book for those with anxiety and depression issues. It is increasingly recognized that dealing with rumination, worry, and shame is important to these and other problems. David Clark has worldwide recognition as a leading therapist, and has published widely in this academic area. He has used these skills in developing an accessible and helpful workbook that I would recommend to clients and therapists alike."
--Richard Moulding, PhD, senior lecturer at Deakin University in Australia, editor in chief of Clinical Psychologist, and coeditor of The Self in Understanding and Treating Psychological Disorders--Richard Moulding, PhD

About the Author

David A. Clark, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and professor emeritus at the University of New Brunswick. He is author or coauthor of several books on depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including The Anxiety and Worry Workbook with Aaron T. Beck (founder of cognitive therapy), The Anxious Thoughts Workbook, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for OCD and Its Subtypes. Clark is a founding fellow and trainer consultant with the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, and fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association. He is author of the blog, The Runaway Mind, on www.psychologytoday.com.

Foreword writer Robert L. Leahy, PhD, is author or editor of twenty-seven books, including The Worry Cure, The Jealousy Cure, and Beat the Blues. He is director of the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy in New York, NY, and clinical professor of psychology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Leahy has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and more.