<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Very useful
Review: For those of us who have read endless books on Cognitive / Bahaviour approaches to depression, anxiety and personality disorders, this one is most welcome: First of all, it is not simplistic, naive and patronising, like it often is with self help books. Second, the authors can empathise and demonstrate knowledge of 'what it feels like'. Third, the book is not solely based on the main principle of cognitive therapy that changing your thinking is the first step to changing your emotions. The authors describe how learning patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving in childhood can affect adult life; these patterns, often hidden under totally different circumstances, appear again and again. The authors make this pattern abstraction and repetition very clear, and suggest ways that this can be broken. This is the popular book version of the authors' research on schema theory; it is a very balanced book, addressing emotions and thoughts in a way that the dry cognitive therapy approach cannot achieve. It has been the most helpful book to me to date, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who has had enough of naive readings and is seriously looking for explanations, answers and suggestions.
Rating:
Summary: Stop the Repetitive Cycles of Our Lives (not a soap opera)
Review: I found this book very informative with behavioral and cognitive approaches along with psychoanalytical and experiential techniques that makes this book so very different and unique. I have been in therapy for years, and although from time to time I may of received helpful feedback, most of the time I just talked and talked and the therapist (supposedly)listened (I did try about 7 different therapists). I never felt there were any action steps to help break-through the repetitive cycles many people repeat throughout their lives. This book gives the reader the opportunity to determine if they fall into any of the lifetraps and to what degree. If there is a lifetrap that is holding a person back, then there are several examples of how it may relate to the readers life, and other examples that may exemplify someone the reader may know. However, there are suggestions to break the cycle, to break free! To build trust, to reframe thoughts, to change behavior in order to improve life and to eliminate the baggage load often carried around by people stuck in a lifetrap. Time to get out and lose that baggage!
Rating:
Summary: Finally - Permanent change!
Review: I have struggled with emotional issues off and on for my entire life. I've had counseling and have read a number of self-help books. This book has finally given me the tools I've needed to figure out the sources of my hurt and unexpected reactions to everyday events. For the first time I understand where it all comes from. And I've proven the author's suggestions work - time and time again. Now I'm buying copies for my family and a friend. But it's only as good as you are in applying yourself to the assignments. Not easy - but hooray! I feel free at last!
Rating: 
Summary: Good advice? or too obvious?
Review: This book really made me think and that's what I think it would be used best as--a point to start thinking deeply about your childhood. I fit damn near every "lifetrap" in the book and I didn't know if that was really accurate or if I really am a basketcase!The case studies they had as examples were dry & boring. Felt very white-bread. But I'm all for any approach that uses active exercises to make change, rather than just RECOGNIZING that you have problems and that's automatically gonna revamp your life. You've gotta WORK at it. Furthermore, I felt they tried to cram too much advice into each chapter--some of the "lifetraps" can be a whole separate book! But as the authors instruct, you can follow similar exercises to get over all your "lifetraps". Worth adding to your self-help library and esp. if you can get it at a good price!
Rating:
Summary: Changed my life
Review: This book, along with "Emotional Alchemy" by Tara Goldman, has been a life changing experience! Years of therapy and $$ down the drain never helped me as much as these two books. By understanding and challenging your schemas, you will free yourself to create the life you want. You will also come to understand your friends and family members and what drives them. As a side benefit, you will be able to let go of anger and experience compassion. While continuing work on my schemas, I feel freer. I can finally exhale and get off the roller coaster of an unexamined life. And, over time, I have been able see a more direct relationship between my emotions and the quality of my health. Thank you so much!
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: This book, along with "Feeling Good" by David Burns, has helped me tremendously. As an abused and abandoned child, I have grown up to have issues with just about everything in this book. This book really helps you see WHAT you do that keeps you so self-destructive, and WHY you do it. When you understand this, it's much easier to change the behavior. All you have to do to make a significant change is to change your thinking!
<< 1 >>
| 
