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The splits are back and are all feeling pretty, pretty..... good
A teenager saved a dog's life in Feeling Good in the D!
Mastering the Daily Mood Log Small Details, Life-Changing Results Episode Summary The Daily Mood Log might seem simple—even boring—but its impact can be profound. In this episode, David and Kevin break down how to use this powerful CBT tool effectively, highlighting the most common mistakes people make and how to avoid them. They explain why focusing on a single specific moment is the key to emotional transformation, how to accurately identify feelings, and how to uncover the exact thoughts driving distress. This practical deep dive shows how small shifts in technique can lead to dramatic improvements in mood, confidence, and even what David calls "enlightenment." Step 1: Upsetting Event / Moment Identify one specific moment in time (not a general problem). Include details: Where were you? Who was there? What exactly happened? Common Mistakes: ❌ Being too vague: "My life is a mess" ❌ Writing thoughts instead of events: "I'm not good enough" ❌ Describing ongoing situations instead of a moment Example: ✔️ "At 3pm today, my boss criticized my report in a meeting." Step 2: Emotions Circle or list all emotions you felt Rate each from 0–100% intensity Examples: Sad / Down – 60% Anxious / Nervous – 70% Ashamed – 50% Common Mistakes: ❌ Skipping this step ❌ Not rating intensity ❌ Thinking feelings can't be measured Why It Matters: Helps track progress Improves emotional awareness Increases accuracy and empathy Step 3: Negative Thoughts Write short, specific thoughts (1 sentence each) Focus on what you were telling yourself Examples: "I'm a failure." "There's something wrong with me." "I'll never succeed." Common Mistakes: ❌ Writing long paragraphs ❌ Including events ("She rejected me") ❌ Including feelings ("I feel terrible") ❌ Writing questions ("Why am I like this?" → convert to statement) Tip: Work through emotions one at a time: "What thought caused my sadness?" "What thought caused my anxiety?" Step 4: Positive Thoughts Generate thoughts that: ✅ Are 100% true ✅ Reduce belief in the negative thought Examples: "I made a mistake in that meeting, but that doesn't define my entire ability." "One criticism doesn't mean I'm a failure." Common Mistakes: ❌ Cheerleading ("I'm awesome no matter what") ❌ Irrelevant truths ("At least I can cook") ❌ Statements you don't fully believe Key Insight: Truth alone isn't enough—it must directly challenge the negative belief. Step 5: Re-evaluate Belief in Negative Thought After generating positive thoughts, re-rate how much you believe the original thought Example: "I'm a failure" Before: 90% After: 0% Goal: Reduce belief as much as possible (ideally close to 0%) Why It Matters: Emotional change happens when belief in negative thoughts decreases The greater the reduction, the greater the relief Core Principle Change one moment → understand the pattern → apply it everywhere. Memorable Quotes "We're not fishing for small improvements—we're going after the big fish." "I can't help you with your whole life, but I can help you with one moment." "The truth—not positive thinking—is what sets you free." "Without measuring feelings, therapists are mostly guessing." Practical Exercise Try this today: (Download a blank Daily Mood Log at this link) Write down one upsetting moment Rate your feelings (0–100%) List 3–5 short negative thoughts Challenge one thought with a 100% true alternative Who This Episode Is For Therapists using CBT or TEAM-CBT Anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, or self-doubt Listeners who want practical, structured tools for change Connect & Learn More Read Dr. Burns' latest articles on Psychology Today Explore more tools and resources at FeelingGood.com Learn about TEAM-CBT training and techniques If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, sharing the podcast, or leaving a review. It helps more people discover tools for overcoming depression and anxiety. Let Us Know What You Think of This Episode Please use this link to take a very brief survey and share your opinion with us about this episode Contact Information Kevin Cornelius, LMFT is a Level 5 Certified Master TEAM-CBT Therapist and Trainer and the Clinical Director of Feeling Good Institute--Silicon Valley. He specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship problems and insomnia. You can reach Kevin at kevin@feelinggoodinstitute.com and visit his website at www.tools4change.me. You can reach Dr. Burns at david@feelinggood.com. Feeling down in these turbulent times? Take a ride on our Feeling Great app. Feeling Great feels wonderful! You owe it to yourself to feel GREAT! Give the Greatest Gifts of ALL--Love and Happiness!
Alan gives an update on how the weather will be for the Detroit fireworks!
You do GTD but still feel overwhelmed? Listen along to get Morten and Lars' takes on adding another perspective from the Horizons of Focus, including: - How to know what to do, really - How the AOF perspective helps with your overall GTD practice - How to know when to say no ..and much more! We hope that our responses help you on your GTD journey. If you have a question for us - perhaps to be picked up in a future listener questions episode - be sure to send it to us to podcast@vitallearning.dk And as always, we'd love for you to follow or connect with us on LinkedIn! We always like to connect with GTD'ers from around the world, you can find the links to our YouTube profiles in the Links below. We have some really cool free webinars coming up, which we really want you to join
Check out our first episode of Warehouse Labs! https://youtu.be/9Fmj1_6Uwpo?si=97sxYfXQJcij1a9F Find out how baseball hits different with T-Mobile at https://www.T-Mobile.com/MLB Use our code for 10% off your next set of MLB tickets on SeatGeek*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/YANKS2026. Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount Visit https://www.volosports.com/?utm_source=Jomboy&utm_medium=Various&utm_campaign=Jomboy or download the Volo app to get started! Download the Fanatics Sportsbook app , use code JOMBOY https://fanatics.onelink.me/5kut/JOMBOY New customers who sign up and Bet $5, Get $100 in FanCash*. Use FanCash on bonus bets, profit boosts, team gear and more on Fanatics.com. Check Out Our Merch: https://shop.jomboymedia.com/collections/the-mlb-collection *New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Must toggle on this promotion in your bet slip and wager $5+ cash on any market (min. odds -500) within 7 days of account opening to receive $100 in FanCash. Promotional FanCash expires 7 days from issuance (at 11:59pm ET). Terms, including FanCash terms apply-see Fanatics Sportsbook app. Use FanCash on bonus bets, profit boosts, team gear on Fanatics.com and so much more. +++++ Timestamps: 0:00 Yankees Playing Well, Getting Attention Back as Knicks End 4:20 Injury Updates 11:55 Yankees CRUSH Game 1 20:25 Yankees Blew It In the Series Finale 31:10 Yankees DOMINATED Game 2 as Well, Win the Series 42:15 Ticker Tape Parades 43:45 Pride of the Yankees: Cody Bellinger 46:45 Pride of the Yankees: Paul Goldschmidt 51:05 Yankee MFer 53:05 Guess This Quote 56:35 Spencer Jones Hit Another BIG Homer 1:02:20 Gerrit Cole Bob Ross Quote Is SO Funny 1:08:55 Amed Rosario is a PROFESSIONAL Hitter 1:11:50 The Catchers are HOT 1:15:35 Reds Series Preview Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
(Long Music) Feeling Good Enough Healing From The Inside by Jason Newland
(Short Music) Feeling Good Enough Healing From The Inside by Jason Newland
(Overnight Voice Only) Feeling Good Enough Healing From The Inside by Jason Newland
(Long Voice Only) Feeling Good Enough Healing From The Inside by Jason Newland
(Overnight Music) Feeling Good Enough Healing From The Inside by Jason Newland
(Short Voice Only) Feeling Good Enough Healing From The Inside by Jason Newland
WINGMAN is out now on Gumroad, Apple TV and Amazon Prime! GUMROAD- https://thewingman.gumroad.com/l/WINGMAN APPLE TV- https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/wingman/umc.cmc.nfzru25awp5jnendhudhjw9t This episode is sponsored by Hims, Rocket Money! - To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit Hims.com/Harland. - Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at RocketMoney dot com slash HARLAND Thanks for watching the Harland Highway. More Harland Williams: Harland Highway Podcast Video: https://www.youtube.com/c/HarlandHighwayPodcast Harland Highway Podcast Audio: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-harland-highway/id321980603 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harlandwilliams Harbling Shirts: https://www.harbling.com Official Website: https://www.harlandwilliams.com Twitter :https://twitter.com/harlandhighway?lang=en More Dan Soder: Website:https://www.dansoder.com/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/dansoder/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjVmtPD7hXOkzN80OJM_fXg #podcast #harlandwilliams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alan Longstreet has recently gotten into jogging...
Chelsea's going to be out celebrating a piece of history tomorrow!
We cannot wait to move into our homestead but Frankie is fresh out of ACL surgery and has to be healthy before we can get there. Never a dull moment. Here is 20 minutes of our day and we will see you tomorrow. Grateful for Paco: Support South Coast Humane Society
How many more day are we going to deal with the heat and humidity?!
Alan Longstreet revealed his new hobby.
Alan showed up at the cereal drive yesterday!
Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk joined the show. The Pirates bullpen has been more inconsistent than we thought. Bob wonders if Wilber Dotel and Carmen Mlodzinski are what the bullpen needs. Jared Jones regrouped in the first inning and showed his ability. Carmen Mlodzinski pitched four innings of one-run ball and seemed right mentally guiding the Pirates to the win. We listen to Dan Zangrilli's epic rants to close out a feeling good Friday!
We listen to Dan Zangrilli's epic rants to close out a feeling good Friday! Who will walk out with Morgan Wallen at Acrisure Stadium? What will the Pirates do this week?
Alan Longstreet is hanging out at the cereal drive with us and gives a weekend forecast.
A man helped reunite a baby deer with his mama.
Hi Solo Star! Have you ever noticed that when something good happens in your business or life, you struggle to fully enjoy it? Maybe you immediately look for what's wrong, wait for the other shoe to drop, or feel uncomfortable celebrating it at all. If that's you, you're not alone—and there's probably a deeper reason for it than you realize. Here's the link to this episode on Sandra's website if you'd like to check it out: https://sandrasmith.com/podcast-episode/when-feeling-good-feels-bad.
Join us for our cereal drive in Southgate tomorrow!
A dog saved a man's life from a house fire in Feeling Good In The D!
An off-duty firefighter saved a woman's life from her sinking vehicle!
The scale is about so much more than a number. Whether it's for health or because it's a habit you just can't shake, stepping on the scale brings up a lot more mindset and body confidence issues than it solves. This one is all about how to gently put it away, so you can focus on deeper health, fitness and self-acceptance. Listen for inspiration and understanding. After you listen, got a thought about a topic for these minis? Send me a message on Instagram here: @itchardet ABOUT NAKD MINIS Short episodes with bursts of inspiration for your mind, body and life. These are never more than 10 minutes and always meant to help you start or end your day with more intention. Minis are now in between our main seasons of longer episodes to keep you inspired, without taking up too much time! LISTEN TO NEXT:Stop Asking About Weight Why Diets Don't Work
Is it Time for a New Approach to Emotional Suffering? Advantages and Disadvantages of DSM Diagnoses Hosts: Kevin Cornelius, LMFT Dr. David Burns Episode Summary In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. David Burns and host Kevin Cornelius, LMFT explore a topic that shapes nearly every corner of modern mental health care: psychiatric diagnosis. For decades, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has defined how clinicians diagnose, treat, and research emotional suffering. But what if many of these diagnostic categories don't represent distinct medical diseases? What if they are simply normal human emotions—like sadness, anxiety, or shame—occurring on a spectrum? Dr. Burns draws on decades of clinical experience, research, and insights from TEAM-CBT to question the assumptions behind psychiatric labeling. While diagnoses can sometimes reduce stigma or help people access care, they can also unintentionally shape identity, medicalize everyday emotional struggles, and distract from the real drivers of emotional pain. This episode offers a nuanced conversation about labels, measurement, therapy, and what actually helps people recover from depression and anxiety. In This Episode You'll Learn What the DSM is—and why it became so influential How the DSM functions as the "diagnostic bible" of psychiatry Why the system was originally designed for research standardization, not necessarily for everyday clinical treatment The difference between true mental disorders and normal emotional experiences Examples of genuine brain disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder Why many DSM diagnoses describe normal emotions taken to an extreme How everyday struggles became medical diagnoses Shyness becoming "social anxiety disorder" Chronic worry becoming "generalized anxiety disorder" Why time-based thresholds (like "14 days of depression") can be arbitrary The unintended consequences of diagnostic labels How labels can reinforce feelings of shame or defectiveness Why diagnoses can sometimes lead to over-medicalization and medication-focused care Why measurement matters more than diagnosis in therapy Dr. Burns explains how simple mood scales can quickly assess a patient's emotional state Research showing that DSM diagnoses often add little predictive value for treatment outcomes A surprising research finding After lengthy diagnostic interviews, clinicians were only 3–5% accurate at estimating patients' feelings in the moment What this reveals about the limits of traditional diagnostic approaches Why focusing on thoughts may be the key According to cognitive research, negative thoughts drive emotional suffering Effective therapy focuses on identifying and transforming these thoughts Hope for people who feel defined by a diagnosis Why diagnoses do not determine your ability to recover How targeted cognitive techniques can sometimes produce rapid improvements—even within a single session Benefits of Diagnosis (According to Dr. Burns) While the episode critiques diagnostic labeling, the conversation also highlights situations where diagnoses can help: Access to insurance coverage Eligibility for disability or academic accommodations Temporary relief from self-blame Clear communication in research studies Key Takeaway Mental health diagnoses can sometimes be useful administrative tools—but they should never define who you are. Real healing often comes from understanding the specific thoughts, moments, and experiences that drive emotional pain, and learning practical methods to change them. Mentioned in This Episode Dr. Burns' article: "Is It Time for a New Approach to Emotional Suffering?" (Psychology Today) TEAM-CBT approach to psychotherapy Brief Mood Survey and other measurement tools used in therapy Memorable Quote "We treat humans, not disorders." Connect & Learn More Read Dr. Burns' latest articles on Psychology Today Explore more tools and resources at FeelingGood.com Learn about TEAM-CBT training and techniques If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, sharing the podcast, or leaving a review. It helps more people discover tools for overcoming depression and anxiety. Let Us Know What You Think of This Episode Please use this link to take a very brief survey and share your opinion with us about this episode Contact Information Kevin Cornelius, LMFT is a Level 5 Certified Master TEAM-CBT Therapist and Trainer and the Clinical Director of Feeling Good Institute--Silicon Valley. He specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship problems and insomnia. You can reach Kevin at kevin@feelinggoodinstitute.com and visit his website at www.tools4change.me. You can reach Dr. Burns at david@feelinggood.com. Feeling down in these turbulent times? Take a ride on our Feeling Great app. Feeling Great feels wonderful! You owe it to yourself to feel GREAT! Give the Greatest Gifts of ALL--Love and Happiness!
A new poll from Abacus Data shows 47 per cent of Canadians surveyed believe Canada is moving in the right direction, the highest percentage since 2017. UBC political science lecturer Stewart Prest gave his take on how Canadians are feeling about the country even as the shadow of possible Alberta separatism looms.
Feeling GOOD about this episode... a perfect soundtrack to wake you up, grip you and keep you UP through the motions of the day, and FNA is nothing if it ain't a motion party baby. Move with us with tracks from SOMERSET THROWER, DOWN TO NOTHING, RUNNIN HOT, LOWERTOWN, TORTURE REALM, MADHONEY, NO GUARD, THE BRINK and more. Let's go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happens when the life you worked so hard to build… no longer feels aligned?In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Golden—entrepreneur, writer, confidence coach, and founder of The Free Mama—to talk about the quiet shift so many high-achieving women are experiencing right now.
Three teens saved a man's life who was having a heart attack!
Social media made the right business popular!
We're reunited with Alan Longstreet!
A lost cat found its way home and Allyson got an update on the cat she rescued!
Goats saved a family's life in Feeling Good in the D and production is asking The Summer I Turned Pretty fans to be respectful of production.
Alan's back and excited about the Pistons win!
Chanel No. 5 debuted on this day and Britney Spears accepted a plea deal in her DUI case.
500: Celebrating Rhonda's Triumphant Leadership - and a Sad Goodbye In this very special 500th episode of the Feeling Good Podcast, Matt May, Jill Levitt and I pause to celebrate a remarkable milestone, our 500th episode of the Feeling Good podcast, and to honor someone who has been at the heart of it for the past 273 episodes: Rhonda Barovsky Since stepping into the role of host, Rhonda has brought warmth, wisdom, curiosity, and deep compassion to every conversation. Her presence has helped shape the podcast into a trusted space for learning, healing, personal growth, and building the TEAM community. Week after week, she has guided thoughtful discussions on mood, relationships, anxiety, depression, and the many challenges of being human—with authenticity and grace. Rhonda's unique ability to ask meaningful questions, highlight practical tools, and connect with listeners has made an immeasurable impact. Whether exploring TEAM CBT techniques or sharing personal reflections, she has helped countless listeners feel seen, understood, and empowered. As Rhonda steps down from her role as host, this episode is dedicated to celebrating her contributions and expressing deep gratitude for all she has given to this community. In this episode, we: Reflect on Rhonda's journey with the podcast and how she became such an integral part of its success Highlight memorable moments and favorite episodes from her time as host Share behind-the-scenes stories and personal reflections Express appreciation from listeners and the broader Feeling Good community This is not goodbye—it's a transition. Rhonda leaves behind a powerful legacy and a strong foundation that will continue to inspire future episodes and listeners around the world. Thank you, Rhonda, for your dedication, your heart, and your unwavering commitment to helping people feel better. And to our listeners: thank you for being part of these 500 episodes. We're so glad you're here—and we're excited for what comes next as Kevin Cornelius steps into the role of the Feeling Good Podcast host. Welcome, Kevin! Warmly, David, Rhonda, Matt and Jill
This episode starts with some major life updates. Bradshaw shares the story behind his collarbone surgery, and Giana opens up about navigating iron infusions during pregnancy. As usual, one tangent leads to another, and we somehow end up talking about the Venice Biennale, tattoos, being emo, queer allyship, sugar addiction, and what it's like to lose friends far too early in life.Nearly 20 minutes in (classic), we finally settle into the heart of the episode, what to do when your yoga practice stops feeling good. We talk about pregnancy, injury, burnout, plateaus, and losing passion, those seasons when a practice that once felt nourishing starts to feel frustrating, stale, or disconnected.More importantly, we offer ideas for how to navigate it, including nervous system regulation, taking intentional breaks, exploring other movement modalities, finding new teachers, shifting your goals, reconnecting to what first drew you in, and giving yourself permission to let your practice evolve with you. Bradshaw also shares his experience with SI joint dysfunction and how pain reshaped his relationship to movement.We close with a bigger question. Did you love yoga, or did you love the transformation phase, the honeymoon phase of becoming someone new through it? Because even a “good addiction” can become unhealthy, and sometimes the path back is less about pushing harder and more about learning a new way to practice.We also share funny stories about getting the ick before the ick was a thing, and trying to impress doctors with our anatomy knowledge.Want to support our podcast? Join our Patreon for extra content
Micah Keolanui is a singer, songwriter, producer and entrepreneur from the island of O'ahu. He is known for his smooth vocals and signature reggae sound, blending R&B, soul, and island influences into music that's both timeless and relatable. He's been in the music scene for over two decades, originally as a founding member and lead singer of The Next Generation before stepping into his solo career and building a name of his own.He's released projects like G Style and Feeling Good, with songs like “Take a Chance,” “Big City Love,” “Apple of My Eye,” and “Good Man” gaining strong rotation across Hawaiʻi radio and connecting with audiences across the islands and beyond.And now, after some time away from releasing a full project, he is getting ready to drop a brand new album, marking the next chapter in his journey as an artist.In this episode we talk about growing up in Kuliouou, getting into music, starting Next Generation, their hits songs, going solo, opening his Moani restaurants, the evolution of music, his new album, and so much more. Enjoy!Buy our merch:
"When you start to feed your soul, that's like the invisible medicine that you didn't even know you needed." The version of your life where things feel cleaner, clearer, and more aligned isn't on the other side of doing more, fixing yourself, or finally getting everything "right." It's on the other side of raising your standard for how you're willing to feel and choosing, moment by moment, to come home to yourself. In this life update, Heather shares what it actually looks like to live from that place in the way you build your systems, lead your team, invest your time and energy, and make decisions rooted in intuition instead of fear. This is a conversation about personal responsibility without self-punishment and feeding your soul instead of abandoning it. Because the truth is, feeling good comes when you decide you're no longer available to live without it. What to listen for: ☑️ Systems, processes, and having the right support by training an aligned team ☑️ Asking what your soul is craving and choosing to make those things happen ☑️ Checking in and prioritizing your standards for how you want to feel "It's really important for you to understand that feeling good is your birthright. The only thing stopping you from raising your vibration or being on the other side of fear, guilt, and overwhelm is raising your standard for how you feel."☑️ Why we develop the belief that feeling like shit is what we're worthy of ☑️ If you're not choosing to be proactive, you'll start living reactively by default ☑️ Learning to think outside the box and gain different perspectives for growth "It's your responsibility to own your intuition, to deeply listen to that voice inside of you, and to lead and make decisions from that place. You have to return home to yourself when you're making decisions."☑️ Supporting our bodies so that we can thrive inside of them for as long as possible ☑️ Where are you investing your time, your energy, and your financial resources? ☑️ The power of investing in things without the belief that it's going to fix you "Your soul is asking to be fed, and if you don't know how to read the language of your soul, you'll feel lost. You're constantly being guided to return home to yourself. You're constantly being guided to sit with the duality of fear, but also sit with the desire for what your soul craves."☑️ Unlocking the next level of receiving by no longer getting ready to get ready ☑️ Why athletes are like buffalo and what we can learn from their way of being ☑️ In order to become, you have to be willing to head into the storm *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me inside the Energetic Time Management Accelerator, a focused experience designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Join the Energetic Time Management Accelerator: www.heatherchauvin.com/time Explore the top episodes listeners come back to when they're stuck, burned out, or standing at the edge of a big shift: www.heatherchauvin.com/10 Follow Heather on Instagram: www.instagram.com/heatherchauvin_
Feeling Good in the D is all about the oldest penguin and George Clooney is stepping away from acting.
It was a big day for Jared Goff 10 years ago today and Jonah Hill is enjoying a quieter life outside of Hollywood.
Why Isn't TEAM More Popular? Why Do So Many Therapists Resist TEAM CBT? Featuring Matt May, MD Why has the therapeutic community been so resistant to TEAM? This topic has been a concern to me or many years. To be honest, it isn't new. From the very start of cognitive therapy, when I was first learning it, I began modifying it to make it more dynamic, powerful, and effective. But to be honest, I ran into a small (at the time) of Beck loyalists who branded me as an "outsider," something Beck also did when my book, Feeling Good, began to sell and gain popularity. This saddened and frustrated me, and still does, but it had some great spin-off. On my own, my ideas and approaches grew rapidly, and there was no scarcity of young therapists who wanted to work with me. Below, you will ready Matt's take on why TEAM CBT has not caught on better, followed by my own thoughts. So read, and enjoy, and feel free to share your own thinking on this topic! On the live podcast, you will hear our lively discussion with our beloved and brilliant host, Rhonda! Thanks for listening today! Matt, Rhonda, and David Matt's take: Hi David, I'm excited to discuss this topic! Also, I agree we would be hard-pressed to cover it in an hour, which I believe is the goal for the podcast. So, why isn't TEAM isn't more popular? My short answer is that TEAM isn't more popular because many therapists don't want to learn it. Those reasons will vary from one person to another and relate to concepts in the model, itself, like 'process resistance' and 'outcome resistance'. While biological factors, like deficits in cognitive flexibility and neuroplasticity, the 'primacy effect' and age-related changes in the brain, combined with the complexity of the TEAM model, will make it near-impossible for some folks to learn it, these barriers are hard to address with our current technology For the purpose of this conversation, it probably makes more sense to consider the psychological barriers therapists have to adopting a model that is scientifically proven to be superior to other approaches. As a proponent of TEAM and an instructor, I'd love to know what I'm doing wrong, in presenting the model and how to get more people excited about learning it. While more research would help us see the problem more clearly, here are some factors that likely play a role: It seems humans have a hard time adopting new truths, regardless of the field being considered. I believe it was Schopenhauer who said all new truths go through three phases on the way to acceptance: People will ridicule it, violently oppose it, then say they knew it all along as self-evident! One cause of this is something called the 'primacy effect'. People preferentially retain the first version of a story they hear. If that information is corrected, later, they will continue to believe the first version they heard. Biological Factors play a role in learning, including genetics, aging, illness and toxic exposure. 'Switching gears', mentally, is more challenging in people with Schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives, for example. We know that neuroplasticity is greatest in our youth and declines over our lifespan. Hence the importance of early education and attending to our overall health, habits, nutrition and medical care. Socioeconomic and Cultural factors certainly play a role. This is well documented in the book, 'The Emperor's New Drugs', showing how marketing prevailed over science in promoting "antidepressants". Many therapists in training tell me, 'oh, they wouldn't let me use a measurement tool where I work'. Lack of 'Critical Thinking'. What people believe often has nothing to do with what is evidence-based or logical. Many people reject global warming despite the evidence and prefer to believe in conspiracy theories. We tend to preferentially believe what someone says if we feel a kinship or loyalty to that person or view them as an 'expert'. People might believe RFK Jr. when he says immunizations are dangerous, for example, because he is in their political party and in a position of power, rather than review the science for themselves. Sunk-Cost Fallacy: People who have gone through training may have a sense that they have invested too much time and money in their education to discard that model and start afresh. Even if we covered this in just a few minutes, we'd still be up against the hardest part of TEAM to learn, Agenda Setting. Lots of 'Good Reasons' NOT to have open hands, explore topics paradoxically, and reasons this is challenging, technically. So, yeah, we'll have a lot to discuss and I'm looking forward to that! Sincerely, Matt Here is David's list Taking a page out of your book, Matt, our field is filled with so-called "schools" of therapy that function much like cults, most with a narcissistic "leader" at the helm. In a cult, members are required to be absolutely loyal, and to believe in claims the guru makes that have little or no evidence to back them up. For example, most "schools" of therapy claim to know "the" cause of emotional distress, when the causes of depression and other forms of emotional disturbance are still not known. What I have been suggesting is that we get rid of all the schools of therapy and usher in a new era of science-based, data-driven therapy, which would amount to a revolution in our field. This idea, which I feel passionate about, always meets with stiff and hostel opposition / push back. People just don't want to hear it. TEAM integrates high-level empathy and compassion with firm accountability. Give Stanford story with Sunny Choi, and the statement that "Stanford graduate students and faculty cannot be held accountable for doing psychotherapy homework. The need insight-oriented therapy!" This angrily issued statement conveyed, actually, two cult-like (to my thinking) components: First, we KNOW that patients should not be asked to do psychotherapy homework between sessions. Second, we KNOW that "insight-oriented therapy" is the treatment, without ever evaluating them. TEAM focuses on the here and now, and emphasize a "fractal" approach to treatment, where the same distortions and self-defeating beliefs will be embedded in the patient's negative thoughts and feelings every time she or he is upset. So, when you change the present, you have already changed the past. Whereas most therapies have traditionally (and still) focus on the past, thinking they will find the cause of the patient's distress in some pattern or traumatic event. TEAM focuses on rapid change in the here and now, where as many (most?) therapies focus on talk therapy that unfolds slowly, over a period of months, years, or even more. This DOES provide a powerful financial incentive to do "talk therapy," since this drastically provides financial security and reduces the incredible pressure of constantly have to find new patients. TEAM is very challenging to learn. I have taught over 50,000 therapists in the past 35 years or more, through my supervision of graduate students and psychiatric residents, my weekly training group at Stanford, and my workshops, including intensive, around the US and Canada. And one lesson that has emerged is just how difficult it is to learn TEAM. It requires a high level of intelligence and aptitude, and an unusual dedication and commitment. A great many of the most important tools, like Assessment of Resistance, and Externalization of Voices with the CAT, Self-Defense, and the Acceptance Paradox, are extremely difficult to learn and master. And most give up, and drop out, in favor of some simpler and more formulaic therapy that is easy to learn. TEAM training requires constant role-playing with specific and immediate feedback on your performance, which includes bot a letter grade (A, B, C, etc.) as well as what you did that was effective, and where you fell short and might need to fine-tune your technique with frequent role reversals, always with feedback. This means lots of criticism along the way, which many (most?) therapists do not like. And although we repeatedly emphasize the philosophy of "joyous failure," and "learning through failure," most people do not buy it emotionally. We all want success and compliments! And NOT the "great death" of the self." The "great death" permeates every phase of the T E A M process. At the T = Testing, you will nearly always learn that your perceptions of your patients feel, and how they feel about you, are way off base. This is critically important, but painful for most, as it is a direct body blow to our "need" to be in the role of "expert." Unlike most other forms of therapy, we require therapists to measure patients' feelings, "in the here and now," at the start and end of every therapy session, using brief, highly reliable scales that assess feelings of depression, suicidal urges, anxiety, anger, and also happiness, as well as relationship satisfaction or discord. These scales function like an "emotional X-ray machine," allowing therapists for the first time to see exactly how effective or ineffective you were in every therapy session. Can you take it? On the positive side, this information will allow you to fine tune the therapy and learn from all of your patients every day. On the negative side, you may not want to have to "see" your failures before your eyes at every session with every patient. David: Tell the story of Tuesday group patient who proudly showed me her depression (and other scores) over the previous year with one of her patients. . . But there was absolutely no improvement in any scale. This was shocking and it made me very sad. My goal is to get dramatic changes within a single session. This "great death" continues during the E phase. TEAM therapists are required to ask "What's my grade on empathy" during the session, and also patients fill out the Empathy Scale and other scales on the "Patient's Evaluation of Therapy Session" right after the session. These scales are set up to make therapist failure common, almost universal at first. A warm and curious dialogue about where the therapist went wrong can revolutionize the therapy and deepen the relationship—quickly. But at what cost to the fragile ego of the insecure shrink? The "great death" continues with A = Paradoxical Agenda Setting. You give up your role as the "expert:" or "helper" or "rescuer," which many therapist refuse to do, and instead "become" the patient's subconscious resistance, arguing, with compassion and logic, that there are many GOOD reasons NOT to change. This freaks therapists out! The "great death" continues with the M = Methods phase of the session. I have developed roughly 140 methods to help people challenge distorted negative thoughts and self-defeating beliefs, and have always taught that no one method will work for everyone who's depressed and anxious. So you will have to try many methods, using the Recovery Circle, to find the one that works for each patient. But these methods are challenging to learn, and most therapists don't seem to have the intelligence, aptitude, or commitment to learning how to use them. Many of the methods and insights of TEAM or subtle nuances that many therapists do not "get" or perhaps do not want to "get." Example, the ACT training group, where someone held up the Feeling Good book and said, "We do not want THIS!" They falsely believed that "leaning into" your feelings is always the answer, and wrong believed that TEAM tried to make people happy all the time—called Toxic Positivity—whereas nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I mentioned healthy negative feelings as early as, I think, Chapter 3 in Feeling Good, "Sadness is Not Depression," where I told the story of an elderly man who died on the Stanford inpatient medical service one evening when I was a medical student. Much of what I teach is shocking and at odds with what people are taught in graduate school. For example, the idea that most people with depression and anxiety—NOT everybody!—can be effectively treated in a single, extended therapy session. Curses! That sounds horrible! And even worse-sounding is the idea that change typically happens suddenly, at the very moment patients stop believing their distorted thoughts. Of course, since most therapists have not seen these phenomena, due perhaps to not having the skill, they insist instead that David is some type of fool, liar, or con artis. Okee Dokee! People—therapists and patients alike—do not "get" a great many of the key ideas in TEAM. For example, let's say the socially anxious patient totally believes the thought, "I shouldn't be so screwed up!" the necessary and sufficient conditions for emotional change. The necessary condition: The Positive Thought (PT) must be 100% true. Rationalizations and half-truths have never helped anybody. The sufficient condition: The PT must drastically reduce your belief in the negative thought. And that's when your negative thoughts will suddenly change. There is even more of what I teach is shocking and at odds with what people believe. For example, 2,000 years ago Epictetus stated they key premise of all the cognitive therapies: "People are disturbed, not by things, or events, but by the views they have of them". And recently, our research team has provided proof of this for the first time, in a study of nearly 7,000 users of our Feeling Great app, using sophisticated statistical modeling techniques. So, the three tenants of cognitive therapies, including TEAM, are: First, you FEEL the way you THINK. In other words, all of your positive and negative feelings result from your thoughts in the here-and-now. Second, depression and anxiety are the world's oldest cons. In other words, your negative thoughts, like "I'm not as good as I should be," or "I'm a hopeless case,"—will be loaded with many of the ten cognitive distortions and are extremely misleading—but you don't realize this when you're upset. You will believe these thoughts with all your heart and feel CERTAIN that they are 100% true. Third, you can CHANGE the way you FEEL. But lots of people will won't have it. They keep insisting on theories that simply aren't true—that emotions cause thoughts, for example—and on methods that may have little or no "punch" above and beyond the placebo effect. Story of Tuesday group student who was scolded in her graduate school counseling program for using the words "thought" or cognition during a therapy session. She was told ONLY to focus on feelings. Many people—therapists and patients alike—strongly believe that therapist empathy is THE key to healing. I have developed many powerful empathy tracking and training methods, but our clinical experience and research has shown, over and over, that therapist empathy is NOT the key to healing. They keys involve using TEAM systematically, and the rapid healing happens during the A and M for the most part. But those are the hard parts! Other problems include the idea that we can convert normal human emotional distress into a series of "mental disorders" that are listed in the DSM, the "bible" of the American Psychiatric Association. In TEAM, we consider each patient's patterns of suffering at the start of therapy, quickly and easily screened by the EASY Diagnostic System, but monitor therapy and patient progress with simple tools that measure feelings, like depression, anxiety, anger, and more. But this is an argument for another day. There's a lot more issues, too. Have I, David, contributed to the resistance to TEAM? Absolutely I have. I plead guilty as accused, and I'm proud of it. I'm totally aware that people—maybe even you— get turned off by criticism, and naturally recoil to protect your "in group," as Matt so clearly pointed out, and maintain loyalty to your "leader," whether it's Freud, Jung, Beck, Hayes, Rogers, or whoever. People are more emotional than rational, and people can be intentionally cruel and deceptive, too, all in the name of what they believe. We see that in our politics these days too. People believe things that are totally false, and wildly implausible, because the group or leader says it's true, it's the way things are. I'm a strong believer that science and truth will win out in the long run. Is this inevitable? I'm not totally confident, and have my doubts, but I am also filled with hope, and look to a future with more therapists like our beloved Matt May, MD and others who have dared to venture in a radically new direction, much like the early astronomers like Galileo and Copernicus who dared to challenge the superstitious teachings of the Catholic church. Those brave and brilliant early souls said, "things are NOT the way you think!" And they used data and mathematical modeling to prove their points. But there were a hundreds years of intimidation and suffering until people finally began to catch on to the then-ridiculous and outrageous ideas that the sun does NOT actually revolve around the earth, and that the earth is NOT the center of the universe. Those NOTS changed history. Can it happen again in the fields of psychiatry and psychotherapy? I hope so, and I've been giving my all, in my teaching, research, clinical work and writing, to make this happen. Sadly, I've fallen far short of my dream, but I'm thankful every day for what I've got, and the wonderful colleagues I'm privileged to know and love. Warmly, David, Matt and Rhonda
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