Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Self-Help Resources

There are a wide range of self-help materials available that draw on standard Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) strategies, as well as strategies from CBT variants that emphasize acceptance and mindfulness (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)) and self-compassion (e.g., Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)) .

The following is an assortment of useful books, grouped by problem area for your convenience.

Anxiety  & Anxiety Disorders (General)

Bourne, E.J. (2000).  The anxiety and phobia workbook, 3rd edition.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Forsyth, J.P. & Eifert, G.H. (2008). The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety: A Guide to Breaking Free From Anxiety, Phobias, and Worry Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Greenberger, D., & Padesky, C.A. (1995).  Mind over mood: Change how you feel by changing the way you think.  New York: Guilford Press.

Luciani, J. (2001). Self-coaching: How to heal anxiety and depression. John Wiley & Sons.

Tirsch, D. (2012). The compassionate mind guide to overcoming anxiety. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Panic Disorder With and Without Agoraphobia

Clum, George A.  (1990).  Coping with Panic: A Drug-Free Approach to Dealing with Anxiety Attacks.  Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Craske, M.G., & Barlow, D.H. (2000).  Mastery of Your Anxiety and Panic, 3rd edition (MAP-3). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

Eldridge, G.D., & Walker, J.R. (2000).  Coping with Panic Workbook.  Virginia: Self-change systems, Inc.

Rachman, S.J., & de Silva, P. (1996).  Panic disorder: The facts. Oxford University Press.

Wilson, R. (1996). Don't panic: Taking control of anxiety attacks (revised edition).  New York: Harper Perennial. Techniques and 8 audio tape programs.

Zuercher-White, E. (1997).  An end to panic:  Breakthrough techniques for overcoming panic disorder, 2nd Edition.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Worry and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Copeland, M.E. (1998). The worry control workbook. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Leahy, R. (2005). The worry cure: Seven steps to stop worry from stopping you. Harmony.

Lejeune, C., (2008). The Worry Trap: How to Free Yourself from Worry & Anxiety Using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Social Phobia

Antony, M.M., & Swinson, R.P. (2000).  The shyness and social anxiety workbook:  Proven, step-by-step techniques for overcoming your fear.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Carmin, C.N., Pollard, C.A., Flynn, T., & Markway, B.G. (1992). Dying of embarrassment: Help for social anxiety and phobia. New Harbinger.

Fleming, J.E., & Kocovski, N.I. (2013). Mindfulness and acceptance workbook for Social Anxiety and Shyness. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Hope, D.A., Heimberg, R.G., Juster, H.R. & Turk, C.L. (2000).  Managing social anxiety.  San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

Markway, B.G. & Markway, G.P.  (2001).  Painfully Shy: How to Overcome Social Anxiety and Reclaim Your Life.  Thomas Dunne Books.  St. Martins Press.

Stein, M.B., & Walker, J.R. (2001).  Triumph over shyness:  Conquering shyness and social anxiety.  New York: McGraw-Hill.

Specific Phobia

Antony, M.M., Craske, M.G., & Barlow, D.H. (1995).  Mastery of your specific phobia (client workbook).  San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation

Brown, D. (1996).  Flying without fear.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Baer, L. (2000).  Getting control:  Overcoming your obsessions and compulsions, Revised Edition.  New York, NY: Plume.

de Silva, P. & Rachman, S.J. (1998). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Facts. (2nd edition). Oxford.

Foa, E.B., & Kozak, M.J. (1997).  Mastery of your obsessive compulsive disorder, client workbook.  San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

Foa, E.B., & Wilson, R. (2001).  Stop obsessing!  How to overcome your obsessions and compulsions, revised edition.  New York: Bantam.

Hyman, B.M., & Pedrick, C. (1999).  The OCD workbook:  Your guide to breaking free from obsessive-compulsive disorder.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Penzel, F. (2000). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: Getting well and Staying well. Oxford University Press.

Schwartz, J.M. (1996). Brain Lock: Free yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior.  New York: Regan Books, Harper Collins.

Steketee, G.S. (1999).  Overcoming obsessive compulsive disorder (client manual).  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Steketee, G., & White, K. (1990).  When once is not enough:  Help for obsessive compulsives.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Lee, D., & James, S. (2013). The compassionate mind guide to recovering from trauma and PTSD. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Matsakis, A. (1996).  I can’t get over it:  A handbook for trauma survivors, Second Edition.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Raja, S. (2012). Overcoming trauma and PTSD: A workbook integrating skills from ACT, DBT, and CBT. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Health Anxiety

Taylor, S., & Asmundson, G. (2005).  It's Not All in Your Head: How Worrying about Your Health Could Be Making You Sick--and What You Can Do about It. Guilford Press.

Depression and Negative Moods

Addis, M.E., & Martell, C.R. (2004). Overcoming depression one step at a time.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Burns, D.D. (1999).  The feeling good handbook, Revised Edition.  New York: Plume.

Greenberger, D., & Padesky, C.A. (1995).  Mind over mood: Change how you feel by changing the way you think.  New York: Guilford Press.

Luciani, J. (2001). Self-coaching: How to heal anxiety and depression. John Wiley & Sons.

Patterson, R. (2002). Your Depression Map. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Spradlin, S. (2003). Don’t let your emotions run your life. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Stosahl, K., & Robinson, P.J. (2017). Mindfulness and acceptance workbook for Depression, 2nd ed. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Zettle, R. D. (2007) ACT for Depression: A Clinician's Guide to Using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy in Treating Depression. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Common Problems associated with Anxiety and Depression

Antony, M.M., & Swinson, R.P. (1998).  When perfect isn’t good enough:  Strategies for coping with perfectionism. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Cash, T.F. (2008). The body image workbook, 2nd ed. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Claiborn, J., & Pedrick, C. (2001).  The habit change workbook:  How to break bad habits and form good ones.  Oakland, CA:  New Harbinger.

Claiborn, J., & Pedrick, C. (2002).   The BDD workbook:  Overcome body dysmorphic disorder and end body image obsessions.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

McGonigal, K. (2012). The willpower instinct: How self-control works, why it matters, and what you can do to get more of it. New York: Penguin Group.

Shame / Self-Compassion

Brown, B, (2007). I thought it was just me (but it isn’t): Making the journey from “what will people think” to “I am enough”. New York, New York: Penguin Group.

Brown, B. (2010). The gifts of imperfection: Let go of who you think you should be and embrace who you are. New York, New York: Penguin Group.

Germer, C.K. (2009). The mindful path to self-compassion: Freeing yourself from destructive thoughts and emotions. New York, New York: Gilford Press.

Neff, Kristen. (2011). Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind. William Morrow.

Stress Management

Davis, M., Eshelman, E.R., & McKay, M. (1995).  The relaxation and stress reduction workbook, fourth edition.  Oakland, CA:  New Harbinger Publications.

Pain Management

Caudill, M.A. (2008). Managing pain before it manages you.  New York: Guilford Press.

Dahl, J., & Lundgren, T. (2006). Living beyond your pain. Oakland: New Harbinger.

Turk, D.C., & Winter, F. (2005). The pain survival guide: How to reclaim your life. Washington, DC: The American Psychological Association.

Assertiveness & Communication

McKay, M., Davis, M., & Fanning, P. (1995).  Messages:  The communications skills book, second edition.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Paterson, R.J. (2000). The assertiveness workbook: How to express your ideas and stand up for yourself at work and in relationships. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Anger Management

Forsyth, J.P., McKay, M. & Eifert, G.H. (2006). Act on Life Not on Anger: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Guide to Problem Anger. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Kolts, R.L. (2012). The compassionate mind guide to managing your anger. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Child & Youth Anxiety

Chansky, T.E. (2004). Freeing your child from anxiety. New York: Three Rivers Press.

Eisen, A.R. & Engler, L.B. (2006). Helping your child overcome Separation Anxiety or School Refusal. A step by step plan for parents. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

McCurry, C. (2009). Parenting your anxious child with mindfulness and acceptance. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Rapee, R.M., Spence, S.H., Cobham, V., & Wignall, A. (2000).  Helping your anxious child:  A step-by-step guide for parents.  Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Waltz, M. (2000).  Obsessive-compulsive disorder:  Help for children and adolescents.  Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly and Associates.

Family & Friends

Lebowitz, E.R., & Omer, H. (2013). Treating childhood and adolescent anxiety: A guide for caregivers. Hoboken: Wiley.

Strong, K.V. (1997). Anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia: Information for support people, family and friends. New York: Oakminster Publishing.