Overcoming Depression (Second Edition): Workbook
Overcoming Depression provides a structured, evidence-based approach to treating depression. Based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this workbook helps clients understand, manage, and overcome depressive symptoms. A client workbook is downloadable separately.
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Overview
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for depression. It is recommended by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Overcoming Depression – A Cognitive Therapy Approach (Second Edition) is written by Mark Gilson, Arthur Freeman, M. Jane Yates, and Sharon Morgillo Freeman. Built on decades of empirical research, this program provides therapists with all the tools they need to deliver effective, evidence-based psychological treatment for depression. Part of the Treatments That Work™ series, it provides step-by-step instructions for helping clients develop coping strategies and skills for proactively managing their depressed mood.
Why Use This Resource?
CBT has been demonstrated to be one of the most effective treatments for depression. This guide offers a structured approach, ensuring that therapists can systematically address the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and situational aspects of depression.
- Provides an empirically supported CBT framework for treating depression.
- Helps clients develop adaptive coping strategies and resilience.
- Offers structured interventions and exercises for in-session and at-home use.
- Supports both individual therapy and integration with pharmacological treatments.
Key Benefits
Structured
Offers a clear, session-by-session outline for delivering effective therapy.
Educational
Helps clients understand the nature of their difficulties.
Effective
Supports therapists in implementing effective interventions for addressing depression.
Trusted
Part of the Treatments That Work™ series, developed by leading experts.
Who is this for?
Major Depressive Disorder
Providing structured interventions for acute and recurrent episodes.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
Helping clients with chronic low mood develop effective coping strategies.
Bipolar Depression
Supporting individuals in managing depressive episodes within bipolar disorder.
Postpartum Depressio
Assisting new parents in navigating mood-related challenges.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Offering behavioral and cognitive strategies to counter seasonal mood fluctuations.
Integrating it into your practice
01
Assessment
Explore how clients experience depression.
02
Psychoeducation
Teach clients about depression and what maintains it.
03
Skills
Implement effective cognitive-behavioral interventions to address key symptoms.
04
Monitoring
Use structured worksheets to track progress and refine interventions.
05
Relapse Prevention
Equip clients with long-term strategies for maintaining their progress.
Theoretical Background & Therapist Guidance
The Overcoming Depression program is grounded in the cognitive therapy model originally developed by Aaron T. Beck. Depression is understood as a disorder maintained by patterns of negative automatic thoughts, distorted cognitive appraisals, and maladaptive underlying beliefs (Beck et al., 1979). The program introduces the metaphor of the “BEAST” to represent five key domains – Behavior, Emotions, Activities, Situations, and Thoughts – that interact to sustain depressive symptoms. By personifying depression, the BEAST model helps patients externalize the problem and target its components in therapy. This structured and accessible metaphor supports therapeutic engagement and fosters a sense of agency over the experience of depression (Gilson et al., 2009).
The cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach underpinning the program is collaborative, structured, and multimodal. It emphasizes the therapist’s active role in assessment, formulation, and intervention, while guiding the patient toward increasing autonomy. Treatment is designed to be practical and present-focused, addressing how past learning and core beliefs affect current functioning. A distinguishing feature of the program is its integration of psychoeducation and skill-building, delivered through structured exercises and homework tasks that support the generalization of learning beyond the therapy session (Gilson et al., 2009). The program also incorporates a relapse prevention framework, equipping clients with strategies to maintain gains and manage future setbacks.
The effectiveness of CBT for depression is well supported by empirical research. Meta-analyses have consistently shown that CBT leads to significant improvements in depressive symptoms and is at least as effective as pharmacological treatments in many cases (Butler et al., 2006; Dobson, 1989). Moreover, studies suggest that CBT may be more effective in preventing relapse compared to medication alone (Dobson et al., 2008; Segal et al., 2006). These findings have led to CBT being recommended as a first-line treatment for depression by major clinical guidelines in both the UK and the US. The Overcoming Depression program builds on this robust evidence base, offering a practical, theory-driven resource that helps therapists implement effective interventions for a wide range of depressive presentations.
What's inside
- Comprehensive CBT framework for treating depression.
- Structured interventions for cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation.
- In-session exercises and at-home assignments for skill reinforcement.
- Psychoeducational materials to enhance client understanding.
- Relapse prevention strategies to support long-term recovery.
FAQs
This resource provides a structured, therapist-friendly approach integrating assessment, intervention, and relapse prevention in a clear, step-by-step format.
Yes, CBT can complement pharmacological treatments, providing clients with additional coping strategies and preventing relapse.
This resource can be adapted for severe cases, though additional support, including medication and crisis interventions, may be necessary.
Yes, many of the interventions can be modified for use in group therapy settings.
The structured CBT approach typically spans 12-20 sessions, but duration may vary based on client needs.
How This Resource Improves Clinical Outcomes
By utilizing this structured CBT approach, therapists can:
- Reduce client distress by targeting maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.
- Increase engagement and motivation through structured interventions.
- Provide a roadmap for long-term recovery and relapse prevention.
- Improve therapy outcomes by integrating psychoeducation and skill-building exercises.
Clients benefit from:
- Greater awareness of cognitive patterns contributing to depression.
- Practical tools for managing depressive symptoms.
- Increased resilience and long-term symptom reduction.
- A structured path to recovery and maintenance of well-being.
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References And Further Reading
- American Psychological Association. (2019). Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of depression across three age cohorts: American Psychological Association guideline development panel for the treatment of depressive disorders. Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/depression-guideline/guideline.pdf
- Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive Therapy of Depression. Guilford Press.
- Butler, A. C., Chapman, J. E., Forman, E. M., & Beck, A. T. (2006). The empirical status of cognitive-behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(1), 17–31.
- Cuijpers, P. (2017). Four decades of outcome research on psychotherapies for adult depression: An overview of a series of meta-analyses. Canadian Psychology / Psychologie Canadienne, 58, 7–19. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000096
- Cuijpers, P., Noma, H., Karyotaki, E., Cipriani, A., & Furukawa, T. A. (2019). Effectiveness and acceptability of cognitive behavior therapy delivery formats in adults with depression: A network meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 76, 700–707. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.0268
- Dobson, K. S. (1989). A meta-analysis of the efficacy of cognitive therapy for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57(3), 414–419.
- Dobson, K. S., Hollon, S. D., Dimidjian, S., Schmaling, K. B., Kohlenberg, R. J., Gallop, R. J., ... & Jacobson, N. S. (2008). Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, and antidepressant medication in the prevention of relapse and recurrence in major depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(3), 468–477.
- Gilson, M., Freeman, A., Yates, M. J., & Morgillo Freeman, S. (2009). Overcoming Depression: A Cognitive Therapy Approach (Second Edition). Oxford University Press.
- Kessler, R. C., McGonagle, K. A., Zhao, S., Nelson, C. B., Hughes, M., Eshleman, S., ... & Kendler, K. S. (1994). Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey. Archives of General Psychiatry, 51, 8–19. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950010008002
- Lim, G. Y., Tam, W. W., Lu, Y., Ho, C. S., Zhang, M. W., & Ho, R. C. (2018). Prevalence of depression in the community from 30 countries between 1994 and 2014. Scientific Reports, 8, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-21243-x
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022). Depression in adults: Treatment and management (NICE guideline NG222). Retrieved from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222
- Segal, Z. V., Bieling, P., Young, T., MacQueen, G., Cooke, R., Martin, L., ... & Levitan, R. D. (2006). Antidepressant monotherapy vs sequential pharmacotherapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, or placebo, for relapse prophylaxis in recurrent depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(11), 1256–1264.
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