Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The concept that our thinking affects our emotions and behaviors has been around for millennia, however, two pioneers significantly shifted the direction of psychotherapy and counseling toward this concept in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Albert Ellis – Colorful and straightforward in his talk and theory, he is often considered the grandfather of modern Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). He called his particular branch of therapy Rational Emotional Behavioral Therapy (REBT). Although the following book is written for adults, the principles are simple enough to explain to children.
Ellis, A. (1988). Stubbornly refuse to make yourself miserable. New York: Citadel Press.
Aaron Beck – The father of modern CBT, he calls his specific methodology Cognitive Therapy (CT). The following are a workbook co-authored by him as well as an introduction to his Cognitive Therapy written by his daughter.
Beck, J. S. (2020). Cognitive therapy: Basics and beyond. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Tom Percival – In the following children’s book, Percival presents an engaging story about overcoming anxiety, written largely from the CBT perspective. Though written on a 1st grade reading level, it is a fun read for children of all ages. It presents truths that apply as much to a 60-year-old counselor as to children. It should be in every child’s library.
Percival, T. (2018). Ruby finds a worry. New York: Bloomsbury Children's Books.