The Cognitive Therapy Diet
February 9th, 2009 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Update Presented by Jolyn Wells-Moran, PhD, MSW
Just another diet book? It seems unlikely that the book, “The Complete Beck Diet for Life: The Five-Stage Program for Weight Loss” (Oxmoor House, 2008) can be dismissed so easily. After all, the author is Judith Beck, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research in Bala Cynwyd, PA. Her father, Dr. Aaron Beck, developed what is now a well-researched psychotherapy for depression, cognitive therapy, commonly referred to as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT has been used successfully for a wide range of behavioral and psychological issues. Judith Beck, released her new book in December of 2008 and follows one she wrote the year before, “The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person” (Oxmoor House, 2007), but this one focuses more on development of behavioral habits or skills. The 2007 book primarily used cognitive principles to help people think like thin people.
As described in the San Francisco Chronicle from an interview with Judith Beck, this isn’t a lose-it-all-quick-and-easy diet book, but a description of thoughts common to dieters that need to be changed, how to change the thoughts by challenging them, recognizing reasons one wants to eat, education about good eating habits, food situation planning and skills to practice. She also includes room for relapses, something many strict diet plans don’t do, and reminds readers that they needn’t feel ashamed since living thin is a matter of learning skills. The tips she offers aren’t all original, but strengthen the thrust of its content; tips like eating slowly and only while sitting down.
In the interview, Dr. Beck said she found that people who came to her for cognitive therapy were also losing weight. There’s no research cited to indicate that the book by itself will help dieters stop dangerous yo-yo dieting or even to change their lifestyles, but cognitive, or cognitive behavioral, psychotherapists working with clients on eating issues may find its a good addition to their client homework libraries. Readers of the book who aren’t in psychotherapy may find they’ll have better success with the help of a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist in following the book.
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8 comments so far
Is there really any truth to this? I mean maybe these are depressed people who just happen to have lost their appetites and are now seeking therapy to treat the depression. maybe this is where the correlation actually lies. If not then sign me up for some therapy because I really need to lose some weight too!
Me too!:-) What an added bonus to your therapy sessions.
What this means for me is that people are finally taking the time to make themselves a priority and heal rather than continuing to mask their problems with food and other addictions. It makes a whole lot of sense to me that people going through the therapeutic process wil realize the things they are doing to contribute to their overall poor health and they are finding ways in therapy to overcome this. It is part of the whole healing process.
The whole cognitive therapy experience was such a positive one for me for many different reasons but above all else it helped me to learn who I really was and the things that I needed to do to take care of myself both emotionally and physically. I think that this is what ot does for so many people. It is a time for reflection and understanding, and most of all getting in touch with who you are and the things that you need in order to succeed and survive. I would recommend cognitive therapy for anyone undergoing any stresses and down times in life but it truly did help me to change mine for the better.
If this is so beneficial for helping people to lose weight then why are there so many fad diets yet so few who need to lose weight turning to this sort of treatment? Is it becasue this is not the quick fix that so many of us who need to lose weight quickly desire or is it becasue of the demons that we are afraid of confronting when meeting with a therapist and trying to hash out all of these issues? hey I am thinking it could be both of these things. . . for me anyway. Therapy is scary. I know that there are things in my life that I need to address but man I know that will be a lot of hard work. I admit that I am always looking for the easy way out, hence a large part of my own problems with food are solved right there with that statement. I am writing a bit in jest though. I have been thinking for a long time now about trying some sort of therapy or hypnosis to help me deal with many of my own issues which revolve around my weight and seeing the benefits here in print spur me on toward completion. I will update all to let you know what happens in this adventure.
I think i agree with carla, I’d rather choose to be hypnotized.
Thanks for the great article.
Me too! What an added bonus to your therapy sessions :)