About the Book
The four beliefs that interfere with problem solving are a conviction of unworthiness; an assumption that change is risky; feeling incompetent; and a perception that other people are more important. This workbook offers specific strategies to help overcome these inhibiting beliefs and step-by-step instructions on assessing problems, brainstorming solutions, imagining consequences, and putting solutions into practice
About the Author :
Patrick Fanning is a professional writer in the mental health field. He is the author of Visualization for Change and Lifetime Weight Control and coauthor of nine self-help books.
Matthew McKay, Ph.D., is the clinical director of Haight-Ashbury Psychological Services in San Francisco. McKay is the coauthor of twenty popular books, including The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, Self-Esteem, When Anger Hurts, Prisoners of Belief, and several professional titles.
Additional books written by the authors include The Addiction Workbook, Self Esteem Companion, Thoughts & Feelings, When Anger Hurts Your Kids, and Couple Skills, all New Harbinger classics.
Review :
"Everybody has problems and most people have difficulty in solving them. In a clear, comprehensive fashion the authors demonstrate first the type of ineffective problem solving methods that are used frequently and then demonstrate five easy strategies to solve the usual problems."
--Aaron T. Beck, MD, Director of The Center of Cognitive Therapy, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania and author of Love is Never Enough and Prisoners of Hate: The Cognitive Basis of Anger, Hostility and Violence
"This book provides one of the clearest descriptions of how to use cognitive strategies to change longstanding, negative core beliefs, and provides detailed suggestions for overcoming emotional blocks to solving problems effectively. If negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, depression, and anger keep getting in the way, the exercises in this book will help. I recommend it highly."
--Martin M. Antony, Ph.D., Director, Anxiety Treatment and Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, and author of When Perfect Isn't Good Enough and The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook
"Well-written, logical, and easy to follow, Successful Problem Solving takes the mystery out of moving from hopeless frustration to workable solutions. The first self-help book to teach readers not only how to solve problems, but also how to modify dysfunctional beliefs that interfere with effective problem-solving."
--Thomas E. Ellis, Psy.D., ABPP, Retired Professor of Psychology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, and author, Choosing to Live: How to Defeat Suicide through Cognitive Therapy
"Living life means solving problems. Of course there are some problems that get in the way of solving problems. Organized, upbeat, and scientifically grounded, McKay and Fanning help readers become better equipped to make effective decisions and important changes in their lives. After all, problems worth solving are worth solving well."
--Thomas F. Cash, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Old Dominion University and author, The Body Image Workbook
"Users of this engaging, enlightening, supportive, and exercise-filled book will not read passively! They will be active participants in learning how to identify and overcome their personal speed bumps on the road to solving many of their most pressing problems in living."
--Cory F. Newman, Ph.D., ABPP, Center for Cognitive Therapy, University of Pennsylvania
