David D. Burns quotes - page 2

Accept yourself. But realize your behaviors can be bad. (David D. Burns)
Guilt is not the best way to remedy your mistakes. View quote
David D. Burns
Apologies do make a difference. Believe it or not, research shows people often prefer them over money. View quote
David D. Burns
You're human. You'll screw up. Denying that is crazy. Forgiving yourself has all the benefits of self-esteem without making you a narcissist that's out of touch with reality. View quote
David D. Burns
It can be helpful simply to make a written or mental list of the things you do each day. Then give yourself a mental credit for each of them, however small. This will help you focus on what you have done instead of what you haven't gotten around to do. It may sound simplistic, but it works. View quote
David D. Burns
Powerful new drug-free treatments have been developed for depression and for every conceivable type of anxiety, such as chronic worrying, shyness, public speaking anxiety, test anxiety, phobias, and panic attacks. The goal of the treatment is not just partial improvement but full recovery. View quote
David D. Burns
Guilt serves a powerful social function in terms of policing our behavior. View quote
David D. Burns
People who are prone to guilt tend to work harder and perform better than people who are not guilt-prone, and are perceived to be more capable leaders. View quote
David D. Burns
There is only one person who could ever make you happy, and that person is you. View quote
David D. Burns
When you change the way you think, you can change the way you feel. View quote
David D. Burns
The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to the way you look at things - your perceptions, mental attitudes, and beliefs. It includes the way you interpret things - what you say. about something or someone to yourself. (David D. Burns)
There is no 'ultimate goal of therapy.' Thinking there is some ultimate or universal goal of therapy is one of the most fundamental errors of our field. To me, that concept is rather arrogant, as if therapists were some kind of spiritual experts who knew what human beings are supposed to be like. View quote
David D. Burns
I had the fear of heights when I was young, along with many other fears and phobias, including the fear of dogs, bees, horses, and blood. View quote
David D. Burns
There is no standard 'therapeutic process,' since there are so many different schools of therapy. View quote
David D. Burns
I'm all for 'tools,' not 'schools,' of therapy. To me, the schools of therapy compete much like religions, or even cults, all claiming to know the cause and to have the best method for treating people. View quote
David D. Burns
Depression is an illness and not a necessary part of healthy living. View quote
David D. Burns
I always wanted to see people's lives transformed from depression and anxiety to joy and peace. View quote
David D. Burns
What saddens me is seeing patients who have been going to therapy for years and years with no change, but they keep going to the same therapist. To me, that's not right. View quote
David D. Burns
The stereotype of psychotherapy portrayed in popular books and movies is lying on the couch and saying whatever comes into your mind, while a kindly psychoanalyst listens and nods knowingly from time to time. After years and years, something wonderful is supposed to happen. View quote
David D. Burns
Cognitive therapy is a fast-acting technology of mood modification that you can learn to apply on your own. It can help you eliminate the symptoms and experience personal growth so you can minimize future upsets and cope with depression more effectively in the future. View quote
David D. Burns
One of the most interesting things about the cognitive theory is the idea that anger and interpersonal conflict ultimately result from a mental con. In other words, you're telling yourself things that aren't entirely true when you're fighting with someone. (David D. Burns)
Although no one treatment will ever be a panacea, research studies indicate that cognitive therapy can be helpful for a variety of disorders in addition to depression. View quote
David D. Burns