Depression can seem worse than terminal cancer, because most cancer patients feel loved and they have hope and self-esteem.
David D. BurnsRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker advocates for practical therapeutic methods over strict adherence to specific schools of therapy, which can be dogmatic in nature.
In this quote, David D. Burns expresses his belief that effective therapy should focus on practical tools and techniques rather than conforming to specific schools of thought that can often compete with one another like religions. He implies that the emphasis on different therapeutic doctrines can create a confusing landscape that may detract from achieving real help for individuals in need, suggesting that what truly matters are the methodologies that lead to positive outcomes.
Themes
TherapyToolsSchoolsMental HealthMethodsPractical
In practice
Example use cases
A mental health professional may use this quote to emphasize the importance of individualized therapy approaches in their practice.
More from David D. Burns
All quotes →That's one of the peculiar things about bad moods - we often fool ourselves and create misery by telling ourselves things that simply are not true.
David D. BurnsRead
Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve the problem rather than finding the truth in what the person is saying.
David D. BurnsRead
Negative thinking patterns can be immensely deceptive and persuasive, and change is rarely easy. But with patience and persistence, I believe that nearly all individuals suffering from depression can improve and experience a sense of joy and self-esteem once again.
David D. BurnsRead
A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.
David D. BurnsRead
It's very rare to have a patient who isn't absolutely delighted when you say, 'I read your feedback. The session didn't go well. You actually got more upset, and I made about three really horrible errors.' If you do that from the heart and not as a gimmick, boy, it's a wonderful thing.
David D. BurnsRead
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