Welcome to CombatCounselor Chronicle, an E-zine dedicated to giving you the most current, pertinent information on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based CBT available.
Chris Sorrentino, a.k.a CombatCounselor, is a leader and expert in cognitive behavioral therapy. He combines 30 years of experience in psychology with the discipline from having served as a U.S. Air Force officer for 20 years, 4 of those in combat zones, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2005.
The Leader in Military and Veteran Psychology ... Follow Me to Mental Health!
In BMB BASIC TRAINING - Episode 6, entitled "StayPresent, BeResilient, StayTheCourse" ™, CombatCounselor describes the three pillars of Body-Mind-Behavior Therapy (BMBT), putting each in the proper context. Learn how to focus on the present moment (here and now), develop resilience skills, and live in accordance with your values.
Contentment and a value-driven life are yours with the knowledge and skills provided in BMBT and CombatCounselor helps you locate the path to your own enlightenment on CombatCounselor Channel and on his blog: CombatCounselor.com
Are you tired of being anxious or depressed? Have you tried everything, yet are still looking for the magic answer? Well, you've been wasting your time. That's right! The therapies and self-help books you have been so diligently following are all wrong!
I'm Chris Sorrentino, better known as Combat Counselor. The answer to your problems is not in the content of your life or thoughts, but in the context. You've been looking at your problems from the wrong perspective! No wonder you never seem to get any better!
My weekly series, BMB BASIC TRAINING, takes you through the details of my exciting new therapy, Body-Mind-Behavior Therapy. Episode 1, 2, 3, and 4 are already complete and in upcoming episodes I will answer questions from viewers about how BMBT works and how it can help you.
This week's question: "What is Mindfulness and how Do I StayPresent?" - Elisa F. - Lawrence, Kansas
Are you tired of being anxious or depressed? Have you tried everything, yet are still looking for the magic answer? Well, you've been wasting your time. That's right! The therapies and self-help books you have been so diligently following are all wrong!
I'm Chris Sorrentino, better known as Combat Counselor. The answer to your problems is not in the content of your life or thoughts, but in the context. You've been looking at your problems from the wrong perspective! No wonder you never seem to get any better!
My weekly series, BMB BASIC TRAINING, takes you through the details of my exciting new therapy, Body-Mind-Behavior Therapy. Episode 1, 2, and 3 are already complete and in upcoming episodes I will answer questions from viewers about how BMBT works and how it can help you.
In Episode 3, CombatCounselor answers the question:
What happens in the first sessions of therapy? What can I expect? - Matt S. Colorado Springs, CO
CombatCounselor focuses on the therapeutic relationship, assessment, and the first phase of Body-Mind-Behavior Therapy (BMBT), the Body. He explains how diet,exercise, and sleep are critical to mental and physical health, giving some tips based on his experience and studies. Finally, he discusses mindful meditation of the breath, an integral part of BMBT and something he starts from the very beginning.
Now you can watch a new episode of BMB BASIC TRAINING with CombatCounselor starting every Saturday morning for 12 consecutive weeks!
BMB BASIC TRAINING focuses on mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy and the "100% natural" things you can do to eliminate anxiety and depression from your life.
Chris Sorrentino (aka CombatCounselor) earned his B.A. in Psychology (1980) and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology (1982) at Cal State Los Angeles, becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) in 1991 while an Associate Professor of Psychology at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Chris is a highly decorated veteran of four combat operations, having retired from the United States Air Force as a lieutenant colonel after 20 years of dedicated service to his country.
In BMB BASIC TRAINING, Chris discusses Body-Mind-Behavior Therapy (BMBT), his proprietary approach to treatment as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
All 12 videos in the series, 3 hours and 15 minutes in total, will be published on this blog AT NO CHARGE every Saturday morning after 3:00 AM (PST). Unlike most "free" programs, there are no gimmicks because I have absolutely nothing sell. I am offering my 34 years of education and experience totally free in order to help you live an anxiety and depression-free life.
In Episode 2 of BMB Basic Training, CombatCounselor explains the difference between different types of therapists (counselors, psychologists, life coaches, etc) and what to look for when hiring a therapist. Particularly important are licensure and certification, so ask to see their credentials before saying a word or paying a penny.
Series "premier" of BMB BASIC TRAINING with CombatCounselor - Episode 1: An Introduction to Body-Mind-Behavior Therapy (BMBT)
BMB BASIC TRAINING is a YouTube series on the "CombatCounselor" Channel which focuses on mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy and the things you can do to eliminate anxiety and depression from your life.
Chris Sorrentino (LPC, NCC) discusses Body-Mind-Behavior Therapy (BMBT), his proprietary approach to treatment as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
BMB BASIC TRAINING with CombatCounselor focuses on mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy and the "100% natural" things you can do to eliminate anxiety and depression from your life.
Chris Sorrentino earned his B.A. in Psychology (1980) and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology (1982) at Cal State Los Angeles, becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) in 1991 while an Associate Professor of Psychology at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Chris is a highly decorated veteran of four combat operations, having retired from the United States Air Force as a lieutenant colonel after 20 years of dedicated service to his country. Leading over 2,000 airmen during his career, Chris was highly respected by the men and women that worked for and with him as well as others he had the honor of serving with.
In BMB BASIC TRAINING, Chris discusses Body-Mind-Behavior Therapy (BMBT), his proprietary approach to treatment as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
All 12 videos in the series, 3 hours and 15 minutes in total, will be published on this blog AT NO CHARGE. There are no gimmicks because I have nothing sell. I am offering my 34 years of education and experience totally free in order to help you live an anxiety and depression-free life.
I receive many calls from people looking specifically for a therapist specializing in CBT. Because I rarely have any openings, I make a lot of referrals. Unfortunately, there ARE FEW TRUE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPISTS, at least in my area.
When I say "TRUE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPIST", I mean somebody who is an expert in CBT (which requires advanced knowledge of learning theory; e.g. classical and operant conditioning, relational frame theory, etc.) and practices using "primarily" cognitive and/or behavioral techniques. Easier said than done!
Many therapists call themselves "COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL" even though they may know little, if anything, about CBT. Why? Because most therapists (licensed professional counselors, clinical social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists) depend on health insurance as reimbursement for their services AND insurance companies ONLY reimburse for empirically supported treatments (EST), with CBT being the primary (sometimes only) EST for the vast majority of anxiety and mood disorders (which make up the vast majority of disorders being treated).
Many of my clinical colleagues will probably not be happy with what I'm telling you and to them, as the character Gilly on Saturday Night Live would say: "uh huh"..."sorry!". We ALL owe it to our clients to be honest and provide the MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT available for our client's particular condition, which in many cases means CBT (the most researched and scientifically proven treatments available for many, not all, conditions).
When looking for a cognitive behavioral therapist, I suggest doing an advanced search on Psychology Today's Therapist Finder, screening for therapists in your zip code specializing in CBT for YOUR CONDITION. Once you have narrowed the list, start calling them and ask the following questions:
1. Are you a cognitive behavioral therapist and, if so, what technique(s) do you use for people with my kind of problem?
Answer: Yes. Answers could include exposure, exposure and response prevention (OCD), prolonged exposure (PTSD), activity scheduling (depression), cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation or rehearsal, and contingency management among others. Exposure, in vivo, imaginal, and prolonged, just to name a few is the treatment of choice for most anxiety-based disorders (e.g. generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, PTSD, agoraphobia, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, simple phobias)
2. Which CBT therapy do you adhere to and who is the person (theorist) influencing your practice the most?
3. Estimate the percentage of techniques you use in therapy that are STRICTLY cognitive behavioral.
Answer: AT LEAST 60 - 70% is acceptable, preferably more.
4. Can you tell me the difference between positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment?
Answer: Positive reinforcement involves increasing the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future by rewarding the organism immediately following the desired behavior. Negative reinforcement involves increasing the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future by removing an aversive stimulus immediately following the desired behavior. Punishment involves introducing an aversive stimulus immediately following a behavior you are trying to eliminate and may work for a short time, but research indicates that it is ineffective in the long-term for changing behavior.
If they cannot answer this question, they know little if anything about the most important aspects of CBT and should probably be eliminated).
5. Do you offer FREE initial consultations (preferably in person, over the phone by exception)?
Answer: Yes. In-office consultations are preferred. If a therapist wants to charge you, keep looking unless they are obviously VERY SKILLED in CBT and you have no alternatives.
6. Are you licensed in your state (LPC, LCSW, licensed psychologist/psychiatrist, etc) AND certified (by whom)? What is your license/certification number?
Answer: Yes. Not all licensed therapists are also certified by a recognized national certifying body (requires passing a national exam and paying annual dues), but those who are indicates additional credibility and professionalism. Ask for the certifying body and certification number, then look up the licensing and certifying organizations on the internet and check to see if they actually exist, are current, and free of complaints or violations.
Unfortunately, there are many unqualified, unlicensed people out there calling themselves therapists, life/executive coaches, spiritual healers, etc. and probably do not have the necessary education, experience, licensing, and certification required to help you solve problems of the mind. Read my post "Client Beware" for more details about therapist credentials and picking a therapist.
In conclusion, CBT is one of the most researched, proven, effective, time-limited and cost effective (many problems can be treated effectively in 3 months or less - one one-hour session per week) therapies available today and the treatment of choice for many psychological problems. So if you are looking specifically for a therapist specializing in CBT, as many educated consumers are, the preceding information should be helpful.
With that said, there are many reasons why CBT may not be appropriate for you or your particular problems. There are many good therapies and therapists available, so I recommend you do some research and know what you are looking for when selecting a therapist. In any event, to reinforce the importance of my earlier point, MAKE SURE THEY ARE LICENSED (PSYCHOTHERAPIST) IN YOUR STATE if nothing else.
