Arthur Freeman's research while affiliated with Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and other places

Chapter 5 discusses the emotions aspect of the BEAST model. This includes the ABC (activating event, belief, consequences) model of emotion, the importance of feelings in maintaining depression, the differences between thoughts and feelings, interventions focusing on emotion and feelings (including self-compassion and emotion, identifying and naming feelings, awareness exercises, techniques for appreciating changes in mood intensity, and the relationship between feelings and thoughts). Ways to evaluate progress are also discussed.

Chapter 2 considers depression and its treatment in further detail. This includes how primary and recency effects impact on how you feel, the BEAST (biology, emotions, activity, situations, thoughts) metaphor which will be used throughout this program, self-enhancement assignments, the use of medication, how to record and keep track of progress, how long the program will take, and motivation for change.

This therapist guide is designed to give mental health professionals the necessary tools to assess and treat a broad range of mood disorders, particularly depression. Based on the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy, the ‘Taming the BEAST (TTB)’ program helps patients develop a set of coping strategies and skills to proactively manage their depressed mood. Using the acronym BEAST, treatment modules address biology, emotions, activity, situations, and thoughts. Each module comes complete with step-by-step instructions for delivering treatment including outlines and lists of materials needed. In-session exercises as well as home assignments help motivate the patient and allow for the monitoring of progress. Written by experts in the field, this guide comes complete with chapters on assessment, socialization, and termination. The TTB program offers both therapist and patient a roadmap for overcoming depression.

Chapter 8 discusses the thoughts aspect of the BEAST model, which explores the cognitive triad (negative views of self, of the world, and of the future), cognitive distortions (including catastrophizing, emotional reasoning, overgeneralization, disqualifying the positive, selective abstraction), how to challenge negative thoughts using cognitive strategies (including reattribution, evidence questioning, decatastrophizing, bias labelling, scaling, and replacement imagery). The use of the Automatic Thought Record (ATR) to change thinking patterns and emotional distress is also explored, along with mindfulness and meditation techniques.

Chapter 8 explores the thoughts aspect of the Taming the BEAST CBT program. This topic includes the cognitive triad (negative view of the self, of the world, and of the future), cognitive distortions (including catastrophizing, emotional reasoning, overgeneralization, disqualifying the positive, selective abstraction), how to challenge negative thoughts using cognitive strategies (including reattribution, evidence questioning, decatastrophizing, bias labelling, scaling, and replacement imagery). The use of the Automatic Thought Record (ATR) to change thinking patterns and emotional distress is also explored, along with mindfulness and meditation techniques.