Categories: AT Beck, CBT

We originally linked to an article in the New York Times on January 11, 2000. The article was titled: "A Pragmatic Man and His No-Nonsense Therapy" and featured Dr Aaron T. Beck at age 78. It describes how he came to develop cognitive therapy and covers his development from a young boy to a brilliant scientist whose endless curiosity led him to develop one of the most successful psychotherapies of all time, Cognitive Therapy. 

Categories: AT Beck, Buddhism, CBT

On June 13, 2005, an historical conversation took place. The founder of Cognitive Therapy, Aaron T. Beck, and the 14th Dalai Lama had a “meeting of the minds” at an international congress for cognitive psychotherapy in Göteborg, Sweden.

Later, Dr. Beck reflected on that meeting and summarized some of the highlights of their discussion, including the similarities between Cognitive Therapy and Buddhism regarding the mind, thinking, common assumptions and change. The Dalai Lama referred to cognitive practices as Analytical Meditation and stated that Dr. Beck’s book Prisoners of Hate was almost like Buddhist literature.

This video clip is  2 minutes 47 seconds in length. By clicking on the photo, you will be directed to vimeo to watch the video. 

In 2005, the International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy (ICCP) met in Göteborg, Sweden. Keynote speakers addressed the latest issues in CBT, researchers reported on empirical and theoretical findings, workshops presented state-of-the-art clinical practices, and students displayed their research and new ideas.

On June 13, the attendees were treated to a most amazing dialogue between the founder of Cognitive Therapy, Aaron T. Beck, and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

The topics were wide ranging and included discussions of: the human condition, thinking processes, common assumptions, the process of change, and anger. The Dalai Lama’s intelligence coupled with his joyous demeanor offers a fascinating glimpse into the philosophical world of Buddhist thinking along with Dr. Beck’s clear and concise conceptualizations of the human condition. Both reflect on their philosophies of change and note the similarities of their world views.

The filmed version of the conversation is divided into eleven separate clips ranging in length from about 3 to 11 minutes. The 90 minute “Meeting of the Minds: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Professor Aaron T. Beck” (in conversation) was filmed live and on location by the Center for Cognitive Psychotherapy and Education in Göteborg.

Categories: AT Beck, Buddhism, CBT

CLICK BELOW to view the 90 minute June 13, 2005 conversation. 
The YouTube site does not list the focus of each segment so we have provided that list for you below. You may wish to copy it for reference when watching the video.

Time Stamps - Topic
​​0:00:00 - 0:02:47  Introduction
0:02:47 - 0:13:58  Negative Thoughts
0:13:59 - 0:25:48  Defining Negative, Positive, and Emotional Feelings
0:25:49 - 0:30:18  Views on Attachment, Attention, and Discontent
0:30:19 - 0:38:31  Pain and Suffering
0:38:32 - 0:50:11  Self-Centered and Society
0:50:12 - 0:57:39  Negative/Positive Imagery
0:57:40 - 1:06:58  Analytical Meditation
1:06:59 - 1:14:48  Secular Education of Modern Ethics
1:14:49 - 1:21:21  Environmental Factors and Society Influence Positive Thinking
1:21:22 - 1:30:06  Closing

Categories: AT Beck

Aaron Beck, M.D., who is widely regarded as the father of cognitive therapy, turned 90 the summer of 2011. The Psychiatric News used the occasion to take a look at the man and his career.

Article Date: 07/15/2011
Aaron Beck, M.D., is one of the most important figures in American psychiatry, John Talbott, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland and a former APA president, contends.

[READ MORE] 90th Birthday Finds Pioneer ... 

Aaron T. Beck, MD, has been a long time resident of Phildelphia. He founded the original Center for Cognitive Therapy at the Univeristy of Pennsylvania in the late 1970's and has been developing new ideas, theories and research on CBT ever since. He turned 90 years old the summer of 2011 and the Philly.com press wrote a feature article about him.

The journalist begins the article by comparing Beck to Joe Paterno referring to the days when Paterno was considered a football genius throughout Pennsylvania. Please note that the reference to Joe Paterno was made long before any allegations of wrong doing were uncovered about Paterno. It clearly was the intent of the author to use this comparison in a flattering manner.

From Well Being: Professor Beck at 90: Not the retiring type:  
"Happiness experts say that one of the keys to fulfillment and contentment is to be engaged in meaningful work.That's certainly the case with Beck ...Declares Beck: "90 is the new 70."  

[READ MORE] Beck at 90

Categories: AT Beck

Categories: AT Beck, CBT

Article from the Philadelphia Inquirer (published May 11, 2008): Had Tony Soprano been under his care, Aaron Beck says he could have cured his panic attacks in two sessions...Psychiatrist John Rush, a leading authority on depression, calls Beck the most important figure in the history of the field, ahead of even Freud. Rush says that Freud made a monumental contribution, unquestionably, but that Beck's therapy treats a broader range of mental illnesses and has been proved in clinical trials to be more effective.

[READ THE FULL ARTICLE] He shows no signs of a Beckian slip ...

Photo credits: freudian slips2 by Alice Chaos is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The University of Louisville presents five Grawemeyer Awards annually to individuals whose ideas help improve the world. These ideas are to be understandable to the general public and not just to academics. The Grawemeyer Award for Psycholgy recognizes outstanding ideas in all areas of the discipline of Psychology. Nominations are judged on the basis of originality, creativity, scientific merit, and breadth of impact on the field of Psychology. 

The 2004 Grawemeyer Award in Psychology was presented to Dr. Aaron T. Beck, MD the founder of Cognitive Therapy.

Here is what the foundation said about Dr. Beck: Aaron T. Beck wins 2004 Grawemeyer Award in Psychology_

Categories: AT Beck