#13 - Mike Christensen on Leveraging Thinking To Your Advantage

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Mike Christensen, a counselor, trainer, and expert in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), about how our thoughts and beliefs influence how we feel, what we do, and ultimately, our ability to learn and perform. Mike and I discuss a range of CBT tools and techniques that are not only valuable to therapists and their patients, but can be used in any situation in which people might need to rethink things or change beliefs in order to learn or perform better. We also discuss how to use "deliberate practice" to improve at providing therapy, coaching, and beyond.

KEY TOPICS:

In our conversation, Mike and I discuss a range of topics, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and how what we think determines how we feel

• The difference between CBT and positive thinking

• David Burns’ new “TEAM” model of providing therapy and coaching

• The importance of measuring outcomes

• Why empathy is a necessary but not sufficient condition for change

• Overcoming resistance to change

• A bunch of techniques to help you untwist your thinking

• The importance of deliberate practice and feedback in improving

• Positive reframing

• A whole lot more…

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Mike Christensen. MACP, RCC, ACS serves as the Director of Professional Development at the Feeling Good Institute. He is a Registered Clinical Counselor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counselors and holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. His diverse background in business, community organizations, and family support roles has provided Mike with a wide array of experience in leadership, administration, parenting training, and team building. He is a Certified Level 5 Master TEAM CBT Therapist and Trainer and is the Director of Feeling Good Institute Canada. He provides advanced level online training with the Feeling Good Institute for therapists around the world and is the co-author of “Deliberate Practice for TEAM CBT"  with Dr. Maor Katz, Dr. Tony Roussmaniere and Dr. Alez Vaz. Mike lives in Canada with his wife and daughters. He is an avid cyclist and former swim coach.

CONNECT WITH MIKE:

• Email: mike@feelinggoodinstitute.com
• Website: https://www.feelinggoodinstitute.com/find-cbt-therapist/mike-christensen
• LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/michael-christensen-5555bb50

MENTIONS, REFERENCES, AND RESOURCES:

• The Feeling Good Institute
• TEAM-CBT
• David Burns
• Hines Ward on talent
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
• The Cognitive Model
• Cognitive appraisal: How we THINK determines how we FEEL
• Cognitive distortions
• Cognitive restructuring (thought challenging)
• The cognitive triad (The CBT triangle)
• Behavioral experiments
• Exposure therapy
• CBT vs. positive thinking
• Two approaches to combating negative thoughts - counterattack and acceptance
• Matthew May
• Brian Johnson - Win or Learn
• Aaron Beck
• Testing (T)
• Empathy (E)
• Agenda-Setting/Assessment of Resistance (A)
• Outcome vs. process resistance
• Addictions as failed solutions
• Methods (M)
• "Examine the Evidence" technique
• 50 Techniques to Change Your Thinking
• Therapy methods - behavioral, motivational, relational, cognitive, compassion-based, truth-based
• The "Semantic" method
• The "Best Friend/Double Standard" technique
• Tools Not Schools of Therapy
• The Recovery Circle
• FGI Fast Track to Level 3 certification program
• Deliberate practice
• The Deliberate Practice of TEAM-CBT
• Zone of proximal development (ZOPD)
• Offering an "invitation" to a client
• Sitting with "open hands"
• "Multiple choice" empathy
• Growth mindset - Why there's no such thing as "I can't do it."
• Importance of high expectations
• Facebook Live session with David Burns in which Mike failed
• Learning from role models and anti-role models
• Simone Biles failure
• Reframing obstacles as opportunities