Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, TEAM-CBT

TEAM-CBT is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy developed and popularized by Dr. David Burns.  TEAM stands for Testing, Empathy, Agenda Setting, and Methods.  It differs from standard, classical CBT, in that it adds more of the “E” (empathy) and “A” (agenda-setting) to the Testing and the Methods of CBT.  More Empathy means feeling heard, understood, validated, and respected by your therapist.  More Agenda-setting means clients set the course for change, and that they do so with new insight into what matters to them deeply. 

TEAM-CBT also includes a powerful set of methods for improving your communication.  It’s the same set of Empathy skills that therapists train in and use with clients.  It’s called the 5 Secrets of Effective Communication:  Disarming, Thought / Feeling Empathy, Inquiry, I-Feel statements, and Respect.