Aaron T. Beck's Chart of Virtues

Rachael Rosner

Abstract: There are many options in today’s psychotherapeutic marketplace and it can be difficult to know, when seeking treatment, which one is right for you. What are the differences, for instance, between psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based treatment, etc.? If you’re already in therapy how can you identify your particular therapist's approach? This talk will offer a historical-biographical code, of sorts, for making sense of this confusing marketplace. In particular, I’ll be taking a biographical plunge into the father-figure of the cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) movement, Aaron T. Beck, and exploring the roots of his centerpiece psychotherapeutic technology, the “Daily Thought Record" (DTR). The talk will conclude with suggestions for how this backstory of Beck’s DTR can help you make informed decisions about treatment across the board.