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Button Therapy: The Button Therapy Book: How to Work on Your Buttons and the Button-Pushers in Your Life -- A Practical Psychological Self-Help Book & Holistic Cognitive Counseling Manual for Mental Health Professionals

by Lloyd R. Goodwin, Jr.

341 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #01-0316; ISBN 1-55212-914-4; US$30.00, C$38.95, EUR25.40, £17.60

The Button Therapy Book is a practical psychological self-help book and a holistic cognitive therapy manual for mental health professionals.

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about the book      about the author      Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book The Button Therapy Book is a practical cognitive counseling manual for mental health professionals and a psychological self-help book designed to: Help you identify, modify, and eliminate your Buttons that trigger stress and distress in your life. Help you identify potentially troublesome cognitions related to your thinking styles such as "black and white thinking"; should messages such as "I should do everything perfectly"; self-defeating core beliefs such as "I am a victim of life's circumstances"; and defense mechanisms such as denial and rationalization. Includes the Cognitive Self-Assessment Inventory (CSAI) to help you identify your troublesome cognitions and Buttons. Includes the Motivational States Inventory (MSI) to help you determine which of the six motivational states is associated with your Buttons that get pushed. Help you determine which of the "six centers of consciousness" you are spending the most time in with the Centers of Consciousness Rating Scale (CCRS) in the Motivational States Inventory. Teach you a portable Six-Step Button Therapy Method to utilize anytime and anywhere you have a Button pushed which causes emotional distress. Help you become more conscious, aware, loving, and compassionate. Improve your interpersonal relationships. Facilitate your journey of personal and spiritual growth. Early Acclaim for The Button Therapy Book Improve Your Quality of Life and Parenting Skills The Button Therapy Book has made an incredible difference in my attitude and my life. I am able to relax more and don't get as uptight or angry as I used to. I have always been a person who had my "Buttons pushed" fairly easily and now I understand how to identify my Buttons, address them in a calm and loving way and most importantly, get rid of them. I've also been able to take the information given in the book and pass it on to my children to help them overcome their "Buttons." Dr. Goodwin gives the reader all the tools they need to live happier, healthier lives, starting immediately! I highly recommend this book, it is a must for any person who is interested in improving his or her quality of life and getting rid of those buttons! Jodie Wilkerson from Greenville, NC Get Ready to Unbutton and Be Free! Button Therapy, a 'MUST HAVE' for any mental health professional and/or the lay person. I have found many insights in this book and I have recommended it to just about everyone I know. I think that Dr. Goodwin has hit the 'button on the head', and has loosened it's thread with his insightful, caring explanation of our 'Buttons' and how to deal with them. I find myself referring to it regularly in my business. Thanks Lloyd, I am happier, my clients are happier and we all understand others and ourselves better now that we have read your book. We will all be looking forward to your next work! Suzanne Osborne, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist, Criminal Profiler, Counselor from North Myrtle Beach, SC A Model for Personal and Spiritual Growth The Button Therapy Book is a creative synthesis of Eastern and Western models for personal and spiritual growth. An incredible compilation and synthesis of psychological self-help techniques. You would have to read 10 books to get the information and number of self-help techniques presented in this book. I've personally benefited from applying this practical six-step self-help model to some of my Buttons. The chapter titled "30 Seeds for Your Mind's Garden" is worth the price of this book alone. The "30 Seeds" are guidelines that have been helpful in my journey of personal and spiritual growth. Planting these "life-enhancing seeds" into the gardens of our minds enables us to become more conscious, aware, loving, and compassionate. This is simply the best psychological self-help book I've ever read. I've already recommended this book to my friends. An excellent read! Patricia Pollard, M.P.A., Administrator from Health Sciences Personnel, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC Button Therapy Book: Good for Self-Helpers and Professionals Goodwin has written a very readable book, which includes a thorough compilation of respected authors, therapists, and philosophers. Those views, augmented with his many years of counseling experience, provide a useful theoretical and practical book for both the mental health professional as well as the individual seeking a good self-help reference and guide, including inventories in the appendix. Stephen K. Creech, Ph.D., Mental Health Professional and Musician from Winterville, NC. Button Therapy I was excited to see three decades of counseling theories, approaches, and strategies in mind-body therapy, brought together in one resource that is readable and accessible for either the lay-reader or counseling professional. This book is unique because it combines psychological research with very usable self-assessments and self-help techniques that can be applied in the "real world". The element that I found most helpful are the "30 Seeds for Your Mind's Garden" in Chapter 21. This presents a summary and cognitive guideline of living life most effectively to its fullest potential. Mark Stebnicki, Rh.D., LPC, CRC, CDMS Professor and Director, Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC A Fantastic Book A super way to learn how to deal with all the Buttons and Button-Pushers in your life. Learn to be a happier, healthier and hopefully a better person all around. Ned Petrak, Financial Advisor, Goldsboro, NC CONGRATULATIONS!!! Congratulations Dr. Goodwin! You've done a wonderful job. I like the holistic nature of this cognitive behavior therapy model. The vast majority of clients I have worked with, see themselves as pawns in this world being blown from one situation to the other with minimal control. They often experience their emotions and actions as responsive to external forces rather than behavioral choices over which they have control. The Button Therapy Book teaches that the locus of most situations is internal and therefore, under our control. Most of us are spiritually empty. I am very positive that they will be able to fill that spiritual void by reading The Button Therapy Book. I will recommend this book to any mental health professional I know. Agyenim A-Boateng, M.S., CRC, CCAS, LPC, Mental Health Professional from Pinehurst, NC An Excellent Guide To Feeling Good! The Button Therapy Book provides techniques that will immediately lift your spirits and help you develop a positive outlook on life. Everyone has Buttons and Button-Pushers. Dr. Goodwin provides a framework to recognize the cognitions (i.e. thoughts, beliefs, etc.) attached to Buttons that produce negative results. Through the 21 Button removal strategies described in the book empowerment is accessible. A great "tool box" for those working in the mental health field as well as for anyone seeking personal growth. If you have the desire to dance to the music of the universe instead of dancing every time somebody pushes your Buttons, buy it, read it, you deserve it! Sharon Williams from Washington, NC Tired of Getting Your Buttons Pushed? The Button Therapy Book is an excellent 'life enhancement manual'. I highly recommend it. Its foundations are based on the teachings of Buddha, Jesus Christ and Ken Keyes Jr. The Button Therapy Book also nicely wraps up the 'best of the best' literature from prominent psychologists, philosophers, and modern day shamans. The fewer 'Buttons' (i.e. negative cognitions and attachments) we posses, the happier we will be. This book is a GIANT step in that direction. In its most simple terms, The Button Therapy Book shows us how to identify our 'buttons' and how to remove them. This usually results in our greater ability to lead happier, healthier (i.e. less stressful) lives. Enjoy! Andy Siegle, M.S., CRC Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counselor, Denver, CO Button-Therapy Excellent book! Clear and concise writing with many practical exercises and applications. I highly recommend as a self-help tool and academic resource. A reader from Greenville, NC Great Practical Cognitive Behavioral Book! At last an outstanding down-to-earth cognitive behavioral book which can be easily used by counselors and clients as well. This is an outstanding guide for all who want to improve our inner peace by gaining better control of our emotional and cognitive selves. Jerry Lotterhos, M.S.W., Professor, Substance Abuse and Clinical Counselor Education Program, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC Practical Information for Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Health Care Workers This book was easy to read. Many quotes were included which I found helpful in putting things in perspective. Now when I become stressed I can look at things differently. Lloyd's approach to handling stress is holistic and full of common sense. I highly recommend this book. Nancy Wentworth, Elementary School Teacher, Cape Elizabeth, Maine Outstanding This book is beautifully written. The real-life references and quotes compliment the invaluable information that is easily understood. I have already applied the 6 steps to deal with the 'Button- Pushers' in my life. The results are phenomenal. Erin Wentworth, Medical Student, Cape Elizabeth, Maine A Psychological Self-Help Book to Facilitate Becoming Happy, Healthy & Holy Dr. Goodwin, I finished reading your book. I enjoyed reading it and had a difficult time putting it down. Button Therapy will help me personally get free from my buttons and become a healthy, happy, and just maybe a holy person. Button Therapy will also be a central part of the counseling I do in the future. Thanks and happy gardening to you too! Bill Lewis, Counselor and Graduate Student, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC Just Try to Push My Button! Before reading this book, I thought the best I could do when my emotional buttons were pushed, was to recognize and interrupt the reaction. I never expected that I could possibly eliminate the buttons entirely. I plan to apply this wisdom to my own life and share the lessons with my patients. Susan P. Farris, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Greenville, NC Great Tools for Improving Family Relationships My entire family has read this book and we have improved our relationships by implementing this method. Easy reading and wonderful way to keep the blood pressure down! It has helped me with social and business interactions as well. Susan Gilgenback, Flight Attendant, Cocoa, FL Very Practical and Empowering Being able to help families learn about their 'Buttons' has helped parents of the families I do counseling with view presenting problems systemically, with each family member needing to change, instead of their child or teen being the identified problem. Keith Montgomery, M.S., LPC, CRC, Mental Health Professional, Wilmington, NC See also: The Six-Step Button Therapy Method The Cognitive Self-Assessment Inventory Button Therapy: Set of Three Books - SAVE $3 US/$5 CDN by buying the complete set 

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About the Author Lloyd R. Goodwin, Jr., Ph.D., LPC, CRC-MAC is interim chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Studies. He is also director and professor in the Substance Abuse and Clinical Counseling program within the Department of Rehabilitation Studies, School of Allied Health Sciences at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. He teaches graduate courses in clinical, substance abuse, and rehabilitation counseling. He has maintained a full or part-time private consulting and clinical counseling practice off and on since 1968. Dr. Goodwin initiated and helped develop the first national and North Carolina master's degree level certification in substance abuse counseling. Dr. Goodwin earned his Ph.D. in Counseling, Health and Rehabilitation, with a major in Rehabilitation Counseling from Florida State University in 1974. He has been on the faculty of the State University of New York at Buffalo, Assumption College, and Emporia State University prior to his current position at East Carolina University where he has been since 1989. He has worked in the counseling field for 33 years as either a clinical counselor or counselor educator. Dr. Goodwin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) with a specialty certification in addictions counseling (Masters Addictions Counselor; MAC). Dr. Goodwin is founder and a past-president of the national Professional Association of Rehabilitation Counselors (PARC).

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Table of Contents

Author's Note

Acknowledgements

1 Introduction
An eclectic cognitive counseling model
The term "Button"
My prednisone book
A self-help cognitive counseling model
Holistic Cognitive counseling vs. cognitive-behavioral therapy
Personal growth and spiritual evolution

2 Guidelines for Mental Health Professionals
Holistic counseling
Cognitive counseling
   Historical roots of cognitive counseling
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
   Primary focus of cognitive-behavioral therapy
Cognitive therapy/counseling applications
Major differences between Button Therapy and other CBT models
   Attachments vs. irrational beliefs
   Spiritual dimension
   Inclusion of a variety of cognitive interventions
Principles Underlying Button Therapy
When to use the Button Therapy intervention
Client criteria for utilizing Button Therapy
Empowering clients
How to integrate Button Therapy into the counseling session

3 The Button Therapy Model
A humanistic, transpersonal and holistic model
   Humanistic
   Transpersonal
   Holistic
When do I use Button Therapy?
   Definitions
      Biocomputer
      Buttons
      Button-Pushers
      Cognitions
      Cognitive therapy/counseling
      Troublesome cognitions
Six-Step Button Therapy Method
Sadhaks and Buttons

4 Awareness of Stress and Distress: Recognizing When Your Buttons Get Pushed
Recognizing When Your Buttons Get Pushed
Listen to your body
   The body's wisdom
Identify your feelings
   Hard to control emotions
Acceptance-rejection continuum

5 Buttons
Identifying our Buttons being pushed
   Identify the conflict of your desired model of how things should be versus what is
Types of Buttons

6 Distorted Styles of Thinking
   1. Black and White Thinking
   2. Blaming
   3. Comparing
   4. Catastrophic Thinking
   5. Fair and Just Thinking
   6. Mind Reading
   7. Negativistic Thinking
   8. Overgeneralizing
   9. Pasting and Futuring
   10. Should Thinking
   11. Perfectionist Thinking
   12. I'm "Right" and You're "Wrong" Thinking

7. Defense Mechanisms
Determining when we are using defense mechanisms
   Assess your defense mechanisms
Which defense mechanisms do people tend to use?

8 Personality Traits and Disorders
Personality
Personality Disorders
Toxic and nourishing people
Can we change our personalities?

9 Core Beliefs
Self-defeating core beliefs
Parents: Our imperfect biocomputer programmers

10 Assess Your Cognitions
Cognitive Self-Assessment Inventory

11 Emotions Identify, experience, release, and channel the emotional energy associated with your Buttons
What causes emotions?
Our emotional vs. rational minds
Mind-Body emotions
   Molecules of emotion
   The mobile brain
   Gut feeling
   Stress and the brain
   Body/mind therapies
Can emotions precede thought?
Types of emotions
Emotional games
   Anger
   Boredom
   Guilt
Emotional amperage
   Welcome your feelings
Connecting the emotions to Buttons

12 Models of Motivational States
Transactional Analysis
Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy
Ken Keyes' Living Love System
Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
The Seven Chakras in Yoga
   Chakras
   Malfunctioning chakras
Six motivational states in the Button Therapy Model
Determining your motivational states

13 Six Motivational States
1. Safety and security
2. Pleasure and sensation-seeking
3. Control and power
4. Love and acceptance
5. Personal growth and self-actualization
6. Spiritual and transcendental
In which motivational states do you spend the most time?
Motivational states and perception
Motivational states influence what we see
Activated Buttons affect perception
Multiple motivational states
With which motivational states are most of our Buttons associated?
Determining the motivational states associated with your Buttons

14 Button Power: The Constructive and Destructive Power of Buttons
The constructive power of Buttons
The destructive power of Buttons
My morality Button
The Moral Control Patrol
Consequences of the Moral Control Patrol to society
   Our country's schizophrenic and hypocritical pleasure morality policies
   Our morality laws (related to victimless crimes) make criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens
   Overburdening our criminal justice system
   Moral prohibition laws help make "criminals" rich
   Wasting financial and manpower resources
   Diversion of law enforcement resources from protecting citizens from real Criminals
   Corruption
   Disrespect for the law and police
How the Moral Control Patrol maintains it control
"The times they are a changin"
Libertarian backlash
Moral rehabilitation
   The five-step moral rehabilitation process
   Moral rehabilitation in the criminal justice system
The Shadow

15 Button Removal and Cognitive Restructuring
Making a conscious choice to keep, modify, or eliminate your Buttons
Choosing to keep your Buttons
   Stress Junkies
   Smiling Sufferers
   Low Self-Esteem
   Magical Thinkers
"I have so many Buttons - I'm hopeless"
Games people play
   Object games
   A neutral game
   Nonplayers
   Metagames
Deciding whether to eliminate the Button or change it to a preference

16 Cognitive Interventions

17 Portable Self-Help Cognitive Interventions
Changing Demands to Preferences
Self-Talk
Disputing Troublesome Cognitions
Cognitive Thought-Stopping
Flooding
Counting to 10
Here-and-Now
Mad Director Fantasy
Empathy Doubler

18 Scheduled Cognitive Interventions
Empty-chair
   Illustration of empty-chair work
The Worry Place
The Scheduled Pity-Pot Technique
Mind-Cleansing
Meditation

19 Cognitive Interventions that are Best Used in Conjunction with a Mental Health Professional
Injunctions and Redecision Work
Inner Child and Reparenting Work
   Cosmic consciousness illumination
   The wounded inner child
   Inner child and reparenting
Reframing
Paradoxical Intention
   Advocate for the opposite of what you want
   Scheduling the target behavior you want to change
Hypnosis
Self-hypnosis
Group Button Therapy Empty-chair Technique
Group Button-Pull

20 Some Commonly Asked Questions About Cognitive Interventions
"Can I use any of the cognitive interventions described in this book?"
"Can I combine cognitive interventions?"
"Do I have to use all six steps of the Six-Step Button Therapy Method every time I work on a Button?'
"How do I get rid of deeply rooted Buttons that don't want to be uprooted?"
"Does giving up my Buttons mean I have to give up my wants, desires, and goals and let the people run over me?*

21 Affirmations and Cultivating Your Mind's Garden: Cultivating New Cognitions Which Facilitate Your Becoming Happier and More Aware, Conscious, and Loving
Cultivating your mind's garden
Reprogramming your biocomputer
Suggestions for the cultivation of your mind
   Planting new seeds
   Affirmations
30 seeds for the garden of the mind
Daily cultivation of your mind
More resources for affirmations
Daily cultivation of the mind

22 The Spiritual Dimension
Distinction between Religion and Spirituality
Why include the spiritual dimension in a cognitive counseling and psychological self-help model?
   The Button Therapy model is a holistic cognitive therapy model
   Spirituality is an integral part of most people's lives
   Spirituality and health
Do the medical and health insurance establishments support the inclusion of spirituality in health care?
The spiritual dimension in medical school and counselor education curricula
Summary

23 Button-Pushers Reframing our Button-Pushers as our teachers
"Does this mean I should stay with the Button-Pushers in my life?"

24 The Six-Step Button Therapy Method: An Overview
ABE's MBA: A mnemonic device for remembering the six steps
Illustration of application of the Six-Step Button Therapy Perfectionist thinking Button.
Short-cuts to the Six-Step Button Therapy Method
Spirit Warriors
Go forth and slay the Button dragons

25 Recommended Readings
Cognitive therapy
Emotional healing
Guide to self-help books
Holistic health and healing
Inner Child and Reparenting
Mind/body healing
Personality
Spiritual and personal growth
   Hinduism
   Buddhism
   Christianity
   New Age
   Taoism
   General
Stress Management
Transactional Anaysis
Yoga and chakras

Appendix A: Cognitive Self-Assessment Inventory (CSAI)

Appendix B: Motivational States Inventory (MSI)

Appendix C: Study of Cognitions, Buttons, and Motivational States: Utilizing the Cognitive Self-Assessment Inventory (CSAI) and the Motivational States Inventory

References

Index

Other Button Therapy Materials

About the author

Tables
   Table 1: How to Integrate Button Therapy into the Counseling Session
   Table 2: 12 Styles of Distorted Thinking
   Table 3: Top 10 Should Messages
   Table 4: Top 10 Styles of Distorted Thinking
   Table 5: Twenty Common Defense Mechanisms
   Table 6: Top 10 Defense Mechanisms
   Table 7: Top 10 Personality Traits
   Table 8: Top 10 Core Beliefs about Self
   Table 9: Top 3 Core Beliefs about Relationships
   Table 10: Top 5 Core Beliefs about Life
   Table 11: Top 4 Core Beliefs about Illness and Disability
   Table 12: Top 10 Core Beliefs about Alcohol and Other Drugs
   Table 13: Top 10 Buttons
   Table 14: Top 10 Fears
   Table 15: The Seven Chakras in Yoga
   Table 16: The Six Motivational States
   Table 17: Ranked Centers of Consciousness or Motivational States
   Table 18: Cognitive Interventions
   Table 19: Six-Step Button Therapy Method for Psychological Self-help

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Catalogue Information

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