Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks: A Workbook for Managing Depression and Anxiety (Retrain Your Brain with CBT)

I have to admit that I am skeptic when it comes to trying new things. I don’t like to try new foods, new shows, new places…nothing. I think it comes with the territory because trying new things can sometimes cause my anxiety to go into overdrive. About two months ago, I was feeling like I needed more than therapy. I was doing okay, but I wanted to be better than okay. I did some research on books about depression and anxiety and I came across Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavior Therapy in 7 Weeks by Dr. Seth Gillihan. I can’t remember what caused me to jump right on ordering this book (it may have been the free shipping that came with my Amazon prime account), but that doesn’t really matter because it was meant for me to have this book. I don’t think I have ever mentioned the fact that my bachelor’s degree is in psychology. I say that to say that one would think that I would have known about Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or CBT as it is referred to in the book. But, sadly prior to ordering this book, I had not (I could blame that on the fact that I hated psychology in college, but that’s for another blog post). Even though I ordered the book and awaited it’s arrival like a child waiting for Christmas, it took me a few days to crack it open. Not that there was anything wrong with the book itself, but it was skepticism about a workbook that could help me battle depression and anxiety that kept me from wanting to dive right in. Without giving this workbook totally away, this workbook has been a LIFE CHANGER! A little disclaimer: I am in therapy and I see my therapist once a month at least. But, if it is any consolation, when I walked into my last therapy appointment with this book in my hand, my therapist informed me that she was in the process of ordering the SAME book. This further confirmed that I was on the right path. The workbook is easy to digest, meaning it isn’t filled with scientific jargon that makes it hard to understand. It truly does empower people who suffer from depression and anxiety to learn how to be their own therapist by gaining the CBT skills to combat the negative, aggressive, and overwhelming thoughts and emotions that come with both. Because of this book, my approach to new things has been different, my anxiety has decreased, and my negative thoughts don’t linger like they used to. It doesn’t mean that they aren’t there, but I can combat them like ninja when they hit me. I have also shared my work with my husband and it has helped him better support me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who suffers from depression and anxiety.

This workbook is straightforward, practical, and easy to follow. Each week builds on the last, offering simple but powerful CBT exercises that really help shift negative thought patterns. I love how it combines education with hands-on activities it doesn’t just tell you about CBT, it walks you through applying it in daily life. The layout is clear, the examples are relatable, and the step-by-step format makes it feel manageable instead of overwhelming. It’s a great tool whether you’re new to therapy or looking to strengthen coping skills on your own. Highly recommend for anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, or just wanting more control over their thoughts.

Great way to get into understanding and implementing CBT.

Good intro to cBT

Wonderful book, great insights to apply.....

Very useful, I've been diagnosed with eary dementia. My condition has slowed down

I really wanted to like this book, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. While the title promises a structured 7-week program, the content felt more like a broad overview of CBT concepts than a real step-by-step guide. Some of the exercises seemed repetitive, and I found myself wishing for more practical, real-world examples rather than generic worksheets. It’s not that the book is bad—the ideas are solid, and if you’re brand new to CBT, it might be a decent starting point. But for me, it felt surface-level and a bit rushed. I don’t feel like I “retrained my brain” in 7 weeks, and the workbook format wasn’t as engaging as I hoped. Overall, it’s okay, but there are other CBT workbooks out there that go deeper and offer more useful strategies.

Lots of very disappointing self-help books out there that promise to help you do things like "take charge of your adult ADHD," "gain control of your anxiety" and "lift the fog of your depression," but instead they merely take your money and offer nothing more than a bunch of history on the condition in question with a few anecdotal experiences sprinkled in for good measure. Thus far, all of the books I've purchased have turned out to be all fluff with no substance, providing no help at all. One disappointing waste of money after another. That is until I took a chance on "Retrain Your Brain." Thank you whomever you are Seth Gillahan or whatever his name is lol. This book is structured. The author lets you know exactly what to expect from the book. He lets you know that he will provide a brief overview of CBT and why it works with brief information about depression and anxiety and then he will get into 7-weeks of giving you practical CBT skills to practice to improve your condition and functioning. You'll work your week to week, much the same you would with a therapist. For the record. I have ADHD. Anxiety and depression often comes along with that. I started CBT with a therapist about 2 months ago but my therapist is ermmm, not very good at her job let's just leave it at that, so I am on the hunt for a new therapist. In the meantime I decided to check out some self-help books to help myself in the meantime but kept coming up short with crappy book after crappy book. Any way, this book has helped me more than my last 2 months of therapy. You won't be cured of depression or anxiety in 7 weeks of course (and the author lets you know that so that you know what to expect). However, if you take your time and motivated to improve your condition, this book can help you get measurable relief and improve your daily life.

It is not a very exciting and interactive book. I wasn’t satisfied with the explanation and types of exercises given. I found it very boring.

I like all the exercises that teach to be aware of your thought : - are they negative or positive? - why am I thinking so negative? where to they come from? what is the need of them? have I thought the outcome? Brings self awareness and teach you to live in the moment ; in the here and now .

Kurz und umfassend. Es hilft!

Love this book, very helpful as long as you stay consistent!

Good for practicing CBT yourself