Hi podcast fans and colleagues,

Thank you for responding to my first survey of individuals who listen to the Feeling Good Podcasts. I wanted to find out a little more about you, and now I want to share the results with you, too, so you can find out more about your fellow listeners.

Some of the results were quite unexpected, and all were illuminating.

Quick overview of 165 individuals who completed the survey within first couple days.

• The female / male split is roughly 60 – 40.
• The ratio of general citizens to therapists is also roughly 60 – 40.
• Age breakdown:
  • 20 – 39 is about 31%
  • 40 to 49 is about 20%
  • 50 to 59 is about 22%.
  • Above 60 is about 26%.

So, we have a pretty good age diversification except under 20.

• 60% of you say that the podcasts have helped in your personal life. 40% of you say the podcasts have helped in your personal life and in work with patients. Only 2% of you are only looking for therapy techniques to help your patients / clients.

This means almost everyone who listens is look for personal help, whether or not you are a therapist. This maps onto my experience teaching community therapists and graduate students at Stanford. Almost all are looking for personal help in addition to wanting to improve their therapy skills.

I am a firm believer that doing your personal work makes you a far more effective therapist, because you can say, “I’ve been there myself. I know how that feels to feel lost and desperate in the woods when it’s cold and snowing. And I can show you the way out of the woods!”

• An incredible 92% of you appear to be recommending the podcast to friends, students, patients and colleagues. Thanks so much! That really helps us spread the word. When Fabrice and I started out, we had a tiny audience. This month (April, 2019) we will experience our millionth download!

On the free form written response, there were way too many to report. I have just reported a few representative comments here:

What you like THE LEAST? (118 responded; 47 skipped)

• I prefer videos.
• It should be released on daily basis lol! They are perfect I love it
• Honestly, can’t think of an answer for that today.
• Difficult question . . . it has helped me a lot. I wished it would have been possible to join online self-help groups to practice TEAM CBT with other followers.

David’s Response: Lots of paid online training groups for therapists exist. Check at www.feelinggoodinstitute.com! People have raved about the quality of the teachers, like Jill Levitt, PhD, Mike Christensen, and others.

• There is no written transcript of the podcast.
• Some have also said the wanted more detailed show notes.

David’s Response: I’m glad you’ve like the show notes. They have become quite detailed, compared with when we started out. I was worried they now might be TOO long, so happy to see this. In case you don’t get the show notes, you can sign up for my blogs in the right panel of any page on my website, and then you’ll always get the show notes with the podcast.

• Maybe the lack of evidence. When you say that depression can be successfully treated in a single session, it’s maybe hard for people to believe that, especially if the depressed person is severely and chronically depressed.

David’s Response: Great point. I get really rapid results most of the time, but that doesn’t mean that other practitioners will. I’ve been working at for a long time, with feedback from every patient since the late 1970s. My skills have evolved tremendously from when I started out. Sometimes the feedback has been painful, but it’s always been a source of growth and learning.

I have published quite a few live sessions now with people with chronic problems, and the percent reduction in in the last 50 or so patients I’ve treated (in one session) has been greater than 90% for depression, anxiety, and anger. But I do need a two hour session, approximately, to get that result.

Unlike formulaic treatments, like learning to apply exposure to anxiety, which anyone can quickly learn to do, TEAM is very challenging, and involves refining your therapy skills, not just learning some new package or formula to treat this or that diagnosis. It’s very hard to learn.

• I think it would be interesting to bring more real people – either patients or therapist to tell about difficult cases. I think the details will help me go deeper into team. Also, to see more of the co- therapy with different experts in TEAM helps.
• Fabrice left ☹ David sometimes sound narcissistic, grandiose ..no need to push TEAM as the best all the time. Less monolog, more dialog

David’s Response: You are listing just one of Fabrice’s many wonderful qualities, and just a few of my own negative qualities! I miss him greatly, his terrific mind and critical thinking, and his wonderful heart!

• Need more of them! Hard to say as they are all so informative.
• I listened to every single FG podcast and learned something helpful each time. However, some of the stories and examples were a bit repetitive.

David’s Response: I know, I know! Hard to keep track!

• I love everything about them!
• Nothing really. I love them all!! So grateful for your generosity!
• Ask David responses that are too short / superficial
• Everything is great! It’s my favorite podcast! I’ve listened to every single episode!
• When there are guests on the show & David doesn’t let them speak much. It seems like he has a very certain way he wants issues to be talked about & doesn’t always go with the flow. I don’t want that to come across as a jab at David. I’m a huge fan, & I think I can spot it because I am a very rigid person myself. I like to be in control.

There are way more comments. Here is a link to the negative comments: https://app.crowdsignal.com/surveys/2480892/report/results/9573893

David’s summary of what you liked THE LEAST: Your comments were all informative, on-target, warmly expressed, valid, and helpful. Wow! Fabrice, Rhonda and I can’t thank you all enough! 😊😊

What you like THE Best? (135 responded; 30 skipped)

I will include just a few representative comments:

• I really like when you provide specific examples on how to challenge some distorted thoughts and how to utilize the techniques.
• Using a variety of co-hosts. More Kyle.
• When the technical terms are explained. Also when the questionnaires are explained. And the personal success stories.
• I really like all the helpful information that I can use as a therapist. Although I’ve been a therapist for decades, I’ve only recently started using CBT. I also appreciate Dr. Burns’ openness and willingness to use his life experiences to benefit his clients and us.
• Live sessions applying TEAM CBT
• It is a way to listen to topics that are not in the books (like the description of the TEAM model) and to have clarifications and answers.
• The compassion and great effort in everything You do.
• Your humility. To me – humility is the hardest and best.
• I enjoy listening to the experts; I really enjoy the live therapy sessions as they give me ideas for how to work with my patients.
• The role play, the interaction between David Burns and his co-host. I really liked Fabrice and his role as co-host. I like when David fields listener questions. I like when David gives examples of how he phrases things with clients.
• David Burns – He usually has good tips and techniques that help me as a non-therapist. I first read Dr. Burns’ book, Feeling Good, in the early 1980’s; and, it helped me tremendously deal with my depression. I liked the tools in the book; and the tools now on the podcast!
• Burns knowledge and skill is amazing.
• I like that they are short and sweet.
• Your approach is very logical and genuine. I love the addition of Rhonda! She is always very clear and concise. Additionally, she will bring a female perspective to topics covered.
• I know on occasion you have been told to tone down your language, but I love it when you sometimes “forget”. It makes you seem more like a real person I don’t think too many children are listening anyway.
• awesome help, info
  free
  positive force in daily stressful lives around the world
  commercial free
  personally helped me understand myself and others in a way i wouldn’t have done by myself
• This service is available free. Dr. Burns you are amazing
• Every single podcast is packed with helpful ideas and techniques. I especially love the live sessions; they made the theory and framework come alive. Keep up the great work!

There are tons more at this link: https://app.crowdsignal.com/surveys/2480892/report/results/9573895

David’s summary of what you liked THE BEST: Wow! Fabrice, Rhonda and I are touched by your kind and heart-warming comments. It is kind of hard to believe, and makes me feel like we’re all really in sync!

If you want to review the entire report, you can check it out at this link. https://app.crowdsignal.com/surveys/2480892/report. You will find out about topics people want to hear, and much more.

If the links don’t work, I’ll figure out something else for you to see the detailed comments.

If you want some (hopefully) wonderful training for CE credits, check the three workshops below. Hope to see you at one or even two of them!

David

* * *

Coming in May, 2019!

TEAM-CBT Methods for Anxiety Disorders–

Step-by-Step Training for Therapists

by David D. Burns, MD and Jill Levitt, PhD

WHEN: Sunday May 19th, 2019, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm PST
(11:30 am-7:30 pm EST)

WHERE: Join us live online or in person
at the Creekside Inn, Palo Alto, CA

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? $135,

WILL I GET CE CREDITS? YES!
7 CE hours available

WILL I GET CREDIT IN THE TEAM-CBT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM? YES!

This workshop counts towards Levels 1, 2 or 3 TEAM-CBT Certification.

WHO CAN ATTEND? Therapists of all levels are welcome

CAN I REGISTER IF I’M NOT A THERAPIST? Sadly, this workshop is geared for therapists. You might want to attend one of my two summer intensives, also listed below. They are geared for therapists, but anyone can benefit from them.

CAN I WORK ON MY OWN FEELINGS OF ANXIETY AND INSECURITY?
Absolutely! Heal yourself, heal your clients!

WILL I HAVE FUN? Yes!

WILL I HAVE SOME GREAT FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH? Yes!

WILL I HANG OUT WITH SOME COOL PEOPLE? Yes!

You will also:

• Learn new skills to reduce resistance and boost the motivation to change. This is THE key to the treatment.
• Learn how to treat all of the anxiety disorders quickly.
• See actual live videos of the Six-Minute Cure for Severe and Incapacitating Panic Disorder and the Fifteen-Minute Cure for Severe OCD.
• Practice and master the Externalization of Voices and Acceptance Paradox to overcome your own feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
• Master Relapse Prevention Training for lasting results.

You will love this lively, amusing, and immensely useful day of training with Drs. Burns, Levitt and the Feeling Good Institute Staff. The trainers will use a combination of didactic teaching, live demonstrations, videos, and breakout group practice to enhance skill-building.

This wonderful workshop will stream live and is easily accessible from anywhere in the world on any device with WiFi. To join, just click on the link provided before the workshop.

More than twelve expert trainers will be available to assist
the online participants in the small group exercises!

You can attend in person or from home via Live Streaming

Act fast if you want to attend!

Don’t miss out learning from David Burns, MD,
one of the pioneers of Cognitive Therapy,

and Jill Levitt, PhD, Director of Training
at the Feeling Good Institute in Mt. View, CA!

* * *
Coming this Summer

There will be two awesome summer intensives for you this year!

July 15 – 18, 2019
Calgary four-day intensive
Sponsored by Jack Hirose & Assoc.

July 29 – August 1, 2019
South San Francisco four-day intensive
Sponsored by Praxis

THE INTENSIVES ARE THE BEST WORKSHOPS OF THE YEAR!

If you can join us, they will be even better!