Feeling Great Book Club
Will Start Fall 2024
Get the most good out of Feeling Great
A Book Club for Everyone Everywhere.
Join a community of people from all over the world.
Online on Wednesdays starting September 13th each week for 12 weeks, 80 minutes each session with two options: 8:30am and 5:00pm US Pacific Time all on WEDNESDAYS, making it convenient from anywhere. It’s only 12$ per session, but we’re happy to meet you where you can comfortably afford the group. No one will be turned away for lack of finances!
Learn powerful tools for Anxiety and Depression
In each group, we will have small group discussions, work on exercises and discuss questions from group members.
Note that this group is NOT intended to treat any illness, but rather to learn more from this remarkable book.
Brandon Vance, MD, level 4 TEAM therapist and trainer, and Heather Clague, MD, Level 5 TEAM therapist and trainers, will facilitate with help from other TEAM teachers.
For Schedule, Frequently Asked Questions, and Do-It-Yourself Book Club Suggestions, see below:
Details, FAQ, and Do-It-Yourself Book Club
Is there a list to be notified of future book clubs and other offerings? YES! Please click on this link and fill out the form.
What is it and what is it not? This is an educational group to have support in learning the material in David Burns' new book Feeling Great. It is NOT a treatment group, and it is NOT an emotional support group. It is also a large group of people and there will not be opportunity for much individual attention from leaders (though there will be small unsupervised breakout groups).
My goals for this group are:
to increase motivation for reading the book by doing it in the context of a community.
to deepen your understanding of the concepts in the book through discussion and exercises.
to facilitate some sense of community in this isolated time of the pandemic.
to make these things accessible to folks across the world in terms of time and finances.
What will we do in it? We will have small group discussions on the chapter(s), work on related exercises, and discuss questions that you can email me before the group (or ask during it). There will also be a NON-MODERATED listserv for people in the community to discuss issues related to the book. We will also practice the 5 Secrets of Effective Communication in breakout groups, something that is mentioned a number of times in the book but is not discussed in depth.
How many people will be in it? There are about 100 people in each group. Because it is this large there will be very little individual attention from the leaders, though you will get to connect with others in small breakout groups.
What happens if I have to miss a meeting? Please plan on attending each meeting. But life happens and if you have to miss, that is okay with me. There will not be a recording or a recap of a particular meeting. If you make friends with someone in the group, you could email them to ask about the session you missed. Because of the number of people in the group, I will not be able to go over the previous meeting with you.
Can I switch back and forth between the two book clubs? Because this would weaken the sense of community in the breakout groups, I’m having people stay in one book club only. However I will allow you to make one permanent change to the other group, for example you got a new job that changed your schedule.
How long does each group last? 80 minutes - we extended the time since we do demonstrations in some of the sessions.
What Online Platform will you use and where's the link? We will use Zoom. It’s crucial that you send me all of your zoom email addresses because I will be putting you in breakout rooms with that email registered.
When are the sessions? There are two groups, both on WEDNESDAYS:
- Book club 8:30: starts at 8:30am Pacific Time in the United States on Wednesdays: this will allow for daytime hours for the Americas, UK and evening hours for Europe and Africa and later evening in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and India.
- Book Club 5:00: starts at 5pm Pacific Time in the United States on Wednesdays: this will allow for daytime hours for Asia, New Zealand, Australia and Pacific Islanders and evening in the Americas. Note 5pm Wednesday Pacific Time happens on Thursday in some time zones.)
*Note that Daylight Savings Time in the US ends November 5th at 2am. Please check for your country and time zone, when the group will be. Times will be pegged to US Pacific Time.
How much is it? Just $12 USD per 80-minute session paid for the whole series when you register. So $144 for the whole 12 weeks of 80 minute sessions. If you can not afford this, please email brandonvance@gmail.com to discuss what you can comfortably afford per session paid in advance. No one will be turned away for lack of funds!
What is the SCHEDULE of the current book clubs?
Wednesdays at 8:30am US Pacific Time
or
Wednesdays at 5:00pm US Pacific Time
SEP 13 Introduction
SEP 20 Ch1-3 How you are Feeling and How we get Stuck
SEP 27 Ch 4,5,6 Karen, Melanie and High Speed Treatment
OCT 4 Ch 7,8,9 Mark, Marilyn and Sara
OCT 11 Ch10&11 Daily Mood Journal and The Great Escape
OCT 18 Ch12-15 All-or-Nothing, Overgeneralization, Mental Filter, Discounting the Positives and Mind Reading
OCT 25 Ch16,17 Fortune Telling: Hopelessness and Anxiety
Nov 1 Ch 18,19 Magnification/Minimization, Emotional Reasoning and Should Statements
NOV 8 (Note change of time for end of US Daylight Savings) Ch 21,22 Labeling, Self-Blame and Other-Blame
Nov 15 Ch 23,24,25 The Self, Worthwhile, Being Specific and Joining the Grateful Dead.
NO MEETING Nov 22nd in honor of US Thanksgiving holiday
Nov 29 Ch 28,29 Relapse Prevention - Feeling Great for Good!
Dec 6 Ch 30-33 Research, Resources and Conclusion to the Book Club.
- Requirements: we want everyone to get the most out of this book club.
- Please purchase Feeling Great by David Burns (available on hard copy, ebook reader, audiobook).
- Please do the reading BEFORE each group.
There will be a certificate of completion given for those who attend at least 10 sessions.
Who are Brandon and Heather and who else will be helping with the group?
Brandon Vance, MD (you can call him Brandon) has been a psychiatrist for 17 years and has practiced psychotherapy for 20 years. He has studied TEAM therapy with David Burns since 2011. He is a level 4 TEAM therapist and trainer and actively teaches training groups in TEAM therapy and teaches also at the California Institute for Integral Studies. He lives in Oakland, California in the United States. Outside of work, he is engaged in writing and performing music, most recently in a social justice themed group that plays hip hop over latin rhythms. He is part of www.feelinggreattherapycenter.com and co-founder of www.gamefulmind.com which develops playful ways to support mental wellness such as our card game TuneIN TuneUP.
Heather Clague, MD (you can call her Heather) is a level 5 certified TEAM therapist and trainer with a practice in Oakland, California. In her work with patients, she integrates cognitive behavioral therapy with contemporary psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness, visualization and compassion practices to relieve suffering and empower patients to realize the best in themselves. She was awarded the Alexander Simon award for excellence in psychotherapy teaching. Her writing can be found at psychotherapy.net Heather leads BerkeleyImprov.com which holds online and in-person improv comedy classes.
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DO-IT-YOURSELF BOOK CLUB:
SUGGESTED FORMAT, QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES TO USE IN YOUR OWN BOOK CLUB HERE.
Those groups are also welcome to hire me to sit in on a session occasionally to answer questions and do demonstrations (of course I imagine other TEAM therapists would also be willing to do this). My rate will be adjusted by a Purchasing Power Parity conversion to take into account differences in income in different countries.
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What People are Saying about the Book Club:
"A fantastic forum to dive into the book, listen and learn from excellent skilled therapists and discover applications as well as practice in the breakout groups. A tremendous experience." Mareen R., Wellington, New Zealand.
I was unsure about signing up, but so glad I did. The leaders are so gifted. And the other participants were good people! I loved my small group. ~Christine C., Georgia, USA.
This will be one of the best investments that you can make in your personal development to overcome Depression and Anxiety. ~Patricia M., Saskatchewan, Canada.
"Joining this book club is an ideal way to motivate yourself to read this great book, meet kindred souls, and be guided by a team of highly trained CBT specialists." Rose T., California, USA.
I have learned a lot from joining this book club, and I can really recommend it. The only thing you need to do is to read the chapters every time, so that you get full potential from the book club. To see and hear how to do the exercises makes it easier to understand. ~Annette H., Denmark.
"Participating in the Feeling Great book club this fall and learning about TEAM CBT, has given me a whole different perspective on approaching depression, anxiety, moods, emotions and thoughts. I also deeply value the relationships created with those in my breakout group. Well worth the time and investment!" Christie R., South Dakota, USA
Very clear and thoughtful delivery and a good overall experience. ~Sophie P. Oxford, UK.
The Feeling Great book club was a great source of accountability to read the book, and most importantly, to put the lessons into action. It was rewarding to get to know the other participants in the breakout rooms and share how we were all feeling and changing, without pretense. ~Rosemary F from Washington, USA.
The benefit to me was commitment to read chapters and develop questions keeping me accountable rather than telling myself that I’ll get to the book later….and that doesn’t go well for me. Also loved seeing the individuals participating because it reinforced how many people are searching for a tool to change old thought patterns and introduce knew. It was a good journey! ~Karen K. from Texas, USA.
Great support from best professionals and learning process for dealing with negative moods. ~S.L., California, USA.
My experience in the Book Club was positive and worth my time. When I learned that the Book Club was being offered, I thought to myself, this is a perfect way to reinforce the material in the book! It was difficult to believe this was the first time the Book Club was presented. When I think of how well it was planned and facilitated by Brandon and the team I would think the class had been offered many times. The breakout groups were extremely beneficial it was an opportunity to hear and learn from others who were so supportive and it reinforced the materials being discussed in the larger group. Reading Dr. Burns book Feeling Great is wonderful, but having the opportunity to discuss the content with those that are well qualified and experienced takes it to another level. I am looking forward to the next Book Club starting in August. Thank you Brandon and to your team for making the Book Club experience very rewarding. Thank You!! ~Robert J., California, USA.
The structure and accountability of this book club motivated me to fully engage. The camaraderie of other participants provided perspective... I am not alone in my need to retool my thinking. It is wonderful to be surrounded by others who also want to learn and be their best selves. ~Lynn F. California, USA.
The Feeling Great Book Club community was so incredibly helpful in giving my 19 year old daughter and I time to process the quantity and quality of David Burns life work. It give us the vocabulary and structure to communicate and have a better relationship. ~Susan B., Washington, USA.
The Feeling Great Book Club was an awesome resource to get more information on and better understand Feeling Great. I first read the book on my own and learned a lot, and getting questions answered, seeing live demos and having a consistent small group was super valuable in helping me! The instructors were incredibly warm, empathetic and skilled. I'd highly recommend it! ~Mani S., California, USA.