AUGUST 2011: 165 post-doctoral fellows, psychiatry residents, and other graduate students from mental health, medical, and related fields traveled from 33 states and territories and 13 foreign countries, including: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Jamaica, Lebanon, Netherlands, New Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, and United Kingdom; to Crowne Plaza Philadelphia for Beck Institute’s second annual Student and Post-Doctoral Fellow Level 1 CBT Workshop on depression and anxiety.  The diversity in the hotel’s grand ballroom was phenomenal as it was filled with students of all ages, from all over the world, eager to learn from the founders of cognitive behavior therapy.

Pictured above-left, Aaron T. Beck, M.D. was greeted by a room full of participants wearing red bowties, and singing Happy Birthday, in celebration of his 90th birthday. Dr. Beck thanked all of the students and then gave them the opportunity to ask him any questions about CBT.  (Right) This unique segment also included a therapy role play, involving both Dr. Aaron Beck and Dr. Judith Beck, demonstrating how to identify and respond to negative automatic thoughts. Afterward, both Drs. Beck met with the Beck Institute scholarship winners to have an intimate discussion about current research in the field of CBT.

(Left) Dr. Judith Beck conducted several role plays with workshop participants to demonstrate a variety of CBT techniques for treating depression.  Dr. Beck explained how to differentiate between practical and psychological problems, and how to use a cognitive framework to understand why psychological problems arise. (Below/Right) Dr. Cheryl Carmin, from the University of Illinois at Chicago, lectured on the subject of CBT for anxiety disorders.  She stressed the use of humor as a useful tool with anxious patients.

This workshop provided students with training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy from Aaron T. Beck, M.D., Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., and Cheryl Carmin, Ph.D. Trainees participated in seminars and case discussions; they also observed demonstration role plays and engaged in role plays with their peers, to practice techniques and utilize their skills. Here are some event highlights: