Get to Know LJ Davis, LPC, CPCS

LJ Davis, LPC, CPCS discovered TEAM-CBT through the list of 10 Cognitive Distortions by Dr. David Burns.

Let’s discover more about his experience…

TEAM-CBT Certified since…

2018

How did you discover TEAM-CBT?

I was working with people with severe and persistent mental health problems, typically involving some amount of disconnection from our shared reality. While doing that I got the opportunity to learn from people from the Beck Institute. Then in 2016 or so, I listened to a baseball podcast that is about using statistics to understand the game better - and it often talked about how baseball has been long affected by various cognitive biases. I was trying to learn about what some of those were, and I googled "cognitive distortions." This brought up Dr. Burns' list of 10 Cognitive Distortions. The list said it came from Feeling Good, and I thought, well here is a way to learn more about cognitive therapy. So I got the book and it blew my mind. Truth be told, I was feeling pretty depressed at the time, and I had no idea that my thoughts were what was causing this. But I can remember, sitting in my office and reading the list of cognitive distortions and getting so excited.  

You mean there isn't really something horribly wrong with me - I'm just thinking that.  

Specifically I can remember learning about mind-reading while I was sitting in my office. I had just had lunch, and I left my dirty bowl in the sink to soak while I went back to my office to read a little bit. Two of my colleagues were talking in the room next door - and I was sure they were talking about what a lazy bum I was for leaving my bowl in the sink. Then I read about mind-reading as a distortion, and so much of what Dr. Burns was saying suddenly made sense - I had no idea what they were waying, I was just telling myself a story and getting upset about it. From there I found the Feeling Good Podcast, some of Dr. Burns' online recorded trainings and Mike Christensen's 13-week class. The rest is history.

What are your specialties / clients you love to work with?

My favorite clients have been social anxiety clients who I could go out and do exposure work with in public. Until very recently I worked on a university campus, and it was so much fun to go practice smile and hello, survey techniques, and self-disclosure - and see people realize that most people were receptive to these sorts of interactions. I also like working with people who are struggling with depression. I have had a really good time when one member of a couple is willing to take responsibility for improving their relationship.

What is your favorite TEAM-CBT technique?

That's a tough one, there are so many good ones. Today I have done some Feared Fantasy with myself, and it has been powerful, so I'm loving it today. I generally like the role playing techniques, and interpersonal exposure.

What are you reading or listening to?

Recently I have been reading, Breaking Free of Childhood Anxiety and OCD by Eli Lebowitz, and The Long Fall by Walter Mosley. I listen to a variety of things, but the album RTJ4 by Run The Jewels has been especially significant to me the last few years.

Please share a fun fact about yourself.

I really enjoy listening to music, but tend to get lost in podcasts and news shows- at least in part because there is so much choice in music available all of the time. I like to solve it by choosing a list of albums to listen to - a few years ago I listened to all of the albums that The Source had rated 5 mics; and I've lately been putting some effort toward the Rolling Stone top 500 albums of all time.

Connect with LJ on LinkedIn. 

LJ Davis, M.A., LPC, CPCS

LJ practices TEAM therapy, a framework for effective psychotherapy developed by Dr. David Burns. If you're interested in learning more, please reach out to LJ Davis, M.A., LPC, CPCS to book a free consultation. 

You can learn more about Feeling Good Institute here, or here to find an Effective Therapist.