The Deeper Dimension in CBT: Transforming the Core Beliefs That Keep Patients Stuck

Course Description:

 

Traditional therapies focus on the past to uncover the root causes of emotional suffering, while Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors in the present moment.

 

Can we have the best of both worlds?

 

Dr. David Burns and Dr. Jill Levitt will show you how to quickly and compassionately uncover the deeper beliefs and hidden emotions that drive anxiety, depression, shame, and relationship difficulties—and how to transform that insight into meaningful therapeutic change.

 

Beneath automatic thoughts often lie deeply held core beliefs such as:

“I’m not good enough.”
“I’m unlovable.”
“I’m a failure.”
“I’m defective.”
“If people see the real me, they’ll reject me.”

 

When these beliefs remain hidden or unchallenged, therapy may lead to only partial or temporary improvement.

 

You’ll learn four powerful uncovering techniques that bring these beliefs into conscious awareness:

• The Individual Downward Arrow

• The Interpersonal Downward Arrow

• The What-If Technique

• The Hidden Emotion Technique

 

Once core beliefs are identified, you’ll learn how to modify them using targeted cognitive and behavioral strategies, including:

• Cost-Benefit Analysis

• The Semantic Technique

• The Feared Fantasy Technique

• Real-world Behavioral Experiments

 

Through lively, didactic teaching, live demonstrations, Q&A, and structured breakout practice, you’ll learn in a fun, interactive environment—practicing in small groups and receiving personalized feedback from expert trainers. 

You’ll leave with practical, step-by-step methods you can use right away in your next therapy session—and in your own life.

 

What You'll Gain:

 

Powerful Uncovering Techniques: Practical tools to quickly identify the core beliefs and hidden emotions driving your patients’ distress.

Strategies for Transforming Insight into Change: Step-by-step cognitive and behavioral methods to modify self-defeating beliefs.

Structured Interventions: Clear frameworks such as the cost-benefit analysis, semantic technique, and behavioral experiments that create measurable progress.

Immediately Applicable Skills: Concrete, easy-to-use tools you can apply in your very next therapy session.

 

Learning Objectives:

 

After attending this workshop you will be able to:

• Explain the purpose of the Individual Downward Arrow Technique
• Use the Individual Downward Arrow Technique to uncover a self-defeating belief
• Describe two Self-Defeating Beliefs
• Use a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate a self-defeating belief
• Describe the semantic technique
• Describe the purpose of the feared fantasy technique
• Create an experiment to test a self-defeating belief

 

Workshop Details:

 

Date: Friday, March 27th, 2026

Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM PT

Duration: 7 hours

CE Credit: Earn 7 Continuing Education Units (CEs)

Format: Live online via Zoom. A recording will be shared with all registrants. CE credit is only available to those who attend live.

 

Choose How You'd Like to Attend

 

Option 1 — Event Only Ticket ($195)

Option 2 — Event Ticket + CBT All Access ($115)

 

CBT All Access is a monthly membership that includes this event plus TEAM-CBT certification, live practice, case consultation, 20+ home study CE hours, special events & more. Cancel anytime.

 

Bonus: All registrants receive a free 5-hour Home Study Crash Course in Core Skills for Effective Therapy. Completion of the Home Study plus attendance at the workshop earns free Level 1 TEAM-CBT Certification (application fee waived).

 

Don't Miss This Unique Training Experience

 

Whether you’re a seasoned clinician seeking deeper cognitive techniques or a newer therapist looking for a clear framework to address core beliefs, this workshop will give you practical, powerful tools to help your patients achieve rapid and lasting change.