Book recommendation on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

I am currently writing a sequel to a previous book about an ex soldier with post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. I am up to speed on PTSD itself but not its treatment, and my sequel is largely about his treatment for PTSD. I'm not a 'psychologist' or therapist of any sort, although I have a degree in rats-in-boxes type psych. and am au fait with the general literature. Unless someone can convince me of the error of my ways, I want to address my character's PTSD through Cognitive Behaviour Therapy [CBT]. Problem; I know next to nothing about CBT.

Question: Can you recommend a good book [or website] on CBT? i.e. a book you personally have read! I already have the Dummies CBT and their CBT Workbook. There must be something better!

'Good book' obviously begs a number of other questions but what I mean is a book written by a practitioner or professional rather than a wannabe or amateur; of a predominantly practical nature rather than mere theorising; and one that includes case studies.

If you know of a good/useful website I would be very grateful for the URL. I have visited the following;

http://ptsd.about.com
http://www.ptsd.va.gov
http://www.nimh.nih.gov
http://www.plosmedicine.org
http://helpguide.org
http://www.combatstress.org.uk

Apologies if this is in the wrong place! but this one sounded like it might fit the bill. Please advise if I should move it elsewhere. Many thanks for any help/advice.

Thanks Phyllo, I'll have a look at 'Mind Over Mood'.
And thanks Le Blanc. Might take you up on the offer if you think you can cope with spending 2-3 weeks stuffed in my rucksack! as that's what I'm after by way of a bit of holiday reading.

Excellent post archetypewriting! I will certainly look out for your suggestions, and your own book, The Writer's Guide to Psychology, looks like a must as well. I literally have my foot in the stirrup to leave for a couple of days research. [I only checked my emails to get the address of where the hell we are staying!] My main character's treatment is at the hands of a therapist based in Dorchester [UK]. I must check that the clock in the main street strikes the hours etc. I am particularly interested in what you say about VR as 'my' therapist contrives aspects of re-enactment that may well, by accident, match best practice. On the other hand they may not, but no patter; he is unorthodox. But I am keen to avoid making unwitting howlers.

Many thanks for the help.



In case anyone else treads the same path, since my original posting, I have found 'The Stress of Combat' by Roy Brook [1999] of interest on the background to PTSD among servicemen, 'Overcoming Traumatic Stress' by Claudia Herbert and Ann Wetmore [1999] of considerable use, and am just reading 'Overcoming Sexual Problems' by Vicki Ford which, along with the previous, is one of a number of books in the 'Overcoming' series published by Robinson being "self-help guides using CBT".

As further background on PTSD among servicemen I will try and get hold of the following:

Ahrenfelt, R. H.: Psychiatry in the Brit Army in the 2nd W.W [1958]
Dyke, Capt. David Hart RN: article in ‘King George’s Fund for Sailors Review’ [April and July 1991]
Fergusson, Bernard: Beyond the Chindwin [1957]
Herbert, A.P.: ‘The Secret Battle’ Based on death of Sub-Lieut Edwin Dyett executed for cowardice Christmas 1916.
Hughes, Steven: Inside Madness British Med. Journal. [Vol 301 Dec 1990]
McLaughlan, Redmond: The Royal Army Medical Corps [1971]
McManners, Hugh: The Scars of War [Gulf War]
Moore, William: ‘The Thin Yellow Line’ 1974
O’Brien, L.S. and Hughes, S.J.: ‘Symptoms of PTSD in Falklands Veterans Five Years After Conflict’. B.J.P. [vol 159 1991
Sargent, William: The Battle for the Mind [1957]
Stewart, Lt-Col Bob: Broken Lives [Balkans]
Whitely, J.S., and Gordon, John: Group Approaches in Psychiatry 1979.
Southborough Enquiry
‘Handbook of Army Health 1950’ War Office Code No. 5691-1
Report of the War Office Committee of Enquiry into Shell Shock HMSO 1922