Self-Help Book Recommendations Committee

Committee Chair:

• Kimberli Treadwell, Ph.D., University of Connecticut

Committee Members:

• Robin Abrams, Ph.D., Robin Abrams Ph.D. LLC
• Francine Broder, Psy.D., Beck Institute
• Charlie Davidson, Ph.D., Akin Mental Health
• Celenia DeLapp, Ph.D., Montefiore Medical Center
• Tom DiBlasi, Ph.D., Long Island University
• Nic Doucette, B.A., Southern New Hampshire University
• Rebecca Elias, Ph.D., Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
• Regine Galanti, Ph.D., Long Island Behavioral Psychology
• Emily R. Gonzalez
• Jolene Jacquart, Ph.D., University of Arizona
• Anne Limowski, Ph.D., Montefiore Medical Center
• Chris Molnar, Ph.D., Mindful Exposure Therapy for Anxiety and Psychological Wellness Center
• Tim Ritzert, Ph.D., Longwood University
• Cara Settipani, Ph.D., Lumate Health
• Linda Spiro, Psy.D., Private Practice
• Jennifer Taub, Ph.D., Taub Psychotherapy
• Deirdre Waters, Psy.D., D Waters and Associates LLC
• Miryam Yusufov, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Committee Purpose:

The Self-Help Book Recommendations Committee aims to provide the public with a resource for quality self-help books, while also supporting and facilitating ABCT’s strategic planning objectives of disseminating information to professionals and educating the public. Practically, that means each committee member agrees to review 2-3 self-help books per year. This entails undertaking a detailed reading of a selected book (that the author or publisher mails to you) to identify whether the book presents an evidence-based intervention based in CBT principles.

There is a standardized review form to help guide the kinds of things to look for within the book. At the end of their review, the reviewer recommends the book be accepted or rejected for inclusion in the Self-Help Book directory on the ABCT website. Recommendations for acceptance go to the ABCT Board of Directors for final approval. The book is added to the site once that approval is obtained.

Importantly, we do not accept books “by default” (e.g., from big names in the field). Instead, we strive to undertake thorough and detailed reviews, and that means rejecting titles that do not meet our review standards.