Book review
The CBT Art Activity Book
100 illustrated handouts for creative therapeutic work
Category: Book Reviews / Self-help
Author: Jennifer Guest
Year: 2015
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishing, UK
ISBN: 9781849056656
Audience: Supporting Myself
Summary: Colouring activities accompanied by tailored worksheets
to aid in the work of self-reflection in CBT therapy
Mindfulness colouring books are all the rage at the moment, so when I saw this book I was curious to see if it was
different from others on the market. There are similarities, but the difference with The CBT Art Activity Book is that
there are tailored worksheets to use in therapeutic situations with support by a qualified professional. Author
Jennifer Guest notes this respectful and compassionate support from a professional is important as emotional
disclosure can be challenging and leave you feeling vulnerable. Time needs to be committed to the therapy process,
especially if you have been through a traumatic experience.
Guest has a background in fine arts and designed the worksheets herself, incorporating cognitive behavioural therapy
(CBT) and art therapy principles, initially using them in her therapeutic work as a counsellor.
Are these therapies effective?
CBT has a solid research base, and art therapy is an emerging modality with limited high quality studies. That said, a
2015 review notes that art therapy has significant positive effects, such as a sense of personal achievement,
expression of feelings, increased knowledge of self, future goals, and aiding relaxation. The results also highlight the
need for a skilled therapist, and that art therapy may not be everyone’s cup of tea due to the creative aspect.
Each worksheet has a visual design that can be coloured and a series of questions to prompt self-reflection, a skill
which is key to the CBT process. Self-reflection is when you become more aware of how your thoughts and feelings
affect your behaviour. Guest hopes readers will be inspired by the images and they will help people communicate
visually.
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Phone: 09 623 4810 | www.mentalhealth.org.nz
Units 109-110, Zone 23, 23 Edwin Street, Mt Eden, Auckland
PO Box 10051, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446
A tool for a therapeutic environment
The worksheets initially seem quite basic, but are intended as an additional tool within an existing therapy
environment. Guest notes the worksheets provide an opportunity for people to aid and accelerate their personal
learning by doing. They also give you another way to approach an issue you are working on.
While this workbook provides another tool for a practitioner to use with clients, how much it would get used totally
depends on the client – not everyone is catching on to the colouring craze!
Reviewed by Kim Higginson, Information Resources Specialist at the Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation’s Resource and
Information Service brings you book reviews
fortnightly. To view more go to
www.mentalhealth.org.nz/books
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Units 109-110, Zone 23, 23 Edwin Street, Mt Eden, Auckland
PO Box 10051, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446
