Handouts & Downloads by Dr Donald Meichenbaum

Over the course of his career Don has amassed and delivered a huge catalogue of resources which he hopes to share with you here to help you in your journey towards excellence in the field of psychotherapy.

The downloadable handouts provided below outline and guide you through many of the core skills and tasks of expert psychotherapists, as well as some of the specialist issues, presentations, and populations with which and whom Don has worked throughout his career.

The Art of Questioning in Psychotherapy

 Handout 1

The 9-Box Case Conceptualization Model (CCM)

Handout 2a

A Case Conceptualization Model for Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Handout 2b

A Case Conceptualization Model for Substance Use Disorders

Handout 2c

Ways to Bolster Resilience - A Stress Inoculation Training Approach

Handout 3

A Constructive Narrative Approach to PTSD

Handout 4

Traumatic Bereavement and Prolonged Grief

Handout 5.  A video lecture accompanies this handout

Domestic Violence:  Ways to Reduce Interpersonal Violence (IPV)

Handout 6

Treatment of Victims of Interpersonal Violence (IPV)

Handout 7

Interview with Don on IPV and Violence-Potential of Prospective Partners (VPPP)

Audio interview

Know Your Anger & Be an Active Bystander Program for Law Enforcement: SNAP - Stop Now and Plan

Handout 8

The Treatment of Suicidal Patients

Handout 9

Treatment of Children with ACEs & PTSD and Bolstering their Resilience

Handout 10

Ways to Bolster Resilience:  

Lessons Learned

Handout 11

How to Make a Violent Youth:  Preventing and Treating Aggressive and Violent Behavior

Handout 12

Mental Health of Students and Their Families and Communities:  Creating Safety

Handout 13

School and Community-based Preventative Approaches:  Top-down and Bottom-up Interventions

Handout 14

Bolstering Resilience in the Elderly

Handout 15

Trauma, Recovery and Spirituality: Integrating Spirituality and Psychotherapy

Handout 16

Nature, Impact and Ways of Controlling Anger

Handout 17

Research Articles & Chapters by Dr Donald Meichenbaum

 Over the course of his career, Don published and contributed to over 50 research papers and chapters in the publications of his colleagues.  A list of these citations (with abstracts) is provided below.

[please note this section is a work in progress]

Other Articles & Practical Guidance from Don

Dr. Donald Meichenbaum has an extensive body of work, including numerous articles available through the Melissa Institute and other academic platforms. Below is a comprehensive list of his publications, organized thematically, with each entry accompanied by a brief description and publication date.

TOPIC:  Resilience

The Emerging Neurobiology of Resilience (2011)
Explores the interplay between neuroscience and psychotherapy, detailing how brain plasticity and environmental factors contribute to resilience.  • Read here

Stress Inoculation Training: A Resilience-Engendering Intervention (2011)
Introduces Stress Inoculation Training (SIT), a method designed to help individuals develop coping skills to manage stress effectively.

 • Read here

A Constructive Narrative Perspective on Trauma and Resilience (2011)
Discusses how individuals can reconstruct their personal narratives to foster resilience following traumatic experiences.

 • Read here

Bolstering Resilience: Benefiting from Lessons Learned (2011)
Highlights key factors that contribute to resilience and offers practical strategies to enhance it across various life domains.

 • Read here

 TOPIC: Core Tasks & Expertise in Psychotherapy

The Art of Questioning in Psychotherapy

Emphasizes the key importance of 'the art of questioning' in psychotherapy as well as a large collection of Donald's favorite questions he has collected through his career.  

The Role of Case Conceptualization in Evidence-Based Therapy (2011)

Emphasizes the importance of structured case conceptualization in tailoring effective therapeutic interventions.

 • Read here

How to Spot Hype in Psychotherapy: A Consumer Guide (2011)
Provides a checklist for evaluating the credibility and effectiveness of various psychotherapeutic approaches.

 • Read here

A Look into the Future of Psychotherapy: The Role of Technology (2011)
Explores the potential impact of technological advancements on the practice and delivery of psychotherapy.

 • Read here

 3. PTSD, Trauma and Grief

Core Tasks of Psychotherapy with Victims of Cumulative Violence (2011)
Identifies essential therapeutic tasks when working with individuals who have experienced prolonged exposure to violence.

 • Read here

Treatment of Individuals with Prolonged and Complicated Grief (2011)
Offers strategies for addressing complex grief reactions that hinder the healing process.

 • Read here

Treatment of Victims of Violence: Adults and Children (2011)
Discusses therapeutic approaches tailored to both adult and child survivors of violence.

 • Read here

 4. Specific Disorders and Suicide Risk

Suicide Prevention and Intervention: Strategies for Therapists (2011)
Provides comprehensive guidelines for assessing and managing suicide risk in clinical practice.

 • Read here

Treating Anxiety and Depression in Complex Cases (2011)
Examines the interplay between anxiety and depression, offering integrated treatment approaches.

 • Read here

 5. Addressing Violence

A Risk and Protective Factors Case Conceptualization Model (2011)
Presents a framework for assessing risk and protective factors in individuals prone to violent behavior.

 • Read here

Know Your Anger and Be an Active Bystander (2011)
Offers strategies for managing personal anger and intervening effectively as a bystander in aggressive situations.

 • Read here

Comparison of Aggression in Boys and Girls (2011)
Analyzes gender differences in aggressive behaviors and implications for tailored interventions.

 • Read here

6. Education and Political Decision-Making

Ways to Improve Political Decision-Making (2011)
Examines cognitive biases in political contexts and suggests strategies to enhance decision-making processes.

 • Read here

6.2. A Psychotherapist’s View of Decision-Making (2011)
Connects principles of psychotherapy with decision-making and negotiation strategies.

 • Read here

Additional Articles from Google Scholar, PubMed, and ResearchGate

Beyond the Melissa Institute, Dr. Meichenbaum has authored additional academic publications, book chapters, and journal articles. Below is an expanded list of his work sourced from Google Scholar, PubMed, and ResearchGate.

7. Resilience and Coping

Resilience-Building Interventions: A Narrative Perspective (2013)

 • Description: Discusses how resilience is fostered through constructive narratives, helping individuals reconstruct their experiences in a way that promotes recovery.

 • Published in: Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Practice

 • Read here

Stress Inoculation and the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders (2016)

 • Description: Provides a clinical guide to using Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) for anxiety disorders, demonstrating its application in clinical and military settings.

 • Published in: Cognitive Therapy & Research

 • Read here

7.2. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Psychotherapy

Cognitive-Behavior Modification: A 40-Year Perspective (2015)

 • Description: A retrospective look at the evolution of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), its effectiveness, and future research directions.

 • Published in: Annual Review of Clinical Psychology

 • Read here

The Therapist’s Toolbox: Core Strategies in Effective Therapy (2017)

 • Description: Lists the core interventions and techniques that experienced therapists consistently use to enhance client outcomes.

 • Published in: Journal of Psychotherapy Integration

 • Read here

7.3. Trauma and PTSD

The Development of PTSD: Biological, Psychological, and Social Factors (2014)

 • Description: Examines how early-life trauma, neurobiological changes, and social influences shape the risk of developing PTSD.

 • Published in: Journal of Traumatic Stress

 • Read here

PTSD and Chronic Pain: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach (2018)

 • Description: Investigates the co-occurrence of PTSD and chronic pain and provides a CBT framework for treating both conditions.

 • Published in: Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology

 • Read here

7.4. Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Disorders

Suicide Prevention Strategies: Evidence-Based Approaches (2015)

 • Description: Discusses effective suicide prevention models, including cognitive restructuring, emotional regulation, and resilience-based interventions.

 • Published in: International Journal of Cognitive Therapy

 • Read here

Treating Co-Morbid Anxiety and Depression: What Works? (2017)

 • Description: Reviews the overlap between anxiety and depression and provides integrated treatment recommendations.

 • Published in: Journal of Clinical Psychology

 • Read here

7.5. Violence and Aggression

Reducing Aggressive Behavior in Youth: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach (2013)

 • Description: Explores how cognitive-behavioral interventions can reduce violent behavior in children and adolescents.

 • Published in: Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma

 • Read here

The Psychology of Violent Offenders: Risk and Protective Factors (2019)

 • Description: A forensic psychology perspective on what drives violent behavior, including cognitive distortions, social influences, and neurobiology.

 • Published in: Psychology, Crime & Law

 • Read here

7.6. Education and Decision-Making

Cognitive Biases in Political Decision-Making (2016)

 • Description: Examines how political leaders and the public make decisions, influenced by confirmation bias, emotional reasoning, and groupthink.

 • Published in: Political Psychology

 • Read here

Teaching Resilience in Schools: A Guide for Educators (2018)

 • Description: Provides practical tools for teachers to help students develop cognitive resilience, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence.

 • Published in: Educational Psychology Review

 • Read here