← Originals

Matthew McKay

10 books

therapy

What they argue

Matthew McKay is a thinker who works in the realm of emotional regulation and behavioral change. He focuses on helping individuals who feel 'hijacked' by intense emotions to understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

  1. The Cognitive Triangle

    This is the interconnected relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors where each element reinforces the others. For example, a negative thought leads to a negative feeling, which then leads to a specific behavior.

    From Taking control of your moods and your life (book)

    • Says much the same Christine A. Padesky — The Cognitive ModelThis framework posits that our feelings and behaviors are determined by our perceptions of events, not the events themselves. It consists of three components:…Clinician's Guide to CBT Using Mind over Mood, Second Edition

  2. The ABC Model of Emotional Reaction

    This framework deconstructs emotional outbursts by separating the Activating Event (the facts) from the Beliefs (the interpretations). It helps individuals understand that their suffering often stems from believing their thoughts are objective truths.

    From Taking control of your moods and your life (book)

    • Says much the same Christine A. Padesky — The Cognitive ModelThis framework posits that our feelings and behaviors are determined by our perceptions of events, not the events themselves. It consists of three components:…Clinician's Guide to CBT Using Mind over Mood, Second Edition
    • A related idea Donald Robertson — The Recipe Model of EmotionEmotions are not singular 'blobs' of energy but complex mixtures of physical sensations, memories, and cognitive appraisals. Understanding this 'recipe' allows for…Practical Tools for a Less Anxious Life - Donald Robertson

  3. Dialectics

    This is the principle that two seemingly opposing things can both be true at the same time. In a therapeutic context, this means a person can accept themselves exactly as they are while simultaneously working to change their behaviors.

    From The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook (book)

  4. The Dialectical Balance

    This is the synthesis of acceptance and change. It is the understanding that the statements 'I am doing the best I can' and 'I need to do better' are both true.

    From The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook (book)

  5. The STOP Skill

    This is a distress tolerance tool used when feeling an impulsive urge to act on a distressing emotion. It instructs the individual to Stop, Take a step back, Observe, and Proceed effectively.

    From The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook (book)

    • Says much the same Jeffrey Brantley — The Stop-Look-Listen AssessmentThis framework is used to manage the 'spark' of anxiety, such as a tight chest or racing thought. It requires a physical pause to prevent a thought from spiraling into…Calming Your Anxious Mind

  6. Anger as a Secondary Emotion

    Anger is often a 'cover' emotion or a defense mechanism used to mask deeper, more painful primary emotions like shame, fear, or sadness. It acts as a messenger rather than a standalone malfunction.

    From When anger hurts (book)

    • Says much the same Gary Chapman — Anger as a Secondary EmotionAnger is often a protective shield or 'smoke' that covers up primary, more vulnerable emotions like fear, hurt, or shame. To resolve conflict, one must look past the…Anger
    • Says much the same Marshall B. Rosenberg — Anger as a MessengerAnger is a 'secondary' emotion that serves as a signal for unmet needs, such as respect, safety, or autonomy. Instead of trying to 'control' the anger, one should…The Surprising Purpose of Anger: Beyond Anger Management

  7. The 'Underneath' Analysis

    This is a mental autopsy performed when feeling the heat of anger to identify the specific trigger and the physical sensations involved. It helps the individual uncover the primary emotions hidden beneath the anger.

    From When anger hurts (book)

Every idea names the summary it came from. Written by a local model from this mind’s own work, never from memory.

Books 4

Open Matthew McKay in Originals