Beck Institute Blog

We are pleased that our Director of Education, Leslie Sokol, Ph.D., and a Beck Institute supervisor, Marci G. Fox, Ph.D., have written a new book for consumers, titled, “Think Confident, Be Confident: A Four-Step Program to Eliminate Doubt and Achieve Lifelong Self-Esteem.” In their self-help program, Drs. Sokol and Fox provide answers to two essential questions:

Why do people have self-doubt?

What can they do to improve their lives?

They explain the origins of self-doubt, differentiate between realistic concern (which can be helpful) and excessive doubt (which can cripple one’s ability to take important action). Then they spell out how to use cognitive therapy techniques to quell unwarranted self-doubt and increase self-confidence.

One important strategy that this book teaches is responding to unrealistic thinking. Drs. Sokol and Fox explain that when individuals are plagued with self-doubt, they have inaccurate ideas about themselves (”I’m incompetent”; “I’m unlovable”) and they negatively predict others’ reactions or misperceive how others are viewing them. (“He thought I did a poor job”; “She won’t want to see me again”)

Changing one’s thinking, though, is not enough. People need guidance in how to change their behavior so they can begin to take reasonable social-, work-, or productivity-related actions they have been avoiding, believing their short-comings would be exposed. “Think Confident, Be Confident” helps readers recognize their accomplishments when they do take action, teaching them to give themselves credit instead of engaging in second-guessing and self-criticism. Ultimately, this book helps readers reduce their unwarranted self-doubt, increase confidence, and achieve their goals.