Book · 2020
Feeling Great: The Revolutionary New Treatment for Depression and Anxiety
by David D. Burns
David Burns updates his 1980 CBT classic with a self-therapy manual that r/CPTSD says rewired thought patterns a therapist couldn't.
What does Reddit think of Feeling Great: The Revolutionary New Treatment for Depression and Anxiety?
Four mentions across four subreddits over two years does not make a consensus, but the ones that exist are pointed. r/CPTSD is the loudest voice: a commenter with 15 upvotes calls it a life-transformer and a manual for practicing CBT without a therapist — explicitly noting it sidesteps CPTSD framing but still lands on the trauma-adjacent thought patterns. r/askpsychology (↑16) slots it into a short curriculum for psychotherapy newcomers, listed alongside Schwartz's No Bad Parts and McWilliams' Psychoanalytic Diagnosis. r/therapists offers the sharpest one-liner: this is the newer version of Feeling Good. r/attachment_theory has one mention with no direct engagement. What the data does show is that specialists mention it as a tool, not as a pop-psychology title. Four mentions, four different subreddits, zero detractors in the record.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · Cognitive behavioral therapy self-practice
- · Burns' TEAM-CBT method as successor to Feeling Good
- · Thought records and identifying cognitive distortions
- · Trauma-adjacent emotional regulation without CPTSD framing
- · Psychotherapy training as a reading context
Common praise
- + A commenter on r/CPTSD (↑15) says it completely transformed their life and teaches CBT self-practice without needing a therapist present.
- + r/askpsychology lists it alongside McWilliams and Schwartz as a credible entry point for understanding psychotherapy approaches.
- + r/therapists names it straight: the modern update of Feeling Good, which is high praise in that sub's shorthand.
Common criticism
- − The r/CPTSD commenter notes it does not directly address complex trauma, which matters if that is specifically what you are working through.
Who it's for
If you have already read Feeling Good and want Burns' updated TEAM-CBT framework, this is the natural next step. The r/CPTSD commenter who called it life-changing was working through trauma-rooted thought patterns without a therapist — so if you are managing mood or anxiety and want a structured self-practice tool, the data points there. Psychotherapy students and trainees show up in r/askpsychology discussions, where it sits on a short list with IFS and psychodynamic intros. The one group the evidence does not support: people specifically seeking CPTSD treatment, where more targeted resources exist.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Feeling Great: The Revolutionary New Treatment for Depression and Anxiety?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“It depends on what part of the field you go into. For psychotherapy: -Feeling Great by Burns for modern CBT -No Bad Parts by Schwartz for intro to parts therapy/ internal family systems. -Psychoanalytic Diagnosis by McWilliams for understanding deeper dynamics to personality disorders, defensive…
“Basically there’s two accepted approaches. The first is a top-down approach which tries to change the specific nitpicking behaviour that you are describing. The most effective way to do this is through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The downside to this approach is that you may find yourself …
“*Feeling Great* by David Burns has completely transformed my life. It’s essentially a manual that teaches you how to practice CBT on your own. While it doesn’t directly delve into CPTSD, it’s fantastic for re-wiring the thought patterns and feelings / states that come with trauma.
“Feeling Great by David Burns (a newer version of the classic Feeling Good)
Convinced? Pick up Feeling Great: The Revolutionary New Treatment for Depression and Anxiety
What else does r/AskPsychology read?
Other books mentioned in the same sub, ranked. Shared-sub overlap with this title breaks ties.
Feeling Great: The Revolutionary New Treatment for Depression and Anxiety — frequently asked
Is Feeling Great by David Burns worth reading if I already own Feeling Good?+
Probably yes. r/therapists describes it directly as a newer version of the classic, which signals a genuine update rather than a repackage. Burns' TEAM-CBT framework is the main addition.
What does Reddit think of Feeling Great for managing trauma symptoms?+
The most detailed take comes from r/CPTSD (↑15): the commenter says the book completely transformed their life and functions as a self-therapy manual. They flag that it does not address CPTSD directly, but found it effective for the thought patterns and emotional states that come with trauma. One data point, but a specific one.
Is Feeling Great recommended by therapists or is it more self-help?+
Both, based on the data. r/therapists mentions it as a known update to Feeling Good — that sub skews toward clinicians. r/askpsychology recommends it alongside academic texts on personality and IFS for people learning psychotherapy. The r/CPTSD context is self-directed. Small sample size, but the mentions span professional and lay audiences.
Should I read Feeling Great or No Bad Parts for working on anxiety and self-criticism?+
Depends on which framework fits your thinking. A r/askpsychology commenter (↑16) lists both in the same short curriculum — Burns for CBT, Schwartz for internal family systems — so they are treated as complementary rather than competing. CBT targets specific thought distortions; IFS works through parts and protectors. If you are skeptical of either model, start with the one whose premise makes more sense to you.