4225: Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology

About the Course:

Both clients and psychotherapists are susceptible to a host of cognitive and motivational biases, distortions, faulty assumptions, irrational beliefs, and unfounded conclusions. As antidotes, Dr. Levy identifies and examines 30 critical thinking principles (Metathoughts), with particular application to the field of psychology. The book provides specific strategies, methods and techniques to improve your critical thinking skills which are essential to virtually every phase of clinical practice, from assessment, diagnosis and treatment, to research evaluation, ethical dilemmas, training and supervision. The ideas in “Tools of Critical Thinking” are vividly brought to life with illustrative examples, clinical anecdotes, case vignettes, contemporary social issues, challenging exercises, and clever satires – - packaged in a form that is engaging, easy to read, and eminently useful.

Author

Levy, David A., Ph.D.

About the Author:

Employed at Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology.

Dr. Levy has extensive experience as a professor, psychotherapist, writer and researcher. His numerous theoretical and empirical research studies have been presented in scientific journals and presented at professional conferences. In his featured appearances on over sixty television and radio programs (including CBS, CNN, NBC, and PBS), Dr. Levy provides perspectives on current news events, and examines prominent issues, problems and trends in the mental health fields.

Course Objectives:

1. To be able to define “critical thinking” and its key components

2. To be able to identify critical thinking principles (“metathoughts”) that are of particular relevance to topics, issues and debates in the study and practice of therapy and mental health

3. Provide useful antidotes to flaws, errors and biases in critical thinking