Clinicians can use the structure of this book to locate cognitive behavioural therapy approaches for common later-life mental health presentations, including depression, bipolar disorder, suicide risk, anxiety, PTSD, dementia-related needs, and sexual health concerns. It is likely to be useful for geropsychologists, CBT therapists, mental health practitioners working with older people, and graduate students studying ageing, psychotherapy, geriatric psychiatry, or clinical psychology.
The contents show a clear two-part layout. The first part focuses on CBT and common mental health problems among older adults, with chapters on major depressive disorder, psychosocial treatment for bipolar disorder, suicide risk assessment and safety planning, late-life depression with comorbid psychiatric conditions, generalised anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, and sexual dysfunction. People searching for CBT for elderly clients, therapy for seniors, late-life depression treatment, older adult anxiety interventions, or geriatric mental health resources would find the scope relevant.
The second part moves into care settings and service contexts, which makes it especially relevant for professionals adapting CBT beyond a standard outpatient therapy room. Topics include CBT in primary care, integrating neuropsychological functioning into therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, palliative care, home-based depression care, prolonged exposure therapy for older combat veterans in the Veterans Affairs health system, and caregiver-focused self-help through the Stress-Busting Program.
Practical elements mentioned in the front matter include case studies, the 5-Column Thought Record, a suicide risk assessment pocket card, and clinical or educational tools. These features suggest use in supervision, teaching, treatment planning, clinical discussion, or as a reference when adapting CBT sessions for older clients with medical illness, cognitive changes, trauma histories, caregiver stress, or complex comorbid needs.
The book is authored by Kristen Hilliard Sorocco, PhD, and Sean Lauderdale, PhD, with chapters by specialist contributors in geriatric mental health, CBT, neuropsychology, palliative care, veterans’ services, and caregiver intervention.
