David Burns, M.D.

David Burns, M.D. is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He also has served as Visiting Scholar at the Harvard Medicine School and Acting Chief of Psychiatry at the Presbyterian University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Burns has authored six books on cognitive behavior therapy including his best-selling Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy (1980), which has sold over four million copies. In a national survey, Feeling Good was rated #1 – from a list of over 1,000 self-help books – and is the most frequently recommended book by mental health professionals in the United States and Canada for clients suffering from depression. His most current work is titled When Panic Attacks.

Although he is best known for his work on psychotherapy, Dr. Burns has also done significant research on the central nervous system and received the A.E. Bennett Award for his studies of serotonin metabolism. Currently he is investigating variables associated with therapeutic success or failure. His research has been published in numerous scientific journals. Dr. Burns is a dynamic and engaging educator. Every year, thousands of mental health professionals attend his workshops. Dr. Burns also maintains a strong interest in public education. He was recently featured in a ninety minute PBS special on depression and received the Distinquished Contribution to Psychology through the Media Award from the Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology in 1995.

Testimonials

“This was an incredible life changing workshop. It was an absolute delight with excellent practical tools, opportunities to witness live personal healing and practice with each other.”
– Calgary, AB | July 15 – 18, 2019

“The most useful and life-changing workshop I’ve ever been to!”
– Calgary, AB | July 15 – 18, 2019

“This was an excellent workshop and valuable for many professions. Please keep bringing CBT workshops to Alberta! The workshop was both professionally and personally helpful, and powerful, and enlightening.” 
– Sara Maraj | Banff, AB | July 17-20, 2017

“So great. Learned a huge amount. I am a somatic focused practitioner and have been resistant to working with CBT. This has definitely opened a huge doorway of interest. Thank you.”
– Richmond, BC | July 6-9, 2016

“Outstanding. Dr. Burns is competent, knowledgeable, and very practical. More than that, he is wonderfully human. His ability to bring himself and his own vulnerabilities into the room super infused this conference.” 
– Dave Flynn | Banff, AB | July 17-20, 2017

 

“David Burns is extremely knowledgeable, an effective presenter and an expert in his field. The workshop has exceeded my expectations. Thank You!” 
– Mayes Pillay | Banff, AB | July 17-20, 2017

 

“Dr. Burns was great. Exceeded my expectations. I was not expecting so much interaction. Going form the pages of the Feeling Good Handbook and 10 Days to Self-Esteem to 3D in person has been so much more helpful for me.”
– Murray Walters | Banff, AB | July 17-20, 2017

“Overall, very well done. I appreciated David taking these techniques and humanizing them. Makes me excited to get back to work and start using some of these techniques and start practicing to hone in on my skills. I would definitely attend another workshop provided by David Burns. So refreshing to see him take such an interest in his patients and their overall care.”
– Edmonton, AB | June 6-7, 2016

“Dr. Burns is a warm, humble man. I love his down-to-earth approach, his humour and his personable manner. I loved the role-plays. I can use those in my sessions. He is an expert in this field and it comes across in his workshops.”
– Megan Pomore | London, England | April 30-May 1, 2015

“This is the 2nd workshop I’ve taken with you and I’ve continued to be amazed at the power of this therapy. I look forward to continuing to learn more about TEAM and use it with my clients. Thank you so very much. God bless.”
– Lorian Quinlan | Edmonton, AB | June 6 – 7, 2016

 

“I have been to lots of workshops and this was in my top four – inspirational, enlightened, motivated, humbled.”
– London, England | April 30 – May 1, 2015

 

“I am very glad I made the journey to hear Dr. Burns. I have used his material for years and he has answered questions I needed answered!”
– Lea Connell | London, England | April 30 – May 1, 2015

 

“David, thanks for re-invigorating my professional passion!”
– Edmonton, AB | June 6 – 7, 2016

 

“This course has inspired me so much. It has convinced me that I will return to school for more training and education to fulfill my dream of becoming a certified therapist. Thank you so much, Dr. Burns!”
– Ed H (Enviros Wilderness Canada) | Edmonton, AB | May 7 & 8, 2014

 

“Enriching personally and professionally. Inspiring insight into human psychology. Entertaining delivery, conducted compassionately and respectfully.”
– Halifax, NS | June 9 & 10, 2014

 

“Wonderful skills for both professional and personal growth. I wish this was taught at university. I experienced so many emotions and grew my knowledge tremendously. This is the most human approach to human issues. Thank you!”
– Angela Massiah (Social Worker – Mental Health Clinician | Alberta Health Services) | Saskatoon, SK | July 2 – 5, 2014

 

“Best workshop I’ve been to.”
– Edmonton, AB | May 7 & 8, 2014

 

“Very pleased to have this caliber of speaker – just a dream come true!”
– Edmonton , AB | May 7 & 8, 2014

 

“Dr. Burns quite possibly helped me change my life this week. I am so grateful. What a generous spirit.”
– Burnaby, BC | July 7 – 10, 2014

 

“This is the second Burns workshop I have attended and both have been excellent. I feel more confident and motivated to employ the skills and strategies in my own practice, and am excited to do so. Thank you for an excellent workshop, I will definitely be back for future opportunities to learn from Dr. Burns.”
-Karen L (Mental Health Professional) | Edmonton, AB | May 7 & 8, 2014

 

“I am so grateful to have had your training session at the beginning of my counseling career. I feel hopeful and more prepared to provide effective therapy using your approach.”
-Diane Howe | Edmonton, AB | May 7 & 8, 2014

“I registered because I heard great things about this course and wanted to learn state-of-the-art material to enhance my skills. This course has done that and a whole lot more. Loved learning through role plays, both in listening and participating. Energizing – with humour and tears! I walked away tired and full!”
-Viki | Saskatoon, SK | July 2 – 5, 2014

“The training has renewed my passion for my profession and inspired me to pursue further training, perhaps even complete my Ph.D.”
-Tracy Laing | Burnaby, BC | July 7 – 10, 2014

“This was my second time attending one of David’s workshops and I am really glad I came. I needed the refresher and it really motivated me to start practice groups to really learn and implement the skills/tools. I am also planning to revisit how we deliver our programs so that we can incorporate the “TEAM” approach. I really appreciated the roleplays and demonstrations, they were most helpful.”
-Nancy S | Halifax, NS | June 9 & 10, 2014

 “Thank you for enriching us and unselfishly sharing your wisdom. We need this desperately as therapists and as people.”
– Leonard Herrem | Saskatoon, SK | July 2 – 5, 2014

 

“I will be worshipping at the Burns alter for the next several years.”
-John Moore (Alberta Health Services) | Edmonton, AB | May 7 & 8, 2014

“You are the delightful exception in the world of therapists. As intense as the learning is – it is fun, exciting and life-changing! The real honesty shared by complete strangers in such a short time, with the result of complete healing, is a joy.”
-Barbara Levesque (Family Counseling) | Saskatoon, SK | July 2 – 5, 2014

“Dr. Burns has a wonderful presenting style. The opportunity to have roleplays was amazing learning. Thank you for your ‘realness’ and ‘humanness.’”
-Edmonton, AB | May 7 & 8, 2014

“This workshop and meeting Dr. Burns has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I feel as if I am reborn. You are my guru, Dr. Burns! Thank you so much!”
-Rahel (McMan Youth – Family & Community Services) | Burnaby, BC | July 7 – 10, 2014

“This was an excellent workshop. This is the most practical application workshop I have ever been to. I’m excited to go back and start using the TEAM Model. Thank you, Dr. Burns is an inspiration to us all!”
-Patti Dekowny (Social Worker) | Saskatoon, SK | July 2 – 5, 2014

“I am really glad that I made the decision to do a second 4-Day Intensive. It has really helped solidify some of the concepts and techniques. I would highly recommend to anyone who is feeling overwhelmed with the material to go back to work and try these skills out, and then return to another intensive. It will give you so much more the second time around.”
-Sylvia Lai (MSW, RSW – St. Paul’s Hospital) | Burnaby | July 7 – 10, 2014

 

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to work with you, Dr. Burns. To be honest, when I got up on stage with you I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was blown away that I felt a real shift in perspective and revelation within the work, and that my view of myself is more realistic and better. I have tried other types of therapy and did not feel the change that I did in the two hours on stage with you. Thank you!”
-Nicole Espeseth (YWCA) | Saskatoon, SK | July 2-5, 2014

 

“I really enjoyed this course and see it as the start of developing raw techniques and becoming a better therapist. Dr. Burns’ approach and teaching methods resonated very strongly with me. Thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you.”
-Carolyn Taylor (Offshore Resilience, Ltd.) | London, UK | April 30 – May 1, 2015

 

“David’s commitment to facilitating progress in therapy, both in 1:1 sessions and in the profession as a whole is inspiring. Thank you – I have learned a lot, been challenged a lot, and laughed more than I expected! Warm wishes.”
– Caroline Williamson, M.A | London, UK | April 30 – May 1, 2015

 

“One of the best workshops I have attended. I feel much more confident in providing valuable therapy to my clients. The TEAM approach is truly invaluable. The instructor is phenomenal.”
– Al Kassam | Red Deer, AB | April 8 – 11, 2015

 

“Thank you for such an informative, skill-based, advanced therapy course. I am looking forward to walking into my office on Monday morning and implementing these techniques, even with a client who has already made a great deal of progress, as well as a client who appears to be resistant. I also appreciate your ability to continually model ‘checking your ego at the door’ and opening my ability to be able to disarm and agree in a genuine manner!”
– Annette Tucker | Red Deer, AB | April 8 – 11, 2015

 

“Dr. Burns’ workshop was inspirational. The techniques and methods he presented will be instrumental in working with my clients. This was a fantastic learning experience!”
– Nicola Rimke | Red Deer, AB | April 8 – 11, 2015