---
title: "7 Therapist Quotes By David D. Burns"
description: "7 Therapist quotes by David D. Burns. Plus more from David D. Burns and more Therapist sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/david-d-burns-4607_been_what-saddens-me-is-seeing-patients-who-h_451320.jpg"
---

> [What saddens me is seeing patients who have been going to therapy for years and years with no change, but they keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/what-saddens-me-is-seeing-patients-who-have-been-going-to-therapy-for/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/david-d-burns-4607_been_what-saddens-me-is-seeing-patients-who-h_451320.jpg)

> [I'm all for 'tools,' not 'schools,' of therapy. To me, the schools of therapy compete much like religions, or even cults, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/i-m-all-for-tools-not-schools-of-therapy-to-me-the-schools-of-therapy/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/david-d-burns-4607_best_i-m-all-for-tools-not-schools-of-therapy_1195925.jpg)

> [Most therapists do not appear to know how to pinpoint and reverse therapeutic resistance - to head it off at the pass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-therapists-do-not-appear-to-know-how-to-pinpoint-and-reverse/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/david-d-burns-4607_appear_most-therapists-do-not-appear-to-know-ho_1253856.jpg)

> [Learning to accept failure on multiple levels is, to my way of thinking, the key to become a world-class therapist. But that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/learning-to-accept-failure-on-multiple-levels-is-to-my-way-of/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/david-d-burns-4607_accept_learning-to-accept-failure-on-multiple-l_1508557.png)

> [There is no standard 'therapeutic process,' since there are so many different schools of therapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/there-is-no-standard-therapeutic-process-since-there-are-so-many/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/david-d-burns-4607_different_there-is-no-standard-therapeutic-process_1515117.png)

> [“One of the most important tasks of any therapist is to help depressed patients find the courage and determination to resist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/one-of-the-most-important-tasks-of-any-therapist-is-to-help-depressed/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/david-d-burns-4607_courage_one-of-the-most-important-tasks-of-any-t_1917214.jpg)

> [There is no 'ultimate goal of therapy.' Thinking there is some ultimate or universal goal of therapy is one of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/there-is-no-ultimate-goal-of-therapy-thinking-there-is-some-ultimate/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/david-d-burns-4607_arrogant_there-is-no-ultimate-goal-of-therapy-thi_2192152.png)

## Other authors on Therapist

## More by David D. Burns

> [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy-is-that-all-your-moods-are/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“In one sense, depression can feel even worse than cancer, because most cancer patients feel hope as well as self-esteem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/in-one-sense-depression-can-feel-even-worse-than-cancer-because-most/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [More often than not, the belief that you are bad contributes to the "bad" behavior. Change and learning occur most readily when you (a)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/more-often-than-not-the-belief-that-you-are-bad-contributes-to-the/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Guilt is not the best way to remedy your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/guilt-is-not-the-best-way-to-remedy-your-mistakes/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [I had the fear of heights when I was young, along with many other fears and phobias, including the fear of dogs, bees, horses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/i-had-the-fear-of-heights-when-i-was-young-along-with-many-other/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“The attitude that depression is necessary strikes me as destructive, inhuman, and victimizing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-attitude-that-depression-is-necessary-strikes-me-as-destructive/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“know about the brain's hardware and software. How does the firing of a nerve or a series of nerves get translated into a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/know-about-the-brain-s-hardware-and-software-how-does-the-firing-of-a/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“There was nothing dreadfully wrong with me, I was just upsetting myself with my irrational thinking. I just couldn't admit it until I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/there-was-nothing-dreadfully-wrong-with-me-i-was-just-upsetting/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/aim-for-success-not-perfection-never-give-up-your-right-to-be-wrong/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“And most important, nobody could love or relate to you. It would be impossible to feel any love for someone who was flawless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/and-most-important-nobody-could-love-or-relate-to-you-it-would-be/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Negative thinking patterns can be immensely deceptive and persuasive, and change is rarely easy. But with patience and persistence, I believe that nearly all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/negative-thinking-patterns-can-be-immensely-deceptive-and-persuasive/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“Many research studies, as well as my own clinical experience, have confirmed that severely depressed patients who appear very "biologically" depressed with lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/many-research-studies-as-well-as-my-own-clinical-experience-have/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can't accept your imperfections, that's their fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/assert-your-right-to-make-a-few-mistakes-if-people-can-t-accept-your/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

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