The Obstacle is the Path: Overcoming Blocks to Homework Assignments in a Complex Presentation of Depression

There is increasing evidence to demonstrate that clients who complete homework assignments have a better outcome in cognitive therapy (Kazantzis, Deane, & Ronan, 2000). Most clinicians recognize that enabling clients to effectively utilize homework can be a major task in itself, particularly with disorders such as depression, where individuals find even the simplest daily tasks daunting. This article begins by highlighting the problem of changing any pattern of activity, and then explores the difficulties of engaging clients in homework when they present with persistent depression with secondary anxiety features.