CBT for anxiety Flashcards
What is the primary focus of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety?
Changing both cognitive patterns and behavior
CBT is evidence-based and addresses irrational beliefs and maladaptive behaviors contributing to anxiety.
Name a key technique used in CBT for anxiety.
- Exposure therapy
- Cognitive restructuring
- Behavioral experiments
- Attention training
These techniques are designed to address various aspects of anxiety disorders.
What characterizes Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
Worry about numerous ‘what if’ scenarios
GAD often involves excessive anxiety and worry about various aspects of life.
Define phobias in the context of anxiety disorders.
Specific, intense fears of objects or situations
Common examples include fear of spiders or heights.
What is the purpose of exposure therapy?
Reduces anxiety by helping individuals confront their fears in a controlled repeated and structured away
It is especially effective for phobias, social anxiety, and panic disorders.
What does ‘graded exposure’ refer to in exposure therapy?
Starting with less anxiety-provoking situations and gradually moving to more challenging ones
This approach helps build tolerance to feared situations.
What is cognitive restructuring?
A technique that addresses irrational and unhelpful thoughts fueling anxiety
Clients learn to see situations more accurately and less fearfully.
What key questions are used in cognitive restructuring?
- What evidence supports this belief?
- What evidence contradicts it?
- Is there an alternative way to view this situation?
- What is the realistic worst-case scenario?
These questions help challenge negative beliefs.
What is the purpose of downward arrowing in CBT?
Helps clients understand the deeper fears driving their anxiety
It reveals the worst-case scenarios they imagine.
How does attention training benefit individuals with anxiety?
Teaches clients to redirect focus to neutral or positive aspects of their surroundings
This can reduce the reinforcement of fearful beliefs.
What is a behavioral experiment in CBT?
Tests the accuracy of anxious beliefs by providing real-life experiences that challenge these fears
It helps clients observe outcomes that contradict their beliefs.
Fill in the blank: Worry is a thought pattern focused on __________ scenarios about the future.
[what if]
CBT helps clients break the ‘worry chain’ by recognizing and stopping excessive worrying.
Identify a maintenance process that reinforces Anita’s anxiety.
- Avoidance behavior
- Safety behaviors
- Hypervigilance and sensation monitoring
- Reassurance-seeking
These processes prevent her from challenging her fears.
What is the goal of psychoeducation in CBT?
Educate clients about their anxiety disorder and how their behaviors reinforce their fears
Understanding the CBT model helps clients see the link between thoughts, behaviors, and anxiety.
What challenge might a therapist face when treating Anita?
Resistance to exposure
This can be addressed by emphasizing small steps and providing encouragement.
