Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

What does cognitive behavioural therapy involve?

Cognitive behavoural therapy says that how you think affects how you feel, and that your emotions influence your behaviour. Therefore if you think realistic, helpful thoughts you mood will be better and you will function better.

The below example of someone who fears public speaking illustrates the interaction between thoughts, physical symptoms and behaviour.

"This is going to be a disaster. I'm hopeless at public speaking. I'll blush and sweat, everyone will see I'm anxious and think I'm an idiot"

You start to sweat and your heart begins to pound

"I feel so anxious, I must look really anxious, I'll make a total fool of myself"

You sweat even more profusely, your chest feels like its about to explode

"I can't do this. I've got to escape"

You leave the building and as you walk away your anxiety subsides

"I'm a loser. Everyone else can do public speaking"

A cognitive behavioural psychologist will ask what social or performance situations are anxiety provoking for you. The therapist will then want to know what you think and do in these situations.

The therapist will help you to:

• identify your unhelpful thoughts and beliefs

• evaluate the evidence for and against your thoughts and beliefs

• create more realistic statements you can say to yourself when anticipating or confronting feared social situations as these will decrease the degree of anxiety you experience

• devise a plan for gradually exposing yourself to your feared social or performance situations.

The therapist will also help you to identify your problematic behaviours (e.g. poor eye contact, fidgeting, mumbling) and give you stategies to help you cope with your physical symptoms of anxiety Your therapist may provide and/or recommend books, handouts, videos etc as part of treatment

Cognitive behavioural therapy encompasses:

• Education about anxiety

• Cognitive therapy

• Exposure therapy (both imaginal and 'real life' situations)

• Relaxation training

• Slow breathing

Cognitive behavioural therapy may also be used to work on social anxiety sufferers low self esteem and lack of assertiveness, however, not everyone with social anxiety needs to work on their self esteem and/or assertiveness. Your therapist is also likely to recommend physical exercise and attention to nutrition & lifestyle Issues.

• Find a psychologist near you

1. That any information contained on this site is not provided as an alternative to the obtaining of psychological advice from a duly qualified practitioner and is only provided by way of a general overview of the topics covered.

2. That this site provides (1) links to other websites and (2) details of other practitioners, support groups and organisations providing psychological and medical treatments and therapies, and by proceeding with access you accept that the host of this site makes no representation as to the accuracy or suitability of the information and/or treatment provided by such other websites, practitioners, support groups and organisations.

3. That any information contained on this site is for personal use only and information and materials on this site are not to be reproduced without prior permission from Shyness and Social Anxiety Treatment Australia.
   NOTE: The clipart on this site belongs to Microsoft, they have all rights to it.

4. That any person accessing this site shall have no right to seek any compensation for any loss or damage from any party associated with the site howsoever occasioned.

5. Shyness and Social Anxiety Treatment Australia does not consider email counselling/advice to be an adequate substitute for face to face counselling. If you email www.socialanxietyassist.com.au you accept that the reliability and security limitations of internet technology limits confidentiality.

Shyness & Social Anxiety Treatment Australia provides information on social phobia, the treatment options, psychologists who treat social anxiety, group therapy and workshops, support groups, articles, children and social anxiety, famous sufferers, and links to other sites.

Disclaimer

Home