Role Play - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Summary

In this session, Kylie discusses her anxiety about social situations at work, particularly a mandatory staff gathering. She describes automatic negative thoughts, such as believing she is boring and uninteresting to others. The therapist introduces cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to challenge these thoughts and explore more balanced perspectives. By reflecting on past social interactions, Kylie realizes that external factors, not just her behavior, contribute to these feelings. She develops strategies to manage her anxiety, including seeking support from colleagues, and feels more empowered to attend the event. The session emphasizes awareness of automatic thoughts and coping with anxiety in social settings.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kylie's anxiety is triggered by social situations, particularly when she is required to attend work-related events, such as staff get-togethers.
• 😀 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is introduced as a method to explore and challenge Kylie's automatic negative thoughts and emotional responses.
• 😀 Kylie's automatic thought when receiving the staff event email is that she is boring and uninteresting, which exacerbates her social anxiety.
• 😀 The therapist uses physical sensations (like butterflies in the tummy) and thoughts (such as avoiding conversation) to identify patterns in Kylie's anxiety.
• 😀 The idea of socializing at work triggers Kylie's fear of being judged negatively by others, which she anticipates when people approach her for conversation.
• 😀 Kylie's initial response to anxiety is to seek an escape, such as looking for an exit or thinking of calling in sick to avoid the event.
• 😀 The therapist helps Kylie reflect on past situations where she felt her conversations ended abruptly, urging her to explore alternative reasons for these outcomes (e.g., people being busy).
• 😀 Kylie begins to recognize that her belief that she is boring may not always be accurate and that external factors can explain people's behavior in social situations.
• 😀 The therapist encourages Kylie to practice identifying her automatic thoughts and challenge them with more rational and balanced perspectives.
• 😀 By the end of the session, Kylie feels more empowered, realizing that she doesn't need to call in sick and can manage her anxiety by using the support of colleagues and adjusting her thinking.

Q & A

What is the main issue Kylie is facing at work?

Kylie is experiencing significant anxiety in social situations, particularly in work-related events where she feels overwhelmed by the idea of interacting with colleagues.

How does Kylie feel when she first receives the email about the staff get-together?

Kylie feels anxious as soon as she receives the email, experiencing physical sensations like butterflies in her stomach and immediately thinking about avoiding the event by calling in sick.

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and how is it being applied here?

CBT is a therapeutic approach that explores the relationship between thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. In this case, it’s being applied to help Kylie identify and challenge her automatic thoughts (such as thinking she is boring) to reduce anxiety and adopt more balanced perspectives.

What automatic thoughts does Kylie experience when faced with social interactions?

Kylie immediately believes that she is boring, that others will find her uninteresting, and that people will judge her negatively when they interact with her.

How does Kylie react physically when she feels anxious in social situations?

Kylie experiences physical symptoms of anxiety, such as butterflies in her stomach, and tends to look for an exit, such as finding a bathroom or wanting to call in sick to avoid the event.

What kind of evidence does Kylie have that supports her belief that she is boring?

Kylie recalls situations where colleagues briefly acknowledge her but then leave, which she interprets as a sign that she is boring or uninteresting.

What alternative explanations are offered for the situations where people leave after interacting with Kylie?

Kylie is encouraged to consider that people may leave the conversation not because they find her boring, but because they are busy, need to get back to work, or are pressed for time.

How does Kylie start to reframe her automatic thoughts during the session?

Kylie begins to recognize that there may be other reasons for people’s actions, such as being busy or needing to return to work, rather than assuming they find her boring. This shift helps her view situations more rationally.

What is Kylie’s plan for managing her anxiety about the upcoming staff event?

Kylie plans to attend the event with her colleagues who are aware of her anxiety, which would provide her with a support system. She also considers talking to her colleagues about her social anxiety to make the situation more manageable.

How does Kylie feel after discussing her anxiety and possible solutions with the therapist?

Kylie feels slightly more relieved and less overwhelmed by the idea of the event. She recognizes that she doesn’t need to call in sick and that with the right support, she can manage her anxiety more effectively.