Narrative Therapy Role-Play - Externalizing the Problem - Excessive Worry

Summary

In this conversation, a person expresses anxiety about their responsibilities at work, particularly regarding hiring decisions. They discuss their tendency to worry and how it affects their confidence. The counselor suggests reframing the worry as an external entity rather than part of their identity. They work together to develop strategies for challenging these anxious thoughts, with the person planning to apply this new approach in an upcoming hiring task. The conversation focuses on managing stress and building self-assurance in professional roles.

Takeaways

• 😟 The speaker is feeling anxious and under pressure due to work-related responsibilities.
• 💼 The speaker works in HR and is concerned about hiring the right people for the company.
• 🤔 The speaker worries about making the wrong hiring decisions, which could negatively impact the company and their job security.
• 😰 The speaker has a history of worrying and tends to second-guess their judgment.
• 👥 The speaker is one of the main people responsible for hiring and feels a lot of responsibility for the company's future.
• 🧐 The speaker is asked to consider the worry as an external entity that is trying to lower their confidence and judgment.
• 🧠 The speaker acknowledges that they have been doing well in their job so far, despite the worry.
• 🔄 The speaker is encouraged to reframe their worry by treating it as something external, rather than internal.
• 💪 The speaker is advised to challenge the thoughts of worry when they arise, using evidence of their past performance.
• 📅 The speaker plans to apply this new approach during their next hiring event, which is scheduled for next Wednesday.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed by the individual in the transcript?

The individual is feeling anxious and worried due to the pressure of hiring the right people for their company as a member of the HR team.

What specific event is causing the individual's anxiety?

The individual is anxious about an upcoming event next week where they need to hire people for their company.

Why is the hiring process particularly stressful for this person?

The hiring process is stressful because there is a lot resting on their judgment, and they are worried about making wrong decisions that could negatively impact the company.

What has happened in the past that has contributed to this person's current worry?

In the past, someone else in the company hired the wrong people, which led to issues and that person getting into trouble, causing the individual to worry about repeating the same mistake.

How does the individual describe their general attitude towards worrying?

The individual describes themselves as a worrier, worrying about everything and identifying as a 'warrior' due to this constant state of worry.

What strategy is suggested to help the individual cope with their worry?

The strategy suggested is to reframe worry as a separate entity, external to oneself, and to challenge the thoughts that worry introduces rather than identifying with them.

What is the individual's current role in the company's hiring process?

The individual is a key member of the HR team, often relied upon to hire the most people for the company.

How does the individual's past performance in hiring reflect on their ability to make good decisions?

The individual's past performance suggests they have done a good job in hiring, as they are trusted by the company to be a primary decision-maker in the hiring process.

What evidence does the individual have that suggests they are capable of making good hiring decisions?

The individual has successfully hired people who have been worthwhile to the company, and they are trusted by their bosses to continue doing so.

What is the next step for the individual in terms of applying the reframing strategy?

The next step is to apply the reframing strategy during the next interview session, which is scheduled for the following Wednesday.

What is the individual's plan after trying the reframing strategy?

The individual plans to meet with the person they are speaking to in a week to discuss how the reframing strategy worked and to build upon it.