A Case of Social Anxiety
Category: Stress Issues
Author: Leanne Chapman
Sasha is a 60 year old woman who has recently retired from a career in teaching. Working for many years in a secondary school environment, Sasha was confident, motivated and dedicated to her work, but at the same time looking forward to retirement so she and her husband could travel and spend more time with their adult children who lived nearby.
However upon finishing work, Sasha found herself experiencing severe anxiety, particularly when around other people, and began not wanting to leave the house or invite people into the house. She also experienced bouts of crying when attempting to complete tasks such as housework and using the sewing machine. Sasha found her symptoms eased when she and her husband went on camping trips in national parks where they often did not see other people for days.
While working with Sasha, the Professional Counsellor adopts strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Gestalt frameworks in order to address any irrational thoughts and behaviours which may be maintaining Sasha’s anxiety, and to complete any unfinished business which may have led to the development of her anxieties in the first place.
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February 17th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I found this article useful especially as it illustrates how effective forms of CBT can be in regard to treating anxiety. I thought the model used (ABC of Emotional Disturbance) was Albert Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy. I think CBT and the ABC of Emotional Disturbance is sometimes attributed to the work of Beck and others. I have always understood that this was Ellis’ creation.
Thanks again for a very helpful article.