Worry & “What If” Questions

On March 5, 2012, in CBT, ERP, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, OCD - General, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.
Anxiety, Worry, & What If Questions

If you have anxiety, it’s likely that you wrestle with worry and “what if” questions. Many what if questions are easily recognizable and start with the obvious, “What if…?” Others are more subtle and begin with phrases like “How am I ever going to…?”

By definition, what if questions …  (read more)

Does Non-Avoidance = Exposure? No! Anxiety Disorder Treatment Principles for OCD, Panic, Social Anxiety, & Phobias.

On November 29, 2011, in CBT, ERP, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Anxiety Principle of the Day: Non-Avoidance is not equivalent to exposure.

Although exposure is predicated upon the purposeful non-avoidance of anxiety-related stimuli, non-avoidance of anxiety triggers is not equivalent to exposure.

What is non-avoidance?

I liken non-avoidance to being in a particular place at a particular time. Essentially, it involves being in a situation in …  (read more)

Exposure Therapy’s Most Common Mistake: All Eggs in the Habituation Basket

On November 4, 2011, in CBT, ERP, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Many people have an incomplete understanding of exposure therapy

…be it exposure and response prevention (ERP) for OCD, intentional mistake practice for social anxiety, or interoceptive exposures for panic disorder…

This is true for exposure newbies, seasoned exposure veterans, and even some good CBT therapists.

This limited understanding is based on the following flawed …  (read more)

OCD Treatment (ERP & CBT): Exposure & Cognitive Restructuring

On September 15, 2011, in CBT, ERP, OCD, OCD - Treatment, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Question: To what extent would a change of mindset (e.g., changing my expectations for myself) be helpful in recovering from OCD? What is likely to happen if I delay formal treatment with a psychologist and work instead on changing my own mindset?

OCD Treatment Components: Cognitive Restructuring + Exposures

Regardless of whether or not it …  (read more)

OCD Treatment: OCD vs. Me. How do I Tell the Difference?

On September 14, 2011, in CBT, ERP, OCD, OCD - Treatment, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Question: Because many of my OCD rituals are related to my professional identity, I’m worried that changing my rituals will somehow change those parts of me that I like (e.g., my personal goals and ambitions). Should I be concerned about this?

Early Onset OCD in Kids & Teens (Pediatric OCD)

Many people worry that by …  (read more)

Fear, Doubt, Uncertainty, ERP, & the Monster Under the Bed

On September 1, 2011, in CBT, ERP, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Everyone I know has, at some point, had to deal with the monster under the bed.

Some do it with grace. Others falter.

I’ve always been clumsy.

I can vividly recall many terrified nights from my childhood, when I would lie rigidly in my bed, utterly paralyzed by fear. Afraid to make the slightest movement, …  (read more)

Social Anxiety Treatment: CBT & Intentional Mistake Practice (an example)

On August 29, 2011, in CBT, Social Anxiety, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

When I was a kid, one form of mischief that was briefly popular in my neighborhood was crank calling strangers. Usually, the bravest kid in the group would pick up the phone, and with the encouragement of all the other kids in the room, would dial a random telephone number. A brief, very Bart Simpson-esque …  (read more)

Therapy as Science: You + Your Therapist + Scientific Method

On August 23, 2011, in CBT, General, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

I consider myself a scientist.  I wear this hat officially when conducting research, but I also wear it every time I sit with a patient.  In my research, my science is pretty self-evident: I identify a research question, develop falsifiable hypotheses, and then collect quantifiable data to see whether or not the phenomenon I’m studying …  (read more)

The Power of Being Selfish: Selfishness as a Key to Mental Health

On August 22, 2011, in CBT, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

I’m about to tell you something that your mother might not approve of…so for those of you sensitive souls out there, you might want to click on something less controversial.

Here it is:

It’s okay (and sometimes even essential!) to be a little bit selfish.

Conventional wisdom, and our parents, often tell us …  (read more)

Specific phobias: symptoms & CBT treatment (reader question)

On May 22, 2011, in CBT, Phobias, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Question: Basically, I wanted to know from an expert, what can a phobia do to a person? How does it affect them mentally? Also I see that you’ve got a new treatment philosophy — is there any way you can talk me through it?

One of the goals of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is to …  (read more)

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