Solution Focused Anxiety Management

Preface

Companion Website and Materials That can be Duplicated Freely

Overview of the Book

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. What Is Solution Focused Anxiety Management, and How Is It Different from Other Approaches?

The Solution-focused Perspective

Methods in Solution-focused Therapy

Attitudes in Solution-focused Therapy

Strategic Solution Focused Therapy

The Evolution of Solution Focused Anxiety Management

How Is Solution Focused Anxiety Management Similar to and Different from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety?

How Is Solution Focused Anxiety Management Similar to and Different from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety?

The Strategic Component

What Makes This Program “Solution-Focused”?

Why Is This Program Presented as a Class?

How Does This Approach Fit with Evidence-based Treatment?

Chapter 2. Conducting a Solution Focused Anxiety Management Class: “The Nuts and the Bolts”

How Is This Program Similar to and Different from Group Therapy?

What about Medication?

How to Use This Information If You Are Teaching or Preparing to Teach a Solution Focused Anxiety Management Class

How to Describe the Program and Invite Participants

Challenges Encountered and Managing Them

How to Use This Information If You Are a Therapist Who Sees People Individually

How to Use This Information If You Are Taking a Solution Focused Anxiety Management Class

How to use this Information If You Are Not Taking a Solution Focused Anxiety Management Class and Would Like to Learn this Material on Your Own

Chapter 3. Instructor Notes for Topic One: Physical Reactions and Coping Techniques

Welcome and Introduction

Physical Reactions and Coping Techniques

An Interesting Perspective

Suggestions for Practice

End of Session Form and Feedback

Chapter 4. Instructor Notes for Topic Two: Behavioral Techniques

Welcome and Introduction

Behavioral Techniques

Exposure and Habituation

The Commonsense and the Counterintuitive

Courage Ladders

Tools for Panic Attacks

Tools for “Obsessions and Compulsions”

Tools for Social Situations

Tools for “Worry”

Write, Read, and Shred

Tools for Anxiety about Medical Procedures

When “Pure” Exposure Isn’t Applicable

Being Anxious and Doing It Anyway

Discovering and Building on How You Learn

Building Courage Ladders

Suggestions for Practice

End of Session Form and Feedback

Chapter 5. Instructor Notes for Topic Three: Thinking Techniques

Welcome and Introduction

Thinking Coping Techniques

Suggestions for Practice

End of Session Form and Feedback

Chapter 6. Instructor Notes for Topic Four: Life Issues and Anxiety

Welcome and Introduction

Life Issues and Anxiety

The Pros and Cons of Managing Your Anxiety

I Can’t vs. I Don’t Want To

Assertion

Developmental Tasks

Suggestions for Practice

End of Session Form and Feedback

Chapter 7. Solution Focused Anxiety Management and Individual Therapy

Solution-focused Methods and Attitudes

Adding Psychoeducational Information to Individual Solution-focused Therapy

Brief Therapy Case Example: Sheila

Single Session Case Example: John

Intermittent Therapy with the Class: Pam

Cat Phobia: George

The Client as Expert

Tapping Resources for Growing Courage

Chapter 8. Appropriate Caution as an Ingredient of the Solution

Defensive Pessimism

Preference for the Routine: A Style, Not Psychopathology

Case Example: Appropriate Caution in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Case Example: “OCD Hoarding”

Case Example: “I’ve Always Been a Worrier”

Discussion of Appropriate Caution in the Solution Focused Anxiety Management Class

Chapter 9. Perspectives from the Solution-focused Community

Interview with Joel Simon, LCSW

Interview with Linda Metcalf, PhD, LMFT

Interview with Jay McKeel, MS

Interview with Frank Thomas, PhD, LMFT

Interview with Heather Fiske, PhD

Interview with Elliott Connie, MA, LPC

Interview with Yvonne Dolan, MA

Input from Other Solution-focused Colleagues

Emerging Themes and Author Commentary

Chapter 10. Concluding Questions: What Creates Change in Solution Focused Anxiety Management, and How Can We Do More of It?

Take-home Messages in a Solution Focused Anxiety Management Class

Second-order Change: A Possible Explanatory Factor

Solution-focused Practice: A Perspective That May Last for Generations

How Can We Build on What Works?

Appendix A. Learner Readings for Topic One: Physical Reactions and Coping Techniques

Physical Reactions

Coping Techniques

An Interesting Perspective

Suggestions for Practice

Appendix B. Learner Readings for Topic Two: Behavioral Techniques

Exposure and Habituation

The Commonsense and the Counterintuitive

Courage Ladders

Tools for Panic Attacks

Tools for “Obsessions and Compulsions”

Tools for Social Situations

Tools for “Worry”

Write, Read, and Shred

Tools for Anxiety about Medical Procedures

When “Pure” Exposure Isn’t Applicable

Being Anxious and Doing It Anyway

Discovering and Building on How You Learn

Building Your Courage Ladder

Suggestions for Practice

Appendix C. Learner Readings for Topic Three: Thinking Techniques

Thinking Techniques

Suggestions for Practice

Appendix D. Learner Readings for Topic Four: Life Issues and Anxiety

The Pros and Cons of Managing Your Anxiety

I Can’t Versus I Don’t Want To

Assertion

Developmental Tasks

Suggestions for Practice

References

Subject Index

Solution Focused Anxiety Management provides the clinician with evidence-based techniques to help clients manage anxiety. Cognitive behavioral and strategic tools, acceptance-based ideas, and mindfulness are introduced from a solution-focused perspective and tailored to client strengths and preferences.

The book presents the conceptual foundation, methods, and attitudes of a solution-focused approach. Case examples illustrate how to transform anxiety into the "Four Cs" (courage, coping, appropriate caution and choice). Readers learn how to utilize solution focused anxiety management in single-session, brief, and intermittent therapy as well as in a class setting.

The book additionally includes all materials needed for teaching solution focused anxiety management in a four-session psychoeducational class: complete instructor notes, learner readings, and companion online materials.

Special Features:

• Focuses on what works in anxiety management
• Presents evidenced based techniques from a solution-focused perspective
• Increases effectiveness by utilizing client strengths and preferences
• Describes applications in single session, brief, and intermittent therapy
• Supplies forms and worksheets for the therapist to use in practice
• Features clinically rich case examples
• Supplements text with online companion material
• Suitable for use as a treatment manual, reference, or course text

• Offers a solution-focused anxiety treatment
• Focuses on anxiety management, not "elimination"
• Translates the program to individual therapy
• Presents patient exercises and case examples
• Includes a guide for teaching/learning this therapeutic technique

Clinical psychologists and psychologists in training.