This is a client workbook for those in treatment or considering treatment for social anxiety. This program has met the American Psychological Association's Division 12 Task Force criteria for empirically-supported treatments. Clients will learn how social anxiety interferes with the achievement of life goals. The workbook includes information about a variety of interventions, such as exposure, cognitive re-framing, and medication.
Debra A. Hope is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has published over 110 books and papers on topics related to social anxiety, cognitive-behavioral treatment, dissemination of evidence-based treatments and the mental health impacts of stigma on gender and sexual minorities. Professor Hope is Past President of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and past Associate Editor of Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice and Cognitive Therapy and Research.
If you are not from the field (i.e. not a psychologist or therapist) but still interested in social anxiety treatment, this book might help you in spite of its professional scheme. I was reading an academic article on working with a sexual minority person who was diagnosed with social anxiety and I saw that the psychologists were referring to the practices in this book. The book becomes more meaningful when you apply the practices. If you are interested in self therapy, you need to act with self discipline and show dedication to record your anxiety levels by time, then you need to compare your stress levels statistically. The theory is accessible but routine awareness and continuous registry of my own social anxiety and stress levels weren't always easy. I can say that it helped even though I was not totally dedicated to follow the practices gradually.
This book does a great job of defining social anxiety disorder (and how it is distinguished from everyday anxiety), and setting out steps for getting help and breaking the cycle of anxiety.
Many of the exercises are surprisingly challenging, but they're worthwhile. I've experienced a notable reduction in my anxiety while working through them.
The book is designed to be used in conjunction with a therapy environment (one-on-one or group), and I would highly recommend using it in that manner. But I think it's still accessible and worthwhile for someone who isn't sure how to reach out for help, or who hasn't yet had luck finding an understanding health professional.
This book contains a lot of usefull information. Particularly I liked the following: 1. activities to do after an exposure. Help to monitor your progress and motivate for further accomplishments; 2. Its monitoring methods. I found monitoring your level of depression and anxiety really motivating; 3. Detailed explanation about creating exposure hierarchy.
The negative sides of this book are: 1. The program suggested by authors is not clear enough; 2. The book offers several cognitive restructuring questions, instead of particular techniques as other authors do.
Nicely organized and engaging "real-world" examples. Worksheets were clear. Would have liked more relaxation exercises for client to bring into exposures and to help manage physical symptoms of anxiety