Use Imagery to Explore Thoughts
In this video, Dr. Nina Josefowitz uses the first five columns of a thought record (commonly used in cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]) to help her socially anxious client understand her reaction when her cousin asked her out for coffee and she was too anxious to accept. Dr. Josefowitz and the client, Charlotte, use the Understand Your Reaction worksheet from CBT Made Simple.
First, they identify Charlotte’s feelings, physical reactions, and behaviors. But Charlotte has trouble identifying her thoughts. Dr. Josefowitz helps Charlotte identify her thoughts by using imagery to take her back to the original situation. She also demonstrates how to use clients’ images of themselves to identify their thoughts.