29 Homework
Purpose: Reduce anxiety by confronting fears and avoidance through daily worry exposure, continuing to challenge automatic thoughts, and practicing structured problem-solving and relaxation skills.
Part 1. Worry Exposure Practice
- Daily imaginal exposure with relaxation, progressing through worry list items from least to most anxiety-provoking.
Part 2. Scheduled Relaxation
- Continue daily PMR or equivalent relaxation strategies.
Part 3. Thought & Worry Records
- Continue tracking automatic thoughts, adaptive responses, and anxiety triggers.
Part 4. Therapy Journal
- Reflect on insights, particularly avoidance vs. approach behaviors.
Part 5. Prepare for Next Session
- Workbook Reading: Preview Session 7 material.
- Monitoring: Record anxiety levels pre- and post-exposure; track changes in avoidance behaviors.
Optional Reflection:
- Consider: How does Maggie’s conversation with her mother, along with her willingness to face feared situations rather than avoid them, illustrate the therapeutic impact of exposure, emotional honesty, and cognitive restructuring in breaking longstanding anxiety and avoidance patterns?
