Essential CBT Skills for Anxiety

Dr. Maurice Prout, a full professor and director of the Respecialization Program at Widener University, also serves as coordinator of the school's Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy concentration. Dr. Maurice Prout has taught numerous graduate courses on Cognitive/Behavioral therapy and maintains a particular clinical interest in the treatment of stress and anxiety disorders.

Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a skills-based model that helps clients cope with mental and emotional challenges. It requires the individual to examine his or her thought patterns, identify those that are destructive, and build alternative strategies. Patients with anxiety disorders often find this method beneficial in recognizing when worry and stress have reached unhealthy levels.

Clients in CBT learn to tolerate worry and rumination rather than blocking these thoughts out, which tends to intensify the stress. By waiting for thoughts to pass on their own, CBT clients can more effectively strategize problem solving and make more mindful choices. In addition, by helping clients to develop positive self-thoughts and replace negative perceptions, CBT helps people with anxiety to avoid dwelling on doubt and trust their abilities to fight worry patterns.