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Social Anxiety Case Study in College Student

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17 views3 pages

Social Anxiety Case Study in College Student

case study

Uploaded by

ashay_spam
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Certainly!

Here's another distinct case study for counseling psychology that you
can use:

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**Case Study: Addressing Social Anxiety in a College Student**

**Client Overview:**
Name: Priya
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Occupation: College Student (Final Year)

**Presenting Problem:**
Priya, a 21-year-old college student in her final year, sought counseling for
intense social anxiety, particularly in academic and social settings. She reported
feeling nervous and self-conscious when speaking in class, interacting with peers,
or attending social events. This anxiety led her to avoid situations where she
might be the center of attention, and she feared being judged negatively by others.
As a result, Priya began skipping classes and avoiding group projects, which
negatively affected her academic performance.

**Background Information:**
Priya described herself as a shy and introverted person since childhood. She always
struggled with speaking in front of others and felt discomfort in large groups.
However, in her earlier years, the anxiety was manageable, and she performed well
academically. In college, the pressure of presentations, group assignments, and
socializing with classmates made her anxiety worse. She felt that her self-esteem
had been steadily declining, and she began to believe that others saw her as
incompetent or awkward.

Priya’s family is supportive, but she rarely discussed her anxiety with them,
fearing they would not understand. She has a few close friends but avoids large
social gatherings. Priya is highly motivated to succeed academically but feels her
anxiety is now a significant obstacle to her goals.

**Counselling Sessions:**

1. **Initial Session:**
In the first session, Priya opened up about her social anxiety and how it was
affecting her daily life. The counselor used active listening and empathic
responses, helping Priya feel understood. She expressed a desire to overcome her
fears but was unsure of where to start. The counselor reassured her that social
anxiety is a common issue and that with appropriate strategies, her anxiety could
be managed.

2. **Assessment:**
The counselor conducted an assessment using the *Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)*
to gauge the severity of Priya’s social anxiety. The results indicated that she was
experiencing moderate to severe levels of social anxiety, particularly in
situations where she had to perform or interact with unfamiliar people.
Additionally, the counselor assessed her self-esteem using the *Rosenberg Self-
Esteem Scale* and found that her self-perception was lower than average.

3. **Goal Setting:**
Together, Priya and the counselor set the following goals for therapy:
- Reduce social anxiety in academic and social settings.
- Increase confidence in public speaking and group interactions.
- Develop coping strategies for managing anxiety in social situations.
- Improve self-esteem and self-perception.

4. **Intervention Techniques:**
- **Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT):** The counselor introduced Priya to CBT
to address her negative thought patterns. Through the *cognitive restructuring*
technique, Priya was encouraged to identify and challenge her automatic thoughts,
such as “I will embarrass myself” or “Everyone is judging me.” The counselor guided
Priya in developing more balanced thoughts, such as “I can make mistakes, and it's
okay” or “Most people are focused on their own concerns.”

- **Exposure Therapy:** To help Priya confront her fears, the counselor


introduced *graded exposure*. Priya created a list of anxiety-provoking situations,
from mildly stressful to highly stressful, and was encouraged to gradually expose
herself to these situations, starting with the least anxiety-inducing. For
instance, she began by participating in small group discussions in class and worked
her way up to delivering a short presentation. Each successful exposure helped
reduce her fear and avoidance.

- **Social Skills Training:** The counselor provided Priya with *assertiveness


training* to improve her communication skills. Role-playing exercises were used to
practice initiating conversations, expressing opinions, and maintaining eye contact
in social settings. These sessions helped Priya feel more equipped to handle social
interactions with confidence.

- **Relaxation Techniques:** Priya was taught relaxation techniques such as


*deep breathing* and *progressive muscle relaxation* to manage the physical
symptoms of anxiety (e.g., rapid heartbeat, sweating) when they arose in social
situations. She practiced these techniques before anxiety-inducing events to help
her remain calm.

5. **Building Self-Esteem:**
The counselor worked on improving Priya’s self-esteem through *self-compassion
exercises* and *positive affirmations*. Priya was encouraged to keep a journal
where she wrote down her achievements, positive qualities, and moments of courage.
This exercise helped her develop a more positive self-image and gradually shifted
her focus from perceived failures to successes.

6. **Family Involvement:**
In one session, Priya invited her mother to join. This provided a space for
Priya to express how her anxiety had been affecting her and allowed her mother to
offer emotional support. Her mother’s understanding and encouragement reinforced
Priya’s efforts in therapy.

7. **Progress and Outcome:**


Over the course of 10 sessions, Priya made noticeable progress. She reported
feeling more confident during class discussions and was able to complete a group
project without excessive worry. Priya successfully delivered a short presentation,
something she had previously thought impossible. Her self-esteem improved, and she
began to view herself as capable and competent. Priya also started attending social
events, engaging in conversations, and building new friendships.

**Conclusion:**
Priya’s case illustrates how CBT, exposure therapy, and social skills training can
be effectively used to address social anxiety in college students. Through
counseling, Priya was able to confront her fears, improve her communication skills,
and build self-confidence. She developed healthy coping mechanisms that helped her
manage anxiety in both academic and social contexts, ultimately enhancing her
overall well-being.
---

This case study demonstrates the application of evidence-based techniques for


managing social anxiety, a common issue faced by many young adults, particularly in
academic settings.

Common questions

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Cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy complement each other in treating social anxiety by targeting both cognitive and behavioral aspects. Cognitive restructuring helps Priya identify and challenge negative automatic thoughts, fostering more balanced and positive thinking. Exposure therapy provides a practical approach to address behavioral avoidance by gradually exposing her to feared situations. Together, they decrease anxiety through cognitive change and habituation to anxiety-inducing scenarios .

Priya's progress is indicated by her increased confidence in class discussions, completion of a group project without excessive worry, successful delivery of a presentation, and participation in social events and conversations. Therapy contributed to these outcomes by providing strategies for anxiety management through CBT, graded exposure, social skills training, and relaxation techniques, fostering her ability to confront fears and improve self-esteem .

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) benefited Priya by helping her identify and challenge negative automatic thoughts associated with social anxiety, like 'I will embarrass myself.' Through cognitive restructuring, Priya developed more balanced thoughts, such as 'I can make mistakes, and it's okay.' This transformation enabled her to reduce feelings of anxiety in social situations, boosting her confidence .

The overall effectiveness of Priya's treatment plan is evident through her significant social and academic improvements. Critical elements included personalized cognitive and exposure therapies, targeted social skills training, self-esteem enhancement, and family involvement. To enhance the approach, ongoing support and possibly integrating group therapy could further bolster social confidence and provide additional peer feedback and encouragement .

The case study of Priya illustrates several effective therapeutic techniques for managing social anxiety in college students, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy through graded exposure, social skills training via assertiveness training, and relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation. Additionally, self-esteem was improved through self-compassion exercises and positive affirmations .

Improving self-esteem was significant in Priya's therapy as it helped combat her negative self-perception. Specific activities included self-compassion exercises and positive affirmations. Priya was encouraged to maintain a journal of achievements and positive qualities, which shifted her focus from perceived failures to successes. This gradually enhanced her self-image and supported her ability to tackle social anxiety .

The initial assessment process involved using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) to measure the severity of Priya's social anxiety and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to assess her self-esteem. The results showed moderate to severe social anxiety and lower-than-average self-perception, guiding the therapy sessions to focus on reducing social anxiety, increasing confidence in public settings, and improving self-esteem .

Involving Priya's family, particularly her mother, in therapy sessions had a positive influence on her treatment outcomes. It provided a platform for Priya to express how her anxiety affected her life, while allowing her mother to offer emotional support and understanding. This family involvement reinforced Priya's efforts in therapy and contributed to her progress in managing anxiety .

Social skills training significantly contributed to Priya's progress by equipping her with essential communication skills. The training involved assertiveness training, where Priya practiced initiating conversations, expressing opinions, and maintaining eye contact through role-playing exercises. This practice enabled her to handle social interactions more confidently, ultimately reducing her social anxiety and helping her build new friendships .

Exposure therapy played a crucial role in Priya's treatment by providing a structured way for her to confront her fears gradually. By creating a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking situations, Priya could start with less stressful scenarios and progressively face more challenging ones. Each successful exposure reduced her fear and avoidance, as demonstrated by her ability to deliver a presentation and engage in group projects, activities she once avoided due to anxiety .

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