COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPHY ROLE-PLAY SCRIPT

A. COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING
Therapist: (Warmly greeting Cianna) Hi Cianna, it's good to see you again. How
have you been since our last session?

Cianna: (Sitting down with a sigh) Hi, thank you. I've been trying some of the
strategies we discussed, but I still find myself overwhelmed with anxiety,
especially at work.

Therapist: (Nodding empathetically) It's understandable that change takes time.

Today, I'd like to introduce a technique called cognitive restructuring to help us
address your anxiety. Are you open to trying it?

Cianna: (Curious but willing) Sure, I'm open to trying anything that might help.

Therapist: (Explaining) Great. Cognitive restructuring helps us challenge and

change unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. Can you share a recent
situation at work where you felt particularly anxious?

Cianna: (Reflecting for a moment) Well, yesterday we had a meeting where my

boss criticized my report, and immediately I started feeling like I wasn't good
enough. I couldn't stop thinking about it all day.

Therapist: (Encouraging) Let's break down that situation. What specific thoughts
were going through your mind during and after the meeting?

**Cianna:** (Thinking) I kept thinking, "I'm such a failure. My boss thinks I'm
incompetent. I'll never get this right."

Therapist: (Identifying cognitive distortions) These thoughts reflect common

cognitive distortions, like all-or-nothing thinking and labeling. How might you
reframe these thoughts more realistically?

Cianna: (Considering) Maybe I could think, "I made a mistake on this report, but it
doesn't define my abilities overall. I can learn from this feedback and improve."

Therapist: (Supportive) That's a great reframe. Now, imagine if a friend were in

the same situation. What advice would you give them to help them feel better?

Cianna: (Reflecting) I would tell them that everyone makes mistakes and it's
important to learn from them instead of being too hard on themselves.

Therapist: (Encouraging self-compassion) Exactly. Now, how does it feel to

reframe your thoughts in this way?

Cianna: (Thoughtfully) It feels more balanced, like I'm not putting all the blame on
myself and seeing things more realistically.
Therapist: (Exploring application) Moving forward, how might you use this
cognitive restructuring technique when you encounter similar situations at work?

Cianna: (Determined) I think I can practice challenging my initial negative

thoughts and replacing them with more balanced perspectives. It might help me feel
less anxious and more confident in my abilities.

Therapist: (Supportive) Absolutely. I'm here to support you as you continue

practicing these techniques and making positive changes in how you think and feel.

Cianna: (Feeling empowered) Thank you. I appreciate your guidance and this new
approach.

Therapist: (Supportive) You're welcome, Cianna. It's great to see you embracing
these tools. We'll keep working together to help you manage your anxiety more
effectively.

---

In this rephrased scenario, the therapist introduces cognitive restructuring to help

Cianna challenge and change her anxious thought patterns related to work. The
conversation focuses on identifying cognitive distortions, reframing thoughts
realistically, and practicing self-compassion, empowering Cianna to manage her
anxiety with greater confidence.

B. RATIONAL-EMOTIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY: THE ABCDEF MODEL

Therapist: (Warmly greeting Cianna) Hi Cianna, it's good to see you again. How
have things been since our last session?

Cianna: (Sitting down with a sigh) Hi, thank you. I've been trying some of the
strategies we discussed, but I'm still feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, especially
at work.

Therapist: (Nodding empathetically) It's understandable that you're still feeling

overwhelmed. Today, I'd like to introduce a technique from Rational-Emotive
Behavior Therapy called the ABCDEF Model to help us explore and address your
anxiety. Are you open to trying it?

Cianna: (Curious but willing) Yes, I'm open to trying anything that might help.

Therapist: (Explaining) Great. The ABCDEF Model helps us break down the
situation: the Activating event (A) – in this case, the criticism from your boss; your
Beliefs (B) about the event – such as feeling inadequate; the emotional and
behavioral Consequences (C) – like increased anxiety; and then we work on
Disputing (D) those beliefs, which leads to new Effects (E) and encourages new
ways of behaving (F). Can you share a recent situation at work that triggered your
anxiety?
Cianna: (Reflecting for a moment) Well, yesterday my boss criticized my report,
and I immediately started feeling like I wasn't good enough. I couldn't stop thinking
about it all day.

Therapist: (Identifying the ABCs) Let's break that down. What were your Beliefs
(B) about the criticism during and after the meeting?

Cianna: (Thinking) I kept thinking, "I made a mistake. My boss thinks I'm
incompetent. I'll never get this right."

Therapist: (Encouraging) These beliefs (B) are contributing to your feelings of

anxiety (C). Now, let's move to challenging these beliefs (D). How might we
dispute these thoughts more realistically?

Cianna:* (Considering) Maybe I could challenge the belief that I'm incompetent
by reminding myself of previous successes or considering that everyone makes
mistakes sometimes.

Therapist: (Exploring new Effects and behaviors) How might adopting these more
realistic beliefs (E) change how you feel and behave in similar situations in the
future (F)?

Cianna: (Reflecting) I think it would help me feel less anxious and more confident
in my abilities. I might approach feedback more positively and use it as a learning
opportunity rather than a personal failure.

Therapist: (Supportive) Absolutely. Now that we've identified and challenged

these beliefs, I encourage you to practice disputing them when similar situations
arise. Remember, it's a process, and I'm here to support you as you continue to
work on managing your anxiety effectively.

Cianna: (Feeling hopeful) Thank you. I appreciate your guidance and this new
approach.

Therapist: (Supportive)You're welcome, Cianna. I'm glad to see you engaging with
these techniques. We'll keep collaborating to support you in managing your anxiety
and cultivating a more positive self-view.
---

In this scenario, the therapist introduces Cianna to Rational-Emotive Behavior

Therapy's ABCDEF Model to help her break down and challenge her anxiety-
inducing beliefs about criticism at work. By exploring and disputing these beliefs,
Cianna gains insights into more realistic perspectives and behaviors that can help
her manage her anxiety more effectively.

C. SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION
Therapist: (Warmly greeting Cianna) Hi Cianna, it's good to see you today. How
have things been since our last session?
Cianna: (Sitting down with a hesitant smile) Hello, thank you. I've been trying to
cope, but my anxiety at work still feels overwhelming.

Therapist: (Nodding understandingly) I understand. Today, I'd like to introduce a

technique known as Systematic Desensitization to help us tackle your anxiety. Are
you open to giving it a try?

Cianna: (Curious) Yes, I'm willing to give it a shot.

Therapist: (Explaining) Great. Systematic Desensitization aims to reduce anxiety

by gradually exposing you to situations that trigger anxiety, while teaching
relaxation techniques to manage your response. Can you think of a specific
situation at work that causes you anxiety?

Cianna: (Reflecting) Meetings with my boss where I receive critical feedback

always leave me feeling anxious for days afterward.

Therapist: (Understanding) Let's start by creating a hierarchy of situations related

to these meetings, from least to most anxiety-inducing. For instance, discussing a
less critical topic with a colleague might be at the bottom, while a meeting with
your boss about a major project could be at the top. How would you rank these
situations?

Cianna: (Thinking) I would place discussing a minor task with a colleague at the
bottom, and the meeting with my boss about a major project at the top.

Therapist: (Continuing) Excellent. Let's begin with the least anxiety-provoking

situation. Can you visualize yourself in that scenario while practicing a relaxation
technique, such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation?

Cianna: (Trying it out) Sure, I'm imagining discussing a task with a colleague and
practicing deep breathing to relax.

Therapist: (Supporting) Well done. As you become more comfortable with this
scenario, we'll gradually move up the hierarchy, using relaxation techniques at each
step. This approach will help build your confidence in handling anxiety-inducing
situations at work.

Cianna: (Feeling hopeful) That sounds promising. I think this could really help me
regain control.

Therapist: (Encouraging) Absolutely. It's about taking small steps to reduce

anxiety and increase your confidence. How do you feel about starting this process?

Cianna: (Grateful) I'm glad we're trying something new. Thank you for guiding me
through this.

Therapist: (Supportive) You're welcome, Cianna. I'm here to support you every
step of the way as we work on managing your anxiety. Together, we'll help you feel
more confident and in control at work.
In this scenario, the therapist introduces Cianna to Systematic Desensitization as a
method to gradually expose her to anxiety-inducing situations at work while
teaching relaxation techniques. This structured approach aims to help Cianna build
confidence and reduce anxiety over time, improving her ability to handle meetings
and feedback from her boss more effectively.