4 Anxiety Models

David Burns’ TEAM-CBT: 4 Models for Anxiety

When you feel anxious, remember these four models for treatment:

1. The Cognitive Model: Your thoughts create your feelings. Identify and challenge the distorted, negative thoughts causing your anxiety.

2. The Exposure Model: Face your fears. Anxiety is often maintained by avoidance; facing the feared situation helps the anxiety eventually diminish.

3. The Motivational Model: Examine the “benefits” of anxiety. Resistance to change often stems from the protective nature of anxiety. Address your mixed feelings about letting it go.

4. The Hidden Emotion Model: Anxiety can be a mask for a deeper, unexpressed feeling (like anger or sadness). Look for what you might be avoiding saying or feeling in your life.