Coping-Skills Training: A Brief Therapy Approach for Students with Evaluative Anxiety

Abstract

A rationale is presented for using a coping-skills training approach with many student mental health clients who are relatively well integrated and face important environmental demands. While student mental health centers have begun using brief therapy, the conceptual basis is often psychodynamic rather than one focusing upon current situations and development of cognitive and behavioral coping skills. Brief therapy based on a coping-skills training approach can help many clients learn ways of handling important situations, improve self-esteem and prevent development of more extreme problems. A method of coping-skills training with students experiencing extreme anxiety in evaluative situations is described. Coping skills included are early detection of anxiety signals, environmental self-management, relaxation and cognitive control. Two case examples illustrating the techniques are presented. Within three sessions, both students were successfully helped to learn coping skills enabling them to reduce anxiety and perform more effectively on exams. Comments are made on the kinds of students least likely to benefit from this approach.