Tape Review

By Leo Kominek, Ph.D. and James D. Cowart, Ph.D.

Author Review of the Audiocassette Tape Program
"Guided Instruction for Coping with Anxiety and Stress"

See the section Recommended Self-help Materials for availability of this audiocassette program.

The authors developed this audiocassette tape package to help in the treatment of anxiety disorders, because of the high volume of patients with anxiety (recent studies show that 25% of the population will experience an anxiety disorder at some point during their lifetimes) and because new cognitive-behavioral methods of treating anxiety disorders have proven quite effective.

The tape package was specifically designed for use with social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia, as well as adjustment disorders with anxious mood and mixed depression and anxiety. It is also useful in helping individuals deal with excessive stress. We encourage the listener to use the tape package in conjunction with individual or group therapy.

This audiocassette tape package consists of two individual tapes containing a total of two hours of recorded instruction.  The authors used professional voices to record their material to attain the highest quality product for the end user.  The tape contents are listed below:

Tape 1, Side A: Introduction and Graduated Exposure---The introduction will help the user understand anxiety, how it develops, and how it can be reduced.  The "Graduated Exposure" section will show the user how all the skills they learn on both tapes can be put together to better cope with anxiety.

Tape 1, Side B: Learning to Relax---This tape teaches progressive muscle relaxation and proper breathing.  The user can then learn to take control of those things that can be controlled when experiencing anxiety.  This tape also teaches the user a brief relaxation process to be used throughout the day.

Tape 2, Side A: Learning to Identify Realistic and Unrealistic Thoughts---This tape teaches the user the difference between an unrealistic thought and a realistic thought by an active learning process.  Thoughts that can commonly occur with anxiety disorders are presented on the tape.  These statements or thoughts are each followed by a pause to allow the user to determine if the thought is realistic or unrealistic.  After the pause feedback is provided to the user.  If the thought was unrealistic an explanation is also provided.

Tape 2, Side B:  Learning to Counter Unrealistic Thoughts---This tape teaches the user how to construct appropriate statements that suitably "counter" unrealistic thoughts. An active learning process is used on this side of the tape, as well.  All the statements made on this tape are unrealistic and are followed by a pause that allows the user time to think of a possible countering thought.  After the pause a realistic countering statement is given to the user so that he or she can determine if the countering was done.

User Manual:  The manual contains 16 pages of information designed to lead the user through a stepwise process of learning and practicing the methods and techniques useful in coping with anxiety disorders.  The manual also contains examples of the different categories of unrealistic thinking, how to construct a fear hierarchy, and forms to help evaluate progress in coping with anxiety. 

This tape package:

• Provides the end user with a unique, active learning self help package based on proven cognitive-behavioral methods.
  
• Teaches the basic anxiety coping skills in a rapid, but thorough manner.