The What If...? exercise is a useful tool for identifying and challenging "what if ... ?" cognitions that often play a role in anxiety.
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
"What if...?" questions are a common cognitive pattern that can exacerbate feelings of anxiety, particularly for individuals suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). These questions often lead to excessive worry and uncertainty about various aspects of life. To combat this tendency, the What If...? exercise serves as a valuable tool for identifying these anxious thoughts and challenging them. By systematically addressing these "what if..." scenarios, individuals can learn to reframe their thinking and reduce anxiety.
Anxious "what if...?" questions can lead to heightened anxiety by focusing on low-probability, high-consequence possibilities.
Addressing worrying thoughts.
Reframing anxious predictions about social situations.
Addressing catastrophic interpretations of bodily sensations.
Pinpoint negative "what if...?" thoughts your client experiences.
Invite clients to generate three positive "what if...?" alternatives for each negative thought.
Encourage clients to consider the likelihood of each possible outcome.
Discuss with clients how different "what if...?" perspectives affect their emotions.
"What if...?" questions are a powerful way in which anxious individuals generate or maintain anxious states. Asking oneself a "what if...?" questions invites an individual to worry about low-probability / high-consequence possibilities - to catastrophize. What If...? is an exercise for identifying and challenging "what if ... ?" cognitions. It contains elements of psychoeducation, threat identification, and cognitive restructuring.
