Specific info on CBT ??!

Specific info on CBT ??

I would love to know SPECIFICALLY what is the treatment CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) consist of for an 11 yo female child with phobia to weather (wind, clouds and T-storms)?? What exactly will the therapist do? We have been slow stating because it is so difficult to even get her out of the house to the doctor's office. She is already on medication and working up to therapeutic levels.
Any info to help me would be greatly appreciated......

Any other parents going through this??

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a fairly structured way of therapy that consists of having the person examine their thoughts about a certain issue, and then changing or at least toning them done. For example - On no, there is a thunderhead, I just know that it is going to turn into a tornado and we are all going to get blown away and maybe die." While there may be an element of truth in that a more correct way and less threatening way of thinking about it would be- "Oh there is a thunderhead, a thunderstorm may happen, but that doesn't mean it is going to turn into a tornado. Even if it does, I know where to go that will be safe." Examples of other kinds of thoughts can be provided.

With anxiety, a person maximizes the threat while minimizing their ability to cope with it. They start telling themselves all kinds of things about the threat that makes it worse than it already is. Some of this may be so automatic, that the person doesn't even realize it until it is pointed out to them. Sometimes, it takes a long time to recognize those thoughts.

In addition to that, CBT may consist of teaching the person how to listen to their body as a way of either stopping the anxiety or catching it before it gets really bad. Some common things that helpful to watch are tightness of chest, butterflies in one's stomack, changes in breathing. Sometimes just looking at how one's body is reacting is enough to stop the anxiety process.

The behavioral aspect of CBT may involve having the person facing their feared object is small amounts and then gradually making it longer and longer until they get used to it. Avoidance of the feared object makes the fear greater. This is just one example.

A big issue to look at is why does the female child have such a phobia to the weather. Where they in a tornadoe or hurricane, or was there something else traumatic that happened to them that was weather related. This then can be considered a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which is another anxiety disorder. A big part of therapy may involve just having the individual talk about it to process some of the fears and hurts associated with the event.

I hope that this has some useful information, and I wish you all well.