Merging Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Exposure Exercises to Treat Social Anxiety in a Teen

Abstract

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) often develops during teenager years, and it is important to conceptualize developmentally appropriate interventions. Exposure therapy framed from a perspective of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) shows promise for decreasing pathology and increasing wellbeing. This case illustrates the process through which exposure therapy was integrated with ACT to elicit meaningful outcomes in a case of SAD with a 16-year-old female. Treatment outcomes assessed included engagement in values-based activities as well as assessments of depression, anxiety, experiential avoidance, and context-specific wellness. Intervention focused on learning ACT principles through relatable metaphors and experiential exercises and practicing them with values-guided social exposures. This integration resulted in increased engagement of socially meaningful experiences and associated changes in treatment outcomes. Implications, guidelines, and recommendations are presented, including the need for skill-focused treatments, identifying deficits in psychological flexibility, and maintaining a compassionate yet growth-oriented course of treatment.