What is the primary goal of Cognitive Therapy in anxiety disorders?

• A. Emotional management
• B. Cognitive restructuring to correct faulty beliefs
• C. Medication management
• D. Dream analysis

Answer: (B)

The main idea behind Cognitive Therapy for anxiety is that anxious feelings are largely driven by the way we think about situations. The primary goal is to identify distorted or unhelpful thoughts and then change them through cognitive restructuring, so beliefs are more accurate and balanced.

Cognitive restructuring helps you notice automatic thoughts (like “Something bad will happen if I …” or “I’ll embarrass myself”) and examine the evidence for and against them. By testing these thoughts and considering alternative interpretations, you replace them with more realistic beliefs, which reduces the trigger of anxious emotions and the urge to avoid.

This approach differs from simply trying to manage emotions or relying on medications, and it isn't about dream analysis, which is associated with other therapeutic traditions. So the option that emphasizes correcting faulty beliefs through cognitive restructuring best captures the primary goal of Cognitive Therapy in anxiety disorders.