Worry Flow Charts

Worry flow charts are useful for decision making for both children and adults. The first step is creating a coping tool box with physical or metaphorical resources to help manage anxiety. It is also important clients understand cognitive behavioral models and how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact. Practicing using worry flow charts and coping strategies can help clients learn to reduce anxiety when worrying or feeling stressed.

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Paige Bayly

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Worry Flow Charts

Uploaded by

Paige Bayly

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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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Worry flow charts are a great way to help children and adolescents with their

decision making process. That being said, this activity works really well with
adults as well. I often use it with adults who have anxiety or autism.

The first step to ensuring you are going to set your client up for success is to
create an effective coping tool box for them. For younger clients, I find it helpful
if they actually create a physical tool box (often a decorated old shoe box), with
physical resources in it such as a stress ball or drawing materials. For adults,
this can be a metaphorical toolbox. I have provided an example of a toolbox
below.

The next step is going through and ensuring your client understands the
cognitive behavioural model of anxiety (CBT), and the interaction between
thoughts, feelings, and actions. Without this knowledge, it will be really difficult
for them to try this flow chart activity. If you receive my newsletters, the January
2019 newsletter has some great tips on explaining CBT to younger clients.

Lastly, practice using these with your client. This may even involve getting their
heart rate up by asking them to run around the building or do some jumping
jacks (often when people are anxious, their heart rate increases, so by
increasing your client’s heart rate in session, you are modelling what anxiety
may feel like for them, and showing them how to use this strategy to decrease
their heart rate and their anxiety).
My Coping Tool Box For When My Anxiety Is Getting Big:

Flip my worry thoughts to positive thoughts

Take 10 deep breaths

Clench my fist and unclench it 5 times

Think of a time when this happened before. Think of how that situation worked out
well and then remind yourself that this situation is going to work out the same way.

Listen to some music

Talk to someone. A friend, family member, or a support worker

Take a drink of water or something small to eat

Look around you and focus on one thing that you can see that makes you feel
happy. It could be the sun, it could be a dog walking by, it could be anything!
The bus is late and I am going to be late

I could think worry thoughts about this I could look at my coping list to help me stay
situation like this: calm. Then I can think of some positive
thoughts
‘I am going to be late’
‘I will miss my appointment.’ ‘Sometimes buses are late, I will just wait.’
‘I am going to get into trouble’ ‘I can call and let someone know I am running
late. They will understand’

How would I feel if I thought this?

How would I feel if I thought this?
Upset
Worried Still nervous, but a little better
Nervous More calm
Less stressed

If I felt this way, how would I act?

If I felt this way, how would I act?
I would not be able to relax
I would keep checking my phone Maybe I could check my app once
I would not enjoy the bus ride I could call and let someone know, then
at least I can relax and enjoy the bus
ride
My Coping Tool Box For When My Anxiety Is Getting Big:
Worry: