A cognitive behavioural therapy-based intervention for an adolescent experiencing social anxiety and stuttering: a clinical case study

Abstract

Stuttering is frequently associated with social anxiety, resulting in avoidance, negative self-evaluation, and impaired social functioning. This case study describes the assessment and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based treatment of a 17-year-old adolescent presenting with stuttering and severe social anxiety. Case formulation and intervention were guided by Rapee and Heimberg’s cognitive model of social anxiety. Treatment included psychoeducation, development of a hierarchy of feared situations, cognitive restructuring, Socratic questioning, behavioral experiments, and attentional refocusing. Outcomes were assessed using the social phobia inventory (SPIN). The adolescent’s SPIN score decreased from 40 (severe social anxiety) to 22 following treatment, accompanied by improved self-confidence and greater participation in social situations. This case highlights the effectiveness of CBT in modifying maladaptive cognitions and safety behaviors that maintain anxiety in adolescents who stutter. It also contributes to the limited literature supporting CBT-based interventions for this population and emphasizes the need for further clinical research.