What cognitive behavior technique is associated with identifying and responding to thoughts to mitigate anxiety?

Cognitive restructuring is a key cognitive-behavioral technique that involves identifying and challenging negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety and other psychological distress. This approach helps individuals recognize irrational or maladaptive thoughts and replace them with more balanced and constructive beliefs. By doing so, it aims to alter the emotional responses associated with those thoughts, thereby reducing anxiety levels and promoting a healthier mindset.

Cognitive restructuring involves several steps, including becoming aware of negative thoughts, evaluating the evidence supporting or contradicting those thoughts, and then reformulating them into more realistic and helpful perspectives. This method empowers individuals to take control of their thought processes, providing them with tools to manage anxiety effectively.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of behavior or therapeutic techniques. Behavior modification primarily involves changing behaviors through reinforcement and is not specifically aimed at cognitive processes. Rational emotive therapy, while also addressing thoughts and beliefs, is a more specific framework developed by Albert Ellis. Exposure therapy is designed to help individuals confront and gradually become desensitized to the sources of their anxiety but does not primarily focus on restructuring thought patterns. Thus, cognitive restructuring is specifically suited for directly addressing and mitigating anxiety through cognitive change.