Stress Inoculation Training Summary

Stress Inoculation Training program developed by Donald Meichenbaum in the 1960’s is a cognitive behavioral method of altering an individual’s maladaptive thinking patterns about themselves as well as their past experiences. As a complex, individualized and flexible form of cognitive behavioral therapy, its’ goal is to modify the person’s emotional responses to stressful situations in order to prevent or diminish depression, anxiety and boast their coping repertoire.
Areas in which SIT is used range from persistent anxiety provoking events to sequence of stressful events such as post-traumatic stress disorder. The diversity of stressors that SIT works with can include acute, continuing and consecutive stressors. Areas of stress can also vary

During this phase, an analysis of the stressful experiences and reactions are conjured, triggers for the individual are explored. The second phase puts emphasis on acquiring coping skills and consolidation of said skills that they may already possess. Here, the goal is to work towards a generalization of coping skills that can be maintained and used in future preservation of treatment effects. In the final stage, SIT gives opportunities to the individual to apply coping skills discussed during the sessions. Therapist may choose to use modelling, imagery or role-playing to conduct this segment. As an end to the partnership between the client and the therapist, they review relapse prevention procedures, the possibility of enduring triggers and high-risk

In this study, treatment included nine twice weekly sessions consisting of 120 minutes each, followed by seven sessions of ninety minutes. During the first two sessions information from the client was collected, treatment rationale was discussed while the remaining sessions included teaching coping skills, managing stress through breathing exercises, deep muscle relaxation, thought stopping, guided self-dialogue and role-play. Homework assignments were also used to have the client practice their learned coping