The Case of Tony Scarpetta, the Man Who Couldnt Relax

Tony Scarpetta worked for over decade as a freelance web developer. He had a knack for putting his clients at ease and learning exactly what their needs were and delivering creative output to meet those needs. But Tony had a dark secret: despite acting calm and in control around his clients, Tony often felt as if he were falling to pieces inside. His friendly banter masked a whirlwind of panicky thoughts ranging from "this new advertising director hates my work and I'm going to lose his company's business" to "what if my clients abandon me for a competitor and I can't attract any new business?" Tony had been dealing with this kind of anxiety for years. Often it was helpful, as when it motivated him to push his creative boundaries and to work hard to please his customers. But in other ways it was a great hindrance, especially when irrational fears would distract him from his work or keep him up at night, leaving him feeling drained the next day. Tony would like to do something to relieve his anxiety, but he's not sure where to begin.

QUESTIONS

1. What would be the benefits to Tony of seeing his family physician for a prescription for an anti-anxiety drug? What might be some disadvantages to taking that approach?

2. What could Tony expect if he visits a psychodynamically-oriented therapist about his anxiety? What about if he sees a humanistic therapist?

3. What would a rational-emotive behavior therapist be likely to say to Tony during a therapy session?