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Identify the distorted observer-perspective self-image that drives social anxiety — the "felt sense" of how you appear to others.
In social anxiety, you construct an image of yourself from the observer's perspective — seeing yourself as if from the outside. This image is based on how you feel, not how you actually appear, and is usually much more negative than reality. This worksheet helps you capture that internal self-image in detail so it can be tested with video feedback and other experiments.
Use during the self-image identification stage of Clark and Wells' social anxiety treatment. This is a critical early intervention step that helps the client access and articulate the distorted impression they believe they convey to others.
Guide the client to recall a recent anxiety-provoking social situation in vivid detail. Ask them to focus on how they imagined they appeared to others, accessing the felt sense or image rather than just verbal descriptions. Use prompts like "If I could see a photo of you at that moment, what would I see?"
Some clients hold a verbal rather than visual self-image (e.g., 'I sound boring' rather than a visual impression). Adapt the worksheet to capture the dominant sensory modality. For clients who struggle to access the image, use role-play to activate the social anxiety system in session.
Avoid rushing this step. If the client produces a generic or intellectualised description rather than a vivid, affect-laden image, the subsequent video feedback and image rescripting work will be less effective. Take the time needed to elicit the genuine self-image.
The self-image often has historical roots in early social experiences. While the primary goal is to identify the current image, noting its origins can inform later image rescripting work. The image is typically more extreme and more observer-perspective than the client initially realises.
Suitable for clients working with social anxiety, self-image, clark, wells, cbt, observer perspective, self-focused attention. This tool can be used as a standalone worksheet or as part of a structured homework plan.
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