ABSTRACT
Checking behaviors are associated with a wide range of intrusive thoughts and fears. The overall aim of treatment of checking is to provide a less-threatening alternative explanation of the fear that is consolidated in cognitive therapy and parallel behavioral strategies. This chapter builds on the work of Shafran, Thordarson, & Rachman; Salkovskis, Forrester, & Richards; Salkovskis, Shafran, Rachman, & Freeston; Wilhelm & Steketee; van den Hout, Engelhard, Toffolo, & van Uijen; Radomsky, Gilchrist, & Dussault; Coles, Radomsky & Horng; Radomsky, Shafran, Coughtrey, & Rachman. The person who believes that their intrusive thoughts indicate that they could be a child molester is asked to consider the alternative that they are particularly worried about being a child molester, and that they react to these worries in counter productive ways. This chapter discusses methods for cognitive therapy, exposure and response prevention (ERP), and behavioral experiments. It presents a case study to illustrate multifaceted interventions for long-standing severe checking symptoms and related difficulties.
