“People with avoidant personality disorder are very uncomfortable and inhibited in social situations, overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, and extremely sensitive to evaluations negative” (Comer, 2013, p. 501). These people are so afraid of rejection that they avoid social situations to avoid rejection. People with avoidant personality disorder believe they are inferior to others and do not feel physically attractive. Avoidant personality disorder prevents people from participating in activities where others might judge them. They may avoid going to work, school, or elsewhere if they fear being criticized or if people don't like them. People with this disorder avoid trying new things for fear of embarrassment. They have difficulty tolerating criticism, taking it personally and causing them great distress. Theorists believe that avoidant personality disorder and anxiety disorders are caused by similar events. However, research has failed to connect the two. The most popular theories behind avoidant personality disorder come from psychodynamic, cognitive, and behavioral explanations. Psychodynamic theorists focus on the extreme feelings of shame that people with this disorder experience. Some think this feeling comes from punitive consequences when potty training or when the child has "accidents." When children are frequently criticized and punished for accidents, they may develop a negative self-image. These interactions can lead to a distrust of the love of others. It can also lead to the child feeling unloved throughout their life. Cognitive theorists believe that criticism and rejection in early childhood leads the individual to believe that others will always treat them that way. T...... middle of paper ......with them to change their thought processes by asking them what might happen if they had a more positive thought in a particular situation. I would also ask them, if they were comfortable, to try thinking differently or trying new things and we would discuss in session how things were going. I would also work with the client to establish more effective social skills. We would work on this through discussions, role-playing and in vivo exposure to social situations. With this disorder, it is important to build a positive relationship with the client. It will be important to exercise patience, as the client may have difficulty trusting the therapist, which may affect the direction of treatment. Additionally, when working with the client, I can suggest medication therapy if desired. I believe this disorder is treatable and with approaches most clients will experience improvement...