Table 2b.

Activities to help break
Perceptual Barriers

1. Talking with friend or relative in clinic.
2. Discussing stressful or emotional topic in clinic.
3. Arguing about a topic within the clinic.
4. Talking outside of clinic: neutral topics.
S. Talking about a neutral topic while seated at a public place (i.e.;mall, sidewalk cafe, park bench, fast food restaurant). Repeat with an emotionally-laden topic.
6. In a department store, asking for a particular department currently out of sight.
7. In a mall, asking directions from the information booth for a particular store.
8. In a library or bookstore, asking where to find a particular book, magszine, or article.
9. Saying "hello" to a stranger.
10. Asking a stranger for the time.
11. Waiting for a salesclerk to ask the client "may I help you?" and responding in the negative or affirmative (as previously decided with therapist).
12. In a store, asking the price of an item.
13. Introducing therapist's associate (without previous notice to client but arranged with associate) to client for conversation in public place. Like meeting an acquaintance publicly.
14. Client generating 10 random questions to therapist's associate.
15. Client responding to 10 random questions of therapist's associate.
16. At a fast food outlet, asking for a drink face to face.
17. Ordering drinks and/or food directly from a waiter/ress for self and therapist.
18. Ordering a drink through a speaker system at a fast food outlet.
19. Asking a clerk one, two, three, and/or four questions about an item: it's components, how it works, qualitative characteristics, etc. (electronic or appliance stores are good for this.)
20. Discussing with a salesclerk the pros and cons of a particular item.
21. Asking the client an "off the wall" question in front of salesclerk.
22. Disagreeing with a statement the client makes in front of a salesclerk.
23. Interrupting the client as s/he asks a salesclerk the first of two previous agreed upon questions.
24. Asking a clerk a question unrelated to a given situation: i.e.; while asking about a particular item for sale, asking the clerk what part of town s/he lives in.
25. Having client re-tell a joke previously read or heard
26. Talking about emotionally sensitive topic: politics, religion, cultural clashes, legal issues, medical issues, issues related to arts and entertainment, etc.