Course Description:
Fear is a natural and essential human emotion that is necessary for our survival. Fear involves strong physical reactions such as a racing heart, sweating, chest tightness and dizziness, stemming from the release of biochemicals like adrenaline and cortisol. For some people, the physical sensations of fear can become alarming and anxiety-inducing.
Clients with panic disorder are hypersensitive to physical sensations, are hypervigilant to any fear reactions in their bodies and avoid situations (i.e. driving, wide open spaces, being far from home, crowded places) in order to try to avoid future panic attacks. Not only are avoidance tactics ineffective at keeping panic at bay, but they lead to the clients’ worlds becoming smaller and smaller. By the time clients with panic disorder seek treatment, they are desperate for help.
This course will teach you all you need to effectively treat your clients with panic disorder. You will learn how to confidently diagnose panic disorder and rule out other medical and psychological concerns that can mimic panic. You will learn case formulation skills that incorporate individual differences and cultural factors to ensure the most effective course of treatment. You will then be provided a clear, step-by-step guide of a brief and extremely effective treatment for panic disorder with decades of research support.
Who is this for:
This workshop is intended for licensed mental health providers who are working with clients with panic symptoms.
Instructional Level:
Beginner to Intermediate
Recommended Course Prerequisites:
Included:
Handouts:
Cognitive Behavioral Model of Panic
Cognitive Behavioral Model of Panic Blank Form
Weekly Benzodiazepine Tracking Log
Interoceptive Exercise Form
Exposure Recording Form
Role Play: Interoceptive exposure
Educational Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Assess at least three medical and psychological concerns that can mimic panic disorder.
Identify at least five avoidance and safety behaviors that maintain panic disorder.
Apply at least four different interoceptive exposures.
Common Clinical FAQs Answered:
What is the most effective treatment for panic disorder?
Is CBT the best therapy for panic disorder?
How long does panic disorder treatment take?
What is the best way to explain panic attacks to clients?
How do I do interoceptive exposure for panic disorder?
Stephanie Sacks, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Co-founder
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Stephanie Sacks, Ph.D. is a co-founder and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of MindScience Collective. She is a licensed clinical psychologist (FL PY10014, DC PSY1001172) who is passionate about teaching, training, clinical work, entrepreneurship and the dissemination of evidence-based information to the masses.
In her private practice, Dr. Sacks specializes in the provision of evidence-based cognitive behavioral treatment for Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders, OCD-Spectrum Disorders and Anxiety Disorders, with particular expertise providing care to clinically complex clients. She has a sub-specialty working with journalists who are exposed to occupational trauma and has received training from the Global Center for Journalism and Trauma.
She is a National Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Trainer and Clinical Consultant. She is also an invited lecturer and clinical consultant for many organizations, including the National Center for PTSD. Dr. Sacks is the creator of the Trauma Therapist Training Course, an interactive cohort-based learning experience that enhances therapists’ competence and confidence for working with trauma-affected clients.
She is an Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University and a voluntary Clinical Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California. She has proudly served as clinical and research supervisor at a number of academic and medical institutions. Dr. Sacks has authored numerous peer-reviewed research articles and contributed to a book entitled Cognitive Processing Therapy for Complex Cases.
Disclosure:
Dr. Sacks is a co-founder of MindScience Collective and will receive financial benefit from all course sales. She receives income as a Trainer and Consultant for Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. Dr. Sacks also receives compensation as a lecturer for the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (NCPTSD). Dr. Rubin is the instructor of “Behavioral Case Formulation” and another co-founder of MindScience Collective.