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Digital Seminar

Module 1: Using Neuroscience in the Treatment of Anxiety


Speaker:
Catherine Pittman, PhD, HSPP
Duration:
1 Hour 27 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
Copyright:
Jun 30, 2018
Product Code:
POS052541_M1new
Media Type:
Digital Seminar


Description

Watch neuroscience and anxiety expert, Dr. Catherine Pittman, and learn her keys for successful anxiety treatment. Dr. Pittman integrates brain-based strategies for calming the anxious mind with client communication techniques that motivate change in your clients. Catherine’s approach promotes adherence to treatment and strengthens the therapeutic alliance - which is essential when working with anxious, worried, traumatized, or obsessive clients.

Dr. Pittman will give you proven tools and techniques to:

  • Identify and treat the roots of anxiety in both the amygdala and the cortex
  • Explain “the language of the amygdala” in an accessible, straight forward way
  • Identify how the cortex contributes to anxiety, and empower clients with strategies to resist anxiety-igniting cognitions

From this transformational workshop put the power of neuroplasticity to work for you and your anxious clients!

Credit


* Credit Note - **

NOTE: Tuition includes one free CE Certificate (participant will be able to print the certificate of completion after passing the online post-test (80% passing score) and completing the evaluation). Instructional methods will include PowerPoint, didactic lecture, and others.

Continuing Education Information:  Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Program content is reviewed periodically per accrediting board rules for currency and appropriateness for credit. Credit approvals are subject to change. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self-study is an acceptable form of continuing education, as well as which credit types are acceptable for continuing education hours. Please refer to your state rules and regulations. If your profession is not listed, please contact your licensing board to determine your continuing education requirements and check for reciprocal approval. 
For other credit inquiries not specified below, please contact info@pesi.com or 800-844-8260 before purchase.

Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession.  As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession's standards.  

For Planning Committee disclosures, please see the statement above.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.


Counselors - Counselors

This self-study activity consists of 18.75 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from the activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.


Counselors - California Counselors

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE programs that are approved by other approval agencies, including several that approve PESI and its programs.  A full list of approval agencies accepted by the BBS can be found at www.bbs.ca.gov/licensees/cont_ed.html under “Where to find CE Courses.” This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 18.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction.


Counselors - Florida Counselors

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Provider Number 50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 18.75 continuing education credits.


Counselors - Kentucky Counselors

CE credit is available. This self-study course consists of 22.5 continuing education credit hours for Kentucky Counselors. The Continuing Education Requirements for the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors (201 KAR 36:030 Section 2) state continuing education programs from providers sponsored or approved by a state counseling licensure board shall be approved without further review by the board. PESI, Inc. is approved by the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists. Provider #4540. PESI maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.


Counselors - Missouri Counselors

CE credit is available. This self-study course consists of 18.75 continuing education clock hours for Missouri Counselors. The Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors accepts continuing education programs relevant to counseling that are provided by organizations recognized by national social worker associations. PESI, Inc. is recognized by a national social worker association. Please see social work approvals for this program.


Counselors - Montana Counselors

The Montana Board of Behavioral Health no longer pre-approves any courses or sponsors. Each licensee is responsible for taking courses which contribute to their competence and directly relate to their scope of practice as defined in board statute (MAR 24-219-32). Licensees must keep CE documentation for three years in case of an audit. This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 18.75 clock hours of instruction.


Counselors - Nevada Counselors

PESI, Inc. is an approved CEU provider with the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors. This self-study activity qualifies for 18.75 contact hours. Approved Provider # NVCEP2006.


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Counselors - Ohio Counselors

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board. Provider approval #:RCST071001. Full attendance in this self-study course meets the qualifications for 18.75 clock hours of continuing education credit. 


Counselors - Pennsylvania Counselors

The Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors accepts many national association CE approvals, several of which PESI offers. For a full list, please see your State Board regulations at https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/. This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 18.75 clock hours of continuing education instruction.


Counselors - South Carolina Counselors

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Counselors - Texas Counselors

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Course Level: Intermediate Format: Recorded asynchronous distance. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance.

 

Canadian Social Workers: Canadian provinces may accept activities approved by the ASWB for ongoing professional development.


Social Workers - California Social Workers

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE programs that are approved by other approval agencies, including several that approve PESI and its programs.  A full list of approval agencies accepted by the BBS can be found at www.bbs.ca.gov/licensees/cont_ed.html under “Where to find CE Courses.” This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 18.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction.


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COLORADO PARTICIPANTS ONLY: If you did not answer YES to be reported to the Colorado Chapter of the NASW on the evaluation, please contact cepesi@pesi.com and provide the full title of the webcast, speaker name, date of live broadcast, your name and your license number in the email.


Social Workers - Florida Social Workers

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Social Workers - Montana Social Workers

The Montana Board of Behavioral Health no longer pre-approves any courses or sponsors. Each licensee is responsible for taking courses which contribute to their competence and directly relate to their scope of practice as defined in board statute (MAR 24-219-32). Licensees must keep CE documentation for three years in case of an audit. This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 18.75 clock hours of instruction.


Social Workers - New York Social Workers

PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's (NYSED) State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0008. This self-study activity will qualify for 22.5 contact hours. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance. 


Social Workers - Ohio Social Workers

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board. Provider approval #:RCST071001. Full attendance in this self-study course meets the qualifications for 18.75 clock hours of continuing education credit. 


Social Workers - Pennsylvania Social Workers

The Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors accepts many national association CE approvals, several of which PESI offers. For a full list, please see your State Board regulations at https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions. This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 18.75 clock hours of continuing education instruction.


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Psychologists - Illinois Psychologists

 

PESI, Inc is an approved provider with the State of Illinois, Department of Professional Regulation. License #: 268.000102. Full attendance at this self-study course qualifies for 18.5 contact hours.


Psychologists - Kentucky Psychologists

PESI, Inc. is approved by the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology to offer continuing education for psychologists, approved provider #202312H. PESI maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This self-study activity will qualify for 18.75 contact hours.


Psychologists - New York Psychologists

PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's (NYSED) State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0014. This self-study activity will qualify for 22.5 contact hours. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance.


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Marriage & Family Therapists - California Marriage & Family Therapists

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE programs that are approved by other approval agencies, including several that approve PESI and its programs.  A full list of approval agencies accepted by the BBS can be found at www.bbs.ca.gov/licensees/cont_ed.html under “Where to find CE Courses.” This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 18.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction.


Marriage & Family Therapists - Florida Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Provider Number 50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 18.75 continuing education credits.


Marriage & Family Therapists - Illinois Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. has been approved as a provider of continuing education by the State of Illinois, Department of Professional Regulation. Provider #:168-000156. Full attendance at this self-study activity qualifies for 18.5 credits.


Marriage & Family Therapists - Montana Marriage & Family Therapists

The Montana Board of Behavioral Health no longer pre-approves any courses or sponsors. Each licensee is responsible for taking courses which contribute to their competence and directly relate to their scope of practice as defined in board statute (MAR 24-219-32). Licensees must keep CE documentation for three years in case of an audit. This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 18.75 clock hours of instruction.


Marriage & Family Therapists - Nevada Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. is an approved CEU provider with the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors. This self-study activity qualifies for 18.75 contact hours. Approved Provider # NVCEP2006.


Marriage & Family Therapists - New York Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's (NYSED) State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. #MFT-0024. This self-study activity will qualify for 22.5 contact hours. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance


Marriage & Family Therapists - Ohio Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board. Provider approval #:RCST071001. Full attendance in this self-study course meets the qualifications for 18.75 clock hours of continuing education credit. 


Marriage & Family Therapists - Pennsylvania Marriage & Family Therapists

The Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors accepts many national association CE approvals, several of which PESI offers. For a full list, please see your State Board regulations at https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/. This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 18.75 clock hours of continuing education instruction.


Marriage & Family Therapists - South Carolina Marriage & Family Therapists

This self-study program has been approved for 18.5 continuing education hours by the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists. Provider #4540.


Marriage & Family Therapists - Texas Marriage & Family Therapists

This self-study activity consists of 18.5 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists no longer approves programs or providers. PESI activities meet the continuing education requirements as listed in Title 22 of the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 801, Subchapter K, Section 801.264 Types of Acceptable Continuing Education. Please retain the certificate of completion that you receive and use as proof of completion when required.


Addiction Counselors - California Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (CADTP)

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the CADTP, Provider #: 201. This Category H activity meets the qualifications for 18.5 CEU's (continuing education hours).


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Provider #120924. This course has been approved as a CCB approved training and has been awarded 18.75 hours by the Connecticut Certification Board.


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NAADAC

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Addiction Counselors - New York Addiction Counselors

This self-study course has been approved by OASAS for 18.75 clock hours toward CPP Section 1 or CPS Section 1 or Renewal for CASAC, or CPP or CPS. Board required certificates will be sent after the program.

 

NEW YORK PARTICIPANTS ONLY: To automatically receive a special certificate, please answer YES to the question: “New York Addictions Counselors: Do you need the special OASAS certificate?” while completing the online post-test/evaluation.

 


Addiction Counselors - Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board. Provider Number 50-399. This self-study course qualifies for a total of 18.75 ceus in the area(s) of C2 - 18.75 hrs.


Addiction Counselors - Oklahoma Alcohol & Drug Counselors

PESI, Inc. is an Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors approved provider #20240032. This self-study activity consists of 18.75 clock hours of continuing education instruction.


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This self-study activity consists of 18.75 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.


Nurses - California Nurses

PESI, Inc. is a provider approved by the California Board of  Registered Nursing, Provider #: 17118 for 18.5 self-study contact hours. 

** You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.


Nurses - Florida Nurses

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Florida Board of  Nursing. Provider #: FBN2858. These materials qualify for 18.5 self-study contact hours.

CE Broker


Nurses - Iowa Nurses

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Occupational Therapists - Occupational Therapists & Occupational Therapy Assistants

 

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Occupational Therapists - Arizona Occupational Therapists & Occupational Therapy Assistants

CE credit is available. This self-study course consists of 18.5​ continuing education clock hours for Arizona OTs and OTAs. The Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (R4-43-203) confirms acceptance of continuing education programs relevant to occupational therapy that are approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).


Occupational Therapists - Florida Occupational Therapists & Occupational Therapy Assistants

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy. Provider Number #50-399. This course qualifies for 18.5 self-study continuing education credits.

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Physical Therapists - California Physical Therapists & Physical Therapist Assistants

PESI, Inc. is recognized by the Physical Therapy Board of California as an approval agency to approve providers. This self-study lecture qualifies for 18.75 continuing competency hours.


Physical Therapists - New York Physical Therapists & Physical Therapist Assistants

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Educators, Teachers & School Professionals - Educators

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Educators, Teachers & School Professionals - Indiana Educators

18.0 Professional Growth Points are available for full attendance of this self-study package per the Indiana Department of Education standards.


Educators, Teachers & School Professionals - Montana Educators

This self-study package is offered for 18.0 Renewal Units. PESI, Inc. is an Approved Renewal Unit Provider with the Montana Office of Public Instruction.


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Educators, Teachers & School Professionals - California Licensed Educational Psychologists

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE programs that are approved by other approval agencies, including several that approve PESI and its programs.  A full list of approval agencies accepted by the BBS can be found at www.bbs.ca.gov/licensees/cont_ed.html under “Where to find CE Courses.” This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 18.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction.


Educators, Teachers & School Professionals - South Carolina Psycho-Educational Specialists

This self-study program has been approved for 18.5 continuing education hours by the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists. Provider #4540.


Educators, Teachers & School Professionals - Florida Office of School Psychology

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Office of School Psychology. Provider Number: 50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 18.5 continuing education credits. 


New Jersey Educators, Administrators & Education Services Personnel

18.5 Actual Professional Development Hours (self-study). MEDS-PDN, powered by PESI, Inc., is a registered New Jersey Professional Development Provider with the NJ Dept of Education.  


Other Professions

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Handouts/Brochure

Speaker

Catherine Pittman, PhD, HSPP's Profile

Catherine Pittman, PhD, HSPP Related seminars and products

Saint Mary's College


Catherine Pittman, PhD, HSPP, is a professor of psychology at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. Dr. Pittman is the author of the popular books Rewire the Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry (New Harbinger Publications) and Taming Your Amygdala (PESI Publishing & Media). She has a background in cognitive behavioral therapy, neuropsychology, fear-conditioning research, and has treated anxiety-based disorders in clinical practice for over 25 years.

Dr. Pittman’s experience makes her uniquely qualified to provide a clear understanding of neuroscience and how that informs the selection and application of successful anxiety treatment strategies. She is recognized for her clear, accessible explanations of the role of the amygdala, and her approaches to lifestyle change and cognitive restructuring that help motivate clients to be more engaged and motivated in therapy. Dr. Pittman regularly presents workshops at national conferences and webinars on anxiety treatment and is an active member of the public education committee of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Catherine Pittman maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Saint Mary's College. She receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Pittman receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Catherine Pittman is a member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.


Additional Info

Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)

Access never expires for this product. For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com.


Target Audience

Social Workers, Psychologists, Counselors, Teachers, Occupational Therapists, Marriage and Family Therapists, Case Managers, Addiction Counselors, Therapists, Nurses Other Mental Health Professionals

Objectives

  1. Demonstrate to clients the neurological processes underlying anxiety in a clearly understandable manner that enhances client motivation.
  2. Incorporate personalized goals to increase client engagement and focus client efforts on making lasting changes in the brain.
  3. Characterize the differences between amygdala-based and cortex-based anxiety symptoms in order to select the most effective treatment interventions.
  4. Individualize practical and evidence-based methods to resist anxiety and improve symptom management in clients.
  5. Demonstrate strategies for calming the amygdala without use of medication to improve client level of functioning.
  6. Recommend exposure-based strategies that change the amygdala responses to triggers to reduce anxiety symptoms.
  7. Employ a variety of strategies to improve clinical outcomes utilizing evidence-based strategies that target cortex-based responding, including cognitive restructuring, psychoeducation, cognitive defusion, distraction, and mindfulness.
  8. Differentiate symptom-producing cognitions characteristic of specific disorders, including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to case conceptualization.
  9. Analyze the clinical implications of how SSRIs and SNRIs promote the process of treating anxiety.
  10. Determine detrimental effects of benzodiazepines as it relates to anxiety treatment outcomes.
  11. Differentiate between rebound anxiety and relapse symptoms to inform the clinician’s choice of treatment interventions.
  12. Breakdown the key elements of mindfulness practices in managing symptoms of anxiety.
  13. Present client education exercises that can be utilized in session to train clients in the use of mindfulness techniques.
  14. Appraise common reactions to aversion and utilize clinical strategies to replace them with mindfulness.
  15. Reframe exposure as an opportunity to teach the amygdala new responses in order to improve client engagement and treatment compliance.
  16. Utilize clinical strategies for exposure that reduce avoidance and train clients to push through anxiety.
  17. Employ effective strategies for reducing anxiety symptoms utilizing imaginal and in vivo exposure, including use of SUDS and attention to interceptive triggers.
  18. Provide clinical strategies for managing comorbid depression that reduce worry, rumination, and common cognitive errors while promoting positive thinking and social interaction.
  19. Use cognitive restructuring and cognitive strategies for managing symptoms of OCD and GAD that focus on scheduling obsession/worries and promote client acceptance of uncertainty.
  20. Implement interventions in a clinical setting that use a reconsolidation approach to reactivate a symptom-producing memory and disconfirm it.

Outline

Module 1: Using Neuroscience in the Treatment of Anxiety
  • Using Neuroscience in the Treatment of Anxiety
    • Positives: We know more about anxiety-based disorders than any other disorders
    • Science gives explanations, evidence, authority, destigmatizes difficulties
    • Concerns: How to effectively explain neuroscience and answer questions
    • Clients may feel a lack of responsibility
    • Oversimplification is inevitable - The proper level of detail is essential
  • Enhancing the Engagement of Anxious or Avoidant Clients in Treatment
    • Don’t neglect therapeutic relationship!
    • Empathy before explanations
    • Addressing the challenges of anxious, worried, obsessive, and avoidant clients
    • Assist anxious clients in understanding their own symptoms, feelings, interpretations, beliefs
    • Treatment strategies for anxiety are effortful and produce anxiety
    • Use the goal of changing the brain rather than the goal of reducing anxiety
    • Focus on client’s personalized goals in guiding the process
    • Agreement on goals between therapist and client is predictive of improvement
    • Case Example
  • The Promise of Neuroplasticity
    • Defining Neuroplasticity in everyday language
    • Therapy is about creating a new self
    • Focusing on neuroplasticity makes the brain more resistant to anxiety
    • Clients are more willing to undergo anxiety when they expect it will create improved circuitry
    • Explaining re-consolidation: the modification of emotional memories
  • Identifying Two Neural Pathways to Anxiety
    • Amygdala - Bottom-up triggering of emotion, physicality of anxiety
    • Cortex - Top-down emotion generation based in cognition
    • Simplified techniques for explaining the two pathways and their differences to clients
    • How anxiety is initiated in each pathway and how pathways influence each other
    • Different pathways respond to different types of treatment
Module 2: Working with the Amygdala
  • Explaining the Amygdala’s Role in Anxiety
    • The protective, evolutionary role of the amygdala
    • The amygdala and the stress/fear/anxiety response
    • The role of the amygdala in forming emotional memories
    • Explaining the Fight/Flight/Freeze response to clients
    • Teaching the amygdala
    • The language of the amygdala - communicating alarms and relying on pairings
    • Why the amygdala needs experience to learn
    • How “Triggers” are created in the amygdala
  • Managing the Amygdala
    • Essential for all Anxiety Disorders, PTSD, OCD, Depression
    • Symptomatic behavior is often a response to amygdala activation
    • Interventions that impact the amygdala
    • The Vagus nerve’s role in recovery from the activation of the sympathetic nervous system
    • Interventions that reduce activation in the amygdala over time
    • Communicating with your client to enhance treatment compliance
    • Exposure: activating the fear circuitry created in the amygdala to generate new connections
    • Tips for effective exposure strategies
    • Exposure with response prevention is essential when treating OCD
  • Limitations and Risks in Neuroscience-Informed Treatment of Anxiety
    • The efficacy of evidence based treatments differ by individual and context
    • Research is constantly evolving
    • Using analogies and other psychoeducation communication
    • Medication information and interaction with interventions
    • More studies needed to support some observed clinical outcomes
Module 3: Managing the Cortex
  • Explaining the Cortex’s Role in Anxiety
    • How the cortex constructs reality for us
    • Describing the cortex and its functions in understandable terms
    • The fear/anxiety response comes from the amygdala, but the cortex can initiate the response
    • Using the concept “Don’t scare your amygdala”
    • Understanding and resisting the detrimental effects of anticipation
    • Teaching the appropriate use of worry to minimize its detrimental effects
  • Managing the Cortex
    • Cortex management is essential for GAD, SAD, OCD, PTSD, and Depression
    • Identifying specific cognitions, beliefs, attitudes, associated with specific anxiety disorders
    • “Survival of the busiest” - understanding how to modify the cortex
    • Changes in cortex responses can occur through education, logic, argument, and experience
    • “You can’t erase: You must replace.”
    • Modifying interpretations and using coping thoughts to manage anxiety
    • The appropriate use of distraction
    • Right vs. left hemisphere interventions
    • Cognitive Therapy - modifying the cognitions mediating emotional responses
    • Cognitive fusion - recognizing the problem and how to use cognitive defusion
    • CBT cognitive restructuring approaches for targeting cortex-based processes
    • Mindfulness approaches to reducing anxiety, and their effect on the cortex
    • A cognitive model for approaching OCD
Module 4: Medications in the Treatment of Anxiety
  • Medications Overview
    • The role of therapists regarding medications
    • Anxiety management, not anxiety elimination, is the goal
    • Beneficial effects of Medications
    • Assessing and addressing medication during the initial intake
    • Respecting the relationship between the prescriber and client
    • Educating clients about the role of medication in treating anxiety
    • What are the approved Medications for treating anxiety?
  • Medications and Anxiety Treatments
    • SSRIs and SNRIs
    • Benzodiazepines
      • The impact of benzodiazepines on therapeutic interventions
      • The problem of rebound from benzodiazepine use
    • Buspirone
    • Beta blockers
    • Sedatives/hypnotics/z-drugs
    • Choosing the right medication for specific anxiety disorders
    • Mechanisms of Action: How these drugs work
    • Explaining the effects to clients
    • Benefits, disadvantages, and risks of medications
    • Factors that influence the usefulness of medications
    • Monitoring therapeutic effects
    • CBT vs. Medications: Comparing effectiveness and durability
Module 5: Exposure Strategies for Teaching the Amygdala
  • Teaching the Amygdala
    • Exposure interventions allow new emotional learning
    • Emotional learning is based on associations or pairings
    • The amygdala is not always “correct” - it needs experience to learn new reactions
    • Training clients in exposure strategies can change client relationship with anxiety
    • Clients are motivated by idea that they are “teaching the amygdala”
    • Learning to reduce avoidance and push through anxiety
    • Preparation for exposure: psychoeducation, breathing training, cognitive restructuring
  • Exposure Strategies
    • In vivo vs. imaginal exposure approaches
    • Interoceptive triggers and methods for exposure
    • Training client for independent exposures
    • Use of the term “trigger” and providing examples for client
    • Understanding the brain changes underlying successful exposure experiences
    • Use of Subjective Units of Distress/Discomfort Scale (SUDS)
    • Examining advantages of graphing SUDS ratings
    • Concerns associated with safety signals, medications, distraction
    • Tips for constructing hierarchies
    • Therapist’s role in exposure
    • Troubleshooting problems
    • Case Examples
Module 6: Mindfulness in the Anxious Brain
  • Introducing mindfulness to clients
    • Defining basic emotional reactions: Attachment, Aversion, Indifference
    • Key elements to mindfulness: Being aware, present, and focused
    • The detrimental effect of judgment and how to practice self-acceptance
    • Exploring thoughts, sensations, and emotional reactions
    • Using breath in connecting to the present moment
    • Learning how to savor the moment
  • Incorporating mindfulness as a tool in treatment
    • The neuroscience of mindfulness: Examining the evidence
    • Teaching clients to focus more deliberately
    • Mindfulness as training to determine focus
    • Using the power of intention to focus thoughts in new directions
    • Coping with common reactions to aversion using mindfulness
    • “Mind wandering” is not failed experience!
    • The role of practice and evidence for brain change
    • Helpful hints in mindfulness training
  • Mindfulness exercises for the anxious brain
    • Focus on the breath
    • Train the brain to focus
    • Mindfulness of sound and thoughts
    • Fingers Exercise
    • GLAD technique to resist depressive thinking
    • Becoming Embodied: The experience of the body
Module 7: Neuropsychologically Informed CBT
  • Neuropsychologically Informed CBT approaches
    • CBT strategies used to effectively treat anxiety
    • Advantages of the strategic use of neuroscience in CBT
    • Focus on expectancy of client has benefits in CBT
    • Evidence supports CBT and neurological knowledge can strengthen client engagement
    • Not all assumptions of CBT are consistent with current neurological knowledge
    • Focusing on logic and disputing has limits - some circuitry is not logical
    • Emotional centers of the brain are not mediated by cognitive processes
    • Skills based approaches in CBT provides the brain experiences to learn
    • Neurology of anxiety supports many CBT tenets:
      • Psychoeducation
      • Focus on the present
      • Exposure techniques
      • Importance of going beyond talk to experience
Module 8: Treating Comorbid Depression
  • Treating Comorbid Depression
    • The link between chronic anxiety and depression
    • How the hippocampus impacts negative thinking
    • Exercises to help clients focus on the positive
    • Addressing worry, rumination, and common cognitive errors in depression
    • Benefits of goal setting and behavioral activation
    • Key role of social support and social interaction
    • Benefits of adequate sleep and regular exercise
  • Case Example

Module 9: Cognitive Restructuring Interventions

  • Cognitive Restructuring: Interventions for OCD and GAD
    • Steps in cognitive restructuring:
      • Guided discovery
      • Exploring the relationship between thoughts and amygdala activation
      • How to challenge distorted cognitions
      • Tools for generating alternative perspectives
    • Identify and stop anxiety-igniting thoughts common in OCD and GAD
    • Strategies for embracing uncertainty
    • Making OCD or worry the adversary: Don’t be bullied!
    • Scheduling obsessions or worries to bring them under control
    • Strategies to avoid counter transference
    • Mindfulness tools for OCD and GAD
    • Myths about working with anxious thoughts

Module 10: Using Reconsolidation Approaches

  • Using Reconsolidation Approaches
    • Explaining implicit emotional learning and identifying examples
    • Reconsolidation: Deleting/modifying unwanted memories
    • How to lay the groundwork for reconsolidation:
      • Guided discovery
      • Assisting the client to experience the memory structure in the present moment
      • Promoting client’s experiential learning of emotional truth
      • Disconfirming the emotional memory with “mismatching” information that invalidates it
    • Case Example

Reviews

5
4
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1

Overall:      5

Total Reviews: 167

Comments

Anne K

"The presenter was repetitive. Throughout the course. She also had a monotone throughout the course so it was difficult to stay focused."

Erin S

"I liked that the presenter was so well organized/easy to follow."

LPC-S C

"This was the best professional development I have attended in a very long time. The content was highly relevant. It was technical but well-balanced with real life application of the strategies. Dr. Pittman was very relatable and sharing her personal experiences as a clinician was extremely helpful! In addition, she provided information and resources for further independent research. "

Crystal H

"Great job! I would definitely attend more of her trainings!"

Dorothy J

"I learned a lot. Thank you!!"

Leticia G

"Very useful information. Great Presentation. Very well organised and I felt that I was able to perfectly follow along the handouts, take the quiz and everything flowed beautifully. Thank you!"

Julie B

"Dr. Pittman is excellent! I learned so much taking this course."

Lisa D

"I will recommend this to collogues. Very well presented and very concise information."

Martha P

"This is one of the MOST helpful courses I've ever taken. The presenter was outstanding in her knowledge and delivery. Thank you for putting this together!"

Terri K

"Excellent program. Dr. Pittman was very impressive. I learned a great deal."

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