Douglas Mennin., Ph.D.
NYC-CBT Association and the Albert Ellis Institute Presents: Treating Chronic Worry and Anxiety using an Integrative Emotional Regulation Approach
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic anxiety, worry, and tension and is often seen, clinically, as occurring during a depressive episode. Despite causing significant life dissatisfaction, poorer marital functioning, and increased health care utilization and costs, GAD remains understudied, misunderstood, and hard to treat compared to the other anxiety disorders where our cognitive-behavioral interventions have demonstrated considerable efficacy. Current cognitive-behavioral approaches to GAD are efficacious but may require additional components and a modification of conceptual framework to produce greater symptom change (including greater focus on depression), meaningful behavioral change, and lasting results in the long term. My colleagues and I have developed an approach to treating chronic worry, anxiety, and co-occurring depression that addresses emotion-related deficits characteristic of the disorder through principled integration of the affect sciences, traditional and acceptance based behavioral approaches, and emotion-focused approaches. Components of this treatment include 1) psychoeducation about chronic worry and anxiety from an emotion regulation perspective, delineation of motivations to avoid and approach, and the development of mindful awareness skills; 2) developing emotion regulation skills that promote a distanced perspective, acceptance, and mindful managing of emotional responses; 3) applying these skills during emotion-based exposure to meaningful behavioral actions and associated internal conflicts to taking these actions; and 4) relapse prevention and termination of the therapeutic relationship. Results from a series of therapy trials on this approach are promising. Although considerable work is still needed, integration of emotion-related approaches may contribute to our ability to treat chronic worry and anxiety.
Established professionals, early career professionals, and students from all applied, research, and academic settings are invited to attend. Tickets are non-refundable or exchangeable.
$30 for professional member ticket
$40 for professional non-member ticket
$15 for student member ticket
$20 for student non-member ticket