Clients who are experiencing panic want relief from their suffering. And given that it took a mountain of courage just to show up at your door, you want to help them as quickly and effectively as you can. But without proper training, panic attacks can be very confusing and difficult to treat. It is very common that well-intentioned therapists inadvertently reinforce avoidance or escape behaviors, thereby prolonging recovery, worsening symptoms—leading to client drop out.
Watch anxiety expert and author, Elena Welsh, Ph.D., as she shares her treatment secrets that consistently improve the lives of her clients suffering from panic and anxiety. Using the best techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dr. Welsh lays out practical, step-by-step integrated treatment strategies that you can use right away, including how to:
Differentiate diagnostically between panic disorder and panic attacks
Provide psychoeducation that is non-pathologizing and immediately useful for clients
Empower clients to increase their comfort level and accept difficult/distressing thoughts, feelings, and sensations
Teach clients to preemptively catch and reframe thoughts that fuel anxiety and panic
Motivate clients to shift behaviors to reduce the severity and frequency of panic/fear reactions
Guide clients through exposure protocols to manage panic/fear reactions
Manage your own anxiety about treating panicked and anxious clients
Do not let another client walk out that door wondering if they could live without panic and anxiety.
