half day workshop

BEYOND COGNITIVE THERAPY: NEW STRATEGIES FOR THE ANXIETY DISORDERS
David  A Clark, University of New Brunswick, Canada and Steven Taylor, University of British Columbia, Canada

Princess Hotel Room: Estrella del Mar

In the past decade clinical research has recognized that a number of key psychological processes are common across the anxiety disorders.  These shared symptom features indicate that similar intervention strategies can be employed for different anxiety states (Barlow, Allen & Choate, 2004).  Unwanted intrusive thoughts, anxious rumination, worry, and avoidance are some of the common symptoms that play an important role in the persistence of anxiety.  However standard cognitive and behavioral approaches are far from universally effective in treating these common symptoms.  For example intrusive cognition can be resistant to traditional treatment because patients already believe the thoughts are highly unlikely, exaggerated, and even irrational.  In recent years new “passive” intervention strategies have been proposed based on research in mindfulness, acceptance and commitment, metacognition, and thought suppression that offer new possibilities in the treatment of anxiety.   This half-day workshop will focus on the application of more “passive” interventions such as cognitive appraisal (metacognition), acceptance, and counter-control strategies in the treatment of common anxious symptoms.  Appraisal approaches in cognitive behavioral treatment for obsessions will be highlighted as an intervention that is generalizable beyond OCD.  The workshop will present assessment, case conceptualization, specific intervention strategies and outcome evaluation measures that can be employed with the shared cognitive and behavioral symptoms of anxiety.

David A. Clark, Ph.D., is Professor in the Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Canada and a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.  He maintains a private practice that specializes in cognitive behavior therapy for adult anxiety and depression.  He has authored several books on OCD and depression, and maintains an active funded research program on mental control, intrusions and depression vulnerability.  Steven Taylor, Ph.D., is a Professor and Clinical Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, Canada.  He is also Associate Editor of the Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy. Dr. Taylor has published over 170 journal articles and book chapters, and 10 books on anxiety disorders and related topics.  He is a Fellow of several scholarly organizations, including the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, American Psychological Society, and the Canadian Psychological Association.  His clinical and research interests include cognitive-behavioral treatments and mechanisms of anxiety disorders and related conditions.

Key References:
Barlow, D.H., Allen, L.B. & Choate, M.L. (2004). Toward a unified treatment for emotional disorders, Behavior Therapy, 35, 205-230.
Clark, D.A. (2005). Intrusive thoughts in clinical disorders: Theory, research and practice. New York: Guilford Press.
Clark, D.A. (2004). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for OCD. New York: Guilford Press.
Taylor, S. (2000). Understanding and treating panic disorder: Cognitive-behavioural approaches. New York: Wiley 5. Taylor, S. (2006). Clinician’s guide to PTSD: A cognitive-behavioral approach. New York: Guilford