BASIC TREATMENT PROGRAM

The basic treatment program is generally done by telephone in six to twelve hourly sessions scheduled once per week or every other week. The first session always consists of a general assessment of your situation and an overview of suggestions as to what might be the most helpful ways to treat your particular problem. The sessions after the initial assessment follow The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook closely and generally address the following areas, though not necessarily in the order given below:

1. Relaxation and abdominal breathing exercises

2. Aerobic exercise

3. Strategies for coping with panic attacks

4. Setting goals and hierarchies for facing phobias (exposure therapy)

5. Working with fearful self-talk, and underlying core beliefs that drive negative self-talk

6. Addressing personality issues that underlie fear, such as the excessive need for control, excessive need for approval, perfectionism, etc.

7. Working to reduce life stresses that aggravate anxiety problems, such as job stress, marital and family stress, health issues, and/ or other stressors

8. Nutrition, diet and supplements

9. Medication (your need for it or a review of what you are currently taking)

In the basic program, some attention is given to nutrition and health issues (i.e. adrenal exhaustion, food allergies, seasonal affective disorder) that can affect anxiety, but these problems would be explored more in depth in the comprehensive program. The comprehensive program also explores additional areas such as life purpose and spirituality.

Talk therapy alone is usually insufficient to help you address difficulties with panic, phobias, generalized anxiety, obsessions and compulsions, or post-traumatic stress.
You will be asked to do homework following each session, since success in overcoming anxiety problems depends upon you actively incorporating new behaviors, attitudes, and practices into your daily life.

The course of treatment is generally brief (i.e. six to twelve sessions), unless we have to address and work with deep seated personality issues, such as dependency, low self-esteem, excessive need to please, perfectionism, etc.. In some cases counseling could go on for longer when you’ve had a very traumatic history.