This three-day interactive workshop equips occupational therapists with the fundaments to increase their competence and confidence in using three evidence-informed interventions for clients with anxiety: assertiveness training, relaxation skills training and exposure therapy. The three components are designed to be independent so that participants can attend one, two, or all three elements, as they wish.
Day 3 focuses on the use of exposure therapy, the foundation of evidence-based intervention for each of the anxiety disorders. Although seemingly straightforward, the effectiveness of exposure therapy decreases dramatically when several basic tenets are not followed. This workshop provides guidelines for effective exposure therapy and provides participants with practice in hierarchy development. The concepts covered in the workshop are adapted to exposure with specific phobia, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and agoraphobia. Participants learn the strategies, then conduct several simulations in triads to develop treatment plans for several presenting problems.