Workshops
ABCT's workshops provide participants with up-to-date integration of theoretical, empirical, and clinical knowledge about specific issues or themes. Participants in these courses can earn 3 hours of continuing education credits per workshop.
Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Workshop 1
Treating Complicated PTSD in Clinical Practice
Claudia Zayfert, Dartmouth Medical School
Jason C. DeViva, VA Connecticut Health Care System
Carolyn B. Becker, Trinity University
Moderate level of familiarity with the material
Therapists often encounter challenges when implementing prolonged exposure or cognitive processing therapy for PTSD in clinical practice, which may result in reluctance to use these evidence-based approaches. The goal of this workshop is to enhance therapists’ comfort and confidence in treating PTSD by providing strategies for working with patients with varying trauma histories, comorbidity, and complicating life circumstances. The workshop will demonstrate how to use the case formulation approach to provide a framework for clinical decision-making that is systematic yet respectful of the individuality of the patient and harnesses the creativity of the clinician. Clinicians will learn how to weave together therapy methods and adapt them for the needs of individual patients. Topics will include whether to treat multiple problems simultaneously or sequentially, using assessment data to guide treatment decisions, clinical tools to help stay on track with complex cases, and trouble-shooting when treatment derails from the plan. Case material will illustrate ways to overcome common hurdles to delivering effective treatment for PTSD in clinical practice.
You will learn:
· To use a case formulation approach to conceptualize multiple problems and challenges and develop individualized treatment plans;
· To plan and implement prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive therapy and use troubleshoot problems that may arise according to data-based principles;
· To integrate cognitive behavioral strategies for comorbid problems systematically using ongoing assessment to guide treatment decisions.
Who should attend? Clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals interested in learning strategies to overcome roadblocks to implementing CBT for PTSD with adults who present with multiple problems and complications.
Recommended Readings: Cook, J. M., Schnurr, P. P., Foa, E. B. (2004). Bridging the gap between posttraumatic stress research and clinical practice: The example of exposure therapy. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 41, 374–387. • Hembree, E. A., Rauch, S. M., & Foa, E. B. (2003). Beyond the manual: The insider’s guide to prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 10, 22–30. • Persons, J. B. (2006). Case formulation-driven psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 13, 167-170. • Zayfert, C. and Black Becker, C. (2007). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for PTSD: A case formulation approach. New York: Guilford Press.
Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Workshop 2
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Corinne Cather, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Jennifer Gottlieb, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School and Dartmouth Medical School
Kim Mueser, Dartmouth Medical School
David Penn, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Shirley Glynn, UCLA
CBT for psychosis has strong empirical support for improving psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms, mood, and functioning in schizophrenia. However, despite the fact that CBT for psychosis is recommended by the PORT treatment guidelines for schizophrenia in the U.S., training clinicians in this approach is not standard practice in this country, and thus cognitive behavioral approaches to schizophrenia have not been widely disseminated here. This workshop will provide a hands-on, skills-based introduction to CBT for psychosis aimed at helping participants learn how to conceptualize and treat common symptoms in people with schizophrenia. The workshop will begin with an historical overview of the origins of CBT for psychosis, followed by a brief review of the evidence base in schizophrenia. Next, the core features of CBT for psychosis will be taught, including the conceptualization of symptoms, setting goals, education, normalization, teaching coping strategies, cognitive restructuring, and conducting behavioral experiments. Specific applications of CBT for treating particular symptoms will then be addressed, including hallucinations and delusions, depression, and posttraumatic symptoms. Finally, guidelines for conducting CBT for psychosis in groups will be provided. Teaching methods will include a combination of didactic presentations and experiential role-plays, supplemented by the presentation of clinical vignettes, questions and answers, and group discussion. All participants will be provided with recommendations for resources and books for additional learning.
You will learn:
· How to conceptualize common psychotic, negative, and mood symptoms of schizophrenia using a cognitive-behavioral model;
· How to effectively utilize particular assessment measures to develop a case formulation to guide CBT treatment and track outcomes;
· How to structure CBT sessions, what to do at each phase of treatment, decision rules for how to sequence interventions, and how to monitor progress;
· Specific CBT techniques to address paranoia/delusions and auditory hallucinations.
· How to target negative symptoms and depression in schizophrenia;
· How to address PTSD symptoms using a self-management cognitive-restructuring approach.
Recommended Readings: Beck, A. T., Rector, N. A., Stolar, N., & Grant, P. (2009). Schizophrenia: Cognitive Theory, Research, and Therapy. New York: Guilford Press. • Chadwick, P. (2006). Person-Based Cognitive Therapy for Distressing Psychosis. Chichester, England: Wiley. • Chadwick, P., Birchwood, M., & Trower, P. (1996). Cognitive Therapy for Delusions, Voices and Paranoia. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons. • Fowler, D., Garety, P., & Kuipers, E. (1995). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Psychosis: Theory and Practice. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons. • Kingdon, D. G., & Turkington, D. (2004). Cognitive Therapy of Schizophrenia. New York: Guilford Press. • Morrison, A. P., Renton, J. C., Dunn, H., Williams, S., & Bentall, R. P. (2004). Cognitive Therapy for Psychosis: A Formulation-Based Approach. New York: Brunner-Routledge. • Mueser, K. T., Rosenberg, S. D., & Rosenberg, H. J. (in press). Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Special Populations: A Cognitive Restructuring Program. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Workshop 3
How to Recognize and Treat Complicated Grief in Clinical Practice
M. Katherine Shear, Columbia University School of Social Work and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Sharon C. Sung, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
All levels of familiarity with the material
Bereavement is one of life’s most difficult experiences. For most people, losing a loved one inaugurates a period of intense and debilitating acute grief that abates over time. For some, though, acute grief does not subside and is prolonged and incapacitating. The resulting syndrome, currently called complicated grief (CG), may be difficult to recognize. Clinicians are often uncertain about when to diagnose CG and how to treat it when they do. This workshop will provide information from our work with Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT) that will assist clinicians in recognizing, understanding, and treating individuals with CG. CGT is a targeted 16-week manualized approach based on attachment theory. CGT utilizes tools derived from CBT, interpersonal psychotherapy, and motivational interviewing. This workshop will (a) describe the attachment-based model that guides the treatment; (b) review the principles, strategies, and techniques used in CGT; (c) describe the main treatment components and illustrate these with case examples, video vignettes, and demonstrations; and (d) discuss monitoring tools used to facilitate treatment and track progress.
You will learn:
· To describe the attachment-based model of CG;
· To recognize the clinical features and impact of CG;
· To use assessment tools to identify, characterize, and monitor CG symptoms;
· Specific techniques for treating CG, including grief monitoring, revisiting the death, situational revisiting, goals work, and imaginal conversation.
Who should attend? This introductory workshop is designed for mental health professionals and advanced graduate students who are interested in working with complicated grief.
Recommended Readings: Shear, K., Frank, E., Houck, P. R., & Reynolds, C. F. (2005). Treatment of complicated grief: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 293, 2601-2608. • Shear, K., Monk, T., Houck, P., Melhem, N., Frank, E., Reynolds, C., et al. (2007). An attachment-based model of complicated grief including the role of avoidance. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 257, 453-461.
Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Workshop 4
Preventing Death-by-PowerPoint: How to Give Presentations That Make an Impact
Kelly Koerner, Evidence-Based Practice Institute
Jason Luoma, Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, and Training Center
Mavis Tsai, Independent Practice and University of Washington
All levels of familiarity with the material
Successfully disseminating evidence-based practices requires that you skillfully communicate ideas to other scientists and practitioners.In this fun, active, and experiential workshop, you will receive personalized instruction to help you become a more effective, compelling speaker. Before the workshop, you will use resources on the workshop presenters’Wiki (http://tiny.cc/ABCTspeakerworkshop) to complete a values exercise regarding aspirations for your work and to prepare practice material you will use during the workshop (one 3-4 minute presentation in which you introduce yourself and your subject matter and discuss a few slides from a talk you will be giving). The workshop will begin with group warm-up exercises, and then each participant will take the podium to practice repeatedly with supportive and specific feedback that will shape you toward the speaker you aspire to be. Feedback will involve techniques to increase audience engagement, including how to be more yourself, project confidence, and use vocal variety, body language, and visual aids (e.g., slides). A rare opportunity for deliberate practice with feedback to strengthen essential skills!
You will learn to:
· Focus and distill complex ideas;
· Speak from your original voice;
· Use techniques to increase the effectiveness of your voice, body language, and visuals.
Who should attend? Anyone who wants to move their audience to learn and use evidence-based practices and better convey ideas to colleagues.
Recommended Readings: Participants should use resources on http://tiny.cc/ABCTspeakerworkshop before coming to New York • Atkinson, C. (2007). Beyond bullet points: Using Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® 2007 to create presentations that inform, motivate, and inspire. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press. • Reynolds, G. (2008). Presentation Zen: Simple ideas on presentation design and delivery. Berkeley: New Riders.
Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Workshop 5
So What If My Client Is Gay? Culturally Sensitive CBT With Clients Who Identify as Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual
Christopher R. Martell, Associates in Behavioral Health and University of Washington
Debra A. Hope, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Low level of familiarity with the material
Practitioners in all settings are likely to have clients who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB), yet few graduate programs have specific training in culturally sensitive therapy with this population. This workshop will include a review of the climate in which LGB individuals live in the U.S. and how it may affect their mental health and coping as well as impact the implicit assumptions of the therapists. We will describe general clinical issues in CBT for LGB individuals to create a culturally sensitive therapy experience, including adaptations of standard CBT assessment and interventions. Treatment of depression, social anxiety, and couples therapy will be used to illustrate such adaptations. Recommendations for supervisors and CBT course instructors will also be included.
You will learn:
· How U.S. culture affect LGB individuals;
· How U.S. culture impacts therapists and their implicit assumptions about LGB clients:
· General principles for adapting CBT assessment and intervention for LGB individuals;
· Specific strategies for adapting CBT for depression, social anxiety, and couples therapy for LGB individuals;
· Ethical and professional guidelines for working with LGB clients.
Who should attend? Mental health professionals and trainees who may encounter LGB clients in their clinical practice or clinical supervisory or training roles.
Recommended Readings: Martell, C. R., Safren, S. A., & Prince, S. E. (2004). Cognitive-behavioral therapies with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients. New York: Guilford Press. • Balsam, K. F., Martell, R. R., & Safren, S. A. (2006). Affirmative cognitive-behavioral therapy with lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. In P. A. Hays & G. Y. Iwamasa (Eds.), Culturally responsive cognitive-behavioral therapy: Assessment, practice, and supervision (pp. 223-243). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Friday, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Workshop 6
Body Checking, Body Avoidance, and Feeling Fat: A Transdiagnostic Approach
Christopher G. Fairburn and Rebecca Murphy, University of Oxford
Moderate level of familiarity with the material
Body image problems are seen in a variety of psychiatric disorders, but they are most prominent in the eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder. In this presentation a unified transdiagnostic strategy for addressing these problems will be presented. The workshop will focus in particular on the modification of over-evaluation of shape and weight and its main expressions (body checking, body avoidance, and “feeling fat”). Each of these features will be described in detail and then strategies and procedures for addressing them will be outlined and illustrated. The workshop will be clinical in its orientation. It will be illustrated with representative clinical examples from across the diagnostic spectrum. Both presenters are experienced at using transdiagnostic CBT on a day-to-day basis.
You will learn:
· To address body image problems across diagnostic categories;
· To create an individualized conceptualization that fits the particular patient’s concerns;
· To devise a bespoke treatment program and adjust this to fit changes in the patient’s psychopathology.
Who should attend? Those who work with clients with eating disorders and body image concerns. The workshop should be relevant for both therapists who are experienced at working with such individuals as well as those who are less familiar with this client group.
Recommended Reading: Fairburn, C. G., Cooper, Z., Shafran, R., Bohn, K., Hawker, D., Murphy, R., & Straebler, S. (2008). Enhanced cognitive behavior therapy for eating disorders: The core protocol. In C. G. Fairburn (Ed.), Cognitive behavior therapy and eating disorders. New York: Guilford Press.
Friday, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Workshop 7
Using Modular CBT With Depressed Adolescents