Group Therapy at the Anxiety
and Panic Treatment Center

Appearance Worries Group

TBA
Led by Elke Zuercher-White, Ph.D., ABPP

In this group, we will work with clients' life-interfering behaviors, such as avoidance of places and activities, as well as decreasing self-defeating behaviors such as excessive mirror-checking and reassurance-seeking. We work on increasing the awareness of the deeper issues and modifying negative core beliefs. A number of behavioral experiments are used to test out assumptions and broadening the person's perspective. To combat the grief of a lost dream and depression, we emphasize finding and committing to deeper values that can bring joy and contentment.

Sequence: Sixteen 2-hour-long sessions (4 Modules of 4 sessions each). Access to the program is the 1st session of any Module.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Group

Thursdays, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Led by Elke Zuercher-White, Ph.D., ABPP

This is a sixteen week treatment program for clients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and OCD Spectrum Disorders such as Trichotillomania and compulsive skin picking. This is a state of the art program which uses the latest developments from Cognitive Behavior Therapy to treat the above difficulties. Exposure and Response Prevention is used extensively throughout the program.

The sixteen weeks are divided into four separate Modules and treatment can begin at the start of any Module and the Modules can be taken in any order. For clients wishing to continue treatment after the sixteen weeks have been completed, any Module can be repeated.

Panic/Agoraphobia/Phobia Group

Wednesdays, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Led by Elke Zuercher-White, Ph.D., ABPP

This is a sixteen week program, meeting weekly (except holidays), for clients with panic, agoraphobia and some other phobias. We address panic and phobic fears and avoidances, both cognitively and behaviorally, as well as relapse prevention. Clients learn to understand where such fears tend to originate from, what maintains and reinforces them, and how to overcome their fears. While everyone's rate of progress varies, we strongly encourage clients to aspire for recovery.

The introductory segment, Phase 1, is 4 weeks long with access any week. The more intensive part of the program, Phase 2, is 12 weeks long and consists of three 4 week Modules and can be started in the beginning of any one Module. For those wanting to work more, repeat of any Module of Phase 2 is possible.

Once you have completed Phase 1 you may start the rest of the program with any of the next three modules Cost for the program is $75 per session for Phase 1 and $85 form each session in Phase 2. We ask that you pay for each module in advance.

Social Anxiety Group

Wednesdays, 3:00pm-5:00pm
Led by Elke Zuercher-White, Ph.D., ABPP

Module I: Social Skills Training. We work on conversation skills, assertiveness, and anger management.

Modules II, III, & IV: Cognitive-Exposure Mastery Program. We work on the following problem areas: avoidance behaviors and feared symptoms, use of safety devices, unhelpful beliefs, harmful perfectionism. To achieve mastery: approach behaviors such as live simulations of challenging situations, empathizing with others, social task concentration training, and identifying and committing to values to enhance the meaning of one's life.

Sequence: Sixteen 2-hour-long sessions (4 Modules of 4 sessions each). Access to the program is the 1st session of any Module.

Worry Group

TBA
Led by Elke Zuercher-White, Ph.D., ABPP

This program is for clients who suffer from chronic worry and anxiety in their everyday lives. (It is not for people who are going through a situational crisis that causes them to temporarily worry in excess.)

In this group, clients learn a variety of behavioral and cognitive strategies to directly combat chronic worry tendencies. The strategies are further worked on at home in between sessions around actual worries. Avoidances and unhelpful behaviors such as reassurance-seeking are addressed. Besides the direct worry interventions, there are adjuncts that clients learn, such as committing to true values and other approaches to bring more meaning and lightness to their lives.

Sequence: Sixteen 2-hour-long sessions (4 Modules of 4 sessions each). Access to the program is the 1st session of any Module.

Future and Upcoming Groups:

Spanish Speaking Depression/Anxiety Group

This psychotherapy program is for clients with depression and/or anxiety, with emphasis on problem areas and the need of current group members. Access to this ongoing group is any week.

We address and learn strategies to combat depression, worry tendencies, panic fear, and phobias. Assertiveness work is aimed at empowering oneself, identifying and committing to true values is to find new meaning in life.

Este programa de psicoterapia es para clients con depresión y/o ansiedad, con énfasis en las áreas problemáticas de los miembros corrientes del grupo. Acceso a este grupo coninuo es cada semana.

Enfrentamos y aprendemos estrategias para combtir depresión, tendencias de preocupación crónica, miedo a pánico, y fobias.Trabajo en asertividad es para adquirir más fortaleza interior y auto-confianza, identificar y cometerse a sus verdaderos valores es para encontrar nuevo sentido en la vida de uno. Trichollotillomania/Skin Picking Group