Exposure Therapy – Information and Resources

Exposure is arguably the most important component of anxiety-related treatment. Despite decades of study, however, researchers are still developing an understanding of how it works and refining the procedures to improve effectiveness. This is an exciting time for exposure! Newer research is questioning the role of habituation in successful exposure and increasingly emphasizing the importance of developing a willingness to experience fear and anxiety.

For the last few years, I’ve been working to immerse myself in exposure research. This has been a steep learning curve, as I didn’t receive much background in graduate school. At times I’ve felt overwhelmed by the more technical accounts. However, I’ve persevered, and although I still have a lot to learn, I feel my clinical work is better for it.

I’ve written these posts to develop my own understanding of exposure and in the hopes that other therapists would find them helpful, too. I’m extremely interested in the cutting edge work being done to create more flexible models and approaches for applying exposure-based interventions, particularly in the context of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

If you’d like to see me write about another topic related to exposure therapy or want to get some input about using exposure therapy in your practice, write me an email: bthompson@portlandpsychotherapyclinic.com

I’m collecting all my posts about exposure therapy on this page, so please check back as I update it.

Exposure therapy: What can we take away from newer research

This series of posts is meant to serve as an introduction to exposure therapy, examine some of the cutting edge research, and look at shortcomings of some of the older models.

Research studies on exposure-based interventions

This series of posts summarizes some novel studies and applications of exposure-based interventions. Theory is less emphasized, if mentioned at all.

Understanding and using exposure in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy context

This series of posts focuses on how exposure may be applied within ACT. This is still new territory, and some of these posts are my attempts to clarify and summarize my own ideas.

UPCOMING TRAINING EVENTS

ACT with Compassion: An Introduction to Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Highly Self-critical and Shame Prone Clients

January 31, 2020, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm · Portland, OR · Details

This workshop is intended to be part 1 of a two day workshop, but can also be taken on its own. This workshop is useful for therapists who want an update on the current clinically applicable research on how shame functions, including an overview of how and when shame tends to be adaptive versus maladaptive. This day has two primary goals: 1. To provide an overview of research on shame and self-criticism that can guide clinical practice and 2. To allow therapists to experience the model from the inside-out so as to develop greater personal self-compassion and a deeper intuitive understanding of compassion-based intervention strategies. Read more

ACT with Compassion: Deepening Your Skill in Working with Highly Self-critical and Shame Prone Clients

February 1, 2020, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm · Portland, OR · Details

This workshop is intended to be part 2 of a two day workshop, but can also be taken on its own. If you already have a thorough understanding of the functions of shame and a good understanding of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, then it is you will probably be OK taking just the second day of this workshop. The workshop proceeds to discuss how ACT processes can be focused on addressing chronic and pervasive shame-based difficulties, with a particular focus on flexible perspective taking. Demonstrations of how to use perspective taking and compassion-fostering strategies with clients will be provided and attendees will also practice in small groups. An overview of chair work in the context of ACT will be provided. Read more

What’s New in Exposure Therapy? Theory, Application, and Practice.

February 29, 2020, 9:00 am – 12:15 pm · Portland, OR · Details

Exposure is one of most the effective treatments for anxiety, trauma, and obsessive compulsive and related disorders (e.g., OCD, PTSD, panic disorder). A transdiagnostic intervention, exposure involves the repeated and systematic engagement with avoided stimuli that cause anxiety. Unfortunately, exposure remains underutilized by clinicians (e.g., Scherr, Herbert, & Forman, 2015), mostly due to misunderstandings of how exposure works and perceived difficulty of using it with clients. This half-day workshop will address these gaps by drawing from research on enhancing clinician understanding of and ways to overcome barriers to delivering exposure therapy (Farrell et al., 2016). Using didactics, role-play, and experiential exercises, participants will learn flexible application of exposure for a variety of clinical targets. Read more

The Compassionate and Flexible Therapist-Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Bring out the Best in you as a Therapist

April 17 and 18, 2020, 9:15 am – 5:00 pm · Portland, OR · Details

Do you ever “get stuck” as a therapist? Do some of your clients press your “hot buttons”? Do you ever find yourself struggling and thinking about “what do I do next” or feeling anxious, scared or stressed in therapy? In this workshop we will work on clarifying your therapist values and defining what is “difficult” about “difficult” clients. Through discussions, demonstrations and roleplays we will then work on these difficult clients and look at the processes from a compassionate ACT perspective. Read more