Many clinicians use exposure therapy as a part of their practice, but many experience some discomfort with the modality and wonder if they are getting the most out of it. This interactive workshop will help you to maximize the benefits from exposure therapy for numerous clinical presentations.
DASC Chicago welcomes Kerry Curran, LCSW, ACT and Katie Riehman, LPC who have expertise in the development and implementation of treatment based on exposure therapy.
Kerry Curran is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at DASC. Ms. Curran graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and obtained her Master’s in Social Work at the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago with a concentration in mental health. She is a Certified Diplomate with the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (ACT). Ms. Curran provides group and individual services at DASC. She specializes in treating anxiety disorders including OCD, panic disorder, generalized anxiety, social phobia and specific phobias in addition to personality disorders, depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, and interpersonal issues.
Katie Riehman is a Licensed Professional Counselor at DASC. Ms. Riehman earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master’s in Education from the University of Notre Dame. She received her Education Specialist degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Loyola University Chicago. Ms. Riehman has experience working with adults, adolescents, and children in individual, group, and family therapy facing a variety of mental health concerns. She currently specializes in exposure-based treatments for anxiety including social anxiety, panic attacks, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and working with individuals experiencing anxiety and sadness in ways that are negatively impacting their lives.
This 3-hour intensive training will utilize experiential learning to teach attendees how to a) orient clients to ERP, b) design exposures that incorporate recent research on willingness and inhibitory learning, c) identify and embrace the therapist's role during exposures, d) respond to common problems that might arise during an exposure, and e) process the exposure experience with clients. In addition to covering specific skills, this workshop aims to increase therapists' own sense of mastery and confidence regarding ERP implementation. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to roleplay each component after observing live demonstrations, ask questions in real-time while practicing skills, and get feedback from presenters. This workshop is ideal for clinicians who want to begin utilizing exposures with clients or who want to improve their comfort and effectiveness with exposure treatment.
This introductory workshop is designed for clinicians who want to begin utilizing exposures with clients or who want to improve their comfort and effectiveness with exposure treatment. Objectives of the workshop include:
1. Effectively communicate the anxiety cycle and rationale for exposure to clients in order to improve client motivation in treatment.
2. Design and implement comprehensive exposures that incorporate up to date research on ERP.
3. Actively monitor client’s experience during exposures and modify exposures accordingly.
4. Adaptively respond to common problems that arise during exposure therapy.
5. Facilitate new learning following exposures and facilitate continued practice between sessions.
