What kind of treatment is offered in the clinic?
We specialize in short-term skills-based evidence based treatments, primarily cognitive behavioral therapy. This treatment targets anxiety symptom reduction and involves actively challenging problematic thoughts and behaviors that maintain the symptoms. Therapy involves homework in which you would practice the skills in your everyday life. We also use mindfulness and acceptance based treatments. Generally, our clients are referred to us for reducing their anxiety symptoms and complete a full course of treatment in 12-24 sessions.
In addition, since we are a research-based clinic, with supervisors and students who are conducting research on advancing psychological treatments, the treatments are highly focused and tailored to mechanisms underlying the anxiety symptoms based on the best available research evidence.
How long does treatment last? Do you provide long-term treatment?
Treatment usually lasts between 12-24 sessions, and sessions are typically weekly for 50-60 minutes each. Sometimes a course of treatment is shorter and sometimes it is longer, depending on the particular needs of the client. We generally do not provide treatment for longer than 30 sessions. We will sometimes help clients identify therapists in the community after completing a course of treatment in our clinic to help them maintain their gains and provide continued support.
What if we are looking for long-term treatment or maintenance treatment after treatment in your clinic?
We do not provide long-term treatment or maintenance treatment, as our clients are usually referred to us for short-term skills work related to reducing anxiety symptoms. Clients will sometimes return for a few “booster” sessions after a course of treatment to help maintain gains, but we do not provide long-term care.
Do you assess ADHD?
Our initial intake interview is very comprehensive and includes an assessment of ADHD for both adult and child clients. We may also supplement interview data with self-report questionnaire data. However, we do not routinely conduct neurocognitive test batteries (tests of general cognitive functioning, inhibition, working memory, etc.) that may help resolve diagnostic questions, and there are times that a diagnosis of ADHD may be inconclusive without further data from such tests. Thus, if the main concern is regarding assessing and treating ADHD, it is not appropriate for our clinic and we will help refer you to other programs that can address these issues.
Would I be able to work on non-anxiety issues too, like ADHD or borderline personality disorder?
Yes, you will work with your clinician to identify treatment targets that are achievable to address within the short-term time frame of the treatment. Our clients often work on related issues such as depression and sleep. The decision whether to work on other issues like ADHD and personality disorders are based on many factors, such as an individual client’s needs and the extent to which they are related to anxiety. Your clinician will help you tailor your treatment to your specific needs and can help answer this question after completing an assessment.
Do you provide trauma treatment for kids?
Yes, our co-directors have conducted research on trauma-informed treatment for children and adolescents, such as trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other CBT protocols that have been adapted for children. We work together with parents and other support members to tailor treatment to the needs of the child.
Do you work with outside providers?
Yes, our clients tend to have multiple providers in their treatment team, including a psychiatrist or primary care provider, and sometimes other therapists or other professionals, such as dieticians. The extent to which we work with outside providers depends on every individual case. In many cases, we will work with the referring provider and ask you to provide written authorization to permit communication with the provider. We will also often reach out to prescribing physicians, with your permission, to discuss the initiation of our clinical services, and ongoing progress during treatment.