Main description:

Going beyond one-size-fits-all approaches, this indispensable book describes how to design and implement exposure-based interventions for clients suffering from any type of pathological worry or fear. The expert authors translate cutting-edge theory and research into flexible guidelines for real-world clinical practice. They present the nuts and bolts of individualized assessment and treatment planning and offer strategies for engaging clients successfully. Chapters organized around common anxiety triggers feature a wealth of case examples and specific ideas for exposure exercises. Special topics include working with child clients and combining therapy with medication. Several reproducible handouts and forms are provided. This book will be important reading for practitioners and students in clinical psychology, psychiatry, counseling, and social work. It may also serve as a supplemental text in clinically oriented graduate-level courses.

Contents:

Part I: The Fundamentals of Exposure Therapy. Overview and History of Exposure Therapy for Anxiety. How Well Does Exposure Therapy Work? The Nature and Treatment of Clinical Anxiety. Treatment Planning I: Functional Assessment. Treatment Planning II: Hierarchy Development and Treatment Engagement. Implementing Exposure Therapy: An Overview. Part II: Implementing Exposure Therapy for Specific Types of Fears. Animal-related Fears. Natural Environments. Social Concerns. Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts. Bodily Cues and Health Concerns. Contamination. The Aftermath of Trauma. Blood-, Injection-, and Injury-related Stimuli. Incompleteness, Asymmetry, and Not-Just-Right Feelings. Part III: Special Considerations in the Use of Exposure Techniques. Exposure Therapy with Complex Cases. Exposure Therapy with Children. Involving Significant Others in Treatment. Combining Exposure Therapy with Medication. Maintaining Improvement After Treatment. A Risk-benefit Analysis of Exposure Therapy.