Exposure Therapy for Child and Adolescent Anxiety and OCD (ABCT Clinical Practice Series)

Exposure is the most important component of therapy for anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents. Unfortunately, few clinicians offer this treatment, making it very difficult for youth and their families to seek effective care. __Exposure Therapy for Child and Adolescent Anxiety and OCD__ delivers a succinct yet comprehensive guide to the use of exposure therapy with youth suffering from anxiety and OCD. Within the heart of this book, clinicians will discover a clear, step-by-step model, illustrated with sample dialogue, for engaging their young patients in this most effective treatment. Detailed case examples bring to life the application of all forms of exposure (in vivo, imaginal, and interoceptive) to a wide range of anxiety and OCD presentations. Beyond teaching the mechanics for implementing exposure, the authors present a clinical model for understanding how exposure works, synthesizing the key issues from current competing theories. This model can enhance the ability of clinicians to apply exposure to new and more challenging presentations. The authors review common challenges to implementing exposure in real-world settings and assist clinicians in overcoming frequently encountered barriers. Within this compact book, clinicians will find a comprehensive guide to build their expertise in the delivery of exposure therapy for children and adolescents suffering from anxiety disorders or OCD. Contents Series Foreword About the Authors Section 1. Overview and Background 1. Introduction and History 2. Theoretical Base and Mechanism of Action Section 2. Empirical Support 3. Review of Evidence: Adult Literature 4. Review of Evidence: Child Literature Section 3. Clinical Application 5. Preparing for Exposure 6. Implementing Exposure Section 4. Case Illustrations 7. In Vivo Exposure Case Examples 8. Imaginal and Interoceptive Exposure Case Examples Section 5. Troubleshooting 9. Obstacles to Implementation 10. Additional Resources Index "The therapeutic value of confronting, rather than avoiding, difficult emotions and issues, is integral to many approaches to psychotherapy (Foa & Kozak, 1986). Exposure therapy accomplishes this goal in the simplest, most straightforward manner. Although the principles of exposure are relevant to many emotional symptoms (Carey, 2011), this book will focus on its application to anxiety and obsessive compulsive symptoms in children and adolescents"-- Provided by publisher