What the Research Reveals About Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Topics: Psychotherapy

Approximately half of Americans will have a psychiatric disorder that will meet DSM-IV criteria in their lifetime, with the first onset usually occurring in childhood or adolescence (Kessler RC et al, Arch Gen Psychiatry 2005;62(6):593–603). While there have been many pharmacological and psychotherapeutic advances in treating psychiatric disorders, th

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Different Approach

Topics: Psychotherapy

Western thinking about mental illness, modeled after physical disease, assumes that psychological suffering is abnormal. For example, the DSM-IV uses “clinically significant distress or impairment” to draw the boundary between normal and abnormal. Psychopathology then becomes a target for therapy. Some mindfulness-based psychotherapies question t

Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy: Zen and Now

Topics: Psychotherapy

When it comes to mindfulness-based therapy, it’s a true case of what’s old is new again. Mindfulness-based treatments have been described as psychotherapy’s “third wave,” coming on the heels of behaviorist approaches and cognitive interventions, respectively. While seemingly new, mindfulness can be traced back to antiqui

The Many Uses of Positive Psychology

Topics: Psychotherapy

What Research Says About Positive Psychology

Topics: Psychotherapy

Back in 1998, for every 17 research articles devoted to negatively-oriented emotions there was only one article on positively-oriented emotions (Achor S. The Happiness Advantage. New York: Crown Business; 2011). Martin E.P. Seligman, PhD, the American psychologist who has been called the father of positive psychology, said this phenomenon is “half-

How You Can Use Positive Psychology in Your Practice

Topics: Psychotherapy

Positive psychology is a relatively new branch of psychology that is getting more attention. The positive psychology movement has gained momentum, both within the psychology profession and in the broader culture. Positive psychology is focused on the traits and features that contribute to a robust sense of happiness, resilience in the face of trauma and

How You Can Use Positive Psychology in Your Practice [Free Article]

Topics: Free Articles | Psychotherapy

Techniques to Treat Panic Disorder

Topics: Anxiety Disorder | Psychotherapy

Dr. Burns is the author of Feeling Good, The Feeling Good Handbook, and When Panic Attacks, which are available at bookstores and can be purchased online. You can learn more about his work by visiting his website at www.feelinggood.com. For a full list of references click here.

Pharmacotherapy for Panic Disorder

Topics: Anxiety Disorder | Psychotherapy

When it comes to medication management, practitioners often treat anxiety disorders as though they are all the same. However, there are specific clinical pearls that you should be aware of to adequately treat your clients with panic disorder. This review will provide you with a quick overview of panic disorder treatment options, including which medic

Understanding and Treating Panic Disorder

Topics: Anxiety Disorder | Psychotherapy

When a person perceives there is danger, a fight-or-flight response sets into motion many physiological changes that prepare him or her to address the danger. Heart rate and breathing speed up, blood pressure rises; the person is energized and, hopefully, ready to meet the challenge. Just as it helped the caveman defend against (or run from) the sabr

Web Only - Online Resources to Help Professionals Help Clients Empower Themselves

Topics: Psychotherapy

The Latest Antidepressant Controversy

Topics: Psychotherapy

Intentional Peer Support in the Therapeutic Relationship

Topics: Psychotherapy

Promoting Empowerment in Clinical Practice

Topics: Psychotherapy

Empowerment can best be described as a client’s ability to be actively involved in his or her care. Empowered clients see—and believe— themselves to be capable of making decisions about their treatment, and are confident that their decisions will help them effectively manage their mental illnesses (Alegria M et al, Med Care 2008;46(3):247–256).

Promoting Empowerment in Clinical Practice [Free Article]

Topics: Psychotherapy

CBT Helps Low-Functioning Patients with Schizophrenia

Topics: Psychotherapy

Six Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Treating Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Topics: Psychotherapy

Therapy needs to be tailored to the issues, the patient, and the risk factors in her environment. This is especially true in domestic violence, where our urge to spirit a battered woman away from her partner may feel like a good idea to us, but not reflect a client’s best interests, and could even endanger her. Here are six recommendations that will e

Pharmacological Considerations in Treating Patients Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

Topics: Psychotherapy

Patients who have been exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) often develop significant psychiatric symptoms, most commonly insomnia, anxiety, and depression (Wuest J et al, Can J Public Health 2007,98(6):460–464; Stene L et al, Scand J Public Health 2010, 38(5 Suppl):88–95). Despite the fact that a majority of those exposed to IPV seek medical

Counseling for Intimate Partner Violence

Topics: Psychotherapy

Annie Mortimer (not her real name), a graduate student in her late 20s, came to the Safe Horizon Community Program after her therapist of six months had terminated services with her. Annie had initially gone to this therapist for depressive symptoms, and to deal with longstanding family issues. About four months into treatment, she disclosed that her

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

Topics: Psychotherapy

Insomnia in DSM-5 According to Dr. Morin, DSM-5 will move away from the distinction between “primary” and “secondary” insomnia that is present in DSM-IV, and instead identify all insomnia as “insomnia disorder.” While the condition description will include a list of comorbid conditions, clinicians won’t have to make a causal attribution o