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| 2004 Tutorial: Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy for Anxiety Disorders |
| Tuesday, June 1, 2004 |
| 9:00 AM–9:50 AM |
| Grand Ballroom |
| Area: CBM; Domain: Applied Research |
| None CE Offered. CE Instructor: Laura Ely, Ph.D. |
| Chair: Laura Ely (University of Mississippi) |
| Presenting Authors: : GEORG H. EIFERT (Chapman University) |
| Abstract: This tutorial will explore ways to integrate the successful components of traditional CBT within an Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT) framework. Converging research evidence shows that active suppression of anxiety-related responding is counterproductive. Anxious individuals do best under conditions in which they make no attempt to escape from or otherwise reduce the effects of fear experienced during exposure. Recent research confirms that creating an acceptance context, rather than a context emphasizing symptom control, leads to less behavioural avoidance and greater willingness to participate in interoceptive and other exposure exercises. Paradoxically, it also leads to less subjective anxiety. Introducing acceptance strategies may be particularly helpful for clients that have been reluctant to comply with commonly used cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBT) for anxiety disorders. Unlike traditional CBT, ABBT is not primarily directed at controlling or reducing the presenting problem (anxiety). Instead, ABBT: teaches clients that controlling anxiety is the problem, not a solution; introduces acceptance as an alternative agenda for dealing with the problem; teaches mindfulness and acceptance-based techniques to deal with aversive bodily sensations, thoughts, and feelings during anxiety states and interoceptive exposure exercises; and redirects client concern for overcoming anxiety toward identifying valued life directions and putting values into committed action. |
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| GEORG H. EIFERT (Chapman University) |
 Dr. Georg Eifert obtained his PhD at the University of Frankfurt in Germany, where he was also born. He came to Chapman University in 2002 after serving for nine years as the Eberly Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology at West Virginia University in Morgantown. Previously, he was Chief of Psychology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Head of Psychology at James Cook University of North Queensland, Australia. Dr. Eifert’s primary goal has been to develop integrative behavioral models and treatments of anxiety disorders, particularly panic, specific phobias, and illness anxiety. Together with his students, he has developed new methods to study anxiety and emotional distress in the laboratory and translated those findings into new clinical applications for dealing with emotional distress. His most recent research has focused on how new behavioral psychotherapy approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be integrated with existing empirically supported behavioral interventions for anxiety, depression, and eating disorders such as anorexia. In addition, Dr. Eifert has published widely on conceptual advances and their relation to technique innovations in behavior therapy. Dr. Eifert regularly gives workshops in the US and Europe on acceptance-based behavior therapy and empirically supported behavioral treatments of anxiety disorders. |
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