HME B68 - Anxiety, OCD, and Trauma

Course Description

Individuals with anxiety disorders, OCD, and trauma share a common bond in that they try to feel as good as possible as quickly as possible. While this may seem to be a wise goal, the truth is it may be the very thing that keeps people anxious and uncomfortable longer than they need to be. This webinar will review how the five big safety seeking behaviors that keep people stuck and feeling uncomfortable longer than necessary (Avoidance, Reassurance Seeking, Distraction, Substance Use, and Compulsions) keep people stuck and feeling uncomfortable longer than necessary. Many clinicians have been taught to use coping skills such as diaphragmatic breathing and muscle relaxation to assist their patients who are anxious and uncomfortable. While these skills may calm a person down in the moment, in the long term they can become a part of a litany of things one must do over and over again to just try to feel good in the moment. This webinar will review how to treat individuals with anxiety, OCD, and trauma without providing them with safety seeking behaviors and teaching them to tolerate uncomfortable experiences such as doubt, uncertainty, panic and fear.