25 Custom Treatment Techniques for Anxious and Depressed Clients

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Margaret Wehrenberg, PsyD Related seminars and products

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Margaret Wehrenberg, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist, is the author of nine books on the treatment of anxiety and depression, including her most recent e-book, Pandemic Anxiety: Fear, Stress, and Loss in Traumatic Times (January, 2021), bestselling book, The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques (W.W. Norton, 2018), and You Can Handle It: 10 Steps to Shift Stress from Problem to Possibility (PESI, 2017). She has also written a book for the general public, The 10 Best Anxiety Busters.

An expert on the treatment of anxiety and depression, she also has extensive training and expertise in the neurobiology of psychological disorders. In addition to clinical work, she coaches business professionals on managing anxiety and has contributed articles for the Psychotherapy Networker magazine. She has produced Relaxation for Tension and Worry, audio soundtracks for breathing, muscle relaxation and imagery to use with anxious clients. Margaret blogs on depression for Psychology Today. Noted for humor, pragmatic treatment approaches, and her interactive teaching style, Dr. Wehrenberg is a sought-after speaker for conferences and trainings, consistently getting the highest ratings for her dynamic presentation and high-quality content. She is one of PESI’s most highly rated speakers and her evaluation from the most seasoned professionals often rank her training “as among the best I have ever attended.”
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Margaret Wehrenberg maintains a private practice. She receives royalties as a published author. She is an international presenter and receives compensation. Dr. Wehrenberg receives a speaking honorarium, book royalties, and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Margaret Wehrenberg is a member of the Anxiety Disorder Association of America.

Target Audience

Outline

Comorbidity of Anxiety and Depression

• Unique challenges
• Tips to enhance the therapeutic relationship
• Interactions of symptoms
• Assessment
• Types of anxious & depressed clients
  • Traits
  • Lifestyle
  • Customize approach for each type

25 Customized Treatment Strategies for each Type

• Low Energy & Depressed
  • Raise energy
  • Gets the train rolling
  • Use future energy
  • Change hopeless/helpless meta-cognitions
• Hopeless Ruminators
  • Redirect & shift internal locus of control
  • Breakdown “I won’t”
  • Alter helpless explanatory style
• Worried & Exhausted
  • Denial & choice
  • Examine values
  • Prevent burnout
  • Transfer worry & build brain circuitry
• Panicky & Depressed
  • Predict, Prevent and prepare
  • Stop catastrophic thinking
  • Calming techniques
  • Analyze themes of depression over failures and guilt
• Quiet Avoiders
  • Self-isolation reinforces depression
  • Control social anxiety
  • Change inner dialogue
  • Provide & practice new scripts
  • Unlearn fear & build positive experiences
• High Energy & Depressed
  • Breakdown perfectionism and over-activity
  • Personal balance wheel
  • Accept alternate plans and outcomes
• High Anxiety
  • Special attention to worry
  • Stop rumination
  • Contain worry
  • Effective cognitive tools

Objectives

1. Identify 7 types of co-occurring anxiety and depression.
2. Discuss how to avoid pitfalls in the therapeutic relationship common to comorbid anxiety and depression and engage productively with clients.
3. Outline strategies to stop rumination and shift internal locus of control.
4. Illustrate custom treatment methods for the various types of comorbid anxious and depressed clients.
5. Develop cognitive skills to stop worry and prevent catastrophic thinking.
6. Utilize the balance wheel to identify and select appropriate lifestyle changes.
7. List several methods that improve energy in physical, emotional and behavioral patterns of depression and anxiety.