Dr. Thea Gallagher joins me in this episode to talk in more depth about exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) therapy for OCD. Specifically, we discuss the importance of ritual prevention, why we need to overshoot normal when treating OCD, the rationale for imaginal exposure, and so much more.
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy for OCD with Dr. Lily Brown | Episode 11
Exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) therapy is a highly effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this episode, I talk with Dr. Lily Brown about the rationale for EX/RP, as well as what this therapy entails and strategies for maximizing the gains that people make in this treatment. If you struggle with OCD or care about someone who does, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Episode 10
Although the term OCD is often thrown around as an adjective, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is actually a frequently misunderstood and potentially debilitating mental health condition. Contrary to what many of us think, OCD involves much more than just washing, cleaning, and arranging things. Join me for this 10th episode in honor of OCD Awareness Week to learn about what OCD is and some of the many ways in which it can present. And because increasing awareness is key to helping those with OCD find the help and support they need, please also consider sharing this episode widely.
It's Not "Just Anxiety": Suicide Risk and Prevention in Individuals with Anxiety Disorders | Episode 9
In this episode, I talk about suicide risk and prevention in individuals with anxiety disorders. Although we don’t often talk about suicide and anxiety together, research consistently shows that the presence of an anxiety disorder significantly increases one’s risk of dying by suicide. Listen in to hear me talk about why this is the case and steps that we can take to reduce the risk of suicide. I also talk about what to do if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide and conclude with some words of hope and light.
Goodbye Unhelpful Anxiety: Tips & Tricks for Befriending It with Dr. Terri Bacow | Episode 8
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Terri Bacow about her forthcoming book Goodbye Anxiety: A Guided Journal for Overcoming Worry, which will be available for purchase in December of this year. Specifically, we discuss common triggers for anxiety — including uncertainty, perfectionism, adversity, social comparisons, long to-do-lists, the possibility of failing, and our inner critics — as well as science-informed strategies for skillfully coping with these triggers and changing the way in which we view and experience anxiety.
Developing a New Relationship with Anxiety with Dr. Joel Minden | Episode 7
Does anxiety boss you around and dictate what you do and don’t do? If so, this episode is for you. Tune in to listen to my conversation with Dr. Joel Minden about his book, Show Your Anxiety Who’s Boss, and his three-step approach to managing anxiety. As you’ll hear, Dr. Minden shares a number of science-backed tools for developing a new relationship with anxiety and I hope that our conversation helps you begin to do just that.
Navigating Anxiety About the Delta Variant and Kids with Annie Andrews, MD | Episode 6
With the delta variant of COVID-19 making more and more kids sick, many parents are feeling anxious right now about how to best protect their kids. In this episode, I talk with Annie Andrews, MD who is an Associate Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in the Department of Pediatrics as well as the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship Director there. Dr. Andrews is a board certified pediatrician, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, an expert in gun violence prevention, and a fierce advocate for children. Listen in to hear us discuss what we know about the delta variant and kids, what remains unknown, and strategies for navigating this uncertainty and the anxiety that comes with it.
Retraining the Brain Using Prolonged Exposure Therapy with Dr. Sheila Rauch and Dr. Carmen McLean | Episode 5
In this episode I talk with Drs. Sheila Rauch and Carmen McLean about their new book, Retraining the Brain: Applied Neuroscience in Exposure Therapy for PTSD. Listen and learn about the many ways in which findings from the field of neuroscience can be brought into the therapy room to bolster PTSD treatment outcomes.
Dr. Sheila Rauch is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine and serves as deputy director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program and director of mental health research and program evaluation at the VA Atlanta Healthcare System. For over 20 years, Dr. Rauch has been conducting PTSD treatment research, providing PTSD treatment, training other providers in treating PTSD, and publishing extensively on PTSD and anxiety disorders. She co-authored the second edition of the Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD therapist guide, as well as the manual for conducting prolonged exposure in intensive outpatient programs. She also co-authored the book PTSD: What Everyone Needs to Know, which is a scientifically-supported, accessible and reader-friendly resource for understanding PTSD and its treatment.
Dr. Carmen McLean is a clinical psychologist in the dissemination and training division of the National Center for PTSD at the Palo Alto VA Healthcare System and a clinical associate professor (affiliate) at Stanford University. She is a certified prolonged exposure therapy provider and supervisor and has published over 100 scholarly articles and book chapters on topics related to PTSD and anxiety. Her research aims to increase the reach of exposure therapy for PTSD by examining implementation barriers and using technology and condensed delivery of exposure to address barriers to treatment access.
Understanding and Coping with Re-Entry Anxiety | Episode 4
Feeling anxious about returning to business as usual? You aren’t alone. As life begins to return to some semblance of normal, re-entry anxiety (also known as reopening anxiety) is becoming increasingly common. Tune in to this episode to learn about what re-entry anxiety is, why so many of us are experiencing it at this stage of the pandemic, and how you can use evidence-based tools to cope with it.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD with Dr. Lori Zoellner | Episode 3
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Lori Zoellner about prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, which is a highly effective, evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dr. Zoellner is a world-renowned expert in trauma and PTSD. Her research and clinical work focus on the development, maintenance, and treatment of PTSD and she came on the show to share her expertise in treating PTSD with PE. Specifically, we talk about the rationale for PE, what changes people can expect to see with treatment, who can benefit from PE, and efforts to optimize PE treatment outcomes.
Understanding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Episode 2
In honor of National PTSD Awareness Month, this episode is all about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Specifically, in this episode I cover what PTSD is (and isn’t) and why it is that some people develop PTSD following a trauma while others don’t. If you find this episode helpful, please join me in spreading hope for those who are struggling in the wake of a trauma and be sure to check out the next episode to learn about evidence-based treatment for PTSD.
Welcome to the Anxiety Savvy Podcast | Episode 1
In this first episode I discuss what inspired this podcast, who this podcast is for, and what you can expect from it. I also talk a bit about what anxiety is and how we can intervene when it becomes problematic.
