Intensive Treatment for Phobias, Panic and Agoraphobia
We offer an evidence-based, one-week intensive treatment for phobias, panic, and agoraphobia for clients who are motivated to achieve rapid relief from their symptoms. We also offer a one-session treatment (OST) for specific phobias as another form of rapid relief from fear and anxiety for interested clients.
What is the One-Week Intensive for Phobias, Panic, and Agoraphobia?
Our one-week intensive is a form of rapid exposure therapy for specific phobias, panic, and agoraphobia that involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in concert with affective neuroscience. Our process is evidence-based, collaborative, and represents the gold standard treatment for fear-based disorders. Treatment is delivered over the course of one week with a clinician over a 2-3 hour period each day until the client is able to independently confront fears on their own, in essence, becoming “their own Psychologist.” Upon completion of the one week intensive, the client will be assigned homework and periodic phone check-ins with the clinician will take place for a period of 3 months, with “booster session” check-ins via in-person meetings or through telehealth. Read more about our work with panic and agoraphobia here.
What is One-Session Treatment (OST) for Phobias?
One-Session Treatment (OST) is a type of rapid exposure therapy for specific phobias. The client is gradually exposed to elements of the phobic object or situation until the defined, learning task is completed. Our process involves collaboratively generating a fear hierarchy with the client and assisting the client in real time with exposure to the feared object or situation over a 3-5 hour period within the “real world.” Upon completion of OST, the client will be assigned homework and periodic phone check-ins with the clinician will take place for a period of 3 months, with “booster session” check-ins via in-person or through telehealth. Dr. Chapman is an internationally recognized expert for the treatment of phobias and other anxiety disorders as well as the implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Read more about Dr. Chapman’s work with phobias here and here.
Are you a Good Candidate for our intensives?
We use the following criteria in determining who is a good candidate for our intensives:
- Motivation: Adherence to all components of the treatment process is essential to eliminating conditional fear responses. Though resistance is normal, nonadherence to our intensive will sabotage the treatment ingredients. The individual who is receiving any of our intensives needs to be motivated.
- Distress Tolerance: Being uncomfortable during our intensive is normal and expected. Being anxious during our intensive is not a sign that learning has not occurred. Learning how to tolerate being uncomfortable (distress tolerance) is crucial for rapid exposure therapy.
- Perseverance: Follow through upon completion of our intensive is essential to maintaining treatment gains long term.
What should I expect during the intensive?
Both the one-week intensive for phobias, panic, and agoraphobia and the OST for phobias will take place in four phases: consultation phase (30 minutes), intake phase (2 hours), the intensive phase (2-5 hour rapid exposure session), and the sticky phase (variability of treatment components and communication with your clinician over a 3 month period).
Consultation Phase
You and your clinician will videoconference to determine if you are a good candidate for our intensive program. The consultation phase will last 30 minutes. This will ensure that the clinician can assess the nature of the phobia or panic/agoraphobia, the level of impairment in your functioning, and the level of motivation for treatment.
Intake Phase (2 hours): You will complete a clinical interview with your clinician to determine the treatment plan for conquering your phobia or panic/agoraphobia. A treatment plan will be collaboratively developed which includes the following:
- The location(s) for treatment
- The objects, situations, and stimuli necessary for treatment
- The logistics of travel to and from the location of treatment o This may include access to restaurants, supermarkets, home visits, car/air travel or other considerations.
- Selection of a “co-pilot” (support person) will be highly recommended but not necessary in some cases. Treatment can be substantially bolstered by having a supportive loved one throughout the treatment process. This will be discussed during your intake session.
- Generation of the fear hierarchy and treatment planning
Intensive Phase (Rapid Exposure Therapy, 2-5 hours): You and your clinician will meet at the agreed upon location to begin your rapid exposure. The length of time spent on each portion of your fear hierarchy is based upon what needs to be learned during each step of your hierarchy. Your clinician is highly skilled in determining when you are ready to progress to the next phase of your hierarchy. The length of time of this phase will slightly vary depending on whether you are in the OST program or the One-Week program.
Sticky Phase: The sticky phase is comprised of one, 60-minute booster session with you and your clinician to determine a long-term plan for maintaining “stickiness.” Stickiness refers to maintaining treatment gains long term and minimizing the likelihood of the return of conditional fear (e.g., the return of fear following the passage of time, change in context, or re-traumatization). You will continue to have access to your clinician for an agreed upon amount of time following treatment to facilitate what was learned during your intensive.
Travel Arrangements
You will receive a welcome packet upon your scheduling of your intensive that details the logistics of your treatment plan. Our Office Manager at KYCARDS will assist you with making travel arrangements by facilitating communication with local hotels to ensure that you have a comfortable experience while in Louisville, Kentucky. Our center is conveniently located two minutes away from several hotels, restaurants, and popular shops for the entire family.
Pricing of our Intensives
Our Intensives require a significant amount of time, energy, and collaboration. Our intensives also represent a significant investment on your part as you work to overcome conditional fear that has likely been impairing your functioning for a substantial amount of time. Please call our Office Manager, Brittany Mencotti, to discuss the details of pricing for our intensive programs.
