This presentation by Andrew Leeds, Ph.D. provides clinicians with research and clinically informed treatment plans for alleviating symptoms of panic across of range of cases. This includes those with only a panic disorder diagnosis, those with developmental trauma and co-occurring anxiety or personality disorders, and those with a dissociative disorder and dissociative phobias. Emphasis is placed on developing a case conceptualization founded on the Adaptive Information Processing model and integrating Attachment Theory and the Theory of Structural Dissociation. Clinical examples and guidelines are presented for identifying targets, when to extend preparation phase work, and when to address core attachment material or hidden dissociative phobias.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to identify key strengths and weaknesses of evidence-based cognitive and behavioral therapies, pharmacotherapy, and EMDR treatments for Panic Disorder (PD) and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia (PDA).
2. Participants will be able to identify specific PD targets and treatment goals within the Adaptive Information Processing model.
3. Participants will be able to screen for and recognize when panic symptoms likely arise as a result of a dissociative (internal) phobia in those with a dissociative disorder.
4. Participants will be able to select and implement anxiety management strategies in the preparation phase of treatment appropriate for those with PDA and PD with co-morbid anxiety, Axis II disorders and dissociative disorders.
5. Participants will be able to define the key differences between Model I and Model II treatment plans for cases of PDA or PD with co-morbid anxiety or Axis II disorders and will be able to identify and recognize 13 factors suggestive of PDA and co-morbid PD cases with a need to prune early associations to core childhood attachment material in the initial series of EMDR reprocessing sessions.

Presenter(s)

Andrew Leeds, Ph.D.

Andrew Leeds, Ph.D., is a licensed Psychologist with 40+ years of private practice experience. He completed EMDR training in 1991. He has conducted EMDR training for 14,000 clinicians internationally and presented at numerous conferences. He is author of A Guide to the Standard EMDR Therapy Protocols (2016), articles, and chapters. He served on EMDRIA Board 2003-2005. He serves the Journal of EMDR Editorial Board and Council of Scholars. He is Director of Training for Sonoma Psychotherapy Training Institute. In 1999, he received Ronald Martinez Memorial Award from Francine Shapiro, EMDRIA’s award for creative innovation, and in 2013 EMDRIA’s Francine Shapiro Award.