Mark H Pollack – författare

Stopping Anxiety Medication Therapist Guide, Second Edition outlines a treatment program for individuals who have difficulties with anxiety and panic to discontinue using medication, specifically benzodiazepines otherwise known as minor tranquilizers. These medications can be habit-forming and individuals may have trouble reducing their dosage. Many people wish to taper their use of these medicines for various reasons including, a planned pregnancy, personal preference, bothersome side effects, etc.

Millions of people are prescribed medication for anxiety and panic everyday. One of the most common medications prescribed are tranquilizers which can be addictive and habit-forming. Many individuals may wish to discontinue their medication for various reasons. Some have been free of anxiety symptoms for some time and feel they no longer need meds. Women may wish to become pregnant and others may suffer from bothersome side effects. Whatever the reason, weaning off anxiety medications can be extremely difficult. This Workbook, in conjunction with the corresponding Therapist Guide, outlines a treatment program for helping individuals discontinue their medication. This evidence-based treatment incorporates the basic principles of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is also effective for treating the underlying Panic Disorder itself. This revised edition of the Workbook teaches the skills necessary to help individuals wean off their medicine through the use of cognitive restructuring techniques, along with exposure to panic and anxiety sensations. New to this edition is a reorganized Chapter 2 that places the core emphasis on the role of fears of anxiety sensations in enhancing the difficulties associated with stopping medication, and a section on discontinuing the use of antidepressants. Blank logs are included for keeping track of homework assignments, as well as for monitoring progress.

It is well-established that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a rich and effective tool for treating a range of anxiety and mood disorders and behavioral disturbances. Most clinicians, however, have not been formally trained in how to administer CBT, and integrating one of the many available manuals detailing week-by-week protocols into their individual clinical practices is a daunting task. Whether brief interventions are desired for use in medication visits or whether key elements of CBT are needed for use in an eclectic treatment practice, clear instruction is needed on how to improve patient outcomes by adapting key components of cognitive-behavioral interventions. 10-Minute CBT provides such guidance with a clear and straightforward account of the principles of CBT that fit into the realities of current practice for clinicians from any interventional perspective. Instead of offering a full regimented program of treatment, this book provides the philosophy and elements of CBT so that select targeted interventions can be integrated into already-established clinical practice. This book offers a comprehensive overview of disorder-specific strategies and core principles of CBT, as well as the empirical base that supports these principles. Other features include therapist-patient dialogues, an intervention troubleshooting guide, and "treatment principle" boxes that provide rapid identification of key concepts. Written by a team of experts representing a range of practice formats, this book offers tools that will make CBT accessible to and employable by all practitioners who wish to incorporate elements of CBT into their treatment.