66th Annual Conference

Saturday, February 21

Early Morning Colloquies

Colloquy 8

Overcoming Anxiety: A Cognitive-Behavioral Group Model

Presenter:        

Sararivka Liberman, M.S., LCSW, Administrative Supervisor, Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services, Brooklyn, New York

Participants will learn a model conducting effective short-term CBT groups.  The session will cover both basic theoretical concepts and practical applications of solution-focused therapy, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation training.  The advantages of the group modality for this skill-building work will be emphasized.

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Discover group members' individual coping strategies through the use of basic questions and a simple activity log.

2. Identify and revise clients' dysfunctional thoughts to change painful feeling states.

3. Match relaxation methods to clients' needs.

4. Utilize group processes to increase members' sense of individuality, self-acceptance, connection, and resourcefulness.  

Course References:

1. Beck, J. S. (2005). Developing and using the therapeutic alliance. In J. S. Beck, Cognitive therapy for challenging problems (pp. 63-90). New York: Guilford Press.

2. Bieling, P. J., McCabe, R. E., and Antony, M. M.(2006). Group process in CBT: Using group dynamics productively. In P. J. Bieling, R.E. McCabe, and M. M. Antony, Cognitive-behavioral therapy in groups(pp. 22-44). New York: Guilford Press.

3. Padesky, C. A. and Greenberger, D. (1995). Using Mind Over Mood with groups. In C. A. Padesky and D. Greenberger, Clinician's guide to Mind Over Mood (pp. 180-215). New York: Guilford Press.