Master Clinician Seminar 5 - Shaping Bravery: A Clinical Demonstration of Shared Processes Across ACT and CBT That Target Youth Anxiety and Avoidance

Led by key developers behind leading contemporary behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapies (e.g., Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) for children and adolescents, this presentation will offer an interactive clinical demonstration of shared principles and processes across these approaches that promote behavior change by targeting maladaptive avoidance behavior in youth. Following a brief introduction regarding how to effectively engage and “move the needle” in maladaptive avoidance, Drs. Coyne and Ehrenreich-May will provide live demonstration of a pragmatic, integrated approach to behavior change in this target with mock youth clients and family members using role-play techniques and hands-on exercises, as well as discuss points of shared and distinct process between cognitive behavioral and acceptance-based approaches to anxiety and maladaptive avoidance behavior with audience members. Techniques to be demonstrated may be categorized as (1) shaping mindful processes (antecedent control strategies), (2) shaping behavior change processes (consequent strategies), and (3) developmentally-sensitive approaches to targeting avoidance behavior via caregiver behavior change. Within these broader process-based categories, Drs. Coyne and Ehrenreich-May will alternatively demonstrate key techniques that engage purposeful attention, emotion regulation, flexible perspective-taking, engage choice, motivation, self-directed and mindful risk-taking to planfully reduce maladaptive avoidance behavior across cognitive-behavioral and acceptance-based approaches. The overarching goal of this presentation will be for attendees to leave with an understanding of "how to" use key processes that may be viewed as shared and/or easily integrated across effective therapies for youth with anxiety and maladaptive avoidance.

Outline:
This presentation will offer an interactive clinical demonstration of shared principles and processes across these approaches that promote behavior change by targeting maladaptive avoidance behavior in youth.
• Main Point 1: The presenters will first discuss how to effectively engage and “move the needle” in maladaptive avoidance.
• Main Point 2: Drs. Coyne and Ehrenreich-May will then conduct a live demonstration of a pragmatic, integrated approach to behavior change in this target with mock youth clients and family members using role-play techniques and hands-on exercises. Drs. Coyne and Ehrenreich-May will alternatively demonstrate key techniques that engage purposeful attention, emotion regulation, flexible perspective-taking, engage choice, motivation, self-directed and mindful risk-taking to planfully reduce maladaptive avoidance behavior across cognitive-behavioral and acceptance-based approaches.
• Main Point 3: The presenters will also discuss points of shared and distinct process between cognitive behavioral and acceptance-based approaches to anxiety and maladaptive avoidance behavior with audience members, as they process role-plays presented.