Clinicians often struggle with how to use neuroscience in the treatment of anxiety. We know more about anxiety-based disorders than any other mental health disorders. Science has now provided us with the proven explanations, evidence, and authority to implement neuroscience approaches. In this seminar, you will learn about neuroplasticity, and how to define neuroplasticity in everyday language for your clients. Understanding how to use a neuroscience approach in therapy will provide your clients the opportunity to create a new self, one without debilitating anxiety. You will be able to identify the two neural pathways that lead to the creation of anxiety and how to explain them to clients. You will learn how anxiety is initiated in each pathway and how the pathways influence each other. The dreaded fight/flight/freeze response is reviewed to reveal how it is meant to be your best friend. You will learn the essential language of the core area of the brain which creates anxiety and how to diffuse it using neuroplasticity. Learn how to strengthen or weaken specific neurocircuitry in order to create the brain and self that is desired. These techniques are essential in the treatment of all anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, GAD, SAD, and even Depression. Learn how sleep as well as exercise influences anxiety production. Learn proven breathing techniques to reduce anxiety activation. And feel more proficient in using exposure techniques in your treatment of anxiety while combatting avoidance.
This course is based on the recorded webinar, Anxiety and Trauma Recovery: Using a Neuroscience-Informed Treatment Response created by Janene M. Donarski, Ph.D., L.P., LMSW, CCATP, ECDCS in 2023.
Publication Details
Publication Date:First Nov 2023
Course Material Author
Janene M. Donarski, Ph.D., L.P., LMSW, CCATP, ECDCS
Dr. Janene M. Donarski, PhD, LP, LMSW is a fully Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Master Social Worker who works in counseling therapy as well as psychological testing for mental health issues. Dr. Donarski specializes in neuropsychological assessment of children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations including head injury, organic issues, emotional, and complex behavior disorders. Dr. Donarski works extensively with anxiety issues including panic, OCD, trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She trains other clinicians in treatment of behavioral issues, techniques of relaxation, reduction of fear, and exposure therapies to reduce triggers and symptoms in daily life. She also assists in testing within the academic areas including Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities and autism for Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and/or 504 plans/behavior plans. Dr. Donarski works with all populations in counseling/therapy, including individual, marital/couple, family, geriatric, LGBTQ, and group counseling. She is a certified EMDR Level II counselor, as well as a certified hypnotherapist and practitioner for Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Time Line Therapy®. Dr. Donarski is also experienced in working with victims of violence, foster care/adoption issues, sexual issues, as well as those who are seeking neuroscience-based treatment. She often works with attorneys as a forensic psychologist/expert witness for legal cases involving custody, guardianship, social security benefits, and criminal cases. Dr. Donarski has spoken on variety of mental health issues, including somatic ailments, behavioral disorders and mental health concerns such as personality disorders, anxiety, trauma, depression, bipolar disorder and dementia care. Dr. Donarski has worked in private practice for over 20 years, as well as within assisted living and nursing homes, and contracted with the state to work with the visually impaired. Dr. Janene M. Donarski is the published author of Anxiety & Trauma Recovery Book: Using a Neuroscience-Informed Treatment Response to Healing.
Janene M. Donarski, Ph.D., L.P., LMSW, CCATP, ECDCS authored the material only, and was not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.
Dr. Janene M. Donarski, PhD, LP, LMSW is a fully Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Master Social Worker who works in counseling therapy as well as psychological testing for mental health issues. Dr. Donarski specializes in neuropsychological assessment of children, adolescents, adults and geriatric populations including head injury, organic issues, emotional, and complex behavior disorders. Dr. Donarski works extensively with anxiety issues including panic, OCD, trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She trains other clinicians in treatment of behavioral issues, techniques of relaxation, reduction of fear, and exposure therapies to reduce triggers and symptoms in daily life. She also assists in testing within the academic areas including Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities and autism for Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and/or 504 plans/behavior plans. Dr. Donarski works with all populations in counseling/therapy, including individual, marital/couple, family, geriatric, LGBTQ, and group counseling. She is a certified EMDR Level II counselor, as well as a certified hypnotherapist and practitioner for Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Time Line Therapy®. Dr. Donarski is also experienced in working with victims of violence, foster care/adoption issues, sexual issues, as well as those who are seeking neuroscience-based treatment. She often works with attorneys as a forensic psychologist/expert witness for legal cases involving custody, guardianship, social security benefits, and criminal cases. Dr. Donarski has spoken on a variety of mental health issues, including somatic ailments, behavioral disorders and mental health concerns such as personality disorders, anxiety, trauma, depression, bipolar disorder and dementia care. Dr. Donarski has worked in private practice for over 20 years, as well as within assisted living and nursing homes, and contracted with the state to work with the visually impaired. Dr. Janene M. Donarski is the published author of Anxiety & Trauma Recovery Book: Using a Neuroscience-Informed Treatment Response to Healing.
Target Audience
Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for intermediate and above levels of knowledge.
Learning Objectives
After taking this activity, you should be able to:
1
Ascertain the underlying neurological processes that impact anxious symptoms for clients.
2
Evaluate the differences between amygdala-based and cortex-based anxiety symptoms and identify how these symptoms inform treatment interventions.
3
Communicate strategies for calming and training the amygdala in order to alleviate symptoms of anxiety.
4
Implement methods for teaching clients to retrain the cortex so that anxiety is resisted rather than exacerbated
Disclosure to Learners
CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited
Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity –
including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial
relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).
The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and
the reviewer:
Planners and Reviewers
The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.
Material Authors
There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Course Creator
Janene Donarski – No disclosures to report
Commercial support
There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.
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