Treating Panic: Balancing Crisis Interventions with Wellness Strategies

CPD

Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationships

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.

Handouts

Speaker

Elena Welsh, PhD Related seminars and products

The Access Tree

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Elena Welsh, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in working with clients with anxiety disorders from all walks of life in both inpatient and outpatient treatment settings. She also works with a wide range of mood and depressive disorders, including bipolar disorder, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder/trauma-related mental health issues.

Dr. Welsh has published articles in various medical and research journals and is the author of The Cognitive Therapy Workbook for Panic Attacks; Trauma Survivors' Strategies for Healing: A Workbook to Help You Grow, Rebuild, and Take Back Your Life; Getting to Good: A Guided Journal; and 5-Minute Stress Relief: 75 Exercises to Quiet Your Mind and Calm Your Body. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at various universities in Los Angeles.

Dr. Welsh received her doctorate degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and completed advanced clinical training through a postdoctoral fellowship at Gateways Psychiatric Hospital in Los Angeles.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Elena Welsh maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with California Department of State Hospitals. She receives royalties as a published author. Elena Welsh receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Elena Welsh has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Objectives

1. Differentiate between panic disorder and panic attacks that are secondary to other anxiety disorders.
2. Use psychoeducation regarding physiology of fear and avoidance tailored to client’s presentation(s).
3. Analyze problematic thought patterns that fuel anxiety and panic.
4. Implement clinical techniques for helping clients manage panic effectively.

Outline

• Differentiate between panic disorder and panic attacks that are secondary to other anxiety disorders   
• Factors that may be exacerbating or maintaining panic symptoms   
• Impact on client’s social and occupational functioning   

• Physical sensations that typically comprise a panic attack  
• Help clients understand what a panic attack is  

• Breathing skills   
• Relaxation techniques   
• Grounding techniques  
• Distraction   

• Foundational health practices to reduce and manage the panic experience  
• Help clients become more comfortable with the physical sensations of panic  
• Target cognitive distortions that are common in anxiety   
• Exposure techniques with confidence   

Target Audience

• Psychologists  
• Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors  
• Marriage & Family Therapists  
• Addiction Professionals  
• Case Managers  
• Dieticians  
• Nurses  
• Nursing Home/Assisted Living Administrators  
• Social Workers  
• Teachers/School-Based Personnel