Course description

Panic attacks are extremely common in the United States. Almost 5% of individuals will have diagnosable panic disorder at some point in their lives, and the lifetime prevalence of subclinical panic disorder is even more common: approximately 25-30% of people will experience panic attacks that do not progress to full-blown panic disorder (Kessler, 2006). These “subclinical” panic attacks can be just as distressing as the attacks experienced by those with panic disorder. Moreover, subclinical panic disorder can be associated with increased psychiatric comorbidity, as well as an increased risk for developing panic disorder. 

With some focused training on panic conceptualization and abbreviated treatment components, clinicians can be armed to have a significant impact on panic attacks occurring outside of Panic Disorder. This course will focus on working with clients with panic attacks from a cognitive behavioral perspective, using an intervention that can be delivered in just one or two sessions.

1 Hour CE. Recorded Video Format (non-interactive)

To preserve confidentiality, case examples contain fictionalized elements.

Learning objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the general cognitive behavioral conceptualization of panic disorder, including the roles of cognitive distortions, anxiety sensitivity, and avoidance.

  • Apply the panic conceptualization to address at least three maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that reinforce clients’ panic attacks.

  • Apply at least three panic interventions to clients who are dealing with subclinical or mild panic disorder.

Course outline

1. Introduction and panic disorder overview

a. Panic disorder in the DSM

b. Conceptualization of panic disorder 

c. Panic disorder statistics

d. Research on prevention of panic disorder

2. Brief intervention overview

a. Ideal clients

b. Comparison with traditional CBT intervention

c. Tone 

3. Intervention

a. Step 1: General Assessment

b. Step 2: Psychoeducation about panic

c. Step 3: Correction of faulty beliefs

d. Step 4: Anxiety sensitivity and mindful redirection of attention

e. Step 5: Avoiding avoidance, safety signals, and self-medication

f. Step 6: Putting it all together

4. Wrap-Up

a. Why this intervention can work

b. When it may not be effective

c. Applications to other problems

References

Reviews

Very practical/lots of tools

Kristen Bishop

I really appreciated the practicality of this course, how thorough the presenter was on the topic, as well as how many tools the presenter equipped me with in the area of panic attack intervention. Highly recommend to all clinicians. You will also...

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I really appreciated the practicality of this course, how thorough the presenter was on the topic, as well as how many tools the presenter equipped me with in the area of panic attack intervention. Highly recommend to all clinicians. You will also leave with some really helpful forms for session and a step-by-step protocol for helping people manage panic attacks.

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Practical, use it tomorrow information

Laura Forsyth

This training was done in the same manner as the intervention being described – clear, straightforward and authoritative (nice modeling!). As someone first trained in CBT in the early 90s, it was interesting to learn that breathing retraining i...

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This training was done in the same manner as the intervention being described – clear, straightforward and authoritative (nice modeling!). As someone first trained in CBT in the early 90s, it was interesting to learn that breathing retraining is no longer seen as a core aspect of treatment for panic attacks in people without panic disorder. Makes sense - and - makes the intervention easier.

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Very informative and descriptive

TERRA PRINCE

It gave me all the information I would need to be able to apply in real-world counseling sessions, and I found the handout to be especially helpful in guidance.

It gave me all the information I would need to be able to apply in real-world counseling sessions, and I found the handout to be especially helpful in guidance.

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Instructor

Bonnie Zucker, PhD

Bonnie Zucker, PhD is a California licensed Psychologist (#20391) in private practice in Los Angeles. She has previously served as a Researcher and Technical Writer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and as Assistant Training Director for UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services. She has taught courses and seminars for UCLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and her research on anxiety and panic has been published in Behavior Therapy, Behaviour Research and Therapy, the Journal of Anxiety Disorders, and elsewhere.

Additional Information

Format and Length:

Recorded video format (non-interactive). Total running time 61 minutes.

Topic Area:

Clinical Practice

Instructional Level:

Intermediate 

Completion Requirements:

To obtain your CE certificate, you must progress through all course segments, complete a satisfaction survey, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a course completion quiz. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within a reasonable number of attempts, and may be blocked from completing the course and receiving their certificate if unable to do so.

Completion Quiz and Course Evaluation:

After watching course videos, the course completion quiz will be available to complete, followed by the course evaluation.

Who Should Attend:

Psychologists, counselors, masters or doctoral level clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

Publication and Review Dates:

Course Published: May 5, 2021 

Financial Support Statement:

SimplePractice Learning pays course presenters for their teaching. There is no other financial support for this course.

Conflict of Interest Statement:

There is no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support for this course.

Refund Policy:

Click here to see our policies on attendance, refunds, grievances, and accessibility, and other frequently asked questions. Click here to contact us or submit a grievance.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries related to subject matter guidance, correction, grading, comments, or problem resolution please contact us.

System Requirements:

Please ensure your device meets our system requirements.

Continuing Education Approvals:

SimplePractice is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SimplePractice maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course provides 1 hour of continuing education (1 CE credit) for psychologists.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice, #1749, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Simple Practice maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 07/06/2021 – 07/06/2024. Social workers participating in this course will receive 1 continuing education credit in the Clinical topic area.

SimplePractice is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #145276). SimplePractice maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 1 hour of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

SimplePractice is approved as a Rule/Statute Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. Note that we do not automatically report CE completion to CE Broker at this time, so certificates of completion must be manually uploaded. Click here for more information.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0582. 

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0030.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0091.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0206.

This course is not part of our continuing education program approved through NAADAC. Click here to view our complete CE approval information, or check out our collection of NAADAC approved courses.