Exposure Therapy for Child and Adolescent Anxiety and OCD

Exposure is the most important component of therapy for anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents. Unfortunately, few clinicians offer this treatment, making it very difficult for youth and their families to seek effective care. Exposure Therapy for Child and Adolescent Anxiety and OCD delivers a succinct yet comprehensive guide to the use of exposure therapy with youth suffering from anxiety and OCD. Within the heart of this book, clinicians will discover a clear, step-by-step model, illustrated with sample dialogue, for engaging their young patients in this most effective treatment. Detailed case examples bring to life the application of all forms of exposure (in vivo, imaginal, and interoceptive) to a wide range of anxiety and OCD presentations. Beyond teaching the mechanics for implementing exposure, the authors present a clinical model for understanding how exposure works, synthesizing the key issues from current competing theories. This model can enhance the ability of clinicians to apply exposure to new and more challenging presentations. The authors review common challenges to implementing exposure in real-world settings and assist clinicians in overcoming frequently encountered barriers. Within this compact book, clinicians will find a comprehensive guide to build their expertise in the delivery of exposure therapy for children and adolescents suffering from anxiety disorders or OCD.

Stephen P.H. Whiteside, PhD, ABPP is a Board Certified Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Professor of Psychology with the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and Director of the Pediatric Anxiety Disorders Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the International OCD Foundation, and the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation. He has published over 70 scientific articles, co-authored the book Exposure Therapy for Anxiety: Principles and Practice (2nd Ed), and is the co-developer of Mayo Clinic Anxiety Coach, an iOS application. Thomas H. Ollendick, PhD, is University Distinguished Professor in Clinical Psychology and Director of the Child Study Center at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia. He is the author or co-author of more than 350 research publications, 100 book chapters, and 35 books. He is a former editor of the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Behavior Therapy, as well as a founding and current Co-Editor of Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. He is also former President of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy (1995), the Society of Clinical Psychology (1999), the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (2007), and the Society for the Science of Clinical Psychology (2010). Bridget K. Biggs, PhD, ABPP, is a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Her research has been supported by institutional and external funding sources, including the National Institutes of Health. She has published over 30 articles and co-edited the book Preventing and Treating Bullying and Victimization.

Section I: Overview and Background
1. Introduction and History
2. Theoretical Base and Mechanism of Action
Section II: Empirical Support
3. Review of Evidence: Adult Literature
4. Review of Evidence: Child Literature
Section III: Clinical Application
5. Preparing for Exposure
6. Implementing Exposure
Section IV: Case Illustrations
7. In vivo Exposure Case Examples
8. Imaginal and Interoceptive Exposure Case Examples
Section V: Trouble Shooting
9. Obstacles to Implementation
10. Additional Resources