EMOTION REGULATION THERAPY

 

In addition to our psychopathology studies, Dr. Mennin has received NIMH funding along with colleagues at Temple University (Richard G. Heimberg) and Kent State University (David M. Fresco) to develop and test an emotion regulation treatment (ERT) for GAD given its resistance to existing treatments. ERT integrates an affect science framework with traditional and acceptance-based behavioral approaches as well as experiential interventions. The goals of ERT are for individuals to become better able to 1) identify, differentiate, and describe their emotions, even in their most intense form; 2) increase acceptance of affective experience and ability to adaptively manage emotions when necessary; 3) decrease use of emotional avoidance strategies (e.g., worry); and 4) increase ability to utilize emotional information in identifying values, making decisions, guiding thinking, motivating behavior, and managing interpersonal relationships and other contextual demands. Initial sessions of ERT focus on psychoeducation about GAD from an emotion regulation perspective, self-monitoring of worry and anxiety episodes, and delineation of motivations to avoid and approach, and the development of mindful somatic awareness skills (Phase I). Phase II sessions focus on building emotion-regulation skills that encourage balancing acceptance and modulation of emotions. The most essential and intensive sessions of the treatment focus on the application of these skills during exposure to emotionally evocative themes associated with movement towards valued directions (Phase III). Phase IV sessions focus on terminating the therapeutic relationship, relapse prevention, and future goals. We are currently conducting trials of ERT at Temple, Yale, and Kent State University.

 

XX Regulation of Emotion and Anxiety Disorders Lab

XX Department of Psychology, Yale University

XX 2 Hillhouse Avenue, P.O. Box 208205, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8205

XX mood.reactions (at) yale.edu

XX Copyright © 2009 | Last Updated: 02/20/2009