Overcoming Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia: Client Manual

Effective protocols save time, increase the probability of obtaining good results, make it easier to train and supervise new therapists, and satisfy the needs of third parties to know that the proposed treatment follows the best available practices. Protocols are consistently formatted and organized; a detailed session-by-session treatment program that includes worksheets, homework assignments, in-session treatment exercises, and didactic material; specific assessment measures both for the target disorder and for the overall treatment program; a treatment plan summary for managed care requirements. This protocol outlines a twelve-to-sixteen week session treatment for individual clients experiencing agoraphobia and panic disorder. Treatment interventions include psychoeducation, breathing retraining, cognitive restructuring, interoceptive exposure, in vivo exposure, and relapse prevention.

All of the therapist protocols in the Best Practices series share these common features:

•A consistent format and organization
•A detailed, session-by-session treatment program that includes worksheets, homework assignments, in-session treatment exercises, and didactic material Specific assessment measures—both for the target disorder and for the overall treatment program
•A treatment plan summary for managed care requirements

Each therapist protocol is accompanied by its own corresponding step-by-step client manual, containing all the education materials, worksheets, and skill-building assignments that the client will need.

Matthew McKay, PhD, is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He has authored and coauthored numerous books, including The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook, The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, Self-Esteem, Thoughts and Feelings, When Anger Hurts, and ACT on Life Not on Anger. McKay received his PhD in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, and specializes in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety and depression.