Our outpatient clinic offers weekly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in either group or individual format. However, many clients prefer to come in for more intensive treatment on a daily basis.
Our Accelerated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy programs consists of intensive cognitive-behavioral therapy that includes a strategy called exposure. Exposure-based CBT is the most effective known psychological treatment for anxiety disorders. Clients work with a therapist individually to develop a step-by-step plan to confront feared situations while refraining from unhelpful responses such as avoidance, compulsive behavior, or rituals that give a false sense of safety. Over time, clients learn that they can handle these situations, and they find that their fear is reduced considerably. There is a wealth of scientific evidence showing that the majority of clients respond very well to this form of therapy. The staff at the Anxiety Disorders Center are expert clinicians and scientists who specialize in the application and study of CBT for anxiety disorders in adults, children, and adolescents.
Accelerated CBT is offered for the following conditions:
Specific phobias are exaggerated, irrational fears of specific things, places, activities, or situations.
People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) suffer from persistent and recurring thoughts or "obsessions" that they find very disturbing.
Panic Disorder is marked by repeated panic attacks, sometimes called "anxiety attacks."
School refusal is defined as refusal to attend classes or difficulty remaining in school for an entire day without a support person present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this an inpatient, partial hospital, or residential program?
A: The Accelerated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program at the Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a specialized intensive therapy program that does not fit into any of these categories. Clients do not stay overnight at The Institute of Living. Each visit lasts from 1.5-2 hours and clients are expected to spend additional time during the day completing homework exercises on their own. Those who live outside the Hartford area may choose to stay in a local hotel (Our center can help those from out of town locate an appropriate hotel).
Q: Does “accelerated" or "intensive" cognitive behavioral therapy mean that this treatment is harder than regular treatment?
A: Not necessarily. The words "intensive" or “accelerated" cognitive behavioral therapy mean that treatment is delivered more frequently than the typical weekly schedule. This allows you to receive immediate feedback and support from your therapist about your exposure homework exercises. Therefore, Accelerated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is more focused and possibly more effective, but is not necessarily more difficult than weekly treatment.
Q: What is the Cost?
A: Costs vary according to the number of visits recommended per week and whether you work with a licensed psychologist or a postdoctoral fellow*. You will be informed of the structure of the program at the initial evaluation. The extended sessions for the program are billed with a CPT code of 90837. Please call your insurance to determine your financial responsibility, and whether there are any limits to the use of these extended sessions.
* Postdoctoral fellows are clinicians that have their Ph.D., but are not licensed. The postdoctoral fellowship is a 1 year training program in which fellows receive specialized supervised training in Anxiety Disorders and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy prior to taking their licensing examination.