Our outpatient clinic offers weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mostly in an individual format. However, many clients prefer a more intensive, daily treatment program -Accelerated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Accelerated CBT
There are several reasons to consider such an intensive treatment program:
- Some research suggests that intensive (daily) treatment may be more effective, especially in the earlier stages of treatment.
- People who have not benefited fully from less intensive interventions may respond well to more intensive, daily treatment.
- Some clients will find it more convenient to come for treatment for a briefer period of time, rather than stretch out their treatment. This may be especially true for clients who have difficulty adjusting their work schedules, or who come in from out of town.
Our Accelerated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program for Panic Disorder is an intensive treatment program that includes a strategy called exposure therapy. 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 in adults, children, and adolescents. Our Accelerated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program for panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) consists of five daily sessions delivered within a single week. Each session lasts 1.5-2 hours.
After the initial assessment, treatment consists of interoceptive exposure (in which clients gradually face feared physiological sensations that have triggered panic attacks for them in the past) and in-vivo exposure (in which clients gradually face activities that they have avoided due to fears of having a panic attack). They are also encouraged to refrain from their usual "safety signals" that prevent them from learning that they can handle these situations without panicking.
Several research studies indicate that CBT is both effective and well tolerated by clients with panic disorder. CBT is considered a first-line treatment of choice for panic disorder.
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 “accelerated" or "intensive" 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 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.