2 Day Intensive: The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques

Presented by Margaret Wehrenberg, Psy.D.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 – Thursday, April 25, 2019  |  Winnipeg, mb

Date & Location

In The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques, Margaret Wehrenberg, Psy.D presents the most useful psychotherapeutic approaches to stress and generalized anxiety, panic and social anxiety and phobias. Via discussion, practice in the seminar, and concise client examples in all age groups, you will learn methods to manage anxiety that work in every clinical population. Even experienced clinicians will come away with tools to help clients resolve their anxiety symptoms and all participants will be prepared to respond effectively to most presentations of anxiety disorders.

Drawing on the latest research for the neurobiological basis of anxiety to explain why psychotherapy is so effective, Dr. Wehrenberg demonstrates comprehensive techniques to stop rumination, eliminate panic and prepare people to participate in social environments without distress. Her pragmatic approach to phobias and stress management will provide practical strategies you can immediately apply with all clients.

Among the 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques are methods that manage the physiological aspects of anxiety: stress, the dread and agitation of generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and the nervous system-based blushing, sweating and shaking of social anxiety. You will get information about ruling out causes of anxiety and physical conditions that mimic anxiety.

You will be able to apply tools to eliminate the distressing cognitive features of anxiety, such as rumination, catastrophic thinking, and cognitive errors with tools such as “Contain Your Worry”, “Worry Well and Only Once” and “Knowing, not Showing Anger”.  You will be able to identify and correct for the typical issues of procrastination and perfectionism as they appear when caused by generalized anxiety disorder. But also, you will be apply to apply the neuroscience of memory reconsolidation as it affects and directs both desensitizing panic cues and the creation of effective social anxiety exposures.

Through case examples, description of methods that will include “Knowing, Not Showing Anger”, “Contain Your Worry in Time,” and 3 mindfulness practices to minimize distress. Dr. Wehrenberg will provide a look at the research that supports the efficacy of these treatment methods and give an opportunity to practice several of the methods, including 5 breathing techniques to manage anxiety, 2-minute relaxers, “Clear the Mind” of worry, the ‘Heart Lock-In’ from Heartmath, and Emotional Freedom Technique, among others. This seminar is suited to any clinician who has clients with anxiety, and it will aid the newer therapist to be effective with anxious clients of every age as well as strengthen the skills of even the most experienced clinician.

Who Should Attend

Clinical Professionals: All mental health professionals including, but not limited to Clinical Counsellors, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Social Workers, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Hospice and Palliative Care Workers, School Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Addiction Specialists, Marital & Family Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultants and all professionals looking to enhance their therapeutic skills.

Agenda

Day 1:

• Describe neurobiological basis of panic and social anxiety and the implications for why and how psychotherapy works to “use the brain to change the brain.”
• Lifestyle contributions to anxiety
• Manage Intake – Deal with impact of Cannabis, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco/vaping, and sugar/sweeteners
• Explore physical conditions that mimic panic
• Fear Based Anxiety Disorders: Panic
• Apply the panic reduction protocol “Prevent Panic”
• Apply interoceptive exposure, and eliminate panic triggers
• Model effective use of diaphragmatic breathing techniques and relaxation methods that reduce both physical and mental tension.
• Social Anxiety Disorder:
• Utilize the science-based protocol for memory reconsolidating to create successful exposures.
• “3 Cs for Effective Exposure” to eliminate social anxiety
• Change catastrophic Thinking
• Challenge false beliefs and write new scripts
• Utilize Emotional Freedom Technique (or similar protocols) and “Tapping In” to diminish anticipatory anxiety and strengthen resourcefulness

Day 2 (Stress, Generalized Anxiety and Phobias):

• The Stress response and the impact of screen time, electronic gaming, chronic stress and traumatic stress on anxiety disorders.
• The 4 competencies of stress recovery
• Eliminating stressors, and apply “Heart Lock-In” Technique to identify and resolve stressors
• Managing time and environment
• Managing attitude
• Rest and relaxation,
• including understanding and using Attention Restoration theory
• the default mode network
• The Neurobiological Basis of Worry
• Eliminating Worry, including two methods to ‘Contain Your Worry”
• Cognitive Interventions to reduce persistent rumination
• Perfectionism and Procrastination and Anxiety
• Explore the trauma-related, situational and personality bases of phobias and basic approaches to desensitize phobia, including health anxiety.

Learning Objectives

• Describe neurobiological basis of anxiety and the implications for why and how psychotherapy works to use the brain to change the brain.
• The basis of ruminative anxiety and how to eliminate worry, including the methods of technique #1 “Contain Your Worry.”
• Dealing with Stress That Creates Anxiety Disorders: 4 competencies to prevent or recover from stress damage and eliminate it for good!
• Fear Based Anxiety Disorders: Panic and Social Anxiety. Apply the panic reduction protocol “Prevent Panic” and the “3 Cs for Effective Exposure” to eliminate social anxiety.To include mindfulness techniques, interoceptive exposure, and eliminate panic triggers.
• Model effective use of diaphragmatic breathing techniques and relaxation methods that reduce both physical and mental tension.
• Apply the most effective cognitive interventions to reduce persistent rumination (Erase the Worry Trace) and stop worrying over real or potential problems.
• Utilize cognitive therapy interventions with clients to manage perfectionism, procrastination and rigid approaches to problems.
• Effectively enable socially anxious clients to face their fears and improve their participation in life, challenging false beliefs and successfully engaging in social environments.

Your Presenter

Margaret Wehrenberg, Psy.D.

Margaret Wehrenberg, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist, author, and international trainer. She is a practicing psychotherapist and coaches professionals for anxiety management. Margaret has been a trainer of therapists for 25 years, and she is a sought-after speaker for continuing education seminars, consistently getting the highest ratings from participants for her dynamic style and high-quality content.

She has written articles for the award-winning Psychotherapy Networker magazine and she blogs on depression for Psychology Today. Audio and DVD versions of her trainings are available for obtaining CEU’s. She has written 9 books on topics of anxiety and depression published by W.W. Norton, and a workbook, Stress Solutions, published by PESI. The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques and its accompanying workbook, consistent best-sellers, were released in revised editions in 2018. Her upcoming book, The New Face of Anxiety: Managing Anxiety, Grief and Loss in a Post-Pandemic World, will be released by W.W.Norton late in 2020.

Testimonials

“I finally got to do this workshop with Dr. Wehrenberg. Exceeded my expectations – thorough over-view of strategies known to address depression mixed with a delightful sense of humour and energy – loved the brief exercise. Thanks for coming to Calgary!”
– Calgary, AB | November 21, 2019

“Margaret is clearly an expert in the field and presents as knowledgeable, approachable and experienced. I found her presentation style to be engaging and interesting. This workshop was a welcomed refresher on anxiety’s impact on both the brain and body. Thank you!”
– Edmonton, AB | May 27 – 28, 2019

“Dr. Wehrenberg was a wonderful speaker. She was incredibly knowledgeable on all of the materials she covered and was able to competently answer any questions. I very much appreciated her wisdom and insights.”
– Richmond, BC | November 26, 2018

“Thank you Margaret. You have a very positive and practical approach that is deeply connected to research. I can’t wait for the next session!”
-Amy (Crowther Memorial Junior High) | Calgary, AB | April 3 & 4, 2014

“Margaret is phenomenal! Great workshop – will recommend it to everyone.”
-Calgary, AB | April 3 & 4, 2014

“Margaret’s information today was fantastic! I can see using it in my professional life and also my family life. Very practical, step-by-step ideas we can all use. Thank you.”
-Tammie C. (Preschool Teacher & Mother)  | Calgary, AB | April 3 & 4, 2014

“Thank you – this workshop broadened my understanding of how to work with clients with depression.”
– Calgary, AB | April 3 & 4, 2014

“The workshop was awesome! Margaret is wonderfully knowledgeable on both the academic side and the practical side. I do really appreciate her sense of humour. I rarely give straight “5’s” on evaluations – she deserves every one of them!”
-Christina G. | Burnaby, BC | April 10 & 11, 2014

“Great workshop! Informative, practical, entertaining!”
-Suzanne R. (Red Deer College) | Calgary, AB | April 3 & 4, 2014

“Margaret is highly knowledgeable and experienced, and it shows. She makes an effort to build rapport with humour and lots of practical anecdotes.”
-Kelly R. (Enviros Wilderness School Association) | Calgary, AB | April 3 & 4, 2014

“Thank you – I needed this.”
-Calgary, AB | April 3 & 4, 2014

Registration & Fees