Overcoming the Vicious Cycle of Anxiety & Avoidance

Often their own self-critical thinking, avoidance and reliance on safety behaviors only exacerbate their pain. We also know that COVID-19 has doubled the increase in for mental health problems for those who had the virus.

This highly interactive, experiential workshop teaches participants how to engage, even the most anxious client, with practical, “doable” skills that will increase our clients’ confidence and ability to overcome anxiety.

This workshop will teach clinicians how to help clients identify, manage and combat symptoms, as well as insidious, unhelpful thought and behavior patterns. By enhancing clients’ problem-solving abilities and overcoming avoidance. Clinicians will finally be able to help clients enhance their confidence and succeed in moving forward from the trap of anxiety.

There will be a presentation of what the latest research reveals about we know of how COVID-19 has impacted how the human brain functions and the link to mental illness. In addition, a rare opportunity to discuss case examples of how we are seeing this manifest in our clients.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will learn to help clients identify and re-direct their attention to understanding anxiety instead of “beating themselves up for,” being anxious about their anxiety.
• Participants will review the various causes of anxiety and what keeps clients in a perpetual, vicious cycle of avoidance and worry.
• Participants actively engage in learning and practicing concrete treatment interventions that interrupt the vicious cycle of anxiety and avoidance behaviors. 

• Participants will learn to teach their clients problem-solving skills that result in solutions to decreasing avoidance and anxiety.
• Participants will learn controlled breathing visualization and progressive muscle relaxation techniques proven to be useful in treating anxiety.
• Participants will be able to provide strategies for clients to let go of ‘safety behaviors,” and have increased confidence in their abilities to master and manage their feelings.

Tuition Rates

• $80 – Regular
• $60- Alumni, FI, Adjunct
• $45 – VET
• Current Adelphi School of Social Work Students: Free with Promo Code

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Faculty Bio

Ellen Blaufox, LCSW-R is a licensed, clinical, social worker with more than 25 years of experience and expertise working with children, adolescents, adults and families who live with chronic stress, psychiatric illness, and are survivors of trauma. Currently in private practice, Ms. Blaufox was Clinical Director of the Mann and Goldsmith Residential Psychiatric Treatment Facilities at the Jewish Board, for more than ten years. During her time at the Jewish Board, Ellen had the opportunity to participate as a Core Team Member in the National Child Traumatic Study Network Learning Collaborative with the founders of Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is an experienced TF-CBT practitioner, supervisor and consultant.Additionally, Ellen was a Core Team Member of the implementation of the Sanctuary Model on the Westchester Campus of the Jewish Board where she led multi-disciplinary teams in the adaptation and implementation of the Sanctuary Model from an adult modality to address the needs of adolescent populations. She also collaborated with the Creators of SPARCS (Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress) in implementation of a pilot program for the Jewish Board. Ms. Blaufox is in private practice in Westchester, NY.

Credentialling Information

Adelphi University School of Social Work is an approved provider for continuing education credits for the following:

• NYSED Social Workers
• NYSED LMHC
• NYSED LMFT
• CASAC Renewal
• APA Psychology, pending NYSED Psychology
• NYSED LCAT

ACE Approved Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours

Adelphi University School of Social Work: Continuing Education and Professional Development, #1786, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Adelphi University School of Social Work: Continuing Education and Professional Development maintain responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 03/03/2022 – 03/03/2026. ACE is not an approved Continuing Education Provider in the states of New York and West Virginia unless the event is outside of West VA. Adelphi University School of Social Work is an approved NYSED CE provider in New York State.

55 states/jurisdictions accept ACE-approved provider CE contact hours. Successful completion for the award of approved continuing education credits requires attendance at the entire training/workshop and submission of a completed evaluation form.

See full credentialing information and CEUs

Cancellation Policy

Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for cancellations made seven working days or fewer before the event for any reason—or for no-shows. We can provide credit towards a future workshop up to 24 hours before the event. After that, no credit will be issued.

Accessibility Statement

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Adelphi University require that all events be accessible. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the event host identified on the event webpage; please allow for a reasonable time frame. The event host, when necessary, will collaborate with the Student Access Office.