Skip to main content
ABCT 2024 58th Annual Convention Main banner
Psychology Tools Ad
Final Program


Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
Recorded Session
Recorded Session
Ticketed Session
Ticketed Session
Back
Evaluation ViewAttendees 4

Traditional Workshop - Ticketed

Treatment - CBT

Application of Behavioral Activation across Populations and Context: Co-occurring anxiety, group therapy, and virtual formats.

Workshop 2 - Application of Behavioral Activation Across Populations and Context: Co-occurring Anxiety, Group Therapy, and Virtual Formats

Friday, November 15, 2024
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
Location: 408/409, Level 4, Downtown Marriott
Earn 3 Credit
Ticketed Session
Keywords: Behavioral Activation, Depression, Anxiety
Level of Familiarity: All
Recommended Readings: Berg, H., Akeman, E., McDermott, T. J., Cosgrove, K. T., Kirlic, N., Clausen, A., ... & Aupperle, R. L. (2023). A Randomized Clinical Trial of Behavioral Activation and Exposure-Based Therapy for Adults with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Journal of Mood and Anxiety Disorders, 100004.,   Boswell, J. F., Iles, B. R., Gallagher, M. W., & Farchione, T. J. (2017). Behavioral activation strategies in cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy, 54(3), 231.,   Dimidjian, S., Hollon, S. D., Dobson, K. S., Schmaling, K. B., Kohlenberg, R., … & Jacobson, N. S. (2006). Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, and antidepressant medication in the acute treatment of adults with major depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 74 (4), 658-670.,   Martell, C. R., Dimidjian, S. & Herman-Dunn (2021). Behavioral Activation for Depression: A Clinician’s Guide. New York: Guilford.,   Stein, A. T., Carl, E., Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., & Smits, J. A. (2021). Looking beyond depression: A meta-analysis of the effect of behavioral activation on depression, anxiety, and activation. Psychological Medicine, 51(9), 1491-1504.
Behavioral Activation (BA) has been widely established as a core component of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the treatment of depression. BA conceptualizes depression as arising from negative life events that reduce experiences of positive reinforcement, with depression being maintained or worsened by secondary behaviors that further reduce these experiences. BA aims to help clients engage in behaviors that increase opportunities for positive reinforcement, despite their mood. While empirical support for BA as a treatment for depression has long been recognized, it offers a flexible approach to considering behavioral change across context and populations. There has been recent work supporting its potential for individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as mixed evidence with substance use disorders. There is also evidence that BA is effective if delivered in group therapy format and feasible and acceptable for delivery via telehealth (e.g., over videoconferencing). It is important to consider the potential application of BA to varying populations and contexts, particularly given the high rates of comorbidity in mental health conditions and a rapidly changing clinical landscape that required flexibility in format of treatment delivery.

This workshop is designed for those working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and co-morbid conditions. Participants are expected to understand basic behavioral principles, but may or may not have experience using BA with clients. Presenters will provide history of and evidence for implementing BA as a stand-alone, evidence-based intervention with depression and other commonly co-occurring conditions. Participants will learn how to conceptualize anxiety and depression from a BA perspective and how to communicate that formulation to clients. Special consideration will be given to treatment of anxiety with and without co-occurring depression. Presenters and audience members will role play with each other to gain initial experience using basic BA principles and strategies. Participants will also learn the nuances of and how to implement BA in different contexts, with an emphasis on group-based and virtual formats. Outline: • Background concerning the development of Behavioral Activation
o Historical context of how BA was developed
o Theoretic context concerning the focus of BA and how it differs from or is similar to other psychotherapy approaches
• Supporting evidence for BA
o Individual-format BA for depression
o Individual-format BA for anxiety and fear-related disorders
o Group-format BA
o Virtual-format BA
• Core principles guiding the implementation of BA
• Specific concepts and technique
o Description of concepts and techniques
o Role play and audience practice with concepts and techniques
o Discussion of modifications for specific contexts and populations
 Group-based format
 Virtual format
 Anxiety and fear-related disorders and symptoms

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Describe the historical and theoretical context of behavioral activation for co-occurring depression and anxiety.
  2. Describe the evidence supporting the use of BA for clients with anxiety, with or without co-occurring depression.
  3. Identify how apply the core principles and strategies of BA for clients with anxiety disorders.
  4. Incorporate behavioral activation concepts and techniques into an empirically informed treatment plan for clients with co-occurring depression and anxiety.
  5. Implement behavioral activation concepts and techniques in various contexts, including individual and group-based therapy and in a virtual format.
  6. Long-term Goal: Learners will feel comfortable applying Behavioral Activation concepts and techniques in treatment of clients with depression and/or anxiety disorders.
  7. Long-term Goal: Learners will feel comfortable applying Behavioral Activation concepts and techniques in a individual, group, and virtual contexts