Jonathan Abramowitz, Ph.D. is Professor and Associate Chair of Psychology and Director of the Anxiety and Stress Disorders Clinic at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Abramowitz specializes in the cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) of anxiety disorders. His research focuses on the nature, assessment, and treatment of OCD and other anxiety disorders, including the development of prevention programs and a couples-based treatment for OCD.

Anxiety disorders are prevalent, chronic, and disabling, and make up a large proportion of a therapist's caseload. This symposium is designed for participants to learn a comprehensive conceptual overview of the anxiety disorders and how to utilize the psychological treatments most associated with strong treatment outcomes for anxiety disorders including panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. A model of each disorder will be provided, and will be dicussed.

Anxiety disorders often have an interpersonal component in which significant others are drawn into participating in excessive avoidance strategies, compulsive rituals, and providing reassurance. This symposium will address how to engage significant others in therapy as necessary. Because pharmacology can add or detract from the efficacy of psychological treatment for anxiety, how to work effectively with medicated patients will be discussed.