Debra Kissen, PhD, MHSA, is clinical director of the Light on Anxiety Treatment Center. Kissen specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders, and also has a special interest in the principles of mindfulness and their application for anxiety disorders.
Bari Goldman Cohen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and anxiety disorders. She works with individuals of all ages, including children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.
Kathi Fine Abitbol, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical director of the North Shore Anxiety Treatment Center. She specializes in using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat anxiety disorders and related concerns. Abitbol works with clients of all ages.
Finallya user-friendly, step-by-step workbook on how to overcome panic disorder for teens and their families. The authors provide readers with everything they need to take control of their lives with this straightforward, comprehensive, and personal guide.
Bradley C. Riemann, PhD, clinical director of CBT services at Rogers Memorial Hospital
The Panic Workbook for Teens is an outstanding workbook that offers instant help and hope for teens suffering from panic attacks. Well written and chock-full of useful ideas and strategies, this book is a must-have for any teen seeking to conquer panic. Highly recommended!
Kevin L. Gyoerkoe, PsyD, director of The Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center in Charlotte, NC, and author of 10 Simple Solutions to Worry
This workbook is loaded with examples of how real-life teenagers have used and benefited from CBT-based treatment for panic disorder. Readers will benefit from the simple and easy-to-implement action steps outlined in this workbook. In addition, the mindfulness-based perspective highlighted in the text should assist readers in learning to live more fully in the moment, even if panic occasionally comes along for the ride.
Mark B. Powers, PhD, licensed psychologist and research associate professor in the Anxiety and Health Behaviors Lab within the Institute for Mental Health Research
What a great book for teens looking to overcome panic disorder! The authors have distilled the best of the cognitive behavioral approach to panic and condensed it into forty short recovery tools with brief instructions and exercises. These powerful, precise, and pragmatic steps will save you lots of research and searching. Get your folks a copy as well!
David Carbonell, PhD, author of Panic Attacks Workbook and the coach at anxietycoach.com, a popular self-help website
Publishers Note
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Copyright 2015 by Debra Kissen, Bari Goldman Cohen, and Kathi Fine Abitbol Instant Help Books An Imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc. 5674 Shattuck Avenue Oakland, CA 94609 www.newharbinger.com
Cover design by Amy Shoup
Acquired by Tesilya Hanauer
Edited by Gretel Hakanson
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file
To all of our fabulous clients, you inspire us with your strength and honesty. We are honored to serve as your guides past anxiety.
Debra Kissen, PhD; Bari Goldman Cohen, PhD; & Kathi Fine Abitbol, PhD
Acknowledgments
To Morton Kissen, my father, friend, and colleague.
To Marsha Kissen, you are forever with me.
To Jordyn, Jakob, and Morgan, you fill my life with delight.
To Jonathan, you have taught me the meaning of family, and for that I will be forever grateful.
To Bug Jen, you have done more than anyone to help me walk through and eventually past my anxiety. You taught me that even in the most brutal moments of life, you can still find tenderness and joy if you are open to them.
Nathalie, my soul sister, thank you for always understanding me, even when I dont understand myself.
Judy, you inspire me with your clarity of thought. I am so lucky to have you in my life.
With eternal love, Debra
To my parents, Henry and Marilyn Goldman, for your unconditional love and support.
To my husband Matt, for your ever-present patience, love, and level head.
To my kids, Madden and Hadley, for your spunk and wit. Thank you for bringing such joy into my life.
To my brother, David Goldman, for your guidance and intellect.
With all my love, Bari
To my incredible parents, Shari and Mark Fine, and Evelyne Abitbol, for your endless encouragement, faith in my abilities, and love.
To my husband, Jeremy Abitbol, you always keep me laughing and have won my heart for eternity.
To my siblings, Jeff, Karen, Kevin, and Kristin Fine, Adam and Lisa Brody, and Jonathan and Stephanie Abitbol, you are terrific role models and always cheer me on.
To my nephews and niece, Josh, Zach, Andrew, Justin, and Brendan Fine, and Stephanie, Dylan, and Ryan Brody, you are all very talented and make me so proud.
To my friends GG Collins, Ashley Freeland, Lauren Huffman, Kat Makielski, Paula Sklar, Lauren Stone, and Tamra Wallerstein, for all of your support and our momentous adventures together.
All my love, Kathi
Introduction
When I was nineteen years old, I began to experience strange, terrifying sensations that appeared to show up out of the blue. I tried to ignore them, but they only got worse. I tried to fight them, but they only grew. I did not want anyone to know how scared I was for fear that I would appear weak, or worse, crazy.
At that time, I was able to white knuckle my way past panic disorder and push myself forward despite the discomfort. I only wish someone had informed me that I was suffering from panic disorder and that this was, in fact, one of the most treatable mental health conditions. One painful side effect of my undetected panic disorder was that I came to believe there was something wrong with me. It seemed to me that in some core way I was broken or lacking, and that was why I was experiencing such disturbing sensations.
If only I could time travel back to 1996. I would educate my young self on the physiology of panic disorder and explain to her in simple terms why she was experiencing those disturbing sensations. I would assure her that she is whole and of sound mind and, in fact, is brave and powerful. I would let her know that she has so much to look forward to, such as meeting her wonderful husband, raising three delightful (and often exhausting) children, and a flourishing career as a clinical psychologist. Unfortunately, it took me almost ten years to accidentally stumble upon the most empirically supported treatment for panic disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
My colleaguesDr. Bari Goldman Cohen and Dr. Kathi Fine Abitboland I wrote this workbook with the goal of introducing CBT for panic disorder in order to expedite your journey to finding the most effective treatment for panic disorder. We are honored to be your guides through and soon past panic disorder.
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