The Rise of Transdiagnostic Processes

The Rise of Transdiagnostic Processes

February 29, 2020March 2, 2020CBC

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and the Third Wave Syndrome-based treatments have dominated the evidence-based landscape for almost 50 years. This syndrome approach has served well to increase diagnostic reliability and develop scientific treatment packages. However, the age of “which evidence-based package is the best?” is coming to an end. The question moving forward is “which shared mechanisms across disorders and treatments should be targeted”? This “transdiagnostic” or “third wave” approach has been welcomed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), signaling process-based therapy (PBT) as the future of evidence based-practice. Targeting shared processes such as “psychological flexibility”, which cut across syndromes, will simplify complex interventions, better treat comorbid presentations… Read More

Behavioral Innovations in PTSD and Trauma Therapy

February 16, 2020February 17, 2020CBC

Prolonged Exposure Therapy One of the most well established and highly effective treatments for PTSD is prolonged exposure therapy. However, while this treatment has demonstrated much success over the years, focusing on habituation as the primary mechanisms of change has been called into question. The inhibitory learning model challenges outdated approaches and aligns with advances in neuroscience. Inhibitory Learning Model: Advances in CBT According to the inhibitory learning model, when exposure therapy results in extinction, information in the brain is not rewritten. Instead, new learning simply inhibits older excititory learning. The important take-home is that information is never unlearned. It just becomes inhibited. This means that depending on context and… Read More

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Chronic Pain

February 13, 2020February 16, 2020CBC

ACT and CBT are both empirically supported treatments for chronic pain management. ACT helps those with chronic pain identify what they value in life and how to move towards those meaningful experiences with self-kindness. CBT helps those with chronic pain reduce maladaptive ways of thinking about pain, while testing strongly held pain beliefs. Please click on the article below to learn more about how ACT and CBT approaches may help your physical and emotional pain. ACT, CBT and Chronic Pain Management Article

Dr. Berman’s Newest Research

January 25, 2020January 25, 2020CBC

Dr. Berman and his team have been accepted to present research on the impact of transdiagnostic approaches on treatment adherence at the American Psychological Association (APA) 2020 Convention. Stay tuned for updates and information.

Dr. Berman Presents Research

December 3, 2019February 4, 2020CBC

For the past 4 years, Dr. Berman has been researching the use of transdiagnostic interventions with substance use disorders. Dr. Berman was honored to present his research at The Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance use and Addiction poster session.