AD25 Workshop 06 - The Sequence of Engagement for Anxiety - Dan Short, PhD

Workshop 06 - The Sequence of Engagement for Anxiety

In this two-hour workshop, we will explore an evidence-based framework for helping individuals regulate anxiety, using an adapted version of Bruce Perry’s ‘sequence of engagement’ model for trauma intervention. This session will prepare professionals to work effectively with highly anxious individuals by guiding them through four key phases of intervention: 1) Regulate – Learn how to calm the central nervous system and create a safe space for nervous system regulation; 2) Relate – Understand how to help individuals feel seen, heard, and understood, fostering trust and safety; 3) Reason – Explore how to activate critical thinking and probability estimation to challenge problematic thinking patterns; and 4) Experiment – Discover effective ‘reality testing’; strategies like opposite action and practicing panic to deactivate anxiety triggers in real-world settings. The core message is that omitting any of these steps can undermine what would otherwise be an effective intervention.

Educational Objectives:

1. Identify and describe the four phases of the Sequence of Engagement for Anxiety (Regulate, Relate, Reason, Experiment), demonstrating an understanding of how each phase contributes to managing anxiety in clients.

2. Demonstrate the application of evidence-based techniques for regulating the nervous system, building trust, challenging cognitive distortions, and implementing real-world interventions, such as opposite action and practicing panic, in simulated or case-based scenarios.

3. Develop and implement a structured intervention plan incorporating the Sequence of Engagement, effectively using anxiety-deactivation strategies to address specific anxiety triggers and measure client progress.