CUCARD News

May 28, 2015

Launching our summer College Readiness group therapy program for emerging adults with anxiety

Summer College Readiness Group Therapy Program for Emerging Adults with Anxiety

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) is pleased to announce the start of our summer cognitive behavioral groups in the NYPH Youth Anxiety Center (YAC) for young adults (ages 18-28) with anxiety disorders.

Groups are part of our Launching Emerging Adults Program (LEAP) and include:

• Assessment of social-interpersonal skills and readiness for independence
• Education about anxiety, development, and the transition from home to college life
• Skills training in managing difficult emotions and frustrations, social skills, and problem-solving skills
• Role play and real-time practice in handling college situations: traveling on one's own, interacting with professors, finding friends on campus, seeking out resources such as tutors and office hours, making appointments, and managing health care.  The aim of these exposure role plays is to increase the student's ability to manage these situations independently
• Organizational skills and time management

Skills are presented in a group exposure-based approach to reduce anxiety and increase self efficacy and independence in managing anxiety-provoking and developmentally challenging situations (e.g. interviews, advocating for one's self, dating, meeting new people, assertiveness, speaking with persons in authority).  Exposures are conducted in session but also in the community and real settings where the challenges occur.

This group is short term (4-6 weeks) and will meet two or three times per week.  Our summer College Readiness groups will be available starting in June.  Groups are led by our YAC staff at CUCARD.

We welcome active collaboration with current care providers in developing realistic goals and objectives.  Separate parent-young adult "transitition sessions" are offered to promote independence and address family concerns.

Please contact the Youth Anxiety Center Program Coordinator, Evan Alvarez, via phone: 212-246-0481, email: ealvare@nyspi.columbia.edu, or online inquiry.