Anxiety Disorders Clinic
Anxiety Disorders
Fear and anxiety can be normal and healthy emotions. But many individuals experience these emotions excessively and persistently, and are debilitated by fear and anxiety.
- Facts everyone should know about anxiety disorders1:
- Anxiety disorders are common. 1 in 6 people struggle with anxiety—over 40 million Americans.
- Fear and anxiety can be debilitating—they can have negative influences on social, work, and family functioning.
- On the whole, anxiety disorders are chronic. Unless treated, they will not simply “go away”.
- Individuals who suffer with anxiety disorders often become depressed.
- Treatment is effective. Extensive research supports the effectiveness of Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment for anxiety disorders.
- Treatment is short-term (approximately 12-16 sessions).
1www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/anxiety.cfm
What we treat
- Panic Disorder involves persistent concern about having panic attacks, which are intense periods of fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as difficulty breathing and a racing heart. People with panic disorder often avoid situations that could trigger panic attacks.
- Specific Phobias are intense fears of specific objects or circumstances; for instance, spiders, dogs, heights, or even flying in airplanes.
- Social Phobia describes an intense fear of negative evaluation by others. People with social phobia are often terrified of social interactions.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive worry about a number of issues. People with GAD worry a good deal of the time, and find it difficult to control their worries.
Treatment & Research
At Stony Brook University, clinical training bridges research and treatment. We keep informed about the most recent developments in anxiety research, and only provide treatments that have been proven through multiple scientific studies. In addition to treatment, several faculty have active research programs focused specifically on understanding disorders of anxiety. Clients have the option of participating in available studies. Understanding, treating, and ultimately preventing anxiety disorders hinges on careful research.
What we offer
We offer assessments and treatment for children and adults suffering with anxiety. All clients will first undergo a careful assessment. We offer 1-on-1 treatment only; at the present time, group therapy is not offered. Although treatment length will vary somewhat from person to person, the average duration of treatment is approximately 12 to 16 sessions. Treatment is typically once weekly, although more intensive schedules are also possible when warranted.
Who we are
The Anxiety Disorders Clinic is a division of The Psychological Center, which has been operating since 1972. Both function as part of Stony Brook University’s Clinical Psychology program, which is consistently ranked among the top in the nation. Much like an excellent teaching hospital, clients will receive treatment from our exceptional doctoral candidates in clinical psychology, who are directly supervised by one of Stony Brook’s clinical faculty members. The Psychological Center has served over 9,000 clients since 1995.
Affiliated Faculty
Joanne Davila, Ph.D. Anxiety Disorders Clinic Director. Dr. Davila trained in the treatment of anxiety disorders at UCLA and the Neuropsychiatric Institute. Dr. Davila’s research focuses on interpersonal correlates of anxiety and depression.
Marvin Goldfried, Ph.D. Dr. Goldfried was a founder of cognitive-behavior therapy; he is the author of Clinical Behavior Therapy—a book that has been used to train therapists for over 30 years.
Camille Wortman, Ph.D. Dr. Wortmann’s research focuses on coping processes surrounding the lose of a loved one; she is an expert in traumatic loss and complicated grief.
Cost
Hours & Appointments
The Anxiety Disorders Clinic at The Psychological Center