SERVICES
Individual and Group Psychotherapy for Children, Adolescents and Adults
CBT FOR DEPRESSION
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy based on the theory that changing our beliefs and actions leads to changes in our emotions. By increasing awareness of the connections between our thoughts, feelings and behaviors, individuals learn how to make changes in how they perceive life events and choose to respond behaviorally, ultimately resulting in an increased sense of self-control and improvement in mood.
CBT FOR ANXIETY
Exposure Therapy and Programmed Practice: In treating individuals with anxiety disorders, unlike most therapists, Dr. Bricker conducts imaginal and in-vivo exposure therapy, within her office and in real-world settings, providing empirically-supported treatment for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Exposure and Repsonse Prevention), Panic Disorder, Social Phobia, and numerous specific phobias (e.g., fear of public speaking, flying, bridges, water, heights, elevators, etc.). Exposure Therapy is a treatment which reduces anxiety by exposing an individual to a feared situation for a prolonged period of time. After repeated contact with the fearful situation, there is a reduction in anxiety and the fear loses its ability to elicit an anxious response.
Relaxation Training: Relaxation training is taught to decrease general physical or cognitive arousal that often co-occurs with stress and anxiety disorders. There are many forms of relaxation training such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation (tensing and then relaxing various muscle groups such as the face, neck, shoulders, arms and legs).
GROUP SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS
Social Anxiety: Individuals who suffer from social anxiety tend to experience intense anxiety during ordinary forms of social interaction. For example, they may be very fearful when meeting new people, doing a presentation, or joining a group conversation or activity. They may also feel very embarrassed doing routine things in public, such as eating, asking a store clerk a question or ordering at a restaurant. Social anxiety in children may manifest behaviorally in the form of activity withdrawal, crying, temper tantrums, or obstinate behavior. Adults may also engage in avoidance behaviors or endure situations (e.g., work or social obligations) with significant distress. Group social skills training has been found to be a very effective treatment for social anxiety, and Dr. Bricker has have had great success in treating this population with evidence-based group therapy programs called Social Effectiveness Therapy (SET) for adults and Social Effectiveness Therapy for Children (SET-C).
Asperger's Disorder/High Functioning Autism: During her employment at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Dr. Bricker conducted a group social skills training program developed by Deborah Beidel, Ph.D. for children with AD/HFA as part of a treatment study funded by Autism Speaks. Then, in her role as Clinical Director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the University of Central Florida, Dr. Bricker served as the project coordinator for a second treatment study funded by Autism Speaks. As project coordinator, she co-developed and ran a group social skills training program for adolescents with Asperger's Disorder/High Functioning Autism.
Group Therapy: The programs Dr. Bricker implements for children (ages 7+) and adults are research-based and include weekly social skills training sessions and community activities designed to enhance the transfer of social skills to "real-life" settings. Group training sessions teach specific skills necessary for effective social interaction, including traditional social skills as well as difficult aspects of social interactions unique to individuals with AD/HFA. Examples of skills taught include non-verbal social cues, initiating and maintaining conversations, joining groups, friendship establishment and maintenance, and assertion. Dr. Bricker employs traditional behavioral procedures such as modeling, behavior rehearsal, and feedback to enhance skill acquisition.