Description
Leader: Michael Hickey, Ph.D., Director of Psychological Evaluations & Core Faculty Trainer
Cost: $135.00
Date: Friday, March 13, 2026 | 9:30 am EST – 12:45 pm EST
Location: Zoom
3 Contact Hours/3 Continuing Education Credits will be provided by Albert Ellis Institute upon completion of the workshop.
Target Audience: Psychologists, Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Graduate Students
Instructional Level: Introductory
Description:
Anxiety disorders are among the most common form of psychological disorders diagnosed and motivate many people to seek psychotherapy. Fortunately, many highly effective, evidence-based treatments are available. This half-day workshop will focus on etiology and symptom presentation of commonly diagnosed anxiety disorders and how evidence-based approaches can be utilized in the treatment of anxiety. Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (RE&CBT) theory, research, and interventions will be reviewed and participants will learn how to implement innovative cognitive and behavioral (e.g., exposure and response prevention) strategies informed by the most recent research findings.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Explain factors in the etiology and maintenance of anxiety
- Describe the common symptom presentation of anxiety across various anxiety disorders
- Utilize cognitive restructuring strategies from an RE&CBT framework to treat anxiety
- Design exposure hierarchies/lists and implement exposure exercises
Schedule:
9:30am – 10:15am (EST): Review of etiological and diagnostic considerations for various anxiety disorders
10:15am – 10:45am (EST): Summary of RE&CBT theory with emphasis on treating anxiety
10:45am – 11:30pm (EST): Cognitive intervention strategies for treating anxiety
11:30-12:30pm (EST): Behavioral intervention methods (exposure and response prevention) for treating anxiety
12:30 – 12:45 pm (EST): Evaluations
* Some instructors may receive royalties for the publication of any texts, books, articles, chapters, or psychological tests that are required, discussed and/or referred to in the presentations.
Recommended Readings:
Abramowitz, J.S., Deacon, B.J., & Whiteside, S.P.H. (2019). Exposure therapy for anxiety: Principles and practice 2nd Edition. New York, NY. The Guilford Press.
David, D., Freeman, A., & DiGiuseppe, R. (2010). Rational and irrational beliefs: Implications for mechanisms of change and practice in psychotherapy. Rational and irrational beliefs: Research, theory, and clinical practice, 195-217.
Ellis, A. (1998). How to control your anxiety before it controls you. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Publishing.
Foa, E.B. & Kozak, M.J. (1986). Emotional processing of fear: Exposure to corrective information. Psychological Bulletin, 99, 20-35.
Hickey, M. (2019). REBT and anxiety disorders. In W. Dryden & M.E. Bernard (Eds.), REBT with diverse client problems and populations. (pp. 3-21). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
Mogoase, C., David, D., & Koster, E.H.W. (2014). Clinical efficacy of attentional bias modification procedures: An updated meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70, 1133-1157.
Ougrin, D. (2011). Efficacy of exposure versus cognitive therapy in anxiety disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry, 11:200
Instructor Credentials:
Michael Hickey, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and the founding Director of the Center for Psychological Evaluation and the Center for Treatment and Research of Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders at Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). A graduate of Western New England University, Dr. Hickey earned his B.A. in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, and received the University’s prestigious Alumni Award for graduating with the highest cumulative grade point average. He went on to earn his M.A. and Ph.D. in Combined Clinical and School Psychology at Hofstra University and completed a pre-doctoral internship and fellowship at AEI.
In addition, Dr. Hickey is a core faculty trainer for AEI and has trained numerous students and mental health professionals in the method and application of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (RE&CBT). He has conducted several public lectures and professional workshops on a variety of topics including evidence-based treatment for Anxiety Disorders, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Dr. Hickey’s doctoral dissertation examined the role of disgust sensitivity as an understudied emotional component in BDD and was one of the first to publish an empirical investigation on this topic. Additional clinical and research interests include the etiology and treatment of anxiety disorders, BDD, and other Obsessive-Compulsive Related Disorders. Dr. Hickey has published his work in peer-reviewed journals including the International Journal of Cognitive Therapy and the American Journal of Psychotherapy. He has authored and co-authored several book chapters on topics such as REBT, anxiety disorders in children and adults, couples therapy, and clinical supervision. He is also on the editorial review board for the Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.
Dr. Hickey has held memberships in the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), the International Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCDF), and the New York State Psychological Association. He has presented his research at annual conventions for APA, ABCT, and IOCDF. In the media, Dr. Hickey has provided expert advice on overcoming social anxiety on New York City’s PIX 11 Morning News. In addition to his work at AEI, Dr. Hickey has over 10 years of experience in conducting intellectual evaluations of children for the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) and has held adjunct faculty positions at Molloy University, Post University, Hofstra University, St. John’s University and is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School Psychology Graduate Program at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Cancelling of Registration
| Time Frame (Days before Workshop or Training) | Cancellation Fees | |
| 28 days or more | None | |
| 14 to 27 days | 50% of registration fee | |
| Less than 14 days | 100% of registration fee |
Albert Ellis Institute incurs significant administrative costs related to your registration before a workshop. Therefore, the following fees apply should you either cancel or request to transfer your registration to a different workshop or training date.
If you wish to cancel your registration, a notification should be sent in writing to info@albertellis.org. Refunds will be provided as noted above with associated relevant fees.
Any necessary information related to inclement weather that will affect a workshop/training will be emailed to the address you have provided us or is available by calling 212-535-0822 during usual business hours.
There are times when Albert Ellis Institute may need to cancel a workshop/training. We would only do so with good reason, however, we reserve this right, as well as the right to reschedule workshops/trainings and/or substitute presenters. If we need to cancel or reschedule a workshop/training, we will transfer your registration to the next available scheduled workshop/training on that particular topic. If you cannot or choose not to transfer your registration, you may request a full refund of workshop/training fees paid.
Albert Ellis Institute disclaims any liability for any losses or damages, direct or indirect, arising from a workshop/training cancellation and will not be held responsible for any associated costs incurred with respect to travel, accommodation, US visa application fees, or related fees.
Albert Ellis Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Albert Ellis Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Albert Ellis Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5145. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Albert Ellis Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Albert Ellis Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0133.
Albert Ellis Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0131.
Albert Ellis Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0019.
