Psychiatry and Psychology

Overview

Stephen P. Whiteside, Ph.D., L.P., a child psychologist, gives an overview of the Mayo Clinic five-day intensive treatment program for childhood anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for these disorders, but access to this approach is limited. The five-day program is available for children who don't have access to high-quality care in their area. The treatment educates the family and child, helps the child face her or his fears through exposure exercises, and teaches parents to lead exposure exercises so therapy can continue at home.