Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Therapy Group

Excessive Worry and Anxiety?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by frequent, repetitive, excessive, unproductive worry about certain areas of life that have become important to you (health, finances, work, tasks, relationships, performance, etc). GAD causes mental and physical fatigue, reduces productivity, affects your health, and interferes with the ability to relax and enjoy life. GAD affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, in any given year. You can benefit from this therapy group if you have some of these symptoms, and in particular if you have experienced three or more of the symptoms below on most days, for at least six months.

Excessive worry about a number of events, activities, risks, or responsibilities
Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
Being easily fatigued
Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
Irritability
Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep)
Muscle tension √Gastrointestinal problems (gastric reflux, IBS, nausea, ulcers)

We are offering a 15-week therapy group that utilizes an evidence-based, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach specifically developed for GAD. This recently advanced approach has increased the effectiveness of treatment for this chronic, challenging disorder by including:

Metacognitive Therapy (responding to and changing assumptions and patterns of thinking)
Mindfulness (directing attention to the present moment, in a calming way)
Distinguishing productive vs. unproductive worry, letting go of unhelpful, stressful thinking
Learning to let go of excessive "safety behaviors" that are time-consuming and exhausting, usually wasteful and unnecessary or "overkill" efforts to prevent any possible unpleasant or imagined hardships or dangers that are present in life

The group will be lead by Dr. Shenk and will include 5 to 8 members. Dr. Shenk will offer a group in person in his La Jolla office, and will also offer an additional group for online participants from around California.

Leader: James L. Shenk, Ph.D.

Where: Online

Fee: $80 per session (90-minute sessions) *Initial, individual assessment $300

Interested In Joining?

The Cognitive Therapy Institute, APC

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Therapy Group

Excessive Worry and Anxiety?