About the Author

Dr. Jasper A. J. Smits is Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Texas at Austin, where he directs a research lab and clinic that focus on the treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Among his core interests are developing strategies that enhance exposure therapy outcomes and the training of clinicians in the delivery of this empirically-supported intervention. Dr. Smits is a federally-funded investigator who has published over 200 articles, chapters, and books spanning his interests. He also is a member of the Scientific Council of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, consults to industry, and provides regular workshops on the treatment of anxiety and related disorders at national and international meetings. Dr. Mark B. Powers is Director of Trauma Research at Baylor Scott & White, conducting federally funded projects at two Level 1 Trauma Centers including Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and Scott & White Medical Center in Temple. He collaborates with local police as a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management and Crisis/Hostage Negotiation teams. Dr. Powers is certified in prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD and Exposure with Ritual Prevention for OCD after training at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety with Dr. Edna Foa. He also served as a Beck Scholar at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research. He has published over 150 articles, books, and book chapters, and is Editor-in-Chief of the journal Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Dr. Michael W. Otto is Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Health System Innovation and Policy at Boston University. Dr. Otto has had a major career focus on developing and validating new psychosocial treatments for anxiety and mood disorders. His attention to principles underlying behavior-change successes includes research on addictive behaviors, medication adherence, sleep, and exercise. Across these areas of interest, Dr. Otto has published over 400 articles and 20 books. He has served as President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and President of Division 12 of the American Psychological Association, and received the Division 12 award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology.

Reviews

The text offers considerable detail on how exposure therapy can be individualized and adapted to many different situations. What is particularly interesting here is that the authors address ways patients can be helped to confront not only problem situations (for example, public speaking) but also problematic negative thoughts (for example, "People are not as caring as I want them to be") and memories (such as those associated with PTSD). Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals.
*Choice*

[This book] shares the secrets that every successful exposure therapist knows. The authors, rock stars of exposure therapy, explain the principles clearly, offer explicit guidelines to put them into action, and present clinical examples to bring these principles to life. This volume covers everything from assessment through treatment to termination, including suggestions of assessment instruments. It is very engaging, practical, and well written and details real life situations such as when medications are involved in exposure therapy. Every clinician who treats a patient with anxiety should read this cover to cover, and it will help them provide better treatment for the rest of their therapeutic lives.
*Barbara O. Rothbaum, PhD, ABPP, Professor in Psychiatry, Director, Veterans Program and Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program, Paul A. Janssen Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology, Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Emory University School of Medicine*

Personalized Exposure Therapy belongs in the hands of every clinician who wants to treat fear-based disorders successfully. In clear language, Smits, Powers, and Otto bring the principles of exposure therapy to life, with compelling case examples and a clearly articulated rationale. Clinicians of all levels will find a wealth of useful, practical information in this book.
*David F. Tolin, PhD, Director, Anxiety Disorders Center, The Institute of Living, and author of Doing CBT: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Behaviors, Thoughts, and Emotions*

This book describes cutting-edge advances in cognitive science and integrates them with what is known from intensive clinical study to help clinicians design and provide the kind of treatment patients with anxiety disorders most need. At every step, the conceptual understanding is grounded in the examples, scripts, and handouts that make this book 'session ready' for clinicians and their patients. Unlike some manuals, this book is not a session-by-session treatment manual. Instead, it provides a comprehensive perspective on the principles and procedures behind exposure interventions.
*Edna B. Foa, PhD, Professor in Psychiatry and Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine*