Overview

In the One-Week Intensive Treatment Program, patients undergo treatment all day for five consecutive days.  The One-Week Intensive Treatment Program covers all of the skills learned in the traditional 12-week treatment protocol, but has the advantage of fast change for those who qualify.   

This new, highly specialized treatment has been featured on the television programs 20/20 and 48 hours.  The Florida Anxiety Clinic is one of the few clinics in the country that offers this intense form of therapy.  It is used to treat the following disorders:

    » Panic Disorder

    » Agoraphobia

    » Social Phobia

    » Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

It is possible to adapt the one-week protocol for other disorders, but this can only be done on a case-by-case basis. 

People travel from around the country to participate in our One-Week Intensive Treatment Program.  If you are traveling to the area, we can assist you in your travel arrangements. 

Treatment Schedule

Patients begin this full-time treatment on Monday and end treatment on Friday afternoon; in some cases, treatment is extended into Saturday morning.  Treatment begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. every day.  Breaks are provided as needed.  Patients also have brief assignments to complete at night after their all-day treatment (e.g., breathing techniques). 

Patients spend up to 20 hours of the week working directly with a licensed psychologist.  The rest of the time is spent reading and doing activities and exercises that have been prescribed by the psychologist.  In most cases, patients spend time with the psychologist in the morning and do activities during the afternoon.

The treatment begins with psychoeducation and moves quickly into the other four components of treatment (e.g., breathing retraining, cognitive restructuring, exposure, and lifestyle management).  For a review of these treatment components, please read the About Treatment section.

By Day 3, patients have been exposed to all treatment components and the rest of the time is spent practicing all of the skills learned.  On the last day of treatment, the treatment focuses on consolidation of the skills and relapse prevention.  

Patients end the treatment with a written plan that will help them maintain the treatment gains made, along with scheduled follow-up phone-calls and emails. 

Like all of our treatment protocols, we tailor the One-Week Intensive Treatment program to fit each patient's needs.

Qualifications for Participation

This intensive treatment program is not for everyone; it is designed for individuals who prefer a short-term, intensive treatment in place of the traditional weekly 12-session treatment.  To be admitted into the One-Week Intensive Treatment Program, patients must meet the following criteria:

» Patients must meet  the diagnostic criteria for Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Phobia, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. 

» Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Phobia, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder must be the principle problem, not depression, substance abuse, or other psychiatric condition. 

» Patients must be willing to experience high anxiety, and even possible panic attacks, during the course of treatment.

» Patients must be cleared medically by their physician to ensure that the panic does not have a medical origin and that they are medically stable enough to participate in the program.   

» Patients must also be willing to stay in the area during the course of treatment and to cover all travel, housing, and other expenses during the treatment period. 

Research on the treatment of panic disorder suggests that people who are taking medication for panic disorder while undergoing treatment have a greater chance of relapse than people not taking medication.  For this reason, we recommend that patients not be taking medications for Panic Disorder while undergoing treatment. 

In particular, taking benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax) on an as-needed basis (i.e., PRN) is not recommended during treatment. Exceptions to this would be the use of anti-depressant medication.  If you are on this type of medication and are still experiencing anxiety and panic, then discontinuation of the medication would not be necessary.  We evaluate this medication criterion on a case-by-case basis.

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Cost of the Program

The cost for the One-Week Intensive Program is $3,300, which is payable in full at least one week before treatment is scheduled.  Payment may be made using any major credit or bank card, cash, or money order. 

Because of the unique nature of this treatment program, we do not accept insurance.  It is our experience that most insurance companies will not reimburse you for this program, but it is worth inquiring.  Our staff is willing to assist you in completing your claim in any way we can.

In accordance with our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee policy, you are eligible for a full refund up until the end of the first day of treatment.  After this period, no refunds are provided.  Should unseen circumstances cause you to have to end treatment prematurely, treatment can be rescheduled for a later date.   

Patients are responsible for all costs related to traveling to, and staying near, the office.  These costs include transportation, lodging, and meals.  The staff at the Florida Anxiety Clinic can help you arrange your trip by providing you with driving directions, a local map, and a list of nearby hotels and eateries. 

Patients are also responsible for all costs related to any therapy conducted out of the office. This includes, but is not limited to, transportation, meals, admission fees, and rental fees.  if the psychologist accompanies the patient on these out-of-office therapy sessions, he or she is responsible for paying the psychologist's expenses as well. 

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Disclaimer

This program is intense and requires a significant investment of time and money.  Please evaluate it carefully before you enroll to determine if it fits your needs.  We are happy to answer any questions or provide any information you need to make your decision.

Please be aware that, even if you want to participate in the program, we might not admit you into the program if our experts believe it is not appropriate for you.

You also need to be aware that there are less expensive, traditional forms of treatment, including our traditional 12-Session Program, that involves one session weekly approximately three months. 

We designed this intensive program for people who desire intensive treatment, cannot go to weekly sessions, have time constraints, or have some other reason for not attending standard treatment. 

Contact us today to find out more about the Intensive Treatment Program.

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