Basics of Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

Date:  Monday, March 23, 2026

Time:  9:30am to 5:00pm EST

Cost:  $350.00 per person

Location:  Zoom 

Workshop Description: Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in the United States. Exposure therapy for anxiety disorders have been shown through research to be the most effective and efficient way to treat anxiety disorders, yet many therapists have never received formal training in exposure therapy. In this four-hour workshop, Dr. Sandy Capaldi will discuss cognitive behavioral conceptualizations of anxiety disorders, emotional processing theory, and the specific applications of emotional processing theory to various anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the United States, yet many therapists have never received formal training in exposure therapy—the most effective and efficient treatment for these disorders. Without proper implementation, exposure therapy can seem intimidating to both clinicians and clients, leading to missed opportunities for recovery. In this workshop, Dr. Sandy Capaldi will provide a comprehensive introduction to exposure therapy, helping clinicians build confidence in its application across anxiety disorders. Topics will include:

✅ Cognitive-behavioral conceptualizations of anxiety disorders and how avoidance maintains symptoms

✅ Emotional Processing Theory and its role in exposure-based interventions

✅ Practical strategies for adapting exposure therapy across different anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, social anxiety, OCD, and specific phobias

Participants will leave this training with a strong foundation in exposure therapy principles, ready to implement structured, research-supported interventions in their clinical practice.

About the Presenter

Dr. Sandy Capaldi is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and the Associate Director, Outpatient Clinical Director, & Director of Implementation at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA). Since 2007, she has worked clinically and in research with trauma, PTSD, and other anxiety and related disorders at the CTSA, with a focus on dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices. Dr. Capaldi currently directs the PE Initiative, an implementation project in collaboration with Community Behavioral Health (CBH) and the Evidence-Based Practice and Innovation Center (EPIC) and the Prolonged Exposure to Address Community Violence (PEACE) Project, a Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grant funded through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Dr. Capaldi is a licensed clinical psychologist who has a variety of clinical experiences with patient populations ranging from children to older adults and is certified by the CTSA as a PE Therapist, Consultant, and Trainer and as an Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD (Ex/RP) Therapist, Consultant, and Trainer. Dr. Capaldi also specializes in cognitive-behavioral treatment for trichotillomania, excoriation disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia, specific phobias, generalized anxiety, and somatic symptom and related disorders. Her work has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, among others.

Target Audience

This presentation is intended for mental health professionals, researchers, and graduate students. The instructional level of this presentation is beginner.

Continuing Education

THE PHILADELPHIA BEHAVIOR THERAPY ASSOCIATION (PBTA) IS APPROVED BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION TO SPONSOR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS.  PBTA MAINTAINS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM AND ITS CONTENT.  THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES SIX (6) HOURS OF CE CREDITS FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS.

PBTA IS ALSO AN AUTHORIZED PROVIDER FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS LICENSED IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SIX (6) HOURS OF CE CREDITS. 

In order to receive continuing education credits, participants must:

• attend each hour of the workshop (no late arrivals or early departures)
• complete a course evaluation

If both of these requirements are met, you will receive a continuing education certificate after the conclusion of the workshop.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss cognitive behavioral conceptualizations of anxiety disorders
• Describe emotional processing theory
• Label specific applications of emotional processing theory to various anxiety disorders
• Identify basic CBT techniques (assessment, psychoeducation, exposure techniques, and homework assignments)

Webinar workshop requirements:

• You must have utilities, internet service, phone service, and an appropriately private location at your home or office in order to ensure HIPAA compliance.
  • The private location should be free of noise and distractions. (If you are the parent of young children, appropriate child care arrangements must be in place.)
• You must agree to attend each hour of the video conference and agree to use video of yourself during the video conference in order to track attendance.
• You must agree not to copy or distribute workshop materials provided to you in the course of the workshop.
• Since authentic patient audio/video is utilized during the training, you must agree to abide by all applicable rules of confidentiality and HIPAA compliance, including but not limited to no audio or video-recording of the workshop in any form.

You will be asked to affirm the previous conditions and your agreement to them prior to the commencement of the workshop.

Instructions for Registration

Registrations are due one week in advance and must be completed in full. 

To register, complete the online registration.

If you need to withdraw your application for any reason, please email Dr. Sandy Capaldi. Note that workshop fees are non-refundable after the application due date (one week before the start of the workshop).