Therapist Resources
My approach to anxiety treatment is described in two books: Overcoming Anxiety and Panic interactive guide (Hands-on-Guide, 2019) and Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety: A Guide for Therapists (Rutledge 2021). Therapists should read both, even if they are not interested in using virtual reality at this time. See also Therapist Training for additional resources.
Overcoming Anxiety and Panic interactive guide
This book can be used as a self-help book, a client workbook for individual or group therapy, or as a guide to treating anxiety.
Using this book with clients helps make therapy more effective because:
Clients can learn about the anxiety cycle and other factors related to anxiety by reading the book. This frees up time during sessions for discussing each client’s specific issues.
Forms provided in the book provide an easy way to identify each client’s specific anxiety issues and track their progress through therapy.
Interoceptive exposure exercises covered in Chapter 12 are very effective tools for helping clients understand and stop fearing the physical sensations associated with panic attacks. Interoceptive exposure is an evidence-based proven to result in better treatment outcomes, yet relatively few therapists use it or use it effectively.
For more information, including downloadable versions of the forms, see the book website: www.overcoming.guide.
Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety: A Guide for Therapists
Virtual reality (VR) offers great benefits for anxiety treatment. VR exposure therapy (VRET) provides more flexibility and efficiency than alternatives such as imaginal exposure or real-life (in vivo) exposure. VR provides a controlled, immersive, evocative experience and has strong research support. VR is increasingly adopted by therapists and can be used during many parts of therapy including diagnosis, skills training, reward/relaxation, and relapse prevention.
Even if you are not ready to add VR to your practice, I recommend this book for the case examples illustrating a flexible, comprehensive approach to understanding and treating panic, fears and phobias, and many other anxiety disorders. It also covers aspects of CBT that some therapists find challenging, such as creating an exposure hierarchy.
For more information, see the book website: www.virtualrealitytherapyforanxiety.com.
Dr. McMahon’s Blog on Psychology Today
Overcoming Anxiety and Panic | Psychology Today
Exposure Therapy for Public Speaking
Article by Ana Gascon: "Exposure Therapy for Public Speaking: These Tools Will Help You Ace Your Speech" see: https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/exposure-therapy-public-speaking.
Therapist Headspace Podcast Video
Kate Mayor for Therapist Headspace interviews Dr. McMahon on the “Use of Virtual Reality in the Therapy Room.” See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBYbiaXhU7g
Psychiatry XR Podcast: Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety and Fear
Kim Bullock MD, Jessica Hagen, and Faaizah Arshad speak with clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth McMahon on virtual reality’s applications for overcoming anxiety and fear, patient responses to immersive therapy, precautions clinicians should take before implementing it into their own practice, and her hopes for the future of XR technology in psychiatric care.
See: www.psychiatryxr.com/elizabeth-m
Book Chapters
McMahon, E. “Using Virtual Reality to Treat Anxiety”. In Wilson, H., ed. Digital Delivery of Mental Health Therapies: A Guide to the Benefits, Challenges and Making it Work, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2022. (Chapter 19)
Boeldt, D., McMahon, E., McFaul, M., and Greenleaf, W. (2020). “Using Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) to Enhance Treatment of Anxiety Disorders: Identifying Areas of Clinical Adoption and Potential Obstacle”. In E. Aboujaoude, L. Gega, M. B. Parish, & D. M. Hilty (Eds.), Digital Interventions in Mental Health: Current Status and Future Directions (pp. 45-50). Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA.
Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals
Boeldt, D., McMahon, E., McFaul, M., and Greenleaf, W. (2019). Using Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) to Enhance Treatment of Anxiety Disorders: Identifying Areas of Clinical Adoption and Potential Obstacles. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 733-743.
McMahon, E. (2017). Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy: Bringing ‘in vivo’ into the Office. Journal of Health Service Psychology, (Spring), 43, 46-49.