Anxiety Treatment Services

Specialty services for anxiety disorders, OCD and obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders are available as an adjunct to eating disorder services (when clinically indicated) or as a sole treatment service.

“Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting children and adults. An estimated 40 million American adults suffer from anxiety disorders.” – Anxiety and Depression Association of America
In addition, 1 in 8 children are affected by anxiety disorders.

Although anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent diagnoses across the lifespan, they are also among the most responsive to treatment.

Services

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (for all ages)

    with an experienced therapist to help individuals and families learn strategies that have been shown to be most effective at reducing anxiety symptoms and enhancing their independent and long-term management of these conditions. Specialized areas of focus include OCD, excessive worry, health anxiety, panic attacks, body-focused repetitive behaviors, social anxiety, and related difficulties, including insomnia.

  • Medical

    referral to and collaboration with physicians specializing in the care of those with anxiety issues.

  • Consultation

    to offer education to individuals and loved ones on anxiety conditions, evidence-based treatments, and resources.

  • Referral

    to the most helpful community and national resources.

  • Presentations and Workshops

    to promote awareness for the community about Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders.

About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is an evidence-based treatment that is based on the premise that patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions contribute to the development and maintenance of anxiety and mood conditions. Treatment relies on an increased awareness of these patterns and a willingness to develop new ways of behaving and thinking in response to symptoms and triggers. Through this action-oriented process, the individual achieves a corrective learning experience, increases tolerance of anxiety, overcomes excessive fears, and gains confidence to help them effectively manage symptoms.

Under the broader umbrella term of CBT are a number of specific treatment modalities that share a focus and are incorporated in treatment according to the profile of symptoms, including Exposure/Response Prevention, Habit Reversal Training, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Acceptance-based Behavior Therapy.

Exposure/Response Prevention (ERP)

ERP is a necessary component of CBT for most anxiety conditions, particularly OCD. The two components include exposures – facing fears in a systematic, gradual, and purposeful manner to elicit anxiety – and response (or ritual) prevention – actively resisting safety behaviors and other avoidant strategies that only offer short-term reduction of symptoms but maintain the cycle of anxiety and avoidance in the long-term. Both elements are critical for effective ERP. Through the ERP process, the individual overcomes fears, gains corrective information, and retrains the brain to no longer elicit a fight or flight reaction in the face of these “false alarms.”

Habit Reversal Training (HRT)

HRT is a core component of CBT for body-focused repetitive behavior disorders, such as Trichotillomania (hair pulling), and tic disorders, such as Tourette’s Disorder. It involves awareness training, development of competing responses to replace the problematic behavior, and promoting and maintaining motivation and compliance to consistently use the competing responses. In addition, having helpful family/social support can be an important asset in treatment, with the goal to train support people to encourage the patient’s treatment implementation in concrete ways.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is a form of psychotherapy that incorporates mindfulness skills to develop psychological flexibility, clarify the individual’s values, and take effective “act”ions guided by those values for the purposes of creating a rich and meaningful life. Mindfulness skills are taught to foster management of thoughts and feelings in ways that lower their degree of power and influence over one’s life, to modify one’s relationship with their painful thoughts and feelings, and to live in the present moment.

Acceptance-based Behavior Therapy (ABBT)

Similar to ACT, ABBT emphasizes the role of mindfulness practice to help the individual think about experiences with flexibility, curiosity and compassion, rather than judgment. ABBT integrates mindfulness and core behavior therapy strategies aimed at teaching new skills and new patterns of responding that result in lower stress and improved management of anxiety.

Clinicians

Amy M. Jacobsen, Ph.D.

913-631-3800 ext. 111
Dr. Jacobsen’s website

Amy JacobsenDr. Amy Jacobsen received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The University of Georgia. She completed her clinical internship at SUNY Upstate Medical University and a postdoctoral fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. She has served as Assistant Professor in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Jacobsen was a senior staff psychologist at the Kansas City Center for Anxiety Treatment (KCCAT) for over 7 years where she provided specialized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) services including Exposure/Response Prevention (ERP) across all age groups for anxiety disorders. She is excited to bring her specialty services to independent practice, working with all ages and offering evidence-based services for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum conditions, and adjunctive anxiety-focused services for individuals affected by eating disorders. Dr. Jacobsen has published several research articles and presents at state and national organizations. She also has provided education and training to residents and the community, and she is a member of several national organizations, including the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) and the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF).

Ashley McCune-Shyver, MA, MA, PhD
Postdoctorate, under the supervision of Dr. Jacobsen

913-631-3800 ext. 109
Email Dr. Shyver
Dr. Shyver’s Website

AshleyDr. McCune-Shyver is a psychologist with extensive education and training in the field. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and two independent master’s degrees in general psychology and counseling for couples and families. She has been assessing and treating eating disorders in outpatient and inpatient settings since 2004. Dr. McCune-Shyver offers individual and group counseling, family and marital counseling, and eating disorder assessment services. She uses an integrative counseling style, but primarily utilizes cognitive-behavioral, dialectical-behavioral, and acceptance-based therapies. She tailors scientifically-supported treatments to meet the individual goals of her patients, help promote a healthy balance to both thoughts and behavior, and to develop productive coping strategies. In her work with families, Dr. McCune-Shyver uses evidence-based treatments to help patients work through challenging times, strengthen their relationships, and enhance communication. Although she specializes in eating disorders, Dr. McCune-Shyver has substantial experience treating depression, anxiety disorders, and general adjustment issues. Dr. McCune-Shyver has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and her research has been routinely presented at national and international conferences. Dr. McCune-Shyver loves being married and caring for her two children. Outside of her family, her greatest interests are traveling, reading, and her Newfoundland Barbara.