Exposure Therapy: How “Facing your Fears” Works for Anxiety
Presented by Ashley Niemeyer, Ph.D. and Alexia Spanos, Ph.D.

Friday, May 3, 2024 | 9:00 am until 4:00 pm PST
Central Oregon Community College | 2600 NW College Way, Bend, OR 97703
6 hours Continuing Education Credit  

REGISTER HERE

Central Oregon Community College
Middleton Science Center (Room Number TBD)

2600 NW College Way, Bend, OR 97703
Parking is free on College Way or in the Barber Library parking lot (right next door to Willis Hall) 

Lunch and snacks will be provided with a one hour lunch break
This workshop will be capped at 70 participants

Workshop Overview:  This workshop will provide an introduction and overview to the use of Exposure Therapy as a treatment modality across a wide range of anxiety disorders. Participants will leave with a working knowledge of Exposure Therapy and an understanding of the basic treatment components. The presentation will highlight theories and research supporting the use of Exposure Therapy. We will then focus on applying Exposure Therapy to specific anxiety disorders and the needed modifications for each. Disorders addressed will include: Specific Phobia, Social Phobia, Panic Disorder, Health Anxiety, and PTSD. Participants will have the opportunity in small groups to practice treatment planning and exposure hierarchy development for various diagnoses. We will also discuss the application of exposure in specific populations, such as children and adolescents and clients with ARFID and Eating Disorders. Finally, we aim to dispel myths about the use of Exposure Therapy and explore any apprehensions to using exposure with your own clients. We will provide plenty of opportunities for discussion, dialogue and questions throughout the workshop

Learning Objectives:  By the end of this training:

1. Attendees will have a solid understanding of how Exposure Therapy is implemented and utilized.
2. Attendees will learn how to adapt exposure to specific anxiety diagnoses.
3. Attendees will be able to describe unique aspects of Exposure Therapy with children.
4. Attendees will learn common misconceptions related to Exposure Therapy and the barriers/hesitations to using Exposure Therapy.

About the Presenters:  Dr. Spanos specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and trauma for adolescents and adults. Dr. Spanos primarily utilizes Exposure Therapy for these diagnoses. She also specializes in the treatment of eating disorders across the lifespan. Dr. Spanos obtained her PhD in clinical psychology from Michigan State University and completed her pre-doctoral internship at McLean Hospital/A Harvard Medical School Affiliate. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Evidence-Based Treatment Centers of Seattle (EBTCS) where she completed dual training through the Anxiety Center and the Eating Disorders Center. Before moving to Central Oregon in 2020, Dr. Spanos was a staff psychologist, Director of Training and, most recently, Co-Director of the Eating Disorders Center at EBTCS between 2014-2020.

Dr. Niemeyer specializes in the treatment of anxiety and trauma in children, adolescents and adults.  Dr. Niemeyer received her PhD in clinical psychology from Idaho State University, a program which focused primarily on evidence-based practices, with a strong emphasis on treatment of anxiety disorders.  She then completed a pre-doctoral internship at Saint John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica. Following internship, Dr. Niemeyer worked at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA), on the Project Heal Team, focusing on the treatment of child and adolescent trauma.  At CHLA, Dr. Niemeyer provided supervision for interns and postdocs in the areas of psychological assessment, treatment of trauma using TF-CBT, and use of exposure-based therapies in culturally sensitive modalities. Currently, Dr. Niemeyer has a private practice here in Bend where she treats anxiety in clients of all ages. 

Costs: COAP uses an online registration process that accepts credit and debit cards. The lowest registration rates are associated with early registration, we encourage you to sign up early to make sure you have a spot.  This workshop is limited to the first 70 participants who register.

Registered by 4/19/2024

COAP Member*:  $ 140

Non COAP Member:  $ 150

Registered after 4/19/2024

COAP Member*: $150

Non COAP Member:  $160

Student Rate $60

*Membership in COAP is limited to Central Oregon based active and retired psychologists, residents, and psychologist associates. You must be current with COAP dues to register at the membership rate. Yearly COAP dues are $25 and are collected in September via Cheddar Up website (a small fee will be charged by cheddar up). Please use this link to pay dues: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/coap-membership-2023-24

We welcome all allied mental health practitioners to our workshops (at non-member registration rates); receiving Continuing Education credits from various Licensing Boards has not been problematic, assuming the topic meets your Board’s criteria.

**A $35 cancellation fee will be assessed for all cancellations. Registration fee will not be refunded for dissatisfaction with the training or for no-shows.  

Students are invited to attend for $60.  Please be prepared to submit a copy of your student identification card as proof of your student status.

Questions can be directed to [email protected]

Check out the COAP website for additional information  https://www.coapworkshops.org

Registration Details: Exposure Therapy: How “Facing your Fears” Works for Anxiety Presented by Ashley Niemeyer, Ph.D. and Alexia Spanos, Ph.D.

Registration will be handled online by the Central Oregon Association of Psychologists through Eventbrite.  Please visit the following website to sign up: