Overview
This study is an open trial designed to examine individual changes that occur before, during, and after 6 modules of Emotion Regulation Therapy (ERT) delivered via telehealth for individuals in New York State who are experiencing elevated worry, rumination, or self-criticism.
Description
The main questions this study aims to answer are to:
- Examine temporal patterns of ERT-specific treatment mechanisms (attention regulation, metacognitive regulation, motivation regulation, and valued living), relationships between these mechanisms and negative self-referential processing (NSRP; i.e., rumination, worry, and self-criticism) severity over time, and changes in these mechanisms in response to specific intervention strategies/modules.
- Investigate the effect of concordance and/or discordance between therapists and clients regarding skill acquisition, treatment goals, and case conceptualizations on treatment mechanisms as well as measures of treatment outcome and satisfaction.
- Demonstrate the preliminary efficacy of a 6-module, time-variable version of ERT in reducing symptoms of psychological distress (e.g., anxiety, depression, worry, rumination, self-criticism), changing ERT-specific treatment mechanisms (e.g., attention regulation), and improving quality of life and overall functioning.
Participants will:
- Fill out an online pre-screening questionnaire and complete a structured clinical interview via Zoom Healthcare
- Be enrolled as a patient at the Dean Hope Center for Educational and Psychological Services (DHCEPS), located at Teachers College
- Attend between 12-22 once-weekly telehealth ERT sessions
- Complete between 18-28 weekly questionnaires online via Qualtrics (two before starting treatment, 12-22 during each week of treatment, and 4 after ending treatment).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Between the ages of 18 and 65
- Fluent in English (and therefore able to provide consent)
- Currently living in New York State
- Access to at least one device with internet and video-conferencing capabilities
- High self-reported worry, rumination, and/or self-criticism
- Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for at least one, current psychological disorder
Exclusion Criteria:
- Active suicidal ideation or intent
- Substance dependence disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar-I disorder, or a primary DSM-5 diagnosis of borderline or narcissistic personality disorder
- Currently in therapy or receiving any type of psychosocial treatment
- Individuals taking psychotropic mediation that has not been stabilized for a period of at least 3 months
- Current students at Teachers College, Columbia University
