Managing Anxiety Before High-Stakes Sessions (2 CEU's)

HIGH-RISK & CLINICAL EDGE CASES
Managing Anxiety Before High-Stakes Sessions – 2 CEUs

Overview:
Even experienced clinicians may experience significant anxiety before certain sessions. Anticipatory stress can emerge prior to sessions involving suicidality, risk assessments, mandated reporting concerns, couples in crisis, high-conflict families, personality-related dynamics, complaints, court-related matters, traumatic disclosures, or clients whose presentations evoke strong emotional responses. Therapists may notice racing thoughts, physical tension, dread, excessive preparation, sleep disruption, self-doubt, or fears related to making mistakes. Because professional culture often reinforces expectations of confidence and competence, clinicians may feel reluctant to acknowledge anxiety or may interpret these experiences as evidence of inadequacy rather than understandable responses to clinical responsibility and uncertainty.

In this presentation, Dr. Zairys Feliz, Ph.D., LCSW, participants will explore practical and clinically grounded approaches for understanding and managing therapist anxiety before high-stakes clinical encounters. Attendees will examine how perfectionism, responsibility beliefs, previous experiences, countertransference, risk concerns, professional identity, and nervous system activation contribute to anticipatory anxiety. The course will address common manifestations including over-preparation, avoidance, reassurance-seeking, cognitive rigidity, and emotional over-functioning. Participants will learn practical strategies for recognizing anxiety patterns, regulating physiological activation, strengthening clinical confidence, utilizing consultation effectively, and approaching difficult sessions with greater flexibility and self-awareness. Through case examples and applied discussion, attendees will gain practical tools for navigating one of the most common yet under-discussed realities of clinical practice.

Objectives:

1. Identify emotional, cognitive, and physiological factors that contribute to therapist anxiety before high-stakes clinical encounters.

2. Recognize common behavioral and countertransference responses associated with anticipatory clinical stress.

3. Apply practical strategies that support regulation, confidence, and effective preparation before difficult sessions.

Scope and Limitations Disclosure
This course provides licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with an overview of professional and clinical approaches for understanding therapist anxiety in high-stakes treatment situations. Participants will learn practical assessment and intervention considerations relevant to professional wellbeing and clinical effectiveness. This training does not provide mental health treatment, occupational consultation, or certification in anxiety treatment models. Participants are expected to apply course material within their professional scope of practice, ethical standards, and ongoing consultation and self-reflection practices.

Financial and Commercial Disclosure
The presenter has no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. Any references to therapeutic frameworks, professional wellbeing concepts, interventions, or resources are included solely for educational purposes. Participants are not required to purchase any additional materials to complete this course.

Refund Policy – Live CE Trainings (Virtual & In-Person)
All registrations for live CE trainings are subject to this refund policy. By enrolling, participants agree to these terms. Cancellations made 7 days or more prior to the scheduled training date are eligible for a full refund minus a $25 administrative fee, or participants may elect to receive a full credit toward a future training. Cancellations made less than 7 days before the scheduled training are non-refundable; however, registrations may be transferred to another eligible training or another attendee with prior written approval. Participants who fail to attend a scheduled live training, do not complete attendance requirements, or fail to satisfy course participation requirements are not eligible for refunds or CEUs. If a training is canceled or rescheduled by the provider, registrants will be offered either a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to another training. Refunds will not be issued if participants are unable to earn CEUs due to incomplete attendance, failure to complete required evaluations, or licensing board eligibility restrictions.