This information is the result of providing treatment to thousands of individuals with public speaking anxiety since 1978.

The Berent Method of treatment for performance anxiety is based on an integration of core work with technique. Technique is based on the paradox of adrenaline acceptance. Patients learn to make adrenaline their friend and source of power. Core work includes the process of helping the patient resolve the core emotions of embarrassment, shame, and humiliation associated with excessive nervous system activity. At the root of the anxiety-driven visceral response are historically learned negative associations to adrenaline concurrent with the emotionality of a nurturing deficit and the resulting self-esteem challenge.

Psychotherapy integrates the domains of physiology, behavior, cognition, and emotion. Think of F.A.T.E.

F = Function (physiology)
A = Action (behavior)
T = Thinking (cognition)
E = Emotion

In the initial sessions the focus is on orientation to the treatment process, diagnostics, the collection of important data, exploring patient’s therapeutic goals and expectations. Each therapy session is an experience in the “mind gym”. The therapeutic process is very directive as the goal is to teach “healing”.

The patient fills out a multi-modal life inventory which organizes pertinent information. This process is the beginning of “attachment” or connecting. Performance anxiety sufferers have learned the defense mechanism of detachment, or disconnecting; from anxiety driven thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, as well as avoidant and phobic behaviors. Based on the clinical reality of “you have to feel that which you are going to control”, the multi-modal inventory is an orientation to the process of attachment which is crucial for the development of what I reference as a “high performance mind”; the simple definition of which, is the development and sustaining of proactive energy to achieve health and happiness in whatever form that may manifest. In addition, the inventory is an important tool to help the patient with a beginning awareness of how the excessive internal critical script was learned.

The patient is then introduced to the concept of mind states. This is based on the psychology of transactional analysis. There are five mind states. All have specific energy. All are important. The issue for the performance anxiety sufferer is synergy. The baseline for social anxiety is imbalance. A “before” and “after” ego-graph is presented.  The goal is to make therapeutic objectives as concrete and scientific as possible. Strategies are taught to facilitate “mind state” development.

Each patient has their own learning curve based on variables such as length and severity of the problem, motivation, emotional, as well as intellectual intelligence, the ability to integrate new concepts, the reality of therapeutic expectations, expressive ability, degree of obsessive worry, substance dependence, if any, and the readiness to face fear.

A behavioral hierarchy of anxiety challenges is created. The patient developmentally faces these challenges, with support, insight, and implementation of the adrenaline control technique.

Based on the Sarnow methodology for treatment of physical symptoms, patients are guided into the process of learning how they repressed the core emotion of anger and rage. This is crucial to healing as this re-cycled, often non-conscious energy, drives the obsessive worry, anxiety, and under-lying unhappiness, and possible dysthimia, or depression.

Patients are guided into the process of journaling in between formal sessions. This enhances therapeutic productivity, as it organizes critical content for patient and therapist, and facilitates attachment to crucial dynamics,

This multi-faceted treatment approach for social and performance anxiety empowers the patient to access and sustain the use of under-used neural pathways. Pharmaceutical strategies and self-regulation technique are integrated into treatment when indicated.

In order to gain a more in-depth understanding of the Berent Method for treatment of social and performance anxiety click here to listen to patients in our free library of clinical interviews. These interviews appear to be the most evidence-based clinical success reported directly from real patients suffering from social anxiety and performance anxiety. These interviews go beyond simple testimonials. If you listen closely you will gain important insight into the healing process.

Pharmaceutical management and biofeedback training are available when indicated. Sessions with Jonathan are $195 for 30 minutes. Please call 800-248-2034 to initiate treatment.