In this Brief Behavioral Skills module Drs. Kari Stevens and Patrick Raue provide an overview of Behavioral Activation, an evidence-based treatment for depressive symptoms.

Behavioral Activation is a structured and brief approach to treatment that targets patterns of avoidance, withdrawal, and inactivity that are common among those with depressive symptoms.

The learning objectives for this module are to:

• Understand the Behavioral Activation model of depressive symptoms
• Describe how to develop a case formulation for a patient experience elevated depressive symptoms
• Understand the role of avoidance in maintaining depressive symptoms
• Describe how to help patients select activities and make a specific plan
• Understand how to evaluate the outcome of patients’ efforts and problem solve barriers to action planning

Presenters:

Kari Stephens, PhD Clinical Psychologist with the University of Washington School of Medicine, a UW Associate Professor of Family Medicine; an Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education.

Patrick Raue, PhD Clinical Psychologist at UWMC-Roosevelt, Associate Director for the University of Washington Evidence-Based Psychosocial Interventions; Director of the National Network of Problem Solving Treatment Clinicians; Trainers, & Researchers and a UW Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Population Health.