1028 – Calming Fearful Patients

Beginner / Symposium 2-hour Pool Workshop

Sanibel, FL / Thursday, July 1, 2010 – 9:40 am-12:00 pm – 2.0 credit hours equal to 2.0 CECs/.2 CEUs

(Pool: 9:40-10:40 am / Classroom: 11:00 am-12:00 pm)

Faculty: Belinda Stillwell, PhD

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Use systematic desensitization to work with individuals who are afraid in water. The first step in systematic desensitization is to teach relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and positive mental imagery. The second step is to gradually expose individuals to situations they find fearful. This part begins with the individual or group, constructing a fear hierarchy; a list of situations ranked from least fearful to most fearful. For example, in the case of the individual afraid in water, the first five situations (from least to most) may be: 1) looking at a swimming pool from a distance, 2) walking up to the swimming pool, 3) touching the water, 4) wading on the first step and 5) stepping down to the second step. It should be noted that the participant is first exposed to these situations virtually, perhaps in a quiet room, and then practices them in the real-life situation, in this case, the water. The crucial goal is to remain relaxed while gradually being exposed to the situations listed on the hierarchy.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1) Examine systematic desensitization.

2) Discover relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and positive imagery.

3) Explore the construction of a “fear hierarchy”.

FACULTY: Belinda Stillwell, PhD, is an associate professor at California State University, Northridge with 25 years of experience teaching swimming to individuals with and without disabilities. Her goal is to create a practical intervention that can be used by aquatic professionals who encounter people who are afraid in water. It is hoped that this intervention will remove the barriers that prevent so many from entering the water for rehabilitation and recreation.