ASDI's Upcoming Events
In the interim, individual and small group services are available.)
Fear of Flying Class
Notice:
The Fear of Flying Class originally scheduled for May is being postponed until the end of this summer.
Please check this space for further updates during the summer or contact us.
Prior to the next class, individual work on fear of flying, a support group, and practice flights can be arranged.
New Fear of Flying Class is about to begin: May, 2008
The next Fear of Flying Class will be scheduled when a quorum of
potential participants has been reached. In the meantime, please
contact Dr. Steven Shearer (410-938-8452) to set up an initial
evaluation. The fee for the initial evaluation may be covered by
insurance and is not part of the cost for the class. Once the
evaluation has been completed and you have paid a $75 registration
fee to indicate your commitment to attending a future class, your
name will be added to the wait list. You will be contacted as soon
as there are enough participants to schedule a class.
Between classes or as an alternative, individual preparation and
practice flights are also available. You are welcome to attend the
monthly support group (See "ASDI Groups") while waiting for a new
class to form. Feedback from graduates from former classes
indicates that the support group was a key ingredient in the
success they had on their class flights.
Registration forms can be obtained by emailing Stephnie Thomas at
stephniet@verizon.net. Information about the class itself, and the
facilitator, Stephnie Thomas, can be obtained on her website
(www.stephthomas.com).
Class Structure & Fees (dates are
tentative):
Session 1 will be Saturday, May 17, 2:00 - 5:00 pm
at ASDI.
Session 2 will be Thursday evening, May 29 or Saturday
evening, May 31, at BWI airport. This session
includes a tour of one airline's facilities. (Times may change due
to Southwest Airlines' needs.)
Session 3: Practice Flight Day will be scheduled for Saturday,
June 7, times to be announced at Session 1.
Participants will be required to set aside the entire day for
Practice Flight day. (For example, last time we flew to Pittsburgh
around 2:20 pm and arrived back at BWI around 7 pm.)
Class dates will be finalized with registrants after the $75
registration fee has been received from a minimum of 5 participants
. The balance of $525 is to be paid at time of service or on a
payment plan negotiated with the facilitator on a case-by-case
basis.
Where: BWI airport and ASDI. Total Cost: $600 The total cost of
$600* per person includes airfare and the non-refundable
registration fee of $75. Note that participants will be required to
have an initial evaluation by a licensed ASDI therapist before
enrolling for the class. This evaluation is an additional cost to
be negotiated with the therapist. (Insurance may reimburse some of
this cost.) NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED. * This is a
non-negotiable fee. Payment plans are available if needed.
General Information: Education regarding the fears associated with flying will be presented during the class time. Participants will be taught how to use cognitive and behavioral techniques to cope with their fears. During the practice flight participants will learn to put into practice what has been learned the previous weeks. Homework assignments will be given to participants between sessions. Participants may opt to attend the classroom portion of the class only, but will be required to pay the full cost whether or not they participate in the practice flight. If the facilitator agrees that an extreme illness or emergency prevented a participant from taking the practice flight on the date allocated there are two options: 1) Wait until the next class to take a practice flight (which may take several months, depending on interest levels.) 2) Take a flight sooner. However, this would be significantly more expensive, since you will be expected to both reimburse for the extra airline ticket required and pay an additional fee for the extra time required of the facilitator. The class is intended as an initial exposure to flying without overwhelming fear. Participants will be encouraged to continue flying either on their own or with facilitation from ASDI staff after this event. An on-going support group that meets once a month is available after the class is completed. Incidental costs for meals, transportation to and from the airport(s), etc., are the responsibility of attendees. Parking at ASDI is free. Parking information at BWI can be obtained from the BWI website: www.bwiairport.com
Facilitator: Stephnie Thomas (410) 938-8457 x2 (voicemail); (410) 236-1470(cell); stephniet@verizon.net
Stephnie Thomas, is an anxiety disorders specialist, trained in coaching participants to learn to deal with their anxieties in real life settings. She has several years experience in working successfully with fearful fliers and works under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. ASDI wishes to thank Southwest Airlines and BWI airport for their assistance in supporting this program.
(This educational program will be repeated periodically.
In the interim, individual and small group services are available.)
Mindfulness Meditation Class
Six Thursday Evenings, 6:00-7:30 pm
November 29, December 6, 13, 2007, and January 10, 17, 24, 2008
Class location: Room 200, Gibson Building, on the campus
of Sheppard-Pratt Hospital.
A class on "Mindfulness Meditation" will be offered again beginning
in November by ASDI's Andre Papantonio, MA,
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.
Mindfulness Meditation is a technique that, when practiced, enables one to rest one's awareness gently in the present moment. We spend most of our time thinking about the past or the future, and miss the vividness and vitality of what is right in front of us and our five senses. Not being in the "here and now" also makes worse the symptoms of anxiety and depression. While not meant as a substitute for therapy, learning mindfulness meditation can be a valuable adjunct to good cognitive-behavioral treatment. It is also useful for anyone interested in living life in a more awake way.
This training will be mostly experiential. Various modalities will be taught and practiced, such as traditional (non-religious) sitting meditation, the "body scan," walking meditation, and learning to bring mindfulness into everyday life situations. This is not group therapy; it is building a skill. No personal disclosure is required. Suggestions for further reading and for practice at home will be included. No previous experience is necessary.
Andre Papantonio, MA, has been practicing meditation for 30 years, and teaching it for 20 years. He has given these seminars internationally, including presentations on the conjunction between meditation and therapy, at the annual conventions of the National Association of Social Workers, the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Mr. Papantonio was trained in mindfulness meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living and has been teaching these skills for over 20 years. See "ASDI News" for Andre Papantonio's comments regarding mindfulness in an article from The Baltimore Sun. For more information on meditation, as recently reported in The New York Times, see "Meditation & Mindfulness."
For further information, call Mr. Papantonio at 410-825-1257.
Advance registration is required. Cost: $150 (Reduced to $140 if paid in full by 11/19.)
Mail check payable to:
Andre Papantonio, MA, LCPC
Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland
6525 North Charles Street
Towson, Maryland 21204
(This educational program will be repeated periodically.
In the interim, individual and small group services are
available.)
ASDI: Serving the Baltimore Area & Central Maryland
Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of
Maryland:
Treating anxiety disorders and stress-related disorders in Towson,
Maryland, since 1978.