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Cynthia G. Last, Ph.D.
Credentials and degrees:
Dr. Cynthia G. Last is a clinical psychologist in private practice who specializes in the diagnosis and cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. She is internationally recognized as an expert in this area. Author or editor of 13 books, including Help for Worried Kids, Anxiety Disorders in Children, and Handbook of Anxiety Disorders, she has been quoted in The New York Times, USA Today, Ladies Home Journal, Parenting, and numerous other publications, and has appeared as an expert on national television programs. Dr. Last has directed anxiety disorder programs at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and at Nova Southeastern University. During the past 30+ years she has seen literally thousands who suffer from the full range of anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, including compulsive skin picking, trichotillomania, tics, and OCD. She was included in Good Housekeeping magazine's list of "The 327 Best Mental Health Experts" in the U.S. based on peer nominations across the country.
Description:
Where appropriate, she includes family members and significant others in the treatment process. Dr. Last prides herself on individualizing treatment plans (although all are based on a cognitive-behavioral orientation), rather than using a "cookie cutter" approach. In addition to in-office visits, she offers videoconferencing sessions to individuals across the globe.
Treatment methods:
In her practice, Dr. Last provides expert diagnostic evaluations and cognitive-behavioral treatment for the full range of anxiety disorders in all ages. Some of the specific treatment techniques she uses for compulsive skin picking include, exposure and response prevention (ERP), habit reversal, reinforcement of other behavior, behavioral analysis of the antecedents and consequences of the problem behavior, environmental intervention, self-monitoring, relaxation training, and cognitive modification, among many others.