Unified Protocol
Emotion-Driven Behaviors, cognitive suppression
SESSION, DISORDERS
The UP focuses on different strategies of emotion regulation to address neuroticism, a common factor in all emotional disorders (ED). This intervention intends to address dysfunctional emotional regulation strategies in participants and encourages the use of more adaptive strategies to promote tolerance to intense negative emotions. Participants will receive online, synchronous group therapy based on the UP model for 10 subsequent weeks, with a duration of 90 min for each meeting. After every session, they will receive the chapter of the UP’s Spanish patient’s workbook [Contents of each session:Session 1:Coordinators’ and participants’ introductions. Session framework. Introduction to the approach and ED. Conceptualization of ED and identification of their own intense emotions, aversive reactions, and avoidance efforts.Session 2:Module 1: Motivation for change and commitment to treatment. Describing issues, goals, and steps to accomplish them. Introduction to change motivation. Decision balance exercise.Session 3:Module 2: Understanding emotions. Introduction to the topic of this session (psychoeducation of emotions). Presentation of the three-component model and introduction to the concept of Emotion-Driven Behaviors (EDBs), as well as the antecedents and consequences of emotional experiences.Session 4:Module 3: Emotional awareness training. Introduction to mindfulness. Non-judgment emotional awareness exercises will be carried out during the session, and participants will receive afterwards by email with the taped audio so as to do it during the week. Introduction to emotional induction and practicing mindfulness when facing stimuli that trigger emotions (videos/audio). Introduction to anchoring in the present.Session 5:Module 5: Cognitive flexibility. Introduction to cognitive flexibility. Ambiguous image exercise. Introduction to mind traps and cognitive re-evaluation exercise during the session.Session 6:Module 5: Emotional avoidance and EDBs. Introduction to emotional behaviors. Introduction to EDBs and avoidance types. A cognitive suppression exercise will be carried out during the session. Working with alternative actions.Session 7:Module 6: Physical sensations tolerance. Introduction to interoceptive exposure. Interoceptive exposure exercises during the session: hyperventilating, running on the spot, jumping, breathing through a straw, and twirling.Sessions 8 and 9:Module 7: Emotional exposure. Introduction to the exposure to intense emotions. Building the exposure hierarchy. Introduction to the emotional exposure form.Session 10:Module 8: Maintenance of treatment gains and relapse prevention. Introduction to relapse prevention and plans for future practice. Closure and group farewell among therapists and participants.