Behavioral Medicine Interventions for Stress Management
Instructors
Amaro Laria, Ph.D. & Katharine Larsson, PhD, PMH CNS-BC, RN
This workshop will introduce participants to specific behavioral medicine interventions for stress management. The basic psychophysiology of the stress response will be discussed, with particular attention to common physical and emotional responses to stress. An experiential model will be used to teach participants a variety of relaxation skills, including: breathing (diaphragmatic, as well as other forms), progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), autogenic training, guided imagery, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). Other strategies that require further training will be introduced, including clinical hypnosis and biofeedback. In addition, some basic techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) relevant to stress management will be discussed. This workshop targets mental health professionals, including: psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, mental health counselors, advanced practice psychiatric nurses, and licensed family and marriage and family therapists. Participants will learn concrete interventions with supporting theory and empirical evidence, which they will be ready to implement with their patients to effectively treat a variety of stress-related psychological and physical problems.
Description
September 18, 2026
1:00 PM to 4:15 PM (EST)
Date & Time
Live Workshop with In-Person (at Boston Behavioral Medicine) and On-Line Attendance (via Zoom; synchronous, interactive)
Format
Credits
3 CEs
Fee
$110 (includes cost of CE certificate)
Participants will be able to describe the psychophysiology of the stress response and the negative consequences associated with chronic exposure to stress.
Participants will gain competence, through exposure to didactic and experiential learning, on a variety of stress management techniques (including: diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, guided imagery, and mindfulness-based stress reduction, among others), which they will be able to implement with their patients.
Participants will learn to apply specific CBT techniques to target maladaptive chronic stress reactions.
Participants will be able to competently assess the role of stress on a variety of anxiety-related conditions, including both mental and physical, and explain the mechanisms at play maintaining this relationship.
Learning Objectives:
Dr. Amaro Laria, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 30 years of clinical experience. Some of his areas of expertise include: behavioral medicine, clinical hypnosis, biofeedback, trauma and dissociation, culture and mental health, and integrative psychotherapy, among others. He has taught at Clark University, UMass Boston, and William James College (formerly “Mass School of Professional Psychology”). Dr Laria was a NIMH post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and has been in the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School through his affiliation with Cambridge Health Alliance for more than 20 years. He was an advisor to DSM-5 on the workgroup on culture and gender for the anxiety disorders. He has published in the areas of: behavioral medicine, trauma and dissociation, and culture and mental health, among others. He is the co-founder, with Dr. Kim Larsson, of Boston Behavioral Medicine in Brookline, MA, where he has been serving as a staff psychologist, co-director of training, training instructor, and clinical supervisor for over 16 years.
Dr. Katharine “Kim” Larsson is a doctoral level Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Board Certified. She has been working in the advanced practice role as both a psychotherapist and psychopharmacologist since 1995. She underwent psychotherapy training at the Cambridge Health Alliance (formerly known as The Cambridge Hospital), Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA. She also completed a two year post graduate fellowship at the Behavioral Medicine Program at The Cambridge Hospital, which emphasized the treatment of mental health and medical conditions exacerbated by stress, as well as integrative psychotherapy for the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma-based disorders, and chronic medical conditions. Dr. Larsson is the co-founded, with Dr. Amaro Laria, of Boston Behavioral Medicine, LLC, in Brookline, MA., where she has been serving as a staff clinician (psychotherapist and psychopharmacologist), co-director of training, training instructor, and clinical supervisor for over 16 years.
Presenters Bios:
Course Agenda:
1:00pm-1:45pm The Role of Stress on Mental Health and Physical Health
Basics of the Stress Response // The Relaxation Response
1:45pm-2:30pm Stress Management // Relaxation Techniques
2:30pm-2:45pm Break
2:45pm-3:15pm Stress Management // Relaxation Techniques (cont’d)
3:15pm-3:45pm CBT for Stress Management // Clinical Hypnosis & Biofeedback
3-45pm-4:15pm Application of Stress Management Strategies w/ Patients // Conclusion / Q&A
Other Course Details:
Contact information / grievances: Please contact 617-232-2435 ext.#1 if you have any questions, concerns, or grievances about this course.
Email: kimlarsson.bbm@gmail.com for info on ADA accomodation.
This live workshop takes place in person and via Zoom and is fully interactive. All attendees will be able to ask and answer questions throughout the presentation.
System Requirements:
- Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher, MacOS 9 or higher, Android 4.0 or higher
- Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, Google Chrome, Firefox 10.0 or higher
- Broadband Internet connection: Cable, High-speed DSL & any other medium that is internet accessible.
Course completion requirements: All participants must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for CE credit.
Participants must pass the posttest with 80% in 3 attempts to be eligible for CE credit.
Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
Registration: online; see below
Boston Behavioral Medicine, LLC, provider #2193, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: July 17, 2026 - July 17, 2029. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits.
Boston Behavioral Medicine, LLC has been approved by NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7672. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Boston Behavioral Medicine, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
CE approval for: psychologists, psychiatrists, and advanced practice psychiatric nurses is pending approval at this time.