What the Unified Protocol is:
The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) is an empirically-supported treatment designed to help patients who find their emotions are getting in the way of their day-to-day life, especially patients who experience more than one emotion-related problem (e.g., depression and anxiety). The goal of the UP is to help people understand and manage their emotions in ways that are consistent with their long-term goals. This treatment is a very active, present-focused therapy in which individuals are taught skills for managing strong emotions. These skills include: breaking down emotional experiences to understand them better, mindfulness, thinking flexibly about emotion-provoking situations, learning to experience and tolerate uncomfortable physical sensations, and engaging in new and effective behaviors when experiencing strong emotions.
Therapeutic Components:
- Structure: The UP is a skills-oriented type of talk therapy. Sessions are structured around practicing skills related to your emotions.
- Theory: The UP is anchored in exposure theory. This means that the UP believes that by approaching rather than avoiding (or discharging) our emotions, we can better reach our goals and practice our values.
- Intervention: UP interventions involve learning skills to notice, allow, and respond to emotions. Skillsets include mindful awareness, changing unhelpful thinking or behavioral patterns, as well as approaching values-consistent situations that evoke emotions.
- Modalities: The TAP Clinic currently UP treatment with an individual therapist.