Recruiting

Emotion Regulation Therapy

Sponsor:

Teachers College, Columbia University

Code:

NCT07478393

Conditions

Rumination

Worry

Self-Criticism

Anxiety

Depression

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Emotion Regulation Therapy via Telehealth

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study is an open trial designed to examine individual changes that occur before, during, and after 6 modules of Emotion Regulation Therapy (ERT) delivered via telehealth for individuals in New York State who are experiencing elevated worry, rumination, or self-criticism.

Conditions

Rumination

Worry

Self-Criticism

Anxiety

Depression

Study ID

NCT07478393

Start date

Oct 24, 2025

Status verified date

Mar, 2026

Completion date

Sep 1, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 1, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Between the ages of 18 and 65
  • Fluent in English (and therefore able to provide consent)
  • Currently living in New York State
  • Access to at least one device with internet and video-conferencing capabilities
  • High self-reported worry, rumination, and/or self-criticism
  • Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for at least one, current psychological disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active suicidal ideation or intent
  • Substance dependence disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar-I disorder, or a primary DSM-5 diagnosis of borderline or narcissistic personality disorder
  • Currently in therapy or receiving any type of psychosocial treatment
  • Individuals taking psychotropic mediation that has not been stabilized for a period of at least 3 months
  • Current students at Teachers College, Columbia University

Study Design

Enrollment

36 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Treatment

All participants will receive a 6-module, time-variable version of Emotion Regulation Therapy delivered weekly via synchronous telehealth using videoconferencing software and an asynchronous Internet-based online platform to supplement the content covered in each session.

Interventions

Emotion Regulation Therapy via Telehealth

The initial stage of treatment focuses on psychoeducation about anxiety/depression, the impact that these cognitions/behaviors/emotions have on recent situations, and self-monitoring of worry/anxiety/depression. The sessions focus on the development of skills that help understand and regulate one's emotional experience (i.e., recognizing emotions when they are happening, identifying the meaning of a given emotion experience, soothing oneself in the context of negative emotional experiences). Following the development of these skills, sessions focus on the application of somatic awareness and emotion regulation skills while imagining emotionally evocative themes. The remaining session focuses on terminating therapy, relapse prevention, and future goals. An Internet-based online platform will be used to promote engagement with and increase accessibility to between-session skills practice and treatment-related activities (e.g., self-monitoring, session summaries, worksheets).

Primary outcome measure

  • Weekly Assessment of Change in Attentional Control [ Time Frame: Weekly from Baseline (2 weeks) through Treatment (12-22 weeks) and Follow-Up (4 weeks) ]
  • Weekly Assessment of Change in Decentering [ Time Frame: Weekly from Baseline (2 weeks) through Treatment (12-22 weeks) and Follow-Up (4 weeks) ]
  • Weekly Assessment of Change in Reappraisal [ Time Frame: Weekly from Baseline (2 weeks) through Treatment (12-22 weeks) and Follow-Up (4 weeks) ]
  • Weekly Assessment of Change in Valued Living/Action [ Time Frame: Baseline, 1st Treatment Session, Follow-Up (4 weeks) ]
  • Weekly Assessment of Change in Clarity of Approach-Avoidance Motivation [ Time Frame: Baseline, 1st Treatment Session, Follow-Up (4 weeks) ]
  • Weekly Assessment of Change in Rumination [ Time Frame: Weekly from Baseline (2 weeks) through Treatment (12-22 weeks) and Follow-Up (4 weeks) ]
  • Weekly Assessment of Change in Worry [ Time Frame: Weekly from Baseline (2 weeks) through Treatment (12-22 weeks) and Follow-Up (4 weeks) ]
  • Weekly Assessment of Change in Self-Criticism [ Time Frame: Weekly from Baseline (2 weeks) through Treatment (12-22 weeks) and Follow-Up (4 weeks) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Douglas S Mennin

212.678.6609mennin@tc.columbia.edu

Moises Hernandez

212.678.6609emotionregulationtherapy@gmail.com

Locations

Teachers College, Columbia University

Recruiting

New York, New York, United States, 10027

Contacts

Douglas S Mennin, PhD

212-678-6609mennin@tc.columbia.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Teachers College, Columbia University

Last update posted

Mar 17, 2026

Last verified

Mar, 2026

Keywords

  • Worry
  • Rumination
  • Self-Criticism
  • Emotion Regulation Therapy
  • Emotion Regulation
  • Treatment Mechanisms

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Teachers College, Columbia University on 2026-03-17.