Many wonder what an IPA workshop is like. There is no mystery to them; a workshop is structured to help people begin to recover from paruresis. As such, much of what happens involves relearning how to urinate in the presence of others. Each of us inherently have that capability, but due to a particular set of circumstances, can no longer do that or only do it in certain situations and/or with a lot of anxiety.

Many people report that they were nervous before the workshop and quite reluctant to sign up, but after the first few hours wondered why they hadn’t sought help for their paruresis earlier. The fearful feelings are normal, so don’t worry too much about them, just bring them with you to the workshop and anticipate meeting a group of people just like yourself. You’ll feel at ease right away.

At the beginning of each workshop (Friday night), participants share, often for the first time, their stories of what it has been like living with AP. This usually proves to be a very cathartic experience, as people realize that they are not the only person in the world who suffers from this anxiety disorder.

The sessions on Saturday and Sunday involve three things:
1) Information sharing by the workshop facilitator and sometimes an assistant;
2) Practice sessions involving graduated exposure exercises, usually with one or two other people (people always practice at a level that feels comfortable and that will ensure success); and
3) Group sharing about what the practice experience was like. For more information about graduated exposure and what that entails, see our Overview of Bashful Bladder page.

A typical workshop schedule goes as follows:

Friday 7 pm - 10 pm
Introductions
Sharing Our Stories
Workshop Overview
Constructing Behavioral Hierarchies
Thinking and Feeling Inside the Black Box

Saturday 9 am - 5 pm
Historical Overview of Paruresis
Behavioral (graduated exposure) approach to treating paruresis
Setting up the Buddy System
Graduated exposure exercises: Rounds 1-4
Debriefing
Questions and Answers
The International Paruresis Association

Sunday 9 am - 2 pm
Check-In
Questions and Answers
Graduated exposure exercises: Rounds 5-7
Where do You Go from Here?
Wrap up and Evaluation

Copyright 1999-2008 Shy Bladder Center.

WARNING AND DISCLAIMER: This website is NOT a substitute for medical or legal advice and does not constitute the practice of law, medicine, psychiatry, clinical psychology, clinical social work, or any other mental health profession.  If you are having trouble urinating, you should always contact a physician since difficulty with voiding can be a symptom of a serious medical condition. We are a group of professional people and people who have suffered with paruresis. We have assembled a board and a board of advisors to help people cope with urinary dysfunction that has a psychological or social origin. On this website, we are NOT practicing medicine, psychiatry, clinical psychology, clinical social work or any other mental health profession. You should have your doctor evaluate your condition before diagnosing yourself, and seek the appropriate necessary mental health counseling if warranted. SBI, Inc. disclaims any and all legal liability whatsoever.