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Erin Moran-Meder

Erin Moran-Meder
Student, PhD in Clinical Psychology
MS in Clinical Research Methods
University of North Texas
Denton, TX

Developing a Novel Cognitive-behavioral Treatment for Misophonia: Overview of the Therapeutic Approach and Preliminary Findings

In-person

About the Session

Fortunately for those affected by misophonia, psychological treatments have begun to emerge, with most approaches grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles. However, the potential role of conditioned aversive muscle reflexes in misophonia has received relatively little attention in existing treatments. To address this gap, Dr. Samuel Spencer worked with collaborators and colleagues to develop a novel 16-session, individualized treatment program for adults with misophonia. The treatment includes two components: (1) counterconditioning an individualized physical reflex believed to underlie misophonia, and (2) cognitive, behavioral, and emotional regulation techniques drawn from CBT traditions and tailored specifically for misophonia.

Moran-Meder will assist Dr. Spencer in providing a detailed overview of the treatment, sharing preliminary findings from a research study supporting its effectiveness, and answering audience questions about the treatment approach.

About the Presenter

Erin Moran-Meder earned her M.S. in Clinical Research Methods from Fordham University, where she conducted research under the mentorship of Dr. Dean McKay. Her research focuses on obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs), with particular interests in scrupulosity, treatment experiences, help-seeking behaviors, and evidence-based interventions for OCD. Moran-Meder has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on OCD, disgust, and anxiety disorders. Her current work examines help-seeking among a religiously diverse sample of individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Under the mentorship of Dr. Sam Spencer, Moran-Meder recently began her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of North Texas, where she plans to continue researching OCD assessment and treatment to improve clinical care.