Test Anxiety Unlocked: Research, Interventions, and Practical Tools

This training, presented by Dr. Benjamin Lovett, offers a comprehensive exploration of test anxiety from research findings to clinical application. Participants examine the prevalence, heterogeneity, and psychological impact of test anxiety, while critically evaluating its effect on performance and implications for diagnosis and accommodations. The program emphasizes evidence-based assessment methods, including standardized inventories, self-efficacy scales, and clinical interviews, and highlights empirically supported interventions such as relaxation training, worry journaling, mindfulness, and study-skills development. Attendees will learn to design intervention plans tailored to symptom profiles, distinguish between effective and avoidance-based accommodations, and navigate legal and ethical considerations under the ADA and educational law. Through integration of cognitive science, applied strategies, and clinical judgment, this session prepares practitioners to support students in managing anxiety without compromising assessment validity or long-term skill development, while promoting equitable and evidence-based decision-making in schools and clinical practice.