Creative CBT interventions for children with anxiety

Anxiety is a growing concern among children and youth, exacerbated by the pandemic’s disruptions. Recent studies highlight that anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health issues in this population, often leading to challenges in daily functioning and requiring targeted interventions​. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) remains the most evidence-based approach for treating childhood anxiety, with effectiveness greatly enhanced through the use of playful, age-appropriate methods. These interventions encourage engagement and help children build critical skills to manage their anxiety.

This webinar offers a concise overview of CBT and introduces creative techniques for assessing and treating childhood anxiety. Participants will explore core treatment components, such as psychoeducation, somatic management, affective expression, cognitive restructuring, exposure, and relapse prevention. Liana will demonstrate therapeutic tools like games, art, and storytelling to ensure engaging interventions for children as young as four.

While the focus is on childhood anxiety, many of these interventions can be tailored for other populations. Attendees will leave equipped with practical strategies they can implement immediately, including in virtual sessions.

Learning objectives:

• Describe the special challenges of utilizing CBT with children.
• Identify the benefits of integrating playful CBT interventions with children.
• Apply at least two interventions to assess anxiety in children.
• Implement a range of creative CBT interventions to treat anxiety in children including phobia, separation anxiety, perfectionism, and selective mutism.
• Describe methods for motivating children to follow through with their gradual exposure plan.

Add these creative CBT techniques to your therapeutic toolkit and empower children to overcome anxiety with confidence and creativity.