Creative CBT Interventions for Children with Anxiety
Presenter(s)
Liana Lowenstein, MSW
Anxiety disorders represent one of the most prevalent forms of psychopathology among children. As such, many children are referred to therapy to help them cope with anxiety symptoms. The most efficacious treatment for childhood anxiety in the research is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The effectiveness of this approach is enhanced by integrating playful, developmentally appropriate interventions so that children will engage in treatment and learn key skills to manage anxiety. Children who might otherwise be resistant in therapy are more likely to participate in playful activities designed to cover the CBT components.
In this six-hour webinar, a brief overview of CBT will be presented, along with innovative techniques to assess and treat children with anxiety. Interventions will address the core treatment components: psychoeducation, somatic management, affective expression, cognitive restructuring, exposure, and relapse prevention. Therapeutic games, art, stories, and other engaging activities will be presented for use with children aged 4 -12. Although the focus of this workshop is on treating children with anxiety, many of the interventions can be adapted for use with other treatment populations. Participants will come away with many new and innovative interventions that they can use immediately in their clinical practice.
Speaker Information: Liana Lowenstein is a Registered Social Worker, Certified Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Certified TF-CBT Therapist who has been working with children and their families in Toronto for over 30 years. Her 13 books are used by mental health professionals all over the world. She is a dynamic keynote speaker who has provided trainings throughout North America and abroad, including China, South Africa, Israel, England, Turkey, New Zealand, and Australia. She is winner of the Monica Herbert award for outstanding contribution to play therapy in Canada.