They’re Not Just “Little Adults”: Developmental Considerations for Implementing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy With Anxious Youth

Developmental factors direct optimal implementations of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocols with children and adolescents. Although chronological age can approximate level of development, youthful clients benefit when clinicians carefully assess each child’s cognitive, social, and emotional skills and adjust manualized treatments accordingly. Using several components of manualized CBT for anxiety in youth (i.e., affective education, cognitive restructuring, exposure tasks) as a framework, this article reviews empirical literature and provides practical suggestions for modifying these aspects of treatment to fit a child’s level of development. Important issues such as engaging youth in treatment, and involving school personnel and parents in this process are also discussed. This article concludes with a call for future research that will inform the implementation of manualized treatments based on developmental factors.

Download Full-text

Parental Involvement When Conducting Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Children With Anxiety Disorders

Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1891/jcop.20.3.287 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 287-299 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Cynthia Suveg ◽

Tami L. Roblek ◽

Amy Krain ◽

Sasha Aschenbrand ◽

Golda S. Ginsburg

Keyword(s):

Parental Involvement ◽

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Parental Psychopathology ◽

Cognitive Behavioral ◽

Child Gender ◽

Treatment Progress ◽

Level Of Functioning ◽

Anxious Youth ◽

Exposure Tasks

Discusses the potential roles of parents in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with anxious youth and how parents can both facilitate and/or impede treatment progress. Parents facilitate the attainment of treatment goals by providing invaluable information regarding the child’s level of functioning and assisting the therapist with the development and implementation of treatment components such as exposure tasks. Parental involvement in treatment also gives the therapist an opportunity to more fully assess and address family factors that may be maintaining the child’s anxiety. Common challenges encountered with parents that may impede treatment progress include rescuing the child from anxious situations, under- or over-involvement in the treatment process, difficulty setting limits, and the presence of parental psychopathology. Finally, the relevance of developmental level, child gender, diagnosis, and the presence of parental psychopathology to the decision of how and when to include parents in treatment is discussed.

Download Full-text

TF-CBT Group Intervention for Children in High Conflict Custody Disputes

The Family Journal ◽

10.1177/10664807211005711 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 106648072110057

Author(s):

Kelli Anderson

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽

Group Intervention ◽

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Cognitive Behavioral ◽

Future Research ◽

Ethical Implications ◽

High Conflict ◽

Custody Disputes ◽

The Relationship ◽

Traumatic Symptoms

This article proposes a conceptual group approach using trauma-based cognitive behavioral therapy for children involved in high conflict custody disputes. Traditionally, interventions for this population have focused on repairing the relationship between parent and child and less on addressing the traumatic symptoms with which the child is suffering. The proposed intervention focuses solely on the needs of the child and provides an outline for seven sessions during which the PRACTICE model of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is used. Additionally, ethical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Download Full-text

"Cool Kids" in Denmark: Continuing Reflections on a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Group for Anxious Youth

Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy ◽

10.14713/pcsp.v9i3.1829 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Mikael Thastum ◽

Irene Lundkvist-Houndoumadi

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Therapy Group ◽

Cognitive Behavioral ◽

Anxious Youth

Download Full-text

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia for Caregivers

Cancer Caregivers ◽

10.1093/med/9780190868567.003.0012 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 201-218

Author(s):

Kelly M. Shaffer ◽

Patricia Carter ◽

Sheila N. Garland ◽

Allison J. Applebaum

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Cognitive Behavioral ◽

Future Research ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Compensatory Behaviors ◽

Wide Range ◽

Cancer Caregivers ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Between 40% and 76% of cancer caregivers report clinically significant symptoms of insomnia, likely due in part to the unique responsibilities, stressors, and compensatory behaviors endemic to the role. Insomnia negatively affects one’s mental and physical health, is frequently chronic, and may impair the normal grieving process among bereaved caregivers. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a first-line treatment for insomnia and is well suited to address the multifaceted contributing factors unique to caregivers’ sleep disturbance. This chapter addresses the distinct presentation of insomnia among cancer caregivers and describes key modifications to standard CBT-I that address these specific needs to enhance sensitivity and feasibility. A case example demonstrates the implementation of CBT-I tailored to one caregiver’s presentation. Future research must demonstrate effectiveness and acceptability of CBT-I among active caregivers, as well as develop a wide range of effective CBT-I delivery modalities to best serve this vulnerable population.

Download Full-text

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Efficacy for Reducing Recidivism Rates of Moderate- and High-Risk Sexual Offenders: A Scoping Systematic Literature Review

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology ◽

10.1177/0306624x16644501 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 170-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Elias Mpofu ◽

James A. Athanasou ◽

Christine Rafe ◽

Scott H. Belshaw

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽

Sexual Offenders ◽

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Cognitive Behavioral ◽

Future Research ◽

Sexual Offense ◽

Recidivism Rate ◽

Recidivism Rates ◽

Sample Median

This literature scoping review compared recidivism rates of moderate- and high-risk sexual offenders who received cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) oriented treatments. Ten empirical studies from 2001 to 2014 were selected for review that met the following criteria: (a) Treatment program included a CBT-based intervention with a comparative intervention; (b) participants included adult, male, moderate- and high-risk sexual offenders only; and (c) follow-up data for up to 12 months. Data were analyzed using a summative metric for recidivism rate comparisons ( N = 3,073 for CBT and N = 3,588, for comparison approaches). Sexual offense recidivism rates varied from 0.6% to 21.8% (with CBT) and from 4.5% to 32.3% (with comparison intervention). The within-sample median rate of violent recidivism with a history of sexual offense was 21.1% (with CBT) versus 32.6% (comparison). Sexual offenders had a general felonies (within-sample) median recidivism rate of 27.05% (with CBT) versus 51.05% (comparison). The evidence supports the conclusion that CBT in its various forms is an efficacious treatment modality to prevent offense recidivism by sexual offenders. Suggestions for future research are considered.

Download Full-text