Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) isn’t the only treatment in town. But everyone keeps talking about it because it just proves so dang reliable. It works well for many individuals and their unique struggles. The story is no different when it comes to CBT for children and adolescents. CBT’s multiple approaches are very helpful for a range of youth difficulties. How do therapists go about using CBT with children and adolescents?
Research finds that CBT is also effective with children and adolescents. Like with adults, it works well for depression and for anxiety across many settings (e.g., individual, group, family, or remote). CBT is also effective for ADHD!
Exposure-based therapies are forms of CBT, like exposure and response prevention for OCD, or ERP, and exposure for anxiety disorders). These are also effective with children. Trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT) is an effective approach for childhood trauma/PTSD, depression, anxiety, and grief.
Overall, CBT does more than just acknowledge the role of thoughts in influencing feelings: it includes structured methods for learning how negative thoughts contribute to difficult emotions (e.g., anxiety) and mood states. It then helps people learn how to recognize those thoughts and use metacognition to respond in more objective and helpful ways. And it does so flexibly in order to meet the needs of each individual client.
The highly structured nature of CBT can pose a challenge, especially for younger children. The ability to look inward and identify thoughts is not yet developed in many children. And reaching our goals with empathy and flexibility when some have a hard time sitting still. Sound like a tall order?
What resources are available to manage it all to best help young clients? First, CBT can still be used with other adaptations that help children understand and learn strategies to help mood. For example, starting with a heavy focus on identifying emotions that arise to help clients see the role of in-the-moment thoughts/assumptions.
There is a comprehensive on-demand training that provides fundamentals of doing CBT with children. Other specialized training helps use CBT to address ADHD symptoms. There is also a reliable CBT worksheet to use as a therapist resource. This worksheet provides fun and simple ways for kids to learn how to understand and identify negative thoughts. It also helps them see the process of how thoughts influence emotions and mood.
A number of playful ERP for OCD and exposure therapy for anxiety approaches purposefully allow scaffolding for youth to build to more advanced coping skills they can use for life. Â There is another great on-demand training that even demonstrates many of these CBT and exposure methods.
A number of trauma-focused CBT trainings remain accessible. SAHMSA has multiple TF-CBT course materials and resources. Also an official TF-CBT certification is available for those who want to go all out.
CBT for children and adolescents is multifaceted, with a lot to juggle. But the benefits are huge. Multiple therapist resources and training help clients reap those benefits and grow with effective skills they can use for the rest of their lives.
