Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for procrastination: New perspectives in mental health

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for procrastination: New perspectives in mental health

Presented by SickKids CCMH Learning Institute

Date: July 15, 2026

Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  ET

Facilitator: Sanjay Rao, MBBS, MD, FRCPsych, FRCPC, MBA.

CE hours: 3

This training is suitable for:

• Mental Health Professionals: psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers
• Medical Professionals: nurses, psychiatrists, pediatricians, family doctors
• Direct Service Workers: drop in workers, shelter and hostel workers, child and youth workers, youth justice workers
• Educators: teachers, ECE, school administration, support staff
• First Responders: police, firefighters, paramedics

Level of training: Introductory

Client age category: For professionals who work with clients of all ages.

Description: Procrastination is a frequent concern that clients bring to their therapists. Our digitally connected societies are increasingly becoming task oriented. We have ‘project-like’ expectations for starting and completing tasks. On one hand, procrastination is an innocuous behaviour, which is part of everyday living, yet on the other hand, it can become a generalized pattern which affects one or several important areas of life. The therapist also needs to separate procrastination as a problem in itself from procrastination which is a part of different mental health conditions.

In this interactive training, Dr. Sanjay Rao will review recent literature on procrastination outlining common patterns, causes, and presentations in therapy practice. The links between procrastination and mental health will be included in the decision-making process to effectively manage this problem.

There is plenty of pithy social media wisdom on managing procrastination. This training will go beyond that to teach a systematic protocol that can be applied in different areas of life such as work, home, educational institutions, and more.

Learning objectives:

• History and background: When did procrastination become a problem?
• Typology and causes of procrastination.
• Psychological understanding of procrastination and treating a disorder without a diagnosis.
• A protocol approach to treating procrastination.
  
  

Registration fee: General - $150  |  Student and group rates are available

For full program overview and registration details please visit:  https://cvent.me/Q5vVKb

Facilitator Bio: Sanjay Rao, MBBS, MD, FRCPsych, FRCPC, MBA
Dr. Sanjay Rao is an experienced teacher and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa; in 2018, he was awarded a Fellowship of the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioural therapy for his contribution to CBT in Canada. He has received an award from the Department of Health in the United Kingdom for CBT development. He is the Director of the Unified CBT Academy.

Dr. Rao has trained in CBT, DBT, Mindfulness-based therapies, and strength focused coaching.  He has expertise in both psychological and pharmacological treatment of mental health conditions.  He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrist (UK) and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Canada). He has delivered over 250 workshops in Cognitive behavioural therapies, presented in national, international conferences, and published in several scientific journals.

Since 2011, he has helped the province of Nova Scotia develop Cognitive Behavioural Therapy implementation by training and supervising therapists across the province. He has also served as an executive member of the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy along with various management position such as Co-Chair of Chiefs of Psychiatrists in Nova Scotia, Clinical Director of The Mood and Anxiety Program at the Royal Ottawa Hospital and Clinical Lead of Improving Access to Structured Psychotherapy in Ottawa.

Dr. Rao is involved in research concerning distance delivery of CBT through technology as well as workplace mental health using CBT and problem-solving approaches.  He is an active clinician delivering CBT in collaborative care settings.

He trains and supervises multidisciplinary teams including physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists and counsellors. 

Continuing Education (CE) information:  CE hours

SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) to offer continuing education (CE) hours. The number of eligible CE hours are outlined within each program. SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute maintains responsibility for the programs.

Other licensing boards and professional organizations will grant continuing education credits for attendance at their own discretion; participants will need to submit the course outline and Certificate of Participation for their consideration.

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