Creative CBT interventions for children with anxiety

Creative CBT interventions for children with anxiety

Presented by SickKids CCMH Learning Institute

Date: March 30, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW, CPT-S.

Description: Anxiety disorders represent one of the most prevalent forms of psychopathology among children and this is dramatically on the rise given the current pandemic. 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 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 and up.  

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, including online 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.

Registration fee: General - $300  |  Student and group rates are available

For full program overview and registration details please visit: https://cvent.me/YOmL1d

Facilitator Bio:
Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW, CPT-S, is a Registered clinical Social Worker, Certified Play Therapist-supervisor, and Certified TF-CBT Therapist who has been working with children and their families since 1988. she presents training across North America and abroad. Recent speaking engagements include South Africa, Israel, England and Australia.  She provides clinical supervision to mental health practitioners, runs a play-therapy internship program, and consults to several mental health agencies.  She has authored numerous best-selling books including: Paper Dolls and Paper Airplanes: therapeutic Exercises for Sexually Traumatized; Creative Interventions for Children of Divorce; Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children; Cory Helps Kids Cope with Sexual Abuse; and Creative CBT Interventions for Children with Anxiety.  Liana is winner of the Monica Hebert award for outstanding contribution and dedication to children psychotheapy and play therapy in Canada 

Continuing Education (CE) information: 6 CE hours