CBT for Specific Anxieties in Children and Adolescents Anxieties

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INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED LEVEL: Target audience: therapeutic professionals, including psychologists, social workers, physicians, and educators  

The workshop will provide participants with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies that target the common avoidance behaviors and cognitive distortions associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobias, and Separation Anxiety Disorder. Participants will learn ways to move away from the “content trap” of anxiety to help children and families learn to recognize the process of anxiety and how to effectively respond. CBT strategies that relate to the treatment goals of increasing tolerance of uncertainty, willingness to be uncomfortable, and exposure and response prevention (ERP) will be emphasized.  

1. Discuss the role of avoidance in the maintenance of anxiety disorders and the reasons to target behavioral avoidance.  

2. List at least three in session activities to include in psychoeducation about the CBT model for anxiety.  

3. Explain how to create ERP goals for specific anxiety disorders.  

4. List at least three in session activities for cognitive restructuring for specific anxiety disorders.  

Elizabeth Malesa, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and Managing Director at Alvord Baker & Associates.  She provides empirically based interventions to children, adolescents, and young adults with a variety of clinical presentations including anxiety, OCD, ASD, depression, and emotional and behavioral dysregulation.  She uses a broad range of empirically-grounded treatment modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavior therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) as well as programs such as Unstuck and on Target and Zones of Regulation. Dr. Malesa earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Vanderbilt University in 2011 where her training specialized on autism spectrum disorders. She completed a pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at the A. I. Dupont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE, focusing on assessment and treatment in early childhood. Outside of her work at Alvord, Baker & Associates, Dr. Malesa is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.    

Please contact our CE Coordinator, Keri Linas at [email protected].

Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC is authorized by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners as a sponsor of Continuing Education. A certificate for Category 1 credits will be awarded at the completion of each workshop.

If Alvord,Baker & Associates, LLC decides to cancel the class, all registrants will receive a full refund. Through Friday, December 6, 2024, registrants of the workshop who need to cancel for any reason will receive a refund of 90% of their registration fee. Cancellation requests must be received no later than Friday, December 6, 2024 either by phone 301-593-6554 x40 or by email:[email protected] . Be sure to include your name, address and contact information as provided in your registration information. No refunds will be issued for any reason after December 6, 2024.

Have questions about this seminar? Contact Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC

Host or Publisher Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC