Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for:
Depression (sad or irritable, angry, pessimistic, withdrawn)
Anxiety (panic, worrying, phobias, social anxiety, separation anxiety)
Stress (school work, divorce, bereavement
Obsessive-Compulsive behaviors
Social problems (social skills, bullying)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD / ADHD)
Listen to this explanation of CBT for adolescent depression from National Public Radio (NPR). [Click Here.]
What is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Kids?
Research shows that Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is effective in treating children and adolescents as well as adults. CBT is a short-term psychotherapy, which emphasizes collaboration between the child, the therapist, and usually the parents. More focused than many other types of treatment, the course of therapy usually is three to six months, depending on the youth's particular issues.
The term "cognitive" refers to the child's or adolescent's thoughts, perceptions, interpretations, and beliefs. Many psychological issues are associated with negative habits in thinking, including biased beliefs about self, others, the world, and the future. Behaviors and activities in which children engage also affect their emotional state. If left unchecked, negative automatic thinking and behavior patterns can lead to feelings such as depression, stress, or anxiety.
In therapy, the child/adolescent and therapist are actively involved in identifying specific thinking and behavior patterns that may be giving rise to problems. As ingrained beliefs and contributing behaviors are revealed, new ways of perceiving, feeling, and acting can begin to take shape.
The CBT Model In a Nutshell
The CBT model suggests that in any given situation, there are 3 primary factors involved. One factor to consider pertains to the child/adolescent's thoughts, opinions, beliefs, expectations etc. These represent their cognitions, in other words, what is going through their mind at the time. Another factor relates to their emotional state, the feelings they have, their mood (fear, sadness, anger, embarrassment, disappointment, etc.). The third factor to consider is their behaviors or actions, what they do in a given situation. This also includes physiology (heart rate, breathing, muscle tension, etc.). While each of these can be thought of as distinct entities, they are all interrelated and have a large influence on each other. In fact, a change in any of these three factors results in changing the other two to some degree (see the diagram below).
Although genetics plays a role, the child/teen's cognitions are heavily influenced by the environment, culture, and events the individual has lived through. When a child is in a particular situation, it is his/her outlook on that event that largely determines how he/she will FEEL about it and what ACTIONS he/she might or might not take. Similarly the child's mood can flavor how he/she views a particular situation or how he/she behaves. And, behavior can influence thoughts and emotions, as well.
Because thoughts, beliefs, expectations, etc. are so ingrained, children often feel or act in certain ways without even being aware of the thoughts and beliefs that are driving their mood and behaviors. They tend to believe their perspectives as facts. Through open ended questionning in a noncritical, safe, exploratory environment, Dr. Greenaway and your child can begin to uncover which of the child's beliefs, expectations, and behaviors are realistic and which might be causing more harm than good. Problem-solving together and periodically including parents in sessions can help the youth begin to try more adaptive, realistic ways of behaving and looking at things. This causes improvements in mood.
In CBT, your child and you will discuss specific goals of therapy with Dr. Greenaway. CBT is applied based on the child's age, intellect, and level of maturity so that the process makes sense to him/her. Children in CBT are asked, at their own pace, to engage in specific techniques to help discover and change their automatic thoughts, beliefs, and expectations. New behaviors and ways of looking at things are learned and practiced throughout the week. Learning more realistic ways to view themselves, others, and their future in therapy as well as experimenting with new behaviors with the support of the therapist and parents are the keys to improving your child's mood, lowering anxiety, or increasing friendships.
Because thoughts, beliefs, expectations, etc. are so ingrained, children often feel or act in certain ways without even being aware of the thoughts and beliefs that are driving their mood and behaviors. They tend to believe their perspectives as facts. Through open ended questionning in a noncritical, safe, exploratory environment, Dr. Greenaway and your child can begin to uncover which of the child's beliefs, expectations, and behaviors are realistic and which might be causing more harm than good. Problem-solving together and periodically including parents in sessions can help the youth begin to try more adaptive, realistic ways of behaving and looking at things. This causes improvements in mood.
In CBT, your child and you will discuss specific goals of therapy with Dr. Greenaway. CBT is applied based on the child's age, intellect, and level of maturity so that the process makes sense to him/her. Children in CBT are asked, at their own pace, to engage in specific techniques to help discover and change their automatic thoughts, beliefs, and expectations. New behaviors and ways of looking at things are learned and practiced throughout the week. Learning more realistic ways to view themselves, others, and their future in therapy as well as experimenting with new behaviors with the support of the therapist and parents are the keys to improving your child's mood, lowering anxiety, or increasing friendships.
