Full Course Description

Empowering Anxious Kids: Creative Interventions to Shift from “I Can’t” to “I Can” with Courage and Resilience

Join Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW, CPT-S for a hands-on workshop offering evidence-based interventions to help children manage anxiety. Through creative methods like games, expressive arts, and bibliotherapy, you’ll learn to engage and motivate children while building their confidence in facing fears.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll be able to:

Recognize diverse anxiety symptoms in children, including avoidance and emotional dysregulation
Apply creative interventions that build resilience and encourage gradual exposure to feared situations
Use strategies to enhance children’s follow-through with exposure plans
Implement effective parent coaching techniques to support anxiety management at home

You’ll walk away with a toolbox of engaging interventions that help children develop a sense of control over their anxiety, build confidence, and shift from “I can’t handle it” to “I CAN handle it!”

Program Information

Objectives

Recognize the diverse ways anxiety presents in children, including avoidance patterns, physical symptoms, and emotional dysregulation.
Apply creative interventions that foster resilience, emotional regulation, and gradual exposure to feared situations.
Utilize innovative strategies to increase a child’s follow-through with exposure plans.
Implement effective parent coaching techniques to help caregivers reinforce coping strategies at home and respond to anxiety in ways that encourage bravery rather than avoidance.

Outline

Understanding Childhood Anxiety: Why “I Can’t Handle It” Feels True to Kids

How anxiety manifests beyond just avoidance, including physical symptoms, emotional dysregulation, and cognitive distortions
The impact of anxious thoughts and beliefs that reinforce the idea that challenges are too overwhelming
Helping children recognize when their anxiety is in control versus when they are in control

CBT Essentials: Laying the Foundation for “I Can Handle It” Thinking

Key components of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and its effectiveness in treating childhood anxiety
The rationale for integrating playful, engaging techniques into CBT to enhance children’s motivation and participation
Practical guidelines for implementing CBT strategies that reinforce resilience and flexible thinking in anxious children

Helping Anxious Kids Engage: Building Rapport & Creating a “Handle It” Mindset

Innovative rapport-building techniques that set the stage for therapy and encourage children to shift from avoidance to participation
Playful interventions that reduce resistance and foster a sense of safety and confidence
Strategies to help children recognize their own strengths and past successes in handling challenges

Hands-On, Play-Based Interventions: Making “I Can Handle It” Engaging & Attainable

Games, Art, and Bibliotherapy: Tools to make cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy engaging and effective
Teaching Emotional Regulation: Helping children feel that they can handle anxiety by equipping them with grounding techniques, breathing exercises, and guided imagery
Motivational Techniques: Encouraging gradual exposure to feared situations while fostering a sense of agency and mastery

Working with Parents: Helping Them Reinforce “You Can Handle It” at Home

Understanding how parent behaviors can unintentionally reinforce anxiety and avoidance
Effective parent coaching techniques to reduce accommodation of anxiety and build their child’s confidence
Practical strategies for encouraging bravery and reinforcing progress in everyday situations

Risks and Limitations

Potential challenges and ethical considerations when applying these techniques in clinical practice
Ensuring informed application in clinical setting

Target Audience

Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
Marriage & Family Therapists
Psychologists
Social Workers
Play Therapists
Child Therapists

Copyright : 10/22/2025

Help Kids Break Free from OCD with Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) and CBT

Children and teens with OCD often struggle with intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that disrupt their daily lives.

Misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment approaches can delay progress, leaving young clients feeling stuck. This training provides a clear framework for accurately assessing and effectively treating pediatric OCD using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help break the cycle of anxiety and compulsions.

Led by OCD expert, Dr. Roberto Olivardia, this training will equip you with evidence-based strategies to confidently implement CBT and ERP with young clients. Through case studies and hands-on techniques, you’ll learn how to tailor interventions for children and teens while supporting parents and families in the process.

You’ll learn how to:

Identify subtle and overlooked signs of OCD in kids and teens
Use structured assessment tools to distinguish OCD from other conditions
Apply CBT and ERP strategies in a developmentally appropriate way to disrupt obsessive-compulsive patterns
Guide parents in supporting their child’s treatment and long-term progress
Implement a framework for relapse prevention to sustain treatment gains

This training gives you the essential tools to help young clients break free from OCD and live more fulfilling lives.

Program Information

Objectives

Identify the various manifestations of OCD seen in children and adolescents.
Diagnose pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) by utilizing structured assessment tools and screening methods to distinguish OCD from other conditions, such as ADHD, anxiety, and behavior disorders.
Apply evidence-based interventions, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), in a developmentally appropriate manner for children and adolescents, ensuring the strategies are tailored to meet the unique needs of the pediatric population.

Outline

Understanding the Core of OCD

Recognizing Obsessions & Compulsions
Clinical Takeaways: Early identification helps tailor interventions effectively

Effective Assessment Strategies

Diagnostic Tools
- DSM-5 criteria and differential diagnoses
- Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS)
Key Comorbidities & Differential Diagnoses
Clinical Takeaway: Accurate diagnosis ensures appropriate treatment direction

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): The Gold Standard Treatment

How ERP Works
Practical Applications
Challenges & Solutions
Clinical Takeaways: ERP reduces obsession credibility and promotes long-term change

Cognitive & Behavioral Interventions

Cognitive Therapy Techniques
Behavioral Strategies for Daily Functioning
Clinical Takeaway: Pairing cognitive strategies with ERP enhances outcomes

Pharmacological and Neurological Treatments

Medication Options
Clinical Takeaway: Medications can aid ERP treatment

Navigating Treatment Challenges

Common Roadblocks in Therapy
Addressing Clinician Struggles
Clinical Takeaway: A flexible, compassionate approach leads to better client engagement

Advocacy & Support for Clients and Families

Building a Strength-Based Approach
Resources for Ongoing Learning & Support
Clinical Takeaway: Connection and support improve long-term outcomes

Risks & Limitations of Current Research & Techniques

Limits of ERP & Cognitive Therapy
- Some individuals may struggle with full engagement
Medication Considerations
- Not a cure-all; requires careful monitoring for effectiveness and side effects
Clinical Takeaway: A multi-modal, patient-centered approach is crucial

Target Audience

Psychologists
Social Workers
Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
Marriage & Family Therapists
Teachers/School-Based Personnel
Case Managers
Nurses
School Administrators

Copyright : 10/22/2025

iGen: Guiding the Smartphone Generation

Psychologist Jean Twenge is one of the foremost researchers exploring the lives of kids and teens today. Her up-to-the-minute studies tying the rise of mental health issues in teens to the explosion of smartphones have widely influenced key cultural figures and educational policy from coast to coast. A professor at San Diego State University and popular speaker, her talks and seminars about generational differences are based on an impressive dataset of over 40 million people, which keeps her in the center of both the intellectual debates and cultural maelstrom surrounding technology and teens. Among her 180 scientific publications and seven books are Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents – and What They Mean for America’s Future and Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy – and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood. A frequent network news media guest, she writes the Genration Tech substack

In this talk, Twenge will delve into the latest findings about how being the first generation to spend their adolescence with smartphones is affecting today’s teens. Has it really made them more likely to experience unhappiness, anxiety, and depression? And if so, what can therapists do to help?

Program Information

Objectives

Summarize the current understanding of the impact of technology use on adolescence
Discuss notable mental health differences between current adolescents and adolescents from previous generations.
Describe at least two ways therapist can help to mitigate the negative impact of technology use on adolescents.

Outline

The current state of technology use in adolescence
The social-emotional impact on a generation
Making a difference from the therapy room and beyond
Risks and limitations

Copyright : 10/22/2025

Natural Disasters & Young Clients: Reducing Trauma & Anxiety Through Preparation and Response

In the wake of natural disasters, offering support is crucial, but many people are not equipped with the right tools to effectively guide clients through the trauma. While therapeutic skills are valuable, disaster response requires specific approaches to best serve those affected.

Join Dr. Wyss to explore key strategies for providing effective crisis support:

Understanding the unique role of disaster response in comparison to traditional therapy
Psychoeducation and resource connection during the immediate stages of disaster recovery
Addressing the psychological impact throughout recovery
Distinguishing between short-term therapy and longer-term support for clients

You’ll leave better prepared to support youth through the chaos, grief, and uncertainty that natural disasters bring.

Program Information

Objectives

Apply ethical decision-making in crisis situations to best serve clients 100% of the time.
Identify and describe at least three key stages of crisis intervention.
Distinguishing between short-term therapy and longer-term support for clients 100% of the time.

Outline

Importance of Therapist’s Role in Crisis and Disaster Response

The growing need for therapist in disaster and crisis settings
Psychological impact of natural disasters and crisis on communities and practitioners

Understanding Crisis and Natural Disasters

Types of natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires)
Defining crisis in the therapeutic context

Psychological Impact of Disasters

Common mental health reactions
Cultural and community responses to disaster

Stages of Disaster Response

Pre-disaster, during disaster, and post disaster
Resiliency and ongoing support

Therapeutic Response

Crisis intervention models and training
Therapy in crisis
Assessment and triage
- Identifying people at higher risk for mental health risk
- Consider who may need referral to a longer-term therapist of specialist
- Risks and limitations

Self-care and Therapists Considerations

Identifying burnout, secondary trauma and compassion fatigue
Preventing burnout by considering your own needs and resources
Techniques for managing personal stress
Importance of supervision and peer support
Risks and limitations

Aftercare and considerations post crisis

Target Audience

Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
Marriage & Family Therapists
Nurses
Nursing Home Administrators
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Psychologists
School Administrators
Social Workers

Copyright : 10/22/2025

Advance Kids’ Anxiety Treatment with Parent-Powered Strategies

One of the biggest challenges in treating anxiety in children is that they rarely come alone – they bring their parents or caregivers with them. And those “big people” can either unintentionally reinforce anxiety … or become powerful allies in building resilience and change.

When a child resists participating in therapy, avoids practicing coping skills, or refuses to come to sessions altogether, it’s easy for both clinicians and caregivers to feel stuck and frustrated. The key is learning how to engage the entire family system in a way that empowers, motivates, and sustains progress.

In this dynamic and interactive workshop, you’ll gain evidence-based strategies to break through resistance and increase motivation – even with the most hesitant or avoidant youth.

You’ll learn how to:

Approach anxiety as a systemic issue and engage parents as essential partners in treatment
Equip caregivers with practical tools to reduce unhelpful accommodations and promote healthy coping
Use targeted behavior plans and interventions that increase follow-through and motivation in and out of session
Navigate common obstacles like parental anxiety, inconsistent follow-through, or lack of buy-in

Through real-world examples, hands-on activities, and practical resources, you’ll leave this session with the tools and confidence to help families move forward – even when motivation feels like the biggest hurdle. Plus, you’ll receive take-home worksheets and materials to support ongoing work with your clients.

Program Information

Objectives

Identify common challenges to treatment engagement in anxious youth and understand how family dynamics contribute to resistance.
Implement evidence-based strategies to reduce parental accommodation and promote child motivation for change and active participation in treatment.
Develop tailored behavior plans that incorporate rewards and consequences to increase treatment adherence and reduce problematic anxiety.

Outline

Introduction

Debunking the myth: Why motivation isn’t a prerequisite for effective treatment
Normalizing resistance and low motivation in anxiety work
Common challenges

Understanding Anxiety and Family Dynamics

Anxiety as a systemic issue: How family patterns sustain avoidance
The impact of parental accommodation
Activity: Case reflection – identify family dynamics and patterns of avoidance

Practical Strategies for Supporting and Motivating Anxious Kids Helping Parents Respond Effectively to Anxiety

Balancing support and limits
Modeling calm, confident coping
Identifying unintentional reinforcement of anxiety
Activity: Crafting supportive but firm parental responses

Strategic Pressure to Facilitate Change

Defining strategic pressure and its role in anxiety treatment
What it looks like in practice
Preparing parents for extinction bursts and setbacks
Activity: Drafting a step-by-step plan for withdrawing accommodations

Behavior Plans to Enhance Motivation

Using rewards and consequences to encourage progress
Building simple, consistent plans with child buy-in
Activity: Create a behavior plan tailored to a client

Troubleshooting Common Barriers

When parental anxiety disrupts follow-through
Reframing the “fix my kid” mindset
Addressing lifestyle barriers: sleep, screen time, and routine

Ethical Considerations and Limitations Discussed

Target Audience

Psychologists
Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
Marriage & Family Therapists
Social Workers
School Administrators
Teachers/School-Based Personnel
Addiction Professionals
Nurses
Occupational Therapists
Speech-Language Pathologists
Physical Therapists

Copyright : 10/23/2025

Helping Anxious, Isolated & Depressed Teens: What Works, What Doesn’t and What Needs to Change

There’s no escaping the dire reports about the high rates of anxiety and depression in teens and young adults. Theories about the increase are multiple and overlapping, from the pandemic to social media to parenting to the state of the world.

And while therapists obviously want to help, are we truly doing what works? Or are we buying into the same mental health trends and assumptions as the young people we’re trying to help? Lynn will question the myths, trends, and sometimes surprising approaches to addressing youth mental health and then describe how to create clear treatment goals and offer therapy that use action, connection, and accurate psychoeducation.

You’ll learn how to:

Revamp the mental health language that’s making teens worse
Use social media to increase critical thinking
Interrupt common overlapping patterns of anxiety and depression
Shift harmful mental health paradigms using research, curiosity, and homework

Program Information

Objectives

Describe the impact of self-labeling on adolescents.
Create at least 2 interventions that support social connection in adolescents and young adults.
Identify three cognitive patterns that increase the risk of adolescent anxiety and depression.
Create resources and homework assignments that promote a process-based approach to anxiety and depression.

Outline

Teens, Anxiety and Depression: Where Do We Stand?

The key patterns that define anxiety and depression
Current research on the effective approaches for teens
Process versus content: addressing the traps of triggers, avoidance, and inconsistency

The Key Components to a Plan

Frontloading FIRST
Changing the relationship to worry: the attitudinal shift most people miss
Addressing physical symptoms: do’s and don’ts and getting concrete with skills
Behavioral Activation: doing versus avoiding and the power of passivity

Stop Working with Teens Alone: Collaboration & Communication

Working with parents: a team approach and how it falls apart
Communication with outside providers/parents/schools: letters, videos, handouts, podcasts
Research limitations and risks

Target Audience

Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
Psychologists
Social Workers
School Nurses
Teachers/School-Based Personnel
Marriage & Family Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
School Administrators
Speech-Language Pathologists
Addiction Professionals

Brave Practice, Confident Kids: Exposure-Based Treatment for Childhood Anxiety

Help anxious kids go from scared to prepared!

In this session you’ll be provided with an excellent foundation in the gold standard treatment for pediatric anxiety – exposure based cognitive behavioral therapy.

Kathryn Hecht PhD LP, pediatric anxiety and OCD specialist and the author of the Be Brave Activity Book, will cover current research and theory on the development, assessment, and treatment of pediatric anxiety, including:

Distinguishing anxiety, fear, and panic
What normative anxiety looks like in youth – and why it matters
How anxiety develops and persists over time
Evidence-based, free, and validated assessment tools for pediatric populations
Key considerations for treating youth with co-occurring anxiety and depression
Research-backed “active ingredients” in treatment and how to maximize bravery-building during and between sessions

This session will also address common challenges you face when working with parents and other caring adults, including the hidden costs of reassurance and accommodation, ways to build confidence in uncertain situations, and practical strategies school staff can use to support anxious children.

Program Information

Objectives

Identify and assess for both normative and clinical presentations of pediatric anxiety across child development.
Describe evidence-based interventions for pediatric anxiety, including which interventions are most effective in reducing anxiety over time.
Utilize CBT techniques, including exposure, to treat anxiety in youth.
Address common challenges that clinicians face when working with the parents of anxious youth, such as how to provide support around reassurance seeking.

Outline

Nuts and Bolts:

Current Research and Theory on the Development & Assessment of Pediatric Anxiety

Difference between anxiety, fear and panic
Normative anxiety throughout child development
How anxiety develops and is maintained over time
Evidence-based techniques for assessment of anxiety in youth
Specific empirically supported assessments that are free, brief and validated for use in pediatric populations

Scared to Prepared: Treating Pediatric Anxiety

CBT model and research on its efficacy
Limitations of research and potential risks
Active Ingredients in pediatric anxiety treatment
False-Alarm Feelings: teaching the neurobiology of anxiety to kids
Externalization and other cognitive strategies
Identification of the core fear
Setting up exposure and hierarchy creation
In-session Brave Practice: in-vivo exposure with kids
Making Brave Fun and why it matters
Rewarding Brave Behavior

Brave Parenting Principles: Helping Other Adults Help

The hidden costs of reassurance
Why accommodation worsens anxiety over time
”The Goal” for parents of anxious youth
Key actions caregivers can take when supporting anxious youth in moments of difficulty

Target Audience

Psychologists
Social Workers
Case Managers
Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
Marriage & Family Therapists
Nurses
Teachers/School-Based Personnel
School Administrators

“I’m So Awkward!” Treatment Tips for Socially Anxious Youth

While today’s youth are highly skilled in social technology, they struggle significantly with face-to-face, in-person interactions. Simple behaviors like asking for a soda in a restaurant or greeting an acquaintance in the mall can evoke debilitating self-consciousness, worry, even panic.

Traditional therapeutic methods of engaging and treating social anxiety in today’s youth often miss the mark. How do we effectively connect with these tech-dependent teens and assist them in overcoming the obstacle of social anxiety?

Join psychologist, author, and anxiety expert Dr. Steve O’Brien who will offer you practical tools for meeting the needs of kids and teens with social anxiety. Dr. O’Brien will equip you with actionable treatment techniques ready for immediate integration into your clinical practice. You’ll discover:

Youth-friendly psychoeducation as the first intervention
Easing into therapy with “low demand” dialogue
Functional mood analysis for social media distress
And more!

You’ll leave this workshop with a set of useful tools for equipping socially anxious youth to get out of their heads and into the world!

Program Information

Objectives

Identify the specific cognitive, behavioral, and psychophysiological manifestations of social anxiety disorder in pre-teens and adolescents and their functional impact on youth to enhance assessment.
Utilize contemporary rapport-building methods with socially anxious youth as a venue for providing psychoeducation about social anxiety.
Apply cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based interventions designed to decrease the intensity of social anxiety symptoms to promote interpersonal initiative, anxiety management, and social competence in socially anxious youth.

Outline

Factors Fueling Social Anxiety in Preteens and Teens

Overreliance on social technologies and less time IRL (in real life)
Societal preoccupation with safety and risk/discomfort avoidance
Internalization of idealization-devaluation dynamics from social media

Connecting with Socially Anxious Youth

Use of “visual-sequential description” BEFORE the first session
Easing into therapy with “low-demand” dialogue
Integrating devices into session for exploring their online life

Mindfulness, CBT (And Humor!) For Building Social Competence

Youth-friendly psychoeducation as the first intervention
Mindfully managing social anxiety symptoms
Functional mood analysis for social media distress
Association-to-dialogue technique to reduce over-thinking
Combatting outcome certainty to promote social initiative

Risks and limitations

Target Audience

Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
Psychologists
Social Workers
Marriage & Family Therapists
Teachers/School-Based Personnel
School Administrators
Case Managers
Speech-Language Pathologists
Physicians
Occupational Therapists

ADHD, Social Anxiety and Rejection Sensitivity

Many children and adults with ADHD struggle with fears of embarrassment, rejection or criticism and hold back from participating in the relationships they truly desire. Following these past two years of isolation and restrictions, social anxiety and rejection sensitivity have increased for clients with ADHD of all ages.

In this session, Dr. Sharon Saline, award-winning author, international speaker and consultant will teach you how to help your clients participate in social situations with more confidence and less self-criticism. After describing how social anxiety works and its relationship to perfectionism and rejection sensitivity dysphoria, Dr. Saline will demonstrate interventions and tools to:

Improve communication skills and connection while reducing discomfort and insecurity
Initiate and maintain friendships, manage rejection sensitivity dysphoria
Promote resilience and growth mindsets in clients of all ages with ADHD

Program Information

Objectives

Demonstrate how social anxiety and rejection sensitivity dysphoria operate for children and adults with ADHD.
Develop effective strategies with clients for managing social situations and personal relationships with ease and confidence.
Determine which communication skills would best assist clients in engaging in clear, appropriate and meaningful conversations.

Outline

Nervousness, worry and general anxiety in the brain and the body
Elements of social anxiety and rejection sensitivity dysphoria and their relationship to ADHD
Efficacy of clinical interventions and modalities for working with ADHD and social anxiety
Strategies and tools for improving connections, communication and confidence

Target Audience

Counselors
Educators/Teachers
Marriage & Family Therapists
Nurses
Physicians
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Psychologists
Speech-Language Pathologists
Social Workers