The Science of Anxiety Relief for Kids: What to Expect from CBT
Introduction
As a parent or caregiver, watching your child struggle with anxiety can be heartbreaking. Anxiety is a normal emotion, but it can become a problem when it starts interfering with daily life. Fortunately, there are evidence-based treatments available, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), that can help kids and teens manage their anxiety and lead a more fulfilling life. CBT has long been considered the "gold-standard" in the treatment of anxiety in children and teens.
In this article, I'll walk you through what CBT is, the components of CBT, the benefits of CBT for youth, and some of the evidence-based CBT programs available for kids.
What is Cognitive Behavior Therapy?
This form of talk therapy is a powerful tool that helps people to identify and transform negative patterns of thinking and behavior. The beauty of CBT lies in its ability to help individuals overcome a wide range of challenges by focusing on the present moment and teaching practical skills that can improve their emotional well-being and overall quality of life.
At the core of CBT is the belief that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are intricately connected. By addressing one aspect, we can transform the others in positive ways. Through CBT, individuals learn to recognize and challenge negative thought patterns, replacing them with more positive and helpful ways of thinking. This, in turn, leads to changes in behavior, which can help improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.
CBT is a dynamic and interactive process that allows individuals to take an active role in their own healing journey. By working closely with a skilled therapist, individuals can learn to apply CBT principles in their daily lives and develop strategies to overcome challenges as they arise. With CBT, children can take charge of their thoughts and behaviors, and experience less anxiety and more joy.
Components of Cognitive Behavior Therapy
The components of CBT for children and teens can vary depending on the specific treatment approach and the individual needs of the client. However, there are some common components that are typically included in CBT:
Psychoeducation: Clients learn about the nature of anxiety, and how it affects their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Emotions Identification: In this component, clients learn to identify and accurately label their emotions. This helps them become more aware of their emotional experiences and develop a better understanding of how their emotions affect their thoughts and behaviors.
Somatic Experience of Anxiety: Clients learn to identify the physical sensations associated with anxiety, such as a racing heartbeat or sweating. This helps them become more aware of the physical signs of anxiety so that they can better identify early signs of worry and learn to manage them effectively.
Emotions Scaling: Clients learn to rate the intensity of their emotions on a scale of 1-10. This helps them become more aware of the intensity of their emotions and track changes over time. Learning about emotions scaling also helps kids to learn how to catch their anxiety before it grows out of their control.
Relaxation Techniques: Clients learn different techniques to calm their minds and bodies when they are feeling anxious.This can include visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness and breathing exercises.
Cognitive Restructuring: Clients learn to identify negative or unhelpful thoughts and beliefs and replace them with more positive and realistic ones.
Exposure Therapy: Clients learn to confront their fears in a safe and controlled environment. This helps them learn that they can tolerate anxiety and that their fears are not as dangerous as they may have thought.
Problem-Solving Skills: Clients learn to identify problems and come up with solutions to address them.
Benefits of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Kids and Teens
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be an effective form of treatment for anxiety disorders in both children and teens. With its focus on identifying and changing negative patterns of thinking and behavior, CBT can help young people develop practical skills to manage their anxiety and improve their overall quality of life.
Some of the benefits of CBT for anxiety disorders in children and teens include:
Developing coping strategies: Through CBT, children and teens can learn new ways to cope with their anxiety. This may include learning relaxation techniques, practicing mindfulness, or developing new thought patterns that help them better manage their anxiety.
Identifying triggers: CBT can help young people identify the specific situations, thoughts, or behaviors that trigger their anxiety. This can help them develop a better understanding of their anxiety and take steps to avoid or manage these triggers.
Challenging negative thoughts: CBT encourages young people to challenge negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to their anxiety. By learning to recognize and reframe these negative thought patterns, they can develop a more positive outlook and reduce their anxiety levels.
Improving communication skills: CBT can also help young people develop better communication skills, which can be particularly beneficial for those who struggle with social anxiety. By learning to express themselves more effectively, they may feel more confident in social situations and experience less anxiety overall.
Reduced anxiety: CBT helps kids learn how to manage their anxiety symptoms and reduce their overall level of anxiety.
Better academic performance: Anxiety can interfere with academic performance. CBT can help youth learn how to manage their anxiety and improve their academic performance.
Improved quality of life: CBT can help youth develop practical skills to manage their emotions and improve their overall quality of life.
Choosing an Evidence-Based CBT Program
If you are choosing CBT for your anxious kiddo, make sure the therapist you are working with is using an evidence-based program. There are several evidence-based CBT programs available for kids. These programs have been rigorously tested in research studies and have been shown to be effective in treating anxiety in youth. Here are some examples:
Coping Cat: Coping Cat is a CBT program for children ages 7-13 with anxiety disorders. The program includes 16 weekly sessions and focuses on cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy, and problem-solving skills.
FRIENDS: FRIENDS is a CBT program for children and youth ages 4-16 with anxiety disorders. The program includes 10-12 weekly sessions and focuses on cognitive restructuring, relaxation techniques, and problem-solving skills.
Cool Kids: Cool Kids is a CBT program for children and youth ages 7-17 with anxiety disorders. The program includes 10 weekly sessions and focuses on cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy, and problem-solving skills.
Help Your Anxious Child Live Their Best Life with CBT
As a parent, your top priority is your child's well-being and happiness. It can be distressing to witness your child experience anxiety, struggling with fear, worry, and panic attacks. However, there are proven methods to help alleviate childhood anxiety, backed by thorough research.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach that has been successful in helping numerous children and teenagers overcome their anxiety, allowing them to lead their lives to the fullest. By imparting practical skills to manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, CBT equips your child with the tools they need to confront their fears and take charge of their anxiety.
If you're wondering if CBT could help your child, or are interested in checking out some of my favorite CBT activities for kids, download my FREE child anxiety workbook HERE.
