Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a short-term, skills-based therapy that teaches kids and teens to spot unhelpful thoughts, test them against facts, and try new actions that lift mood and shrink anxiety. It’s a gold-standard first-line treatment for worries, OCD, low mood, and behaviour challenges.

What happens in a CBT session

• Collaborative agenda—child and therapist choose one or two targets for the day
  
• “Thought detective” work—finding and questioning worry or self-critical thoughts
  
• Skills practice—belly-breathing, exposure steps, problem-solving, reward plans
  
• Take-home mission—a brief experiment to try before the next visit
  

Skills children build

• Realistic thinking (“What’s most likely?”)
  
• Emotion regulation tools (grounding, coping breaths)
  
• Behavioural activation (doing fun or valued activities even when mood is low)
  
• Bravery ladders that break avoidance or OCD rituals into doable steps
  

Parent involvement

Caregivers learn to coach—not rescue—through parent coaching, SPACE training for anxious avoidance, or skill-building groups like Emotionally Healthy Parenting.

How to access CBT at FFEW

• Individual therapy for children 8-10 or adolescents 11-19
  
• Child groups such as Coping with Anxiety Kids 9-12
  
• Parent programs: Parenting Children with Anxiety and Parenting Emotionally Intense Children
  

Clinicians who deliver CBT

• Dr. Zia Lakdawalla – Anxiety, OCD, parent coaching
  
• Dr. Lana Zinck – SPACE & CBT for anxious youth
  
• Dr. Tamara Meixner – CBT, DBT, attachment-focused work
  
• Cassandra Harmsen – CBT with ACT & EFFT blend
  
• Ola Obaro – CBT plus Circle of Security for families
  
• Charlotte Johnston – Neurodivergent-affirming CBT & DBT
  
• Jaydon Frid – Family-systems CBT and DBT skills
  

FAQs — CBT

How long does CBT take?

Many kids see meaningful progress in 8–16 sessions, with booster visits as needed.

Will my child have homework?

Yes—brief, age-appropriate tasks that put new skills into real-life practice.

Can CBT be adapted for neurodivergent children?

Absolutely. Therapists use visuals, special interests, and sensory supports to make skills stick.

Do parents attend every session?

You join the first visit, periodic reviews, and short wrap-ups so you can coach skills at home.

What if anxiety spikes during exposure?

Therapists teach coping tools first and pace steps carefully so bravery grows without overwhelm.