Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent) is defined by the CEBC as the treatment of youth with a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, or with elevated symptoms of anxiety as demonstrated by a standardized screening or assessment tool. Common symptoms may include excessive worry and anxiety, panic, irritability, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue, and palpitations.
Please note that trauma-specific and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) interventions are listed in the Trauma Treatment topic area.
The CEBC has evaluated only replicable programs that do not use medication as an essential component of treatment. The Pharmacological Treatments for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders page has links to reputable organizations that list information on medications used to help treat children and adolescents with anxiety and other disorders.
Downloadable Topic Area Summary
Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent) is defined by the CEBC as the treatment of youth with a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, or with elevated symptoms of anxiety as demonstrated by a standardized screening or assessment tool. Common symptoms may include excessive worry and anxiety, panic, irritability, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue, and palpitations.
Please note that trauma-specific and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) interventions are listed in the Trauma Treatment topic area.
The CEBC has evaluated only replicable programs that do not use medication as an essential component of treatment. The Pharmacological Treatments for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders page has links to reputable organizations that list information on medications used to help treat children and adolescents with anxiety and other disorders.
Downloadable Topic Area Summary
The Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent) topic is relevant to child welfare because documented research shows that children who enter the child welfare system, particularly those that are removed from their home, experience a significantly higher rate of mental health problems, including anxiety than children in the general population. This is not surprising, and is likely the result of a number of contributing factors. These factors may include events that precipitated child welfare intervention including abuse, neglect, and abandonment, as well as factors associated with placement, including separation, loss, anger, and fear.
While the child welfare system has historically focused on the physical and safety needs of children, emerging practice within agencies across the country is to now take into account the emotional needs of children as well. Child welfare agencies along with mental health providers have come to recognize the need for timely, appropriate, and effective anxiety treatment services that support children and families in achieving successful outcomes. In addition, early assessment and timely treatment intervention have been recognized as playing a key role in ensuring successful outcomes for children. As a result, a growing number of new initiatives and programs are being implemented within California counties that support the delivery of an array of mental health services to children and families receiving child welfare services. These services range from mental health screening and assessment to individualized treatment for identified needs.
Additionally, there is heightened awareness among professionals that the delivery of children's mental health services must be carefully coordinated across child serving agencies to thoroughly address their complex needs. Whether children remain living with their parents or are placed outside the home, it is critical that all children in the child welfare system be screened and assessed. Moreover, parents and caregivers must be trained to identify early signs of mental distress enabling them to seek early intervention and appropriate care and treatment.
Marilynne Garrison
Division Chief, Community-Based Support Division
https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/
The Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent) topic is relevant to child welfare because documented research shows that children who enter the child welfare system, particularly those that are removed from their home, experience a significantly higher rate of mental health problems, including anxiety than children in the general population. This is not surprising, and is likely the result of a number of contributing factors. These factors may include events that precipitated child welfare intervention including abuse, neglect, and abandonment, as well as factors associated with placement, including separation, loss, anger, and fear.
While the child welfare system has historically focused on the physical and safety needs of children, emerging practice within agencies across the country is to now take into account the emotional needs of children as well. Child welfare agencies along with mental health providers have come to recognize the need for timely, appropriate, and effective anxiety treatment services that support children and families in achieving successful outcomes. In addition, early assessment and timely treatment intervention have been recognized as playing a key role in ensuring successful outcomes for children. As a result, a growing number of new initiatives and programs are being implemented within California counties that support the delivery of an array of mental health services to children and families receiving child welfare services. These services range from mental health screening and assessment to individualized treatment for identified needs.
Additionally, there is heightened awareness among professionals that the delivery of children's mental health services must be carefully coordinated across child serving agencies to thoroughly address their complex needs. Whether children remain living with their parents or are placed outside the home, it is critical that all children in the child welfare system be screened and assessed. Moreover, parents and caregivers must be trained to identify early signs of mental distress enabling them to seek early intervention and appropriate care and treatment.
Marilynne Garrison
Division Chief, Community-Based Support Division
https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/
The Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent) topic area was added in 2010. Amanda Jensen Doss, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2010 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2010 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Jensen Doss was not involved in identifying or rating them.
The Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent) topic area was added in 2010. Amanda Jensen Doss, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2010 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2010 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Jensen Doss was not involved in identifying or rating them.
Coping Cat is a cognitive-behavioral treatment for children with anxiety. The program incorporates 4 components:
Coping Cat also has a version for adolescents, ages 14-17, known as the C.A.T. Project which is highlighted on the CEBC as well.
Building Confidence is a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that is provided to school-aged children who demonstrate clinically significant symptoms of a range of anxiety disorders (e.g., separation anxiety disorder). The format consists of individual child therapy combined with parent-training and involvement. Both children and their parents are taught fundamental CBT principles and techniques as well as integrating ways to build confidence through graduated learning and practice of age-appropriate self-independence skills. In-session exposures are extended into the home where parents assist children complete home-based exposures in the community by providing coaching in CBT strategies and naturalistic opportunities to practice and maintain treatment goals and effects. In line with these overarching treatment goals, the intervention program also works closely with the children’s schools and teachers to promote the practice and generalization of treatment goals in the school (e.g., social anxiety).
The C.A.T. Project is a 16-session program for adolescents with anxiety. It is cognitive-behavioral in nature, and provides psychoeducation and requires exposure tasks. It is similar to the Coping Cat program for children ages 7- to 13-years old, which is rated a “1 – Well-Supported Research Evidence” on the CEBC, but with teen visuals, themes, labels, and other materials.
The program provides education about anxiety, skills for identifying and managing anxiety, and an approach to face one’s fears and develop mastery.
CCGPT is designed to be a developmentally responsive, play-based mental health intervention for young children ages 3 to 10 who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral, and relational disorders. The program aims to utilize play (the natural language of children) and the therapeutic relationship to provide a safe, consistent therapeutic environment. In this environment, a child can ideally experience full acceptance, empathy, and understanding from the counselor and, at the same time, process inner experiences and feelings through play and symbols. Additionally, CCGPT allows for children to experience social interactions with 2-3 group members which hopefully enable the children to learn and practice new social and coping skills. CCGPT is appropriate for children who struggle with peer or sibling relationships, as well as emotional and behavioral problems. In CCGPT, a child's experience within the counseling relationship is designed to be the factor that is most healing and meaningful in creating lasting, positive change. Based on person-centered principles, overarching goal of CCGPT is to unleash the child's potential to move toward functional relationships and self-enhancing ways of being. Child outcome goals include decreased symptomatic behaviors and improvement in overall functioning.
CCPT is a developmentally responsive, play-based mental health intervention for young children ages 3 to 10 who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral and relational disorders. CCPT utilizes play, the natural language of children, and therapeutic relationship to provide a safe, consistent therapeutic environment in which a child can experience full acceptance, empathy, and understanding from the counselor and process inner experiences and feelings through play and symbols. In CCPT, a child's experience within the counseling relationship is the factor that is most healing and meaningful in creating lasting, positive change. Based on person-centered principles, overarching goal of CCPT is to unleash the child's potential to move toward integration and self-enhancing ways of being. Child outcomes following CCPT include decreased symptomatic behaviors and improvement in overall functioning.
Cool Kids Anxiety Program - Low-Intensity Format is a version of Cool Kids Anxiety Program, a program that teaches children and their parents how to better manage the child's anxiety. The program aims to teach clear and practical skills to both the child and parents. The program is supported by manuals. The low-intensity format is designed to be conducted without any face-to-face contact between client and therapist. For younger children, parents act as the "therapist" and receive detailed instructions to help their child.
Another version of Cool Kids Anxiety Program is rated on the CEBC as well: Cool Kids Anxiety Program - Therapist-Led Delivery.
Cool Kids Anxiety Program - Therapist-Led Delivery is a program that teaches children and their parents how to better manage the child's anxiety. It can be run either individually or in groups and involves the participation of both children and their parents. The program aims to teach clear and practical skills to both the child and parents. The program is aimed at young people 7-17 years, is fully supported by manuals, and has slightly different versions for children and teenagers. Variations of the program also exist for children with comorbid autism, adolescents with comorbid depression, and for delivery in school settings.
EEG Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback therapy (also known as EEG Biofeedback) that involves monitoring and regulating brain activity to improve cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. It is a noninvasive therapy that helps individuals train their brain to function more efficiently. EEG Neurofeedback is based on the principle that the human brain can adapt and change, a concept known as neuroplasticity. By using technology that provides real-time visual and auditory feedback, individuals ideally learn to regulate their brain activity.
MBCT-C is a psychotherapy for anxious or depressed children adapted from MBCT for adults which has been rated by the CEBC in the Depression Treatment (Adult) topic area. The adult and child programs both combine mindfulness-based theory and practices with cognitively oriented interventions. The primary aim is to improve affective self-regulation through development of mindful attention and decentering from thoughts and emotions. Unlike cognitive therapy, no effort is made to restructure or change existing thoughts and emotions. The program consists of 12 weekly therapy sessions lasting 90-minutes, conducted individually or in small groups of 6-8 children. Activities are designed to be engaging and developmentally appropriate for children ages 8 to 12. Home-based practice activities aim to further develop skills learned in each session. Parents/caregivers are invited to attend two separate adult sessions. Written session summaries, handouts, and home practice schedules are provided at every session. These written materials encourage adults to participate in the home-based activities along with the child.
Coping Cat is a cognitive-behavioral treatment for children with anxiety. The program incorporates 4 components:
Coping Cat also has a version for adolescents, ages 14-17, known as the C.A.T. Project which is highlighted on the CEBC as well.
Building Confidence is a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that is provided to school-aged children who demonstrate clinically significant symptoms of a range of anxiety disorders (e.g., separation anxiety disorder). The format consists of individual child therapy combined with parent-training and involvement. Both children and their parents are taught fundamental CBT principles and techniques as well as integrating ways to build confidence through graduated learning and practice of age-appropriate self-independence skills. In-session exposures are extended into the home where parents assist children complete home-based exposures in the community by providing coaching in CBT strategies and naturalistic opportunities to practice and maintain treatment goals and effects. In line with these overarching treatment goals, the intervention program also works closely with the children’s schools and teachers to promote the practice and generalization of treatment goals in the school (e.g., social anxiety).
The C.A.T. Project is a 16-session program for adolescents with anxiety. It is cognitive-behavioral in nature, and provides psychoeducation and requires exposure tasks. It is similar to the Coping Cat program for children ages 7- to 13-years old, which is rated a “1 – Well-Supported Research Evidence” on the CEBC, but with teen visuals, themes, labels, and other materials.
The program provides education about anxiety, skills for identifying and managing anxiety, and an approach to face one’s fears and develop mastery.
CCGPT is designed to be a developmentally responsive, play-based mental health intervention for young children ages 3 to 10 who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral, and relational disorders. The program aims to utilize play (the natural language of children) and the therapeutic relationship to provide a safe, consistent therapeutic environment. In this environment, a child can ideally experience full acceptance, empathy, and understanding from the counselor and, at the same time, process inner experiences and feelings through play and symbols. Additionally, CCGPT allows for children to experience social interactions with 2-3 group members which hopefully enable the children to learn and practice new social and coping skills. CCGPT is appropriate for children who struggle with peer or sibling relationships, as well as emotional and behavioral problems. In CCGPT, a child's experience within the counseling relationship is designed to be the factor that is most healing and meaningful in creating lasting, positive change. Based on person-centered principles, overarching goal of CCGPT is to unleash the child's potential to move toward functional relationships and self-enhancing ways of being. Child outcome goals include decreased symptomatic behaviors and improvement in overall functioning.
CCPT is a developmentally responsive, play-based mental health intervention for young children ages 3 to 10 who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral and relational disorders. CCPT utilizes play, the natural language of children, and therapeutic relationship to provide a safe, consistent therapeutic environment in which a child can experience full acceptance, empathy, and understanding from the counselor and process inner experiences and feelings through play and symbols. In CCPT, a child's experience within the counseling relationship is the factor that is most healing and meaningful in creating lasting, positive change. Based on person-centered principles, overarching goal of CCPT is to unleash the child's potential to move toward integration and self-enhancing ways of being. Child outcomes following CCPT include decreased symptomatic behaviors and improvement in overall functioning.
Cool Kids Anxiety Program - Low-Intensity Format is a version of Cool Kids Anxiety Program, a program that teaches children and their parents how to better manage the child's anxiety. The program aims to teach clear and practical skills to both the child and parents. The program is supported by manuals. The low-intensity format is designed to be conducted without any face-to-face contact between client and therapist. For younger children, parents act as the "therapist" and receive detailed instructions to help their child.
Another version of Cool Kids Anxiety Program is rated on the CEBC as well: Cool Kids Anxiety Program - Therapist-Led Delivery.
Cool Kids Anxiety Program - Therapist-Led Delivery is a program that teaches children and their parents how to better manage the child's anxiety. It can be run either individually or in groups and involves the participation of both children and their parents. The program aims to teach clear and practical skills to both the child and parents. The program is aimed at young people 7-17 years, is fully supported by manuals, and has slightly different versions for children and teenagers. Variations of the program also exist for children with comorbid autism, adolescents with comorbid depression, and for delivery in school settings.
EEG Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback therapy (also known as EEG Biofeedback) that involves monitoring and regulating brain activity to improve cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. It is a noninvasive therapy that helps individuals train their brain to function more efficiently. EEG Neurofeedback is based on the principle that the human brain can adapt and change, a concept known as neuroplasticity. By using technology that provides real-time visual and auditory feedback, individuals ideally learn to regulate their brain activity.
MBCT-C is a psychotherapy for anxious or depressed children adapted from MBCT for adults which has been rated by the CEBC in the Depression Treatment (Adult) topic area. The adult and child programs both combine mindfulness-based theory and practices with cognitively oriented interventions. The primary aim is to improve affective self-regulation through development of mindful attention and decentering from thoughts and emotions. Unlike cognitive therapy, no effort is made to restructure or change existing thoughts and emotions. The program consists of 12 weekly therapy sessions lasting 90-minutes, conducted individually or in small groups of 6-8 children. Activities are designed to be engaging and developmentally appropriate for children ages 8 to 12. Home-based practice activities aim to further develop skills learned in each session. Parents/caregivers are invited to attend two separate adult sessions. Written session summaries, handouts, and home practice schedules are provided at every session. These written materials encourage adults to participate in the home-based activities along with the child.
