Helping Children Overcome Disordered Anxiety: A Cognitive-Behavioural Approach

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concerns in childhood. Children who struggle with anxiety disorders face negative psychosocial outcomes, including poor quality of life, school-related problems, and comorbid mental health conditions. Given that disordered anxiety is likely to persist into adulthood if left untreated, early intervention is key to promoting children’s long-term psychological well-being. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) stands as a primary evidence-based intervention for childhood anxiety disorders. In short, CBT aims to help children recognize anxiety and learn how to cope with it when facing their fears in daily life. In this talk, informed by his own clinical training experiences, Andrés will provide an overview of best practices in assessment, case formulation and treatment for childhood anxiety disorders from a cognitive-behavioural perspective.

Andrés E. Montiel (he/him) is a Venezuelan graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program at UBC. He holds a Master of Science in Youth Studies from Utrecht University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology from the University of Victoria. He is passionate about promoting healthy masculinities and positive youth development.