Presented by Colleen Cummings, Ph.D., Keri Linas, Ph.D., Psy.D.

Intermediate Level: This event is well-suited for clinicians seeking to advance their clinical skills (e.g., case formulation, treatment planning, interventions) in treating children and adolescents using the CBT model individuals. Having familiarity with existing CBT models and treatments will enhance the learning.

Social Anxiety is somewhat prevalent in youth, with some studies suggesting close to 10% of adolescents meet criteria for the disorder. Some level of social anxiety is normative, particularly in teens, and distinctions can be drawn between shyness and social anxiety. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has garnered a significant evidence-base in the treatment of social anxiety disorder. This workshop will first review the differential diagnosis and associated impairment of social anxiety disorder in youth. Next, we discuss CBT for social anxiety disorder, with an emphasis on the importance of clinically-relevant exposure tasks. We will discuss ways to overcome barriers to care, including applying creativity to conducting exposures in the clinical setting, generating client buy-in to treatment, and being mindful of any safety behaviors. An emphasis will be placed on the need to implement the program flexibly to meet the individual needs of each client, while maintaining fidelity to the core components of treatment.

More Information:

Please contact our CE Coordinator, Candice Watson at cwatson@alvordbaker.com.

Continuing Education: 3 credits

Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC is authorized by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners as a sponsor of Continuing Education. A certificate for Category 1 credits will be awarded at the completion of each workshop.

Alvord Baker & Associates, LLC, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board of Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists, #PSY -0213

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

$130.00

Explain distinctions between social anxiety disorder and normative levels of shyness and self-consciousness in adolescents.

Identify the main components of CBT for social anxiety disorder in children and adolescents.

Demonstrate strategies to conduct clinically-relevant exposure tasks in the clinical setting.

List two common core fears and two examples of safety behaviors often characteristic of youth with social anxiety.
Dr. Cummings (she/her) is a licensed psychologist, specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive-and depressive disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. She recognizes the importance of implementing evidence-based treatments with cultural humility and acceptance of all client identities. Dr. Cummings sees clients out of her own practice in Rockville and Bethesda. Prior to opening her own practice, she was a clinician at Alvord, Baker & Associates for over ten years. She is also a Research Fellow at the nonprofit organization Resilience Across Borders and a psychiatry resident therapy supervisor at Georgetown University. She has published journal articles and book chapters on topics including CBT for anxiety, mood disorders, and dissemination of effective treatments to the community. Dr. Cummings earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at Ohio State University and her predoctoral internship at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She has specialist training in CBT for youth anxiety disorders, which she pursued during her postdoctoral fellowship at the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple University. She is clinician certified in the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in children and adolescents (UP-C/A)—a form of CBT that teaches clients new ways of responding to uncomfortable emotions. She is also certified in Kazdin Parent Management Training (KPMT) and has been trained to administer Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE).

Dr. Keri Linas, (She/her) is a clinical psychologist at Alvord, Baker, & Associates, LLC and the Clinical Director at the Capitol Hill Location. She specializes in working with children and teens with anxiety, phobias, OCD, ADHD, and behavioral concerns. Dr. Linas completed her internship at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC and her post-doctoral training at the Georgetown Center for Child and Human Development. Dr. Linas is passionate about the application of evidence informed treatments with children, teens, and parents. Dedicated to keeping her knowledge up-to-date, Dr. Linas continues post graduate training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT) and Exposure with Response Prevention including the Behavior Therapy Training Institute at the International OCD Foundation and professional consultations groups. She is certified in the Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UPC/A), which is a form of CBT that helps individuals learn new ways of responding to uncomfortable emotions. Dr. Linas also enjoys teaching and training other mental health providers how to provide evidence-based treatments to youth.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

Learning Objectives

Presenters

We guide individuals and families toward resilience and healing with evidence-based care and compassionate support.