Evidence Based Treatment for Internalizing Disorders with Youth: Depression, Suicide Prevention, Anxiety and Trauma

This program will provide in-depth training in evidence based treatments for youth experiencing depression, suicidal ideation/urges, anxiety and trauma.   

The training will cover a variety of evidence based treatments for youth experiencing internalizing disorders including traditional cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBT), as well as more recent “Third Wave” treatment advances including: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Cognitive Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Positive Psychology, and Polyvagal Theory & Therapy. The training will emphasize an integrated treatment approach utilizing traditional CBT treatment and the more recent “Third Wave” advances.

The training will provide an overview of the theoretical and therapeutic foundations of traditional CBT and the more recent “Third-Wave” advances. However, the emphasis will be on the practical implementation of these approaches with youth experiencing depression, suicide risk, anxiety and trauma.  Clinicians will learn evidence based and highly practical skills to use with their clients experiencing these internalizing disorders. 

Through the use of structured therapeutic activities, client handouts and worksheets attendees will learn how to implement a variety of interventions with youth such as: CBT case conceptualization; mindfulness practices; non-judgmental self-awareness & mood monitoring; behavioral activation; cognitive processing & restructuring; imagino & and in-vivo exposure therapy; distress tolerance; social skills training; prolonged exposure; trauma narrative; suicide risk assessment and safety planning; behavioral chain analysis, how to quell Autonomic Nervous System arousal; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as well as Positive Psychology interventions such as “what went well today”, gratitude & self-compassion and many more.

In addition to learning skills to intervene with youth, the training will provide a number of practical methods to involve parents and enlist their participation as therapeutic allies in helping their children learn the skills being offered. 

This training will provide a valuable set of clinical tools to complement traditional CBT interventions and enhance your clinical competency with youth. Whether your young client is struggling with depression, suicidal urges, anxiety or the effects of trauma, these youth friendly tools will help your client learn essential skills to manage and build a healthy life.

Course Objectives:  

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Describe the fundamental theoretical and therapeutic principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and more the recently developed Third Wave approaches including their theoretical foundation and research evidence base.
  2. Use a CBT Case Conceptualization including identification of the client’s: triggers, automatic thoughts, distressed feelings, compensatory behaviors and core beliefs and apply this conceptualization effectively in treatment.
  3. Identify evidence based methods to enhance skills to manage depression including: mood monitoring; mindfulness, behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring, effective problem solving and how to enhance positive mood.
  4. Apply evidence based interventions to manage suicidal urges including: suicide risk assessment; suicide safety planning; behavioral chain analysis; reasons for living; distress tolerance, Hope Box and Acceptance & Commitment interventions.
  5. Demonstrate therapeutic techniques to reduce anxiety including: mindfulness and distress tolerance; anxiety hierarchy; exposure therapy & social skills training.
  6. Use methods to enhance the youth’s ability to overcome the impact of trauma including: prolonged exposure, trauma narrative and safety planning.
  7. Identify clinical methods to involve parents and help them utilize evidence based positive parenting skills to promote their child’s resilience, positive emotions and personal growth.

Research: There is a lot of research available on the subject of cognitive behavioral therapy and anxiety on Google Scholar.

Target Audience: social workers, mental health therapists, and other clinicians providing mental health services to children, youth, and families