Kids weren’t meant to sit inside all day, isolated from friends while overhearing scary things on the news. Our “new normal” in quarantine may be especially tough for kids, who are so reliant on their daily routines to help them feel safe in the world. If you have noticed a spike in your child’s anxiety symptoms since the coronavirus, you’re not alone. It’s an understandable response to a very strange, stressful time in our history. Fortunately, one of the most effective treatments we have to help anxious kids—cognitive behavioral therapy—translates easily into online work with a therapist. In this post I’ll be sharing the basics of how CBT can help kids with anxiety disorders, and how it works to get CBT therapy online.
What Is CBT, and How Is It Different Than Other Forms of Therapy?
What do you imagine when you think of therapy? Maybe that stereotypical image comes to mind of a patient lying on a couch, free associating about their childhood experiences while a therapist quietly nods. While some therapists still practice this more “old school” form of therapy (and it really works for some people!) therapy doesn’t always have this look and feel. CBT is a very popular approach to therapy that offers another way to deal with stress, anxiety, and mental health struggles.
CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and it’s a style of therapy that focuses on helping people learn new ways to deal with problems in the present, rather than gaining insight into the past. While you might discuss past experiences with a CBT therapist, in general the goal is finding solutions in the here-and-now. To do this, clients in CBT therapy learn how to spot the negative thinking patterns and self-talk that can lead to exaggerated worries and depression.
In CBT therapy, your child might…
Learn coping skills to manage stress more effectively
Gradually practice facing her fears in order to overcome them
Learn how to identify overly-negative thinking
Practice replacing negative self-talk with more positive, realistic self-talk
Learn social skills to express herself confidently and assertively
What Makes CBT So Popular for Kids with Anxiety?
One big reason CBT has become so popular for treating childhood anxiety is that it can help kids feel better faster. The coping skills children learn in CBT can be used right away to start managing anxiety, panic, and stress, so many children notice some improvement in their moods early on in treatment. CBT is often a shorter form of treatment, and in general, people in CBT need fewer sessions of therapy than people who aren’t. Kids who get CBT therapy for anxiety symptoms may be able to progress through therapy more quickly, and return to their lives with skills to handle future problems.
Another reason for CBT’s popularity is that there is a ton of research to show it’s effective. As a therapist, I like knowing that the skills I’m teaching kids to manage their anxiety have been studied over and over, and have been shown to be the most helpful tools for the job. I like feeling confident that the therapy techniques I’m using are the most likely to help a particular child, and have been shown to be safe.
How Does CBT for Children Work With Telehealth?
While some forms of therapy may look and feel a little different when conducted online, in my experience CBT sessions via telehealth feel pretty similar to my in-office sessions! Because CBT is more task-oriented and involves more learning and teaching, it’s a natural fit for online therapy. While I often incorporate games, art, and play into my child therapy sessions, CBT puts an emphasis on helping kids put their thoughts and feelings into words, too. I think the fact that it’s a more verbal form of therapy helps make online sessions flow smoothly.
If your child is enrolled in online CBT therapy, she might participate in activities like these:
Role-play difficult situations with a therapist to figure out healthier ways to respond
Learn relaxation skills in session, like deep breathing and mindfulness techniques
Practice turning negative self-talk into more positive or realistic self-talk
Set goals to practice at home during the week, such as practicing a relaxation skill or raising her hand more often in class
Learn more about how anxiety works, which can help kids feel less alone with their feelings
Online CBT therapy might use books, worksheets, and other teaching aids to help children get the most benefit from learning new skills. I sometimes email simple worksheets to parents that kids can use to track negative thoughts during the week. I sometimes assign other “homework” assignments as well, such as practicing a new skill during the week or trying to reach out to friends more during quarantine. Usually, CBT homework requires no more than 5 minutes a day of work—I know kids are overloaded with school assignments right now, and I don’t want to add to that stress!
Online CBT Therapy for Kids in North Carolina, New York, and Florida
If your child is having a hard time dealing with anxiety during quarantine, CBT can help her manage this stressful situation and equip her with tools that she can use to deal with anxiety even after quarantine ends. As a first step, you may want to consider my online course, Worry-Free Tweens, which teaches CBT-inspired coping skills to anxious kids ages 8-12.
If you’re in North Carolina, New York, or Florida and looking for online therapy for your child, my (virtual) door is always open. I love using CBT to help kids and tweens overcome anxiety and worry. You can reach out to me here to learn more.
