Treatment of Pediatric Phobias: A Cognitive Behavioral Approach (3 CEs)

Pediatric phobias can have a significant impact on a child’s life. Given the wide variety of phobias with which a child may present, there are many areas of life that may be affected including, but not limited to, socialization, school, health, and family. Attendees will learn to conceptualize Specific Phobias utilizing a cognitive behavioral framework. The webinar will address the relation of thoughts and behaviors to the maintenance of pediatric phobias. This training will highlight the role of safety behaviors and family accommodation in the maintenance of pediatric phobias. As Specific Phobias can come in many different forms, this presentation will provide a description of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as can be applied to the pediatric phobias in general. To assist in developing an understanding of the treatment of pediatric phobias, three specific phobias will be discussed in detail: Fear of the dark, fear of vomiting (emetophobia), and fear of needles. Exposure therapy will be explained, incorporating visual examples and demonstrations by the presenter.