Training Community Clinicians in CBT for Youth

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is efficacious in treating both internalizing and externalizing disorders in youth. As a result, there is an increasing demand among consumers for CBT, unfortunately, community clinical settings are not adequately equipped to competently adopt and sustain CBT practice. Large-scale, system-wide changes are necessary to transform usual care treatment systems. Fortunately, there is a rich, burgeoning literature that documents barriers to dissemination and implementation of EVBP’s. Present system limitations include a need for greater system-wide collaboration, more effective and efficient delivery of training and supervision, better alternatives to quality assurance methods that include pay for performance initiatives, documentation of clinical outcomes that CBT delivers, and innovations to mental health financing methods. Furthermore, psychologists must consider new ways to actively market, promote and brand CBT to change provider attitudes, influence practitioner behavior, and transform treatment as usual. Psychologists have a unique opportunity to transform the delivery of mental health services to youth.