Evidence-based Psychotherapy Training for Child Therapists

REACH’s Child and Adolescent Training In Evidence-based Psychotherapy program (CATIE) offers hands-on psychotherapy training programs for child mental health, behavioral and emotional disorders such as ADHD, disruptive/aggressive behaviors, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. These programs equip clinicians with evidence-based treatment techniques that work for children, adolescents and their families. Unfortunately, treatments that work, also called "evidence-based", are rarely offered in most communities. Evidence based treatments are not what is commonly offered by most therapists. Instead, most psychotherapists and therapists offer what is called "play therapy" or simple "talk therapy." In contrast, evidence based psychotherapy approaches go by names such as "cognitive behavioral therapy" (CBT), "cognitive therapy," behavior therapy, parent management training, collaborative problem solving (CPS) therapy, and interpersonal therapy (IPT).

Certain forms of evidence-based therapies have even been developed for use in schools and school classrooms by teachers, special education professionals, and school counselors. Some of these, such as anti-bullying programs (developed by Dan Olweus) and classroom management programs, such as the "Good Behavior Game", are also firmly established as evidence-based practices.

Why Evidence-Based Psychotherapy for Children?
More than 500 named therapies have been used to treat children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges, but many of these lack supporting research.

Regardless of whether they are used within mental health clinics by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or other counselors; in primary care offices by pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants, or in schools on the playground or in the classroom by teachers, school counselors, or special educators, REACH uses and teaches only evidence-based psychotherapies - "treatments that work," derived from rigorous scientific evaluations of efficacy and outcomes.

CATIE focuses on the use of cognitive behavior therapy, behavior therapy and other proven methods. CATIE is an excellent opportunity for child and adolescent clinicians to upgrade or learn new skills and interventions.

Evidence-based psychotherapy training occurs during a 2-day workshop, with extensive role-plays and feedback. This is supplemented with phone consultation for 12 months (twice monthly) via toll-free conference calls with nationally known expert consultants and treatment developers.

Training certificates are awarded to clinicians who complete full training (face-to-face training and follow-up consultation calls).

The 4 treatments and their accompanying manuals consist of brief, 8- to 12-session interventions that are flexible and easily adaptable to various clinical situations. Assessment strategies are reviewed to help clinicians gauge clients’ suitability for specific interventions. The psychotherapy interventions emphasize coping strategies, problem solving, parenting, family communication, cognitive restructuring and more. For those wishing to become truly expert, we also offer "Master Clinician" training, enabling learners to become expert in the major forms of therapy for most childhood behavioral and emotional disorders. Master Clinicians may qualify to become trainers in their own right, enabling them to offer REACH psychotherapy training courses and supervision to other therapists in their own clinical treatment settings.

For more information on the content of each of the psychotherapy training manual, click here.

Click here to see the CATIE brochure

2012 TRAININGS

September 2012: CPS Certification for Providers Training

For more information about 2012 trainings or to arrange a CATIE Training in your area, please contact Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD at (212) 947-7322 x. 227, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CATIE/IPC Members