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How can CBT help children and teenagers?

Behavioural Issues Child & Teen Anxiety Child & Teen Mental Health

Friday, 29 August 2025

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective form of talking therapy that has gained great popularity in managing mental health issues in children and teenagers.

It empowers children and teenagers to identify and challenge negative thoughts and behaviours and replace them with positive, healthy ones. CBT is commonly used to manage conditions such as anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

The basics of CBT
How does CBT work for children?
How might CBT differ for teenagers?
What can CBT help children with?
Why is CBT effective for children and teenagers?
How can I explain CBT to my child?
How can family support CBT at home?
Looking to support your child or teenager with CBT?

The basics of CBT

CBT is a type of talking therapy. This therapy focuses on the connection between how we think, feel, and behave. It’s based on the idea that negative thought patterns can influence emotions and actions. By learning to challenge these thoughts, we can create healthier responses.

CBT is a structured and goal-focused approach designed to help children and teenagers better understand their thinking and behaviour. It teaches skills that can be used to manage emotional challenges and improve day-to-day life.

CBT is widely used to support a range of mental health conditions. This includes anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and more. It’s also an evidence-based therapy recommended by the NHS and NICE guidelines for managing common mental health issues in children and adolescents.

How does CBT work for children?

CBT for children works in a similar way to how it does for adults. It’s a structured form of talking therapy that focuses on helping your child understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are linked. The main goal is to figure out how to change patterns that may be causing distress.

At the start of treatment, the therapist will speak with you and your child (or sometimes just the child, depending on their age) to set goals and build a personalised treatment plan. Sessions are usually short-term but can continue for as long as needed. This depends on your child’s progress.

CBT is practical and hands-on. Children are encouraged to learn coping strategies they can use in everyday situations. Strategies may include managing anxiety or responding differently to negative thoughts. These techniques are taught in a supportive and age-appropriate way.

Depending on your child’s needs, CBT can sometimes be used alongside other treatments, such as medication. Parents may be invited to take part in sessions, especially for younger children, but older children and teenagers may prefer to work more independently with the therapist.

How might CBT differ for teenagers?

CBT for teenagers follows the same core approach as it does for adults and younger children. It helps them to recognise unhelpful thought patterns and develop healthier ways of thinking and behaving.

However, sessions with teenagers may be adapted to reflect their growing independence and more complex emotional or social experiences. Therapy might focus more on issues like school stress, peer relationships, identity, or low self-esteem. Teenagers will most likely prefer to have more privacy during sessions, with less involvement from parents.

What can CBT help children with?

CBT can be useful for many different conditions as it helps form healthy responses to challenging situations, and research has shown benefits for the following conditions:

Anxiety disorders, including PTSD
Low mood and depression
Stress
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Phobias
Bullying
Behavioural issues

Why is CBT effective for children and teenagers?

One of the key strengths of CBT for children and teenagers is its practical and hands-on approach. CBT teaches children and teenagers specific skills and strategies that they can utilise in their daily lives to manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. This approach helps to build self-confidence and encourages a sense of control over their mental health.

CBT can also be tailored to meet the unique needs of each child or teenager. For example, some children and teenagers may benefit from using CBT with other forms of therapy, such as play or art therapy. It can also be adapted to suit different age groups and developmental stages, making it an ideal treatment option for children of all ages.

If you're a parent who is concerned about your child's mental health, it's important to know that you're not alone. Many children and teenagers experience mental health issues, and with the right support, they can recover fully.

How can I explain CBT to my child?

Talking to your child about CBT doesn’t need to be complicated. Keeping things simple helps them feel more comfortable and understand how therapy can help.

Here are a few ways to explain CBT in a child-friendly way:

Use simple language: Say that CBT is a type of talking therapy that helps people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected.
Give relatable examples: For example, you could say: “Imagine feeling nervous before a test, thinking ‘I’m going to fail’, and then not wanting to go to school. CBT helps us notice those thoughts and turn them into more helpful ones.”
Reassure them: Let your child know that they won’t be judged and that CBT is not a punishment, it’s a tool to help them feel better.
Avoid technical terms: Stick to everyday words they can relate to and focus on how CBT helps rather than what's "wrong."

How can family support CBT at home?

Families can support CBT at home by learning its basic principles - how thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are connected - and encouraging the use of coping strategies between sessions. Creating a calm, consistent environment and modelling healthy thinking can make a big difference. It helps to support CBT "homework" like thought records or exposure tasks, while avoiding unhelpful behaviours like enabling avoidance or excessive reassurance.

Simple ways to help include: