Parent-Coached Exposure Therapy: A Novel Therapy to Improve Treatment Outcomes for Childhood Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders in youth, with prevalence estimates as high as 15 to 20% and are associated with significant and sustained impairment. With over 40 randomized controlled trials spanning three decades, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most researched and first line intervention for childhood anxiety disorders (CADs). Despite the substantial success of CBT, more than 50% of patients remain symptomatic after a course of CBT. Additionally, the length of traditional CBT of 12 or more sessions exceeds the average number of sessions attended in real-world settings. When CBT is implemented in a clinical setting, it rarely includes exposure, the crucial element, and CBT has not demonstrated superiority over treatment as usual. As such, to improve the lives of youth with CADs, innovative treatments need to be developed that offer greater symptom relief more quickly. Parent-coached exposure therapy (PCET) is designed to treat CADs more effectively and efficiently through working with youth and parents together to complete exposures within sessions. This presentation will review the empirical support PCET therapy, focusing on findings from a randomized controlled trial examining the potential to enhance therapy for childhood anxiety disorders (CADs; i.e., generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or specific phobia) through the inclusion of parents and focus on exposure. In addition, the limitations of implementing PCET in a clinical setting, and how translation to a school setting could increase the benefits of PCET for youth will be discussed. Finally, the presentation will end with a discussion of potential next steps for how to translate PCET into the school environment. Presented by Stephen Whiteside (2025) PELSB: Mental illness