About this level 2 certificate program
Dates: November 6, 13, 20, 27, December 4 and 11, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
*Note: Module 3 on November 20 and 27 runs from 9 a.m. to noon both days.
Facilitators: Noah Lazar, PhD, C.Psych. and Daniel Peluso, PhD, C.Psych.
CE hours: 30
This training is suitable for:
- Mental Health Professionals: psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers.
- Medical Professionals: nurses, psychiatrists, pediatricians, family doctors.
- Direct Service Workers: drop in workers, shelter and hostel workers, child and youth workers, youth justice workers.
Client age category: For professionals who work with adult clients.
Prerequisite: Certificate in CBT Level 1 from SickKids CCMH Learning Institute OR equivalent knowledge/training in foundational CBT.
Please note: This is a five-module/webinar certificate program. You must complete all five modules within a year to obtain the certificate. Each of the modules may be taken on their own as a stand-alone training.
Building on foundational cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) knowledge, this advanced program is designed to enhance your ability to apply CBT strategies to specific clinical populations. Through a series of five comprehensive modules, you will learn to conceptualize various mental health conditions through a CBT-based framework and master the application of cognitive and behavioural techniques tailored to each condition.
By participating in this program, you will develop expertise in conceptualizing cases for both common and complex mental health conditions. You will gain practical skills in applying and implementing cognitive and behavioural strategies specific to each disorder, enabling you to provide more effective and targeted interventions. This advanced training will equip you with the tools to enhance your clinical practice and improve outcomes for your clients across a diverse spectrum of mental health challenges.
Consisting of five comprehensive modules, this program is designed to equip practitioners with advanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques for treating a range of mental health conditions.
This program is offered as an open module series, allowing the flexibility to register for any of the five individual modules or the entire series, depending on your learning objectives. Whether you choose to join one module or all five, this series aims to provide valuable insights and practical tools for professionals looking to support a diverse spectrum of mental health challenges.
Module overview:
- November 6, 2026: CBT for anxiety - Explore foundational CBT concepts and techniques for treating anxiety disorders, including case conceptualization and treatment planning.
- November 13, 2026: CBT for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - Learn specific CBT interventions for GAD and OCD, focusing on exposure-based treatments.
- November 20 and 27, 2026: CBT for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with prolonged exposure therapy (PE) - Gain in-depth knowledge of PE for PTSD, including its theoretical foundations and practical application techniques.
- December 4, 2026: CBT for psychosis - Discover CBT adaptations for treating psychosis, emphasizing strategies to address delusions and hallucinations.
- December 11, 2026: CBT for bipolar disorder - Examine the application of CBT principles in treating bipolar disorder, focusing on relapse prevention and mood management strategies.
Individual module overview
Module 1: Cognitive behaviour therapy for anxiety with Noah Lazar, PhD, C.Psych.
November 6, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Deepen your understanding of the physiological and psychological underpinnings of anxiety through an integrated CBT approach.
Client age category: For professionals who work with adult clients.
Prerequisite: Certificate in CBT level 1 (or equivalent).
Anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders affecting Canadian adults. Diagnostically, we have traditionally conceptualized anxiety disorders as separate entities, with numerous disorders and diagnostic categories reflected in DSM-5. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has emerged as a gold standard in effectively treating anxiety disorders, with high efficacy and low rates of relapse prevention. This has resulted in numerous treatment manuals that are generally specifically tailored to each anxiety disorder. Physiologically, anxiety, regardless of the specific diagnosis, is the activation of the "fight-or flight" response, also known as the sympathetic nervous system. Therefore, the same system is activated trans-diagnostically. The main difference between each disorder can be boiled down into one question: "What are you afraid of?"
In this training, we will discuss the physiology of the anxiety system, and drawing on the work of many experts will outline an integrated CBT model to explain the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders through well-researched principles of behavioural conditioning and cognitive science. We will discuss an integrated CBT treatment protocol that will be applicable to the vast majority of anxiety disorders.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the CBT model of anxiety
- Increase ability to conceptualize different anxiety disorders
- Develop cognitive skills to treat anxiety disorders
- Develop behavioural skills to treat anxiety disorders
Upon completion of this webinar participants will have 6 hours of continuing education recognized by the Canadian Psychological Association, these hours may be applied towards the required 40 hours of formal training in CBT as part of the CACBT certification process.
Module 2: Cognitive behaviour therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder with Noah Lazar, PhD, C.Psych.
November 13, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Dive into CBT strategies for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder in adult clients, with evidence-based approaches and practical applications.
Client age category: For professionals who work with adult clients.
Prerequisites: Certificate in CBT level 1 (or equivalent) and CBT for anxiety (webinar one of the Certificate in CBT level 2 or equivalent).
CBT is a highly efficacious treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which focuses on modifying thoughts, behaviours and beliefs related to worry and anxiety. CBT for GAD is often a more complex treatment due to the probabilistic nature and pervasiveness of worry. In the first part of this webinar, we will focus on CBT models and conceptualizations of GAD. We will also address cognitive restructuring techniques, including adaptations to thought records, probability re-estimation, and challenging beliefs about worry. Behavioural techniques, such as exposure and response prevention to uncertainty and imaginal exposure, such as problem-solving and relaxation techniques, will be discussed.
In the second part of the webinar, we will focus on CBT treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). CBT treatment for OCD is highly behavioural, focusing on exposing clients to obsessive thoughts, while modifying and eliminating their compulsive behaviours. We will focus on CBT conceptualizations for multiple presentations of OCD, such as obsessions and compulsions related to contamination, checking, counting, and disturbing images and urges. We will describe and demonstrate cognitive techniques to challenge obsessional thinking, as well as the utility of compulsive behaviour. Exposure and response prevention, as well as behavioural experiments, will also be described. Common difficulties in treatment, including working with obsessional thoughts where there are no obvious compulsive behaviours, will also be discussed.
The webinar will consist of a didactic presentation that will be supplemented with case examples and role play exercises.
Learning objectives:
- CBT conceptualization of GAD and OCD
- Utilization of cognitive restructuring techniques in these populations
- Utilization of exposure and response prevention in these populations
Upon completion of this webinar participants will have 6 hours of continuing education recognized by the Canadian Psychological Association, these hours may be applied towards the required 40 hours of formal training in CBT as part of the CACBT certification process.
Module 3: Cognitive behaviour therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder with prolonged exposure therapy with Daniel Peluso, PhD, C.Psych., Clinical Psychologist.
November 20 and 27, 2026 | 9 a.m. to noon ET
Enhance your expertise in evidence-based CBT for PTSD, applying assessment, differential diagnosis, and step-by-step prolonged exposure techniques to support clients through trauma with confidence and clinical precision.
Client age category: For professionals who work with adult clients
Prerequisites: Certificate in CBT level 1 (or equivalent) and CBT for anxiety (webinar one of the Certificate in CBT level 2 or equivalent).
Prerequisites: Certificate in CBT level 1 (or equivalent) and CBT for anxiety (webinar one of the Certificate in CBT level 2 or equivalent).
Trigger warning: This training may evoke disturbing feelings and can retrigger any participants who have unresolved past and current personal trauma conflicts. If you have not resolved past traumas, it is strongly advised that you do so prior to participating in the training. Participants can be triggered by training content, class discussion, or examples shared.
This webinar focuses on the assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with prolonged exposure therapy (PE). PE is an evidence-based cognitive behavioural treatment and is widely considered to be the gold-standard for evidence-based trauma focused treatment. The webinar will provide an overview of the assessment of PTSD, focusing on differential diagnosis of other trauma-related disorders as well. The majority of the focus will be on evidence-based trauma-focused treatments for PTSD, with an in-depth examination of PE, focusing on the outcome literature, treatment rationale, and step-by-step application of the actual treatment protocol. Clinical challenges, vignettes, and ethical considerations will also be addressed.
Learning objectives:
- Recognize the development and maintenance of PTSD
- Gain insights into PTSD assessment and diagnosis
- Execute the rationale, evidence-base, and clinical application of prolonged exposure therapy principles for PTSD
Upon completion of this webinar participants will have 6 hours of continuing education recognized by the Canadian Psychological Association, these hours may be applied towards the required 40 hours of formal training in CBT as part of the CACBT certification process.
Module 4: Cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis with Noah Lazar, PhD, C.Psych.
December 4, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
An evidence-based CBT framework for understanding psychosis: theory, strategies, and clinical application.
Client age category: For professionals who work with adult clients
Prerequisites: Certificate in CBT level 1 (or equivalent) and CBT for anxiety (webinar one of the Certificate in CBT level 2 or equivalent).
CBT is an empirically validated and widely used problem-oriented psychotherapeutic approach that examines the relationships between thoughts, behaviours, and emotions. Interventions are generally targeted towards reducing distress through psychoeducation, the modification of cognitions and behavioural experimentation. Over the last twenty years, there have been considerable advances in applying CBT principles to treat psychosis, such that CBT can be a helpful adjunct to pharmacotherapy.
In this webinar we will discuss a CBT conceptualization of psychosis, common misconceptions regarding the suitability of this population for psychotherapy, as well as an overview of the treatment rationale and CBT strategies that are most helpful for these clients. We will also examine some of the outcome literature highlighting the effectiveness of CBT in treating psychosis.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the CBT model for psychosis
- Treat delusions, hallucinations, thought and disorder and negative symptoms
Upon completion of this webinar participants will have 6 hours of continuing education recognized by the Canadian Psychological Association, these hours may be applied towards the required 40 hours of formal training in CBT as part of the CACBT certification process.
Module 5: Cognitive behaviour therapy for bipolar disorder with Noah Lazar, PhD, C.Psych.
December 11, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
A CBT-informed approach to understanding, monitoring, and intervening in bipolar disorder.
Client age category: For professionals who work with adult clients.
Prerequisites: Certificate in CBT level 1 (or equivalent) and CBT for anxiety (webinar one of the Certificate in CBT level 2 or equivalent).
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an empirically validated and widely utilized problem-oriented psychotherapeutic approach that examines the relationships between thoughts, behaviours, and emotions. Interventions are generally targeted towards reducing distress through psychoeducation, the modification of cognitions and behavioural experimentation. Over the last twenty years, there have been considerable advances in applying CBT principles to treat bipolar disorder.
In this webinar, we will focus on a cognitive conceptualization of bipolar disorder, common misconceptions regarding the suitability of this population for psychotherapy, as well as an overview of the treatment rationale and CBT strategies that are most helpful for these clients. We will also examine some of the outcome literature highlighting the effectiveness of CBT.
Learning objectives:
- CBT conceptualization of bipolar disorder
- Application of monitoring techniques
- Application of behavioural techniques for depression and mania
- Application of cognitive restructuring techniques
Upon completion of this webinar participants will have 6 hours of continuing education recognized by the Canadian Psychological Association, these hours may be applied towards the required 40 hours of formal training in CBT as part of the CACBT certification process.
Continuing Education (CE) Information: SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) to offer continuing education (CE) hours. Full-day programs equal six CE hours; half-day programs equal three CE hours; for less than half-day programs, one hour of programming equals one CE hour. SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute maintains responsibility for the programs.
Other licensing boards and professional organizations will grant continuing education credits for attendance at their own discretion; participants will need to submit the course outline and Certificate of Participation for their consideration.
CACBT - Aligned Continuing Education Hours:
Upon successful completion of this program, the continuing education hours earned may be applied toward the 50 hours of formal CBT training required for certification with the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT). For full details on the CACBT certification process and eligibility, please visit: https://www.cacbt.ca/certification-process
Accessibility
We strive to ensure our online learning programs are easy for everyone, everywhere. If you have any accessibility requirements (closed-captioning, ASL interpreters, advanced access to program materials), please email Mary Anne Van Rooyen at mvanrooyen@sickkidscmhlearning.ca to let us know how we can best support your learning experience.
Please note: Once the online registration is complete, any modifications to a registration must be done by contacting Mary Anne Van Rooyen via email at mvanrooyen@sickkidscmhlearning.ca
Photography is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in the content is a model, except where indicated.
If registration has closed and you're still interested in joining this course, please contact Mary Anne at mvanrooyen@sickkidscmhlearning.ca