About this webinar
Date: September 30, 2026
Time: 1 to 4 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW, CPT-S.
CE hours: 3
This training is suitable for:
- Mental Health Professionals: psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers.
Please note: Although this webinar might be of interest to teachers, the content is geared to mental health professionals with foundational knowledge of CBT.
Prerequisite: Knowledge/training in foundational CBT.
Level of training: Intermediate
Client age category: For professionals who work with clients aged 4 to 12 years.
Description: Anxiety and school refusal is on the rise, and is a particular concern due to the impact on emotional, academic, social, and family functioning. The longer a child avoids or misses school, the more likely it will become entrenched, and will be more difficult to treat.
It is important to assess the reasons underlying the child’s school refusal, so that an effective treatment plan can be implemented.
This webinar will present innovative assessment and treatment interventions for school refusal. The most efficacious treatment for school refusal in the research is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This approach is enhanced by integrating engaging activities so that children will more readily participate in treatment and learn key skills.
Through case examples, activity demonstrations, and experiential exercises, this three-hour webinar will combine theoretical material with hands-on therapeutic techniques. Interventions will be geared to children aged 4 to 12.
Learning objectives:
- List the most common factors underlying school refusal.
- Implement techniques to assess school refusal.
- Describe methods for fostering treatment readiness in anxious children.
- Implement a gradual exposure plan to treat school refusal.
- Discuss effective strategies for use by parents and teachers.
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
Registration closes
If registration has closed and you're still interested in joining this course, please contact Mary Anne at mvanrooyen@sickkidscmhlearning.ca
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.
Photography is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in the content is a model, except where indicated.