Updates in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

Continuing Education

December 4, 2026

Registration Deadline: December 4

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Examine current challenges in child and adolescent mental health care and apply updated evidence-based psychotherapies, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, to modern clinical practice.

Live Online

This course is taught online in real time.

Additionally, all sessions will be recorded and made available to participants for online viewing for 30 days after the end of the course.

This is the standard price, for a full list of profession pricing see below.
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Continuing Education

Earn up to:
7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™
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One Day

Please view the Schedule for a full description of the program.

Overview

Therapists who work with children and adolescents currently face multiple challenges: worsening youth mental health, a critical workforce shortage, and a rapid shift of patients seeking digital tools to fill the gap in access. The changing landscape and systems of care require clinicians to stay abreast of new data and evidence-based care models, but which modalities are compatible with and adaptable to the 'new normal' of clinical practice?

In this one day course we'll discuss research updates in evidence-based psychotherapies such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and Trauma-Focused CBT, and guide clinicians to optimize therapeutic approaches that integrate emotional regulation, mindfulness, gender affirmation, and support through developmental transitions. In addition, we'll discuss how to promote digital wellness so that youth can both experience the benefits of digital connection and avoid the harms of too much screen time.

This course is designed for any clinician using psychotherapy in clinical practice. Join us to boost your confidence, skills and effectiveness in caring for the mental health of children and adolescents.

Learning Objectives

Review the principal components of parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), and compare it to other evidence-based forms of care.
Identify the core components and principles of trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) for children and adolescents exposed to trauma.
Detail several therapy interventions and recommendations to best support youth during the transition to young adulthood.
Create safe, informed, and affirming spaces for trans and genderqueer youth and their caregivers in clinical settings.
Implement strategies to adapt and utilize mindfulness techniques in therapy for youth with a range of mental health issues, learning styles, and attention spans.
Apply a sequenced approach to teaching emotion regulation skills based on attentional and cognitive capacity in adolescents.
Describe the interplay of technology use with mental health in youth, and list several interventions to moderate screen time.

Developed and Offered By:

Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by Cambridge Health Alliance.

Schedule

All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.

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Friday, December 4, 2026

Faculty

Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.

Course Directors

Pamela Buck

PhD | Course Director

Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Boston Child Study Center
Lecturer on Psychiatry, Part-time, Harvard Medical School

Dorothy Kelleher

PsyD | Course Director

Director of Family Therapy Training, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Karen Kuc

MPH | Course Director

Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance
Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Course Faculty

Azeesat Babjide, MD
Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Alaina Baker, PsyD
Director of the Youth & Family Gender Identity Program, Boston Child Study Center
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Tufts University

Andrew Chin, PhD
Staff Psychologist, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Brian Denietolis, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavioral Services, Boston Child Study Center

David Klemanski, PsyD, MPH
Chief of Psychology and Postdoctoral Training Director, Cambridge Health Alliance
Member of the Faculty of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Michael Tsappis, MD
Psychiatrist, Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders (CIMAID), Boston Children's Hospital Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Christopher Willard, PsyD
Psychologist and Educational Consultant
Lecturer on Psychiatry, Part-time, Harvard Medical School

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Course Fees

Registration Details

You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. Most recordings will be available for 30 days after the course has ended.

At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration.

Review the cancellation policy.

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

To receive CME/CE credit, learners are required to complete the course evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete, you will be able to claim your credit and download your certificate. All evaluations and credit claims must be completed within 60 days of the course end date.

Physicians

Badge for Jointly Accredited Provider with Commendation Interprofessional Continuing Education

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses

For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Physician Assistants

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Psychologists

Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 7.00 continuing education credits.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, counselors, and LMFTs, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.

Counselors

Cambridge Health Alliance is an Affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 7.00 continuing education hours and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 7.00 credits.

Family Therapists

This activity has been certified by NEAFAST on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LMFT Professional Continuing Education. Certification #xxxxxx, for 7.00 contact hours. The States of CT and RI accept NBCC and NASW approval for marriage and family therapy.

Union of European Medical Specialists

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the Union of European Medical Specialists website.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

Competencies

IOM Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

Provide Patient-Centered Care
Employ Evidence-Based Practice

ABMS/ACGME Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

Patient Care and Procedural Skills
Medical Knowledge
Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Disclaimer & Disclosure

Disclaimer Policy

CME activities accredited by Harvard Medical School are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of certification of competency. Practitioners should always consult additional sources of information and exercise their best professional judgment before making clinical decisions of any kind.

Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is calculated based on submission of a preliminary agenda and may be subject to change.

Disclosure

In accord with the disclosure policy of the Medical School as well as standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), course planners, speakers, and content reviewers have been asked to disclose any relationships they have to companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. In addition, faculty have been asked to list any off-label uses of pharmaceuticals and/or devices for investigational or non-FDA approved purposes that they plan to discuss.

Registration for courses managed by Harvard Medical School can only be completed through Harvard Medical School’s official registration portal: cmeregistration.hms.harvard.edu. Attendee registrations made through any other sites cannot be honored and will not be refunded. Please report any unauthorized websites or solicitations for registrations.

In order to comply with applicable U.S. export control and sanctions regulations, Harvard Medical School prohibits access to and use of Harvard Medical School educational offerings, programs and resources to individuals from certain sanctioned regions or who are otherwise subject to U.S. government sanctions, unless appropriate authorization is in place.

Program Topics

Clinical Practice

Updates in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

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