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Beyond the Identified Patient: Integrating Family Systems Thinking with CBT for Adolescent Anxiety

September 23, 2026

When an adolescent walks into therapy with anxiety, whose anxiety is it? Family systems theorists have long argued that a young person’s symptoms can reflect something happening at the level of the family—tension carried on behalf of a parent, a strained marriage, or an unspoken imbalance in the system. This webinar revisits that idea and puts it in conversation with CBT, today’s dominant treatment model for adolescent anxiety. Rather than treating these as competing approaches, we’ll explore how systems thinking can deepen CBT case conceptualization, helping clinicians spot when a symptom is signaling something beyond the individual—and when treatment needs to look beyond the adolescent in the room.

Target Audience

Mental health providers, clinicians, psychologists, therapists

Learning Objectives

Articulate the core theoretical tension between CBT and family systems approaches to adolescent anxiety—specifically how each model locates the "problem" and what each implies about the unit of treatment.
Recognize clinical indicators (e.g., symptom onset tied to family events, disproportionate parental anxiety about the symptom, rapid symptom shifts across family members) suggesting an adolescent may be functioning as a symptom bearer within the family system.
Integrate systems-informed case conceptualization into a primarily CBT-based treatment plan—identifying concrete points in assessment, treatment planning, or family sessions where a systemic lens can supplement rather than replace individual intervention.
Apply evidence-based strategies to strengthen family functioning and promote children's perceived control and resilience in clinical practice

Course summary

Available credit:

1.50 APA CE
Psychologists
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibly for the content of the programs.
1.50 ASWB continuing education credits
Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. AKH Inc. Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
1.50 Attendance
Credits: 1.50
1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Non-MD
Non-Physicians Seeking AMA Credit
AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 0.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
1.50 NY Psychologists
New York Psychologists
AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists. # PSY 0290. Awarded credit: 1.50 contact hour(s).
1.50 NY Social Workers
New York State Social Workers
AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0233. Awarded credit: 1.50 contact hour(s).

Course opens:

09/22/2026

Course expires:

12/31/2027

Event starts:

09/23/2026 - 12:00pm EDT

Event ends:

09/23/2026 - 1:30pm EDT

Cost:

$0.00

Add to calendar:

Rating:

09/23/2026| Live Webinar

https://anxietyinstitute.com/professional-training/post/beyond-the-identified-patient-integrating-family-systems-thinking-with-cbt-for-adolescent-anxiety/

United States

https://anxietyinstitute.com/professional-training/post/beyond-the-identified-patient-integrating-family-systems-thinking-with-cbt-for-adolescent-anxiety/

On September 23,2026

Disclosures

It is the policy of AKH Inc. to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in all of its continuing education activities. The author must disclose to the participants any significant relationships with ineligible companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in the activity or with the commercial supporter of this continuing education activity. Identified conflicts of interest are mitigated by AKH prior to accreditation of the activity. AKH planners and reviewers have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use and Investigational Product

This educational activity may include discussion of uses of agents that are investigational and/or unapproved by the FDA. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

Author, Writer(s)