Anxiety disorders are one of the most common psychological disorders affecting children and adolescents (Rapee et al., 2023). Worries about making mistakes, social judgment, separating from caregivers, or specific fears (like vomit and needles) can interfere with daily life and decrease independence. Fortunately, evidence-based treatment, specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a focus on exposure therapy, has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and improve quality of life. Group-based exposure therapy can provide additional benefits to anxious kids and teens.
What Is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure therapy focuses on teaching kids and teens to face their fears rather than engaging in avoidance or other anxiety-driven behaviors. Effective exposure therapy includes gradually participating in situations that can trigger anxiety and remaining in the situation until anxiety symptoms have decreased. It also focuses on learning something new — that the feared outcome did not come true and that kids can handle feeling anxious. Repeated exposure practice helps this new learning generalize to other situations and leads to an overall decrease in anxiety symptoms. Participating in exposure therapy can also improve self-confidence and increase independence.
Benefits of Group-Based Exposure Therapy
While completing exposures is effective in individual therapy, group settings can lead to even more benefits such as increased peer support and shared learning. Facing fears is difficult but it can be easier doing it with others. Group based exposures can help normalize anxiety symptoms and reduce feelings of isolation. So many kids report that they are the only ones in their class with worries and wish they knew someone else who feels anxious like they do. Meeting other anxious kids and watching them face similar fears can be so meaningful to anxious youth. For those hesitant to start exposure therapy, beginning with group based exposure therapy can help ease kids into treatment. Further, watching other kids be brave and complete exposures can lead to increased exposure participation and willingness, which can contribute to faster treatment gains.
Group-based exposures can also provide an opportunity for real-world exposure practice that can be hard to recreate in an individual therapy session. Many kids struggle with social-related worries (e.g., making a mistake in front of others, saying something embarrassing, getting sick from others, etc.) that could benefit from structured exposure practice with other kids. Group-based exposures provide an opportunity for real-world skill-building by practicing exposures with peers. Further, including peers can allow for more fun and game-related exposures that can make exposure feel more approachable.
BRAVE Crew Programs
At Cambridge Psychology Group, we incorporate group-based exposure therapy in all of our BRAVE Crew programs. BRAVE Crew was intentionally designed for anxious kids and teens, combining evidence-based CBT skills with meaningful opportunities for peer connection, exposure practice, and real-time encouragement. Our group format allows kids and teens to see that they are not alone with their fears while also providing them an opportunity to learn from one another, celebrate progress, and build social connection. Our programs offer multiple levels of care to meet the needs of children and adolescents with mild to moderately severe anxiety.
Whether a child is working on social anxiety, separation worries, school avoidance, or specific fears, BRAVE Crew provides a structured, compassionate space to practice new skills and build resilience. To learn more about our current groups, program options, and how group-based exposure therapy can support your child, visit the CPG Kids page for additional details.
Moselle Campbell, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist at Cambridge Psychology Group who specializes in treating OCD and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. She is the Director of Child and Adolescent Intensive Programs, which include the BRAVE Crew Programs. The BRAVE Crew Programs are specifically designed for kids and teens with OCD and anxiety disorders. Dr. Campbell focuses on delivering evidence-based treatment with a fun approach that also fosters peer connection.