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Overcoming Barriers to Using Empirically Supported Therapies to Treat Childhood Anxiety Disorders in Social Work Practice

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Abstract

Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Most empirically supported treatments (ESTs) for pediatric anxiety disorders include various cognitive-behavioral methods. Although demonstrated efficacious in controlled and clinic settings, there are barriers to implementing these types of therapies in social work settings due to beliefs about the usefulness of ESTs in community settings; limitations of treatment manuals; time constraints of implementing ESTs; fidelity and flexibility of implementing ESTs; and limited training opportunities. This article provides an overview of ESTs for childhood anxiety disorders, highlighting options for overcoming common barriers to implementing ESTs. Collaborative multi-method approaches to advance implementation of ESTs in social work practice are suggested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, MGY 132, Tampa, FL, 33620-6600, USA

    Alison Salloum & Erica Sirrine

  2. School Psychology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Michael L. Sulkowski

  3. Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Eric A. Storch

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  1. Alison Salloum
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  2. Michael L. Sulkowski
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  3. Erica Sirrine
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  4. Eric A. Storch
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Correspondence to Alison Salloum.

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Salloum, A., Sulkowski, M.L., Sirrine, E. et al. Overcoming Barriers to Using Empirically Supported Therapies to Treat Childhood Anxiety Disorders in Social Work Practice. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 26, 259–273 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-009-0173-1

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