A Feasibility Study and Process Evaluation of a Parent-Led Anxiety Intervention Grounded in Modular Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Abstract
Anxiety often emerges early in life and can significantly hinder the development and well-being of children. Although cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) stands as the primary treatment for anxiety, barriers to treatment as well as difficulties with sustained long-term treatment gains pose challenges. Moreover, the standardized structure, cognitive requirements, and lack of parental involvement may not best suit the needs of young children. Alternatively, parent-led interventions that are facilitated by clinicians circumvent many traditional barriers to addressing childhood anxiety. Further, modular therapy programs offer flexibility and individualized treatment to address specific client needs. The current study evaluated the perceived feasibility and the completion of a process evaluation of the first four weeks of a virtual, short-term parent-led modular anxiety intervention grounded in CBT. Data was collected from seven parents of children who were experiencing anxiety difficulty in London, Ontario. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes: barriers to traditional treatment, satisfaction with the current intervention, parental components, and child factors influencing treatment. The findings outlined that parents rated the intervention as acceptable. The process evaluation revealed key components, factors, and characteristics of the program’s implementation. These findings can inform future developments and delivery of the current intervention.