Overview

The APS hosts this webinar with the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.

This webinar focuses on the assessment and treatment of childhood anxiety using a systemic, CBT-informed approach. It aims to support clinicians in moving beyond individual, child-focused interventions by incorporating family and relational factors into case formulation and treatment planning.

The session will cover key maintaining processes in childhood anxiety, including avoidance, reassurance-seeking, and parental accommodation, and how these can be identified within clinical presentations. Evidence-based intervention strategies will be presented, with a focus on working with parents as active collaborators in treatment, supporting exposure-based approaches, and promoting generalisation of gains across home and school contexts. Participants will explore practical skills in formulation and intervention, and learn strategies to address common clinical challenges, including treatment resistance, parental anxiety, and barriers to implementation outside of sessions.

Level of Learning

Intermediate. This activity is targeted to those with some prior learning on the topic.

Duration of access

This webinar will be recorded. Access to the recording and presenter slides is for 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this webinar, participants should be able to:

• develop CBT-informed case formulations for childhood anxiety that integrate individual and relational maintaining factors, including avoidance, reassurance-seeking, and parental accommodation,

• implement evidence-based strategies to engage parents as active participants in treatment, including reducing accommodation and addressing barriers to engagement and generalisation, and

• evaluate and adapt interventions to account for developmental, cultural, and family-systemic factors influencing treatment response.

Presenter(s)

Dr Dusanka Tadic MAPS

About the presenter(s)

Dr Dusanka Tadic is a Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families, and is known for her warm, collaborative approach grounded in evidence-based practice. Her work includes three years of international clinical practice in Malaysia, which has informed her passion in culturally responsive and ethically grounded care across diverse populations. Dr Tadic has a particular clinical and professional interest in anxiety disorders across the lifespan, with a focus on primary school-aged children. Her work emphasises developmentally informed, practical interventions that support both children and their caregivers within their broader relational context. She has experience facilitating a range of evidence-based programs, including the Cool Kids Program. She also works with couples using the Gottman Method, reflecting her broader interest in interpersonal and relational processes. Dr Tadic is a board approved supervisor who provides clinical supervision to early career psychologists, with a particular focus on child and family work, supporting the development of formulation-driven, evidence-based practice.