Applying Emotion Science in CBT with Young People

This CPD event will provide clinicians with a deeper understanding of how to use emotion-science as a basis for CBT in their work with young people (anybody under 25 years). It will start with the science of emotion, covering fear, sadness, anger, and happiness in detail, with some time for guilt, shame, disgust, and interest. Each emotion will be explored in terms of its impact on the body and the mind, along with its function in the context of human evolution and modern day life.

The workshop will move on to explore how the core components of CBT can be grounded in this emotion science using the example of fear. It will show how an understanding of fear can be used to develop a 'fear trap', a simplified formulation for all anxiety disorders, to help young people and their families understand what is going on, why, and what they can do about it. This fear trap will be linked with core CBT interventions and evidence.

The event will be interactive throughout, with role plays from the facilitator and participants invited to practice the ideas for themselves. Participants will leave with new clinical skills and ideas they can immediately apply in practice.

Aims and Objectives
To enable clinicians to better understand the science of emotion, and how this can be used to support young people to make sense of their experience. Using the example of fear, to see how emotion science can form a different foundation for CBT in work with young people.
To demonstrate and use skills practice to show how the model would work for young people.
To enable clinicians to apply the 'fear trap' in practice, talking around the formulation and explaining aspects of the psychoeducation.
To invite participants to evaluate this approach relative to their usual method of practice.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the event, participants will be able to:

- Understand the science of common emotions, including fear, sadness, anger, and happiness.

- Understand fear, the impact it has on the mind and body, and how this links with the difficulties young people may face with fear.

- Apply the concepts to clinical cases they have worked with.

- Use the fear trap in practice, and tailor it to different fear-based problems

- Evaluate the benefits of this approach relative to other models.

CPD - 2 hours skills and 3 hours theory