Dobinson – iCBT (May 2022)

CBT@Home webinar series

CBT online: integrating iCBT programs into clinical practice

Ms Katie Dobinson,THIS WAY UP Digital Mental Health Service, Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney  

This approx. 1h 17min CBT@Home webinar was recorded in February 2022. AACBT members can view for free. Non-members may purchase here.

Digital mental health interventions are on the rise, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are interested to learn more about the efficacy of online CBT, how it can support your clients, and increase the flexibility of your clinical practice.

Please join us for this webinar. You will learn about online CBT courses through THIS WAY UP, a not-for-profit digital mental health platform, when digital interventions may be suitable for your clients, current evidence-base, and increase confidence in the online CBT space.

 

This presentation aims to provide education regarding the digital mental health platform THIS WAY UP in order to upskill clinicians interested in learning about how digital CBT interventions can be adopted flexibly into clinical practice.  

Digital mental health interventions are becoming increasingly popular, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic (Wu et al., 2021; Holmes et al., 2020). This increased demand has placed strain on the community, both for those in need of treatment and for the many clinicians striving to cope with increasing wait lists, and oftentimes, worsening symptoms of clients (Dawel et al., 2020; Ashcroft et al., 2021; Sammons et al., 2021). Digital CBT interventions can assist in meeting this need, and have been found to be efficacious in the treatment of mild, moderate and severe anxiety and depression (Andrews et al., 2010; Andrews et al., 2018; Olthuis et al., 2016).  Randomised controlled trials world-wide have shown that online CBT elicits comparable outcomes when compared with in-person delivered CBT (Carlbring et al., 2018; Olthuis et al., 2016; Andrews et al., 2010).

THIS WAY UP is a digital mental health platform that provides a range of internet-delivered CBT interventions, for the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress, and chronic pain. The efficacy of these online CBT programs has been well established and replicated through a large number of randomised controlled trials (Perini, Titov & Andrews, 2009; Titov et al., 2010; Newby et al., 2019).

This presentation aims to build upon clinician’s knowledge, confidence and understanding of how to support clients through iCBT courses, as well as flexibly integrating iCBT into their clinical practice. We will discuss the current evidence-based recommendations for clinical assessment, to assist clinicians to determine client suitability for iCBT (e.g., comorbidity, symptom severity, tech-literacy). Common barriers and facilitators to adherence to iCBT courses will be explored in light of current research. Through two case studies, we will provide examples of how THIS WAY UP iCBT interventions can enhance treatment, allow for clinicians to focus on more complex issues during in-person or telehealth consults, and assist in generalising core CBT skills outside of the therapy room.

Biographical notes:

Katie Dobinson is a Clinical Psychologist based at The Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), St Vincent’s Public Hospital in Sydney, New South Wales. The service provides face-to-face and telehealth Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as well as providing online evidence-based internet delivered CBT (iCBT) through the digital mental health platform THIS WAY UP. Katie also works clinically in private practice. She has previously worked in child, adolescent and family services, and enjoys working with individuals across the lifespan.

Katie is experienced in incorporating iCBT flexibly into routine clinical practice, to best meet the needs of each individual client. In her role within the THIS WAY UP Team, she provides support to clinicians interested in learning more about iCBT. Her presentation draws on the expertise of the THIS WAY UP team, including a range of interdisciplinary clinicians and researchers at the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression who have been involved in developing, tailoring and disseminating iCBT for many years. Katie has a strong research interest in the treatment of anxiety disorders, with particular research interest in investigating the role of negative self-imagery in Social Anxiety Disorder.  

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Strong understanding of the benefits to both clients and clinicians in the flexibility of digital CBT courses
  • Increase confidence and skills in supporting clients through an online CBT course, as a standalone or adjunct intervention
  • Increase knowledge regarding current research examining uptake and effectiveness of online CBT programs

Select readings:

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