Speaker
Presentation in English
SONJA BREINHOLST
UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN. DENMARK
Sonja Breinholst is an Associate Professor in Clinical Child Psychology at the University of Copenhagen and Head of the Center for Anxiety, where she leads research and clinical initiatives focused on child and adolescent mental health. Her work is dedicated to advancing high-quality research, evidence-based treatment, and education in clinical child and adolescent psychology.
Her main research interests include early intervention, anxiety prevention, and the optimization of treatments for internalizing disorders in children and adolescents. She currently serves as Principal Investigator on a research project focused on anxiety prevention and has participated in several nationally funded research projects on child and adolescent anxiety.
Alongside her academic career, she works as a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical supervisor, specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for both children and adults. She holds specialist qualifications in psychotherapy for children and adolescents and has extensive experience in clinical practice, supervision, and professional training.
In addition to her research and clinical work, she contributes actively to academic leadership and professional service, serving as Chair of the Study Board in the Department of Psychology at the University of Copenhagen, Review Editor for Frontiers in Psychology, and reviewer for several international scientific journals.
Early Prevention and Intervention of Childhood Anxiety: From Parent-Focused Prevention to Scalable Treatment Approaches
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems in childhood and adolescence, often emerging early and persisting without timely intervention. This symposium brings together four studies examining innovative, scalable approaches to reducing childhood anxiety.
The first presentation evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of a Danish adaptation of a preventive intervention for anxious parents.
The second study presents findings from a randomized trial of a low-intensity, parent-delivered self-help intervention for anxious children, with and without therapist support.
The third presentation reports preliminary findings from an ongoing trial of Cool Little Kids for preschool children at elevated risk for anxiety.
The fourth study presents results from an internet-based CBT program for adolescents.
Together, these studies highlight the potential of early identification, parent-focused strategies, and scalable delivery formats to reduce the burden of anxiety across development.
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