Evidence-based Therapies

Created on August 5, 2017. Last updated on January 11th, 2024 at 12:23 pm

Many of the behavioral problems or mental health symptoms that can keep children and adolescents from leading happy, successful lives can be effectively treated with evidence-based therapies. With these treatments, psychologists and other mental health providers help parents and children learn how to work and live better with others, and to build the skills and habits that help them succeed in school and in life.

Not all mental health therapies for young people are effective, and some treatments do not work the same for all behavioral and mental health disorders.

Outlined below are several therapies that have been proven to work. All of the treatments listed below use techniques that are based on scientific evidence to understand and treat various behavioral and mental health issues in young people.

Evidence-based Therapies

• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Behavior therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Cognitive therapy
• Family therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy 
• Interpersonal psychotherapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Organizational Skills Training

If you are an educator or practitioner looking for training tools, please explore the resources provided at the main website of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.