Speaker
Presentation in English
PAULA BARRETT
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND. AUSTRALIA
Paula Barrett is a distinguished clinical psychologist, researcher, and professor in child psychology. She is the author of the FRIENDS programs, based on cognitive-behavioral therapy, recognized by the WHO as best practices for the prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression. These programs promote resilience in families, schools, and communities. Barrett is the director of Friends Resilience Pty and an adjunct professor at Edith Cowan University. She obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology in 1995 and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology in 1990 from the University of Queensland.
For over two decades, she has developed and evaluated the FRIENDS programs, as well as the FOCUS program for children with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which remains effective up to 7 years later. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she created a package to help families cope with adversity, which has been used globally.
Barrett has received several awards, including the Highly Commended Certificate for the Australian Human Rights Medal in 2009 and the Telstra Queensland Business Woman of the Year award in 2008.
Prevention of anxiety in schoolchildren (KEYNOTE ADRESSES)
The FRIENDS Program: Building Resilience and Preventing Anxiety (WORKSHOP)
The FRIENDS program is a developmentally targeted curriculum designed to prevent anxiety and foster resilience in children and adolescents. With over 30 years of evidence based research, it has been studied and published across various cross cultural settings, proving its effectiveness in diverse environments.
This workshop will explore key risk and protective factors in the development of anxiety and how these shape the FRIENDS curriculum. Participants will learn how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques are used to work with children, parents, and teachers to enhance emotional wellbeing. Through experiential group activities and video demonstrations, attendees will gain practical skills for implementing the program.
An information package will be sent to participants after the conference, offering additional resources to support the ongoing use of FRIENDS. Facilitated by Paula Barrett and Josie Lau, this workshop provides valuable insights for educators, mental health professionals, and parents working with young people.
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