Name
ELO7 - Making Therapy Groups Work in Primary Care: Strategies for Clinicians
Date & Time
Thursday, October 8, 2026, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location Name
Sterling 9 (2nd Floor)
Description

Group therapy is a modality that has been utilized within integrated pediatric primary care settings in order to increase patient and family access to mental health interventions. This presentation will highlight four groups that have been utilized in medical settings. Participants will engage in interactive discussion regarding common challenges in implementing groups within a primary care setting as well as strategies for group success.

Co-Authors
Rebecca Lyren, Ph.D.
Content Level
Intermediate
Tags
Pediatrics, Primary Care Behavioral Health Model, Team-based care
Session Type
ELO
Objective 1
Describe steps to run successful groups in pediatric primary care
Objective 2
Identify common challenges and provide practical strategies to implement group therapy in pediatric primary care
Objective 3
Discuss different modalities to offer group therapy in primary care and considerations depending on certain patient populations
Content Reference 1

Gross D, Belcher HME, Budhathoki C, Ofonedu ME, Dutrow D, Uveges MK, Slade E. Reducing Preschool Behavior Problems in an Urban Mental Health Clinic: A Pragmatic, Non-Inferiority Trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Jun;58(6):572-581.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.08.013. Epub 2018 Nov 12. PMID: 30768419; PMCID: PMC8745406.

Content Reference 2

Greathouse, A. D., Zemantic, P. K., Strong-Bak, W., Lieneman, C., & Hayes, L. B. (2025). Effectiveness of a time-limited parent training program via telehealth for children with autism spectrum disorder and externalizing behavior. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 47(1), 1-6.

Content Reference 3

Ammerman, R.T., Zion, C., Cleary, O.M., Raglin Bignall, W.J., Mara, C.A., Theuerling, A.M., Offenbacker, E.J., Triplett, T.A., Mitchell, M.J., Brokamp, C., Smith, R.R. and Stark, L.J. (2025), Community Implementation and Evaluation of the Chicago Parent Program. Journal of Community Psychology, 53: e23176. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23176

Content Reference 4

McDowell, G., Valleru, J., Adams, M., & Fristad, M. A. (2020). Centering, affective regulation, and exposure (CARE) group: mindful meditation and movement for youth with anxiety. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 5(2), 139-146.

Content Reference 5

Hostutler, C., Wolf, N., Snider, T., Butz, C., Kemper, A.R., Butter, E. (2023), Increasing Access to and Utilization of Behavioral Health Care Through Integrated Primary Care. Pediatrics, 152 (6): e2023062514. 10.1542/peds.2023-062514