Supporting children on therapy waitlists: A randomized controlled trial of a web-based parent-focused single session intervention for child anxiety
Childhood Anxiety
Reviewed by Sian Trombley, CCCFounder, Thrive Family Company
Moderate confidence
Source citation
Abel MR, Schleider JL, Sung J, D'Amico AA, Hirshfeld-Becker DR. (2026). Supporting children on therapy waitlists: A randomized controlled trial of a web-based parent-focused single session intervention for child anxiety. Behaviour research and therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2026.105107
Published 26 June 2026 · Added to Thrive 26 July 2026
Share this
A new randomized controlled trial on childhood anxiety, summarised from the published record.
Published research findings
The study
Study design: randomized controlled trial. Published in Behaviour research and therapy (2026). Reported sample: 24 participants. Ages reported: 4-13 years. Follow-up: 2-week follow-up.
What researchers examined
Many children experience significant, impairing anxiety, yet most never access evidence-based support; among those who do, most face long wait-times to be seen. This disconnect reflects a need for intervention approaches that provide rapid access to interim care.
What they found
In this randomized trial, researchers reported that additionally, parents rated the SSI as highly acceptable in accordance with preregistered benchmarks. Results support the effectiveness and acceptability of a web-based, self-guided SSI for parents of children on therapy waitlists, offering a scalable approach to support families while they wait for formal treatment.
Thrive editorial interpretation
What this may mean for families
The findings suggest cLINICAL.TRIALS GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT06043271. This does not establish what will happen in any individual family.
What this doesn't tell us
Important limitations
Because participants were randomly assigned, this design can support cautious causal language — but only for the population and setting studied. The reported sample is small, so findings may not generalise. Only the abstract is freely available, so the full methods could not be reviewed here. This summary is drawn from the published abstract. Read the source record for the complete methods and results.
Evidence confidence describes how much weight this study's design can carry — not how strongly the finding applies to any individual child or family.
This research summary is educational and does not replace individualized medical, psychological or therapeutic advice.
Share this
Eight family sessions cut the rate of new anxiety disorders from 31% to 5%
2015 · Randomized controlled trial
Strong confidence
Why it matters
Prevention is feasible and brief. Families with anxiety histories do not have to wait for a child to become unwell.
Exposure is the ingredient that carries child anxiety treatment
2015 · Systematic review
Strong confidence
Why it matters
If a treatment plan for anxiety contains no gradual approach to feared situations, it is missing the active ingredient.
The landmark trial that showed therapy, medication and both together all help — and what each one costs
2008 · Randomized controlled trial
Strong confidence
Why it matters
Skills-based therapy is a genuine first-line option, not a soft alternative. Combination care is the strongest choice when anxiety is severe or when a child cannot yet engage in exposure work.