Technical Demonstration 1 - Beyond the Therapy Hour: Building Affirming, Equitable, and Sustainable CBT Through Between-session Behavioral Support

Beyond the Therapy Hour: Building Affirming, Equitable, and Sustainable CBT Through Between-Session Behavioral Support
Cognitive and behavioural therapies are among the most effective evidence-based interventions in mental health, yet their real-world impact is increasingly constrained by access barriers, workforce burnout, and care models that concentrate intervention within time-limited clinical encounters. For many populations—older adults, individuals with chronic medical conditions, and family caregivers—meaningful behaviour change depends less on what occurs during sessions and more on what is supported between them.

This session examines emerging care models that extend CBT-consistent principles beyond the therapy hour through structured, clinician-directed between-session support. Drawing on implementation experience across large, diverse patient populations, the presentation explores how behavioural activation, skills reinforcement, and caregiver-mediated support can be operationalized in ways that affirm patient agency, reduce disparities in access, and remain sustainable within existing care systems.

Rather than positioning technology as a replacement for therapy, this work reframes it as behavioural infrastructure—supporting adherence, engagement, and continuity while preserving clinical intent. Particular attention is given to equity-relevant populations, including individuals managing co-occurring mental and physical health conditions and those relying on informal caregivers, who are often excluded from traditional CBT delivery models.

The session also addresses sustainability at the workforce level, demonstrating how team-based approaches and structured delegation can reduce clinician burden while expanding reach. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for integrating between-session behavioural support into CBT-aligned practice models that improve outcomes, strengthen system partnerships, and support the long-term viability of evidence-based care.