Panel Discussion 9 - Global Collaboration in Action and the Future of CBT Worldwide

Saturday, June 27, 2026

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PDT

Location: Golden Gate C3, B2 Level

Earn 1.5 Credit

Keywords: CBT, Dissemination, Public Health
Level of Familiarity: Basic
Recommended Readings: World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (2025). World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies Training Guidelines. Behavior Therapy., World Health Organization. (2022). *World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all*. World Health Organization.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338, Layard, R., & Clark, D. M. (2015). Why more psychological therapy would cost nothing. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, Article 1713. doi.org, ,

Moderator(s)

Lata K. McGinn, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Professor of Psychology; Co-Founder
Yeshiva University - Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology; Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants (CBC)
White Plains, New York, United States

Panelist(s)

Carolyn B. Becker, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Professor
Trinity University
San Antonio, Texas, United States
RC

Ron L. Chambers, M.A.

President Aotearoa New Zealand Association for Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (ANZACBT)
Health New Zealand/Waitaha Canterbury
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Katy Grazebrook, M.A.

President
European Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT)
London, England, United Kingdom
Ross G. Menzies, Ph.D.

Professor
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Firdaus Mukhtar, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Professor
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Selangor, Selangor, Malaysia
Luis O. Perez Flores, None

Panelista
ALAMOC
Lima, Lima, Peru
Jean-Philippe Gagné, Ph.D. (he/him/his)

Assistant Professor
Université du Québec à Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Handouts
KD

Karen P. Del Rio Szupszynski, Ph.D.

Membro da Diretoria da Federação Latinoamericana de Psicoterapias Cognitivas e Comportamentais (ALAPCCO)

As the World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (WCCBT) concludes its current triennium, this historic forum convenes the presidents of its regional member associations from around the world to share strategic updates, highlight national and regional innovations, and identify collective priorities for the next decade of CBT dissemination and collaboration.

Following a brief overview of key initiatives undertaken by the WCCBT during the past three years —including the expansion of CBT training and workforce development across Africa, the alliance between WCCBT and the World Health Organization, and efforts to integrate CBT into national and regional health systems through government engagement—each president will deliver a concise report on progress, innovations, challenges, and strategies to advance evidence-based CBT within their region.

The moderated discussion will focus on shared priorities and synergies, including fostering cross-regional partnerships, aligning with global initiatives to scale culturally attuned CBT training, strengthening advocacy for policy inclusion, and coordinating implementation research across high-, middle-, and low-income settings.

Together, panelists will engage the audience in dialogue and conclude by identifying collaborative commitments toward a San Francisco Global Collaboration Statement—a joint roadmap to advance WCCBT’s mission of expanding access to evidence-based CBT for all.

Learning Objectives:

Describe WCCBT’s recent global initiatives to expand CBT training, partnerships, and policy integration worldwide.
Compare regional strategies for implementing evidence-based CBT across diverse cultural and health-system contexts.
Identify practical approaches for cross-regional collaboration to advance equitable access to CBT globally.