11th Annual World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies Congress
Health for All: Affirming, Equitable, and Sustainable CBT
Marriott Marquis San Francisco | June 25–28, 2026

Congress Session Types

Call for Abstracts

  • Abstract Portal Opens: September 1, 2025
  • Abstract Deadline: January 12, 2026

Individual Open Paper

Individuals are encouraged to submit abstracts to present oral paper presentations that highlight their best work aligned with promoting rigorous cognitive behavioral research and practice. Individual paper presentations should be approximately 10 minutes each. Individual paper abstracts should be no more than 2800 characters. Presentations will be grouped together (5 abstracts) for sessions lasting 90 minutes. One of the presenters being designated as the “chair” to help facilitate.

Individual Three Minute Open Paper

An Individual Three Minute Open Paper is a brief version of the ‘Open Paper’ format as described above. All Three Minute Open Papers will be placed together into open paper slots, and each speaker will have 3 minutes to present their research, service development, or clinical practice topic, leading to particularly stimulating sessions.

Keynotes

Speakers who are well-established in their field, or who hold positions of particular importance, share their unique insights and knowledge on a broad topic of interest.

In-Congress Workshops

These are half-day (3-hour) or full-day (6-hour) sessions focused on both skills and theory, scheduled throughout the World Congress scientific program. A separate registration fee applies and delegates can register in advance either in advance of the World Congress or on-site.

Panel Discussions

Discussions (or debates) by a range of informed individuals (e.g., researchers, clinicians, community stakeholders, consumers) on a current important topic that is conceptual in nature, rather than pertaining directly to clinical care. Examples of topics for panel discussions include (but are not limited to): supervision/training issues, ethical considerations in treatment or training, the use of technology in treatment, cultural considerations in the application of CBTs, among others. Some topics may be appropriate for either Clinical Round Tables or Panel Discussions, and authors are invited to use their judgement in making this decision. These are organized by a moderator and include between three and five panelists with a range of experiences and attitudes. The total number of speakers may not exceed 7.

Clinical Round Tables

Discussions (or debates) by a range of informed individuals (e.g., researchers, clinicians, community stakeholders, consumers, persons with lived experience of mental illness) on an important topic directly related to patient care, treatment, and/or the application/implementation of a treatment. Examples of topics for Clinical Round Tables include (but are not limited to): challenges/suggestions for treating a certain disorder or group of patients, application of a treatment protocol or type of treatment to a novel population, considerations in applying CBTs to marginalized communities and/or minority groups, discussions about the implementation/application of research findings into clinical/community settings. Some topics may be appropriate for either Clinical Round Tables or Panel Discussions, and authors are invited to use their judgement in making this decision. Clinical Round Tables are organized by a moderator and include between three and six panelists with a range of experiences and attitudes. The total number of speakers may not exceed 7.

Symposia

Symposia consist of a group of empirical research presentations on etiology, mechanisms of change, prevention, treatment efficacy, treatment effectiveness, dissemination and implementation, among other topics. Symposia are either 60 or 90 minutes in length. They have one or two chairs, one discussant, and between three and five talks. Some papers can be very data-focused, centered on new studies and trials and their outcomes. Others are more applied, looking at service of skills-related subjects. Speakers may range from presenters at an early stage in their careers presenting their own work, to leaders in the world of CBT.

**Symposia are strongly encouraged to include a full range of career levels and expertise. This policy is not intended to discourage junior researchers/faculty and graduate students to present, but rather to encourage the presence of senior researchers/faculty first-author presentations in conjunction with junior researchers/faculty and graduate student presentations.

Poster Sessions

One-on-one discussions between presenters, who display graphic representations of the results of their studies and interested attendees. Because of the variety of interests and research areas of the ABCT attendees, hundreds of posters are presented each year.

Skills Classes

Opportunities to learn a particular applied skill. These classes focus on a specific clinical or research skill or therapeutic approach. A well-known clinician typically them and depending upon the topic involved these may be more or less didactic or interactive, but there will be time for delegates to ask questions and interact with the presenter.

Technical Demonstrations

Short demonstrations that last up to one hour and present specific technology or equipment and its application to CBT. Technical demonstrations can include the presentation of both hardware and software, as well as research and clinical data, in a flexible yet focused manner.

Master Clinician Seminar

The most skilled clinicians explain their methods and show videos of sessions. These 2-hour sessions are offered throughout the Congress and are generally limited to 40 to 45 attendees. A separate registration fee applies and delegates can register in advance either in advance of the World Congress or on-site.