Standing Up to OCD: Workbook For Kids: 40 Activities to Help Children Stop Unwanted Thoughts, Control Compulsive Behaviors, and Overcome Anxiety

by Tyson Reuter

Overview

Show your worries who's boss—an OCD workbook for kids ages 6 to 11

If you worry a lot and have behaviors you can't help repeating, you're not alone—even though it can feel that way sometimes. The Standing Up to OCD Workbook for Kids has 40 fun activities to help you manage bad thoughts, say goodbye to worried feelings, and quit actions that are hard to stop—so you can get back to doing your favorite things.

Color, write, draw, and use your thinking skills to show your OCD who's really in charge (and that's you!). When it comes to controlling those difficult feelings and thoughts, practice makes perfect. You can do this!

This OCD workbook includes:

• Other kids' stories—Read about other kids' experiences with OCD so you can see that lots of kids go through the same things as you.
• Lots of info—Learn all about what you're going through, including what OCD is, how it works, why it happens, and more.
• Tools for your toolbox—Just like a car mechanic uses tools to fix a car, you'll discover tools to help you feel better. Ask an adult for help, write about your feelings, play outside, and more.

Kick your worries out of your head. The Standing Up to OCD Workbook for Kids shows you how to do just that—with tons of fun activities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641527989
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	01/14/2025
Series:	Health and Wellness Workbooks for Kids
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	6 - 11 Years

About the Author

TYSON REUTER, PhD is a licensed psychologist who provides empirically supported treatments—primarily cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—for anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, and more. Dr. Reuter is trained as a scientist-practitioner and is published widely in top peer-reviewed scientific journals on various health behaviors in youth.

Table of Contents

Introduction for Parents 1

Introduction for Kids 13

Chapter 1 What Does OCD Mean to Me? 15

Activity 1 Getting Unstuck 18

Activity 2 Thoughts and Feelings 21

Activity 3 What Does Your OCD Loop Look Like? 23

Activity 4 Sifting Flour 26

Activity 5 Karen and Xavier 30

Activity 6 Let's Go to a Party! 34

Activity 7 Be Still 36

Chapter 2 How to Be an OCD Detective 39

Activity 8 Writing Down Your Thoughts 43

Activity 9 What Are Your Obsessions? 45

Activity 10 Habits vs. Compulsions 49

Activity 11 What are Your Compulsions? 50

Activity 12 Let's Use the "Thought Changer" Tool 54

Activity 13 Let's Use the "Observer" Tool 58

Activity 14 Let's Use the "Test It Out" Tool 61

Chapter 3 Standing Up to OCD 65

Activity 15 Time to Build Your Ladder 70

Activity 16 Staying Motivated 72

Activity 17 Watching Clouds 77

Activity 18 Be Brave like Noor 81

Activity 19 Be Brave like Suzanne 86

Activity 20 Using Your New Tools 89

Activity 21 Time to Look at Your Achievements! 90

Chapter 4 Keep Standing Tall, Even If You Fall 93

Activity 22 Zebra Thinking 98

Activity 23 "Should, Must, Have To" 100

Activity 24 Labeling 102

Activity 25 Emotional Reasoning 104

Activity 26 Binocular Trick 106

Activity 27 Mind Reading 108

Activity 28 Fortune Telling 110

Activity 29 "Yeah, But" 112

Activity 30 Ink in the Beaker 114

Activity 31 Blaming 116

Activity 32 Learn More About Your Thinking Traps 118

Activity 33 A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way 125

Activity 34 Drop Your Anchor 129

Activity 35 Take a Deep Breath 132

Activity 36 Tense Your Muscles 133

Activity 37 The Benefits of Staying Strong 135

Activity 38 Spotting Your Warning Signs 139

Activity 39 Create a Toolbox Collage! 141

Activity 40 Playing Whack-A-Monster 142

Resources 144

References 146

Index 147

Editorial Reviews

Thoughtful, clear, engaging, and practical, the Standing Up to OCD Workbook for Kids offers dozens of effective strategies, tips, and exercises for managing unwanted thoughts, repetitive behaviors, and rituals of OCD. Written in an easy, simple manner, Dr. Reuter offers something very important to parents and children who are coping with OCD: hope.”—Mark Reinecke, PhD, ABPP, professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

“I had fairly severe OCD as a kid. I wish this much-needed workbook was around back then. Dr. Reuter provides evidence-based, practical, kid- and parent-friendly advice, as well as activities and real-world examples that will make your child’s (or patient’s) anxiety and OCD easier to manage in the short-term and into adolescence and adulthood.”—Dr. Jeff R. Temple, director of behavioral health and research, Department of Ob/Gyn, UT Medical Branch

“Standing Up to OCD for Kids is a great resource for children struggling with OCD, as well as their parents. It provides clear examples and a path to success for conquering OCD in youth. I recommend it to all of my young clients with OCD to support the work that we do in the office. It can also be used as a standalone guide for families who do not have access to well-trained clinicians. This workbook is a gem!”—Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD, director of Psychology Houston, PC: The Center for Cognitive Behavioral Treatment

“This workbook provides an easy-to-understand background on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD, making a rich evidence base accessible to readers. Using straightforward language and simple examples, Dr. Reuter translates the best science for treating OCD in children into a friendly workbook. It is full of activities that will be essential for clinicians, kids, and families working on tackling OCD!”—Amanda Venta, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Sam Houston State University

“Evidence-based. Easy to follow. Motivating. Graphically appealing. The Standing Up to OCD Workbook for Kids takes a very complex disorder and turns into it something understandable and manageable. Dr. Reuter translates well-researched strategies into activities that children (and parents) will find practical and easy to understand. A terrific resource for families and professionals!”—Candice A. Alfano, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Houston, director of the Sleep and Anxiety Center of Houston (SACH), associate editor for Journal of Anxiety Disorders

“As an expert in treating childhood OCD, I have often felt the need for an up-to-date, engaging, and relevant workbook for children who are working through exposures and challenging their OCD thoughts and behaviors. Dr. Reuter's new workbook for kids is the perfect aid for clinicians and parents working to help children overcome OCD. Information for parents is presented in an accessible way, while children are challenged, informed, and given the opportunity to face their fears in a developmentally appropriate way.”—Ivy Ruths, PhD, licensed psychologist and outreach chair of OCD Texas

From the Publisher