Take Action Practitioner Guidebook

by Allison Waters

Overview

In these challenging times, disturbing reports of high levels of anxiety in our young school children reinforce the need for a time- and cost-effective intervention. The Take Action program was developed and refined during extensive research to create a standardised and reliable treatment tool. It is a user-friendly, flexible, robust, CBT-based 8- or 10-session treatment designed for both group and individual use with children aged 4-12 years.

This easy-to-follow and comprehensive guidebook contains six treatment modules, an assessment module with useful information on a range of assessments for those practitioners wanting to use pre- or post intervention outcome measures, a background and theory section, and 124 child and parent handouts which may be photocopied. The treatment modules can be used sequentially across eight or ten weeks to provide an individual or group intervention or the modules can be used as stand-alone guides to teach specific skills.

Children can be provided with a professional and permanent record of therapy via the handouts and worksheets from the guide being purchased separately. Optional child and parent workbooks are also available.

The program teaches children helpful ways to cope with and manage anxiety. It is an evidence-based intervention combining recent research on threat-based cognitive biases and maladaptive thinking styles in childhood anxiety disorders with the well-established principles of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).

Designed for easy use by mental health and educational professionals trained in CBT, Take Action allows flexible delivery by practitioners to individuals and groups of children with anxiety. The word ACTION is a coping-oriented acronym used throughout the program. Children are encouraged to take action against their anxiety. This means children approach their fears and worries using strategies learnt during the program.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781922117274
Publisher:	Australian Academic Press
Publication date:	05/18/2014
Series:	Take Action Program
Pages:	236
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Dr. Allison Waters, BSS(Psych), BA(Hons), PhD(Clin), MAPS, MCCP Dr. Waters is Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at Griffith University. She completed a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) at The Queensland University of Technology, a Bachelor of Arts and a PhD in Clinical Psychology at The University of Queensland, and a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Waters runs the Childhood Anxiety Disorders Research Program at Griffith University through which more than 450 children have been assessed and treated. She has published over 75 peer-reviewed book chapters and journal articles, and her research is funded by national grant funding organisations. She serves as an Associate Editor of national and international psychology journals, resides on the research advisory committees of local research institutes, and has received several awards in recognition of her research. Dr. Waters supervises the research projects and clinical work of postgraduate students in clinical psychology, and teaches at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at Griffith University. She maintains a small private practice and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists and the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy.

Read an Excerpt

Take Action is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) program specifically developed with the following goals in mind: (a) To optimise treatment outcomes through the integration of findings from recent research on the threat-based cognitive biases and maladaptive thinking styles ­associated with anxiety disorders in children. (b) To provide an evidence-based cognitive-behavioural treatment program for anxious children that is practitioner-friendly. (c) To provide a program that can be delivered in a flexible, adaptable way to suit the setting in which it is being delivered and the individual needs of children receiving treatment. The program consists of six treatment modules for children with supporting information guidelines for parents, and one assessment module. Each session lasts approximately 1 hour. The program covers the major components of CBT including psychoeducation, somatic management, cognitive restructuring, and exposure therapy, as well as problem-solving, social skills development, strategies for being assertive, and relapse prevention and maintenance. The program can be delivered in a group or individual format for children between 4 and 12 years of age, and includes this comprehensive practitioner manual outlining how to run the child and parent sessions as well as individual handouts for children and parents. More than 450 children have completed Take Action since 2004 with research results showing that between 60–80% of children are no longer meeting criteria for their main anxiety disorder at the end of a group program. In school settings, Take Action has also been used in a flexible format by registered psychologists and school guidance counsellors who identify children in need of treatment. The program is adapted by the guidance counsellors and psychologists as deemed necessary to meet the needs of the children referred for treatment within each school. For example it might entail reducing the number of sessions to fit within the school term, combining parent- and child-sessions or sending parent-handouts home with children for parents who work and are unable to attend the sessions. The program has also been delivered classroom-wide by trained psychologists, where high levels of anxiety among children have been identified by guidance counsellors. The program materials are designed and produced by leading psychology publisher Australian Academic Press, who has been providing quality evidence-based mental health interventions, including the former FRIENDS program, since 1987.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

My son has found his confidence again and learned how to manage his anxiety when it does arise. The Guidance Counsellors at the High School which he started this year have been very impressed with how he has put his action plan to work particularly at the start of the year when he was settling in to a new routine — he loves school again and we are very thankful to have our happy and confident little man back. — Parent of 12 year old boy attending a clinic group

Every day I see my son becoming more confident when faced with new and challenging tasks or activities. It's been beautiful to watch. Thank you so much to the Take Action program! — Parent of 7 year old boy seen individually in private practice

We practice the Take Action strategies all the time now. My daughter loves the deep breathing and strength cards. She is feeling less worried about going to school and she is making more friends. I have seen the "weight of worry" lifted from her shoulders, and she can be a "kid" again. — Parent of 8 year old girl seen individually in private practice

My daughter is doing great since undertaking the Take Action program! It is so wonderful seeing her progress. She is thriving in the school setting now. We all have more strategies to assist her in future situations. — Parent of 6 year old girl

Liked learning how to take action against my worries, making new friends. I saw I wasn’t the only one who has anxiety and worries. Do classes before or after school so we don’t miss out on things — 10 year old child attending school-based group

I liked that it helped me get over my nightmares. — 9 year old child attending school-based group

I am more confident when I do exams at school now. I use my strategies of deep breathing and strong thoughts before the exam. I take my strength card in my pocket. The Take Action program has helped me to believe in myself more and face my fears. — 12 year old boy seen individually in private practice

I don't worry anymore about my mum being late when she is picking me up from school. I sit and play with my friends. I have more fun now I don't worry as much. I like thinking strong thoughts. — 8 year old girl seen individually in private practice

The program is very user-friendly, and I have been able to teach the anxiety management strategies to a number of students already with great success. — School psychologist

Children love the sea animals which provide a reference for different emotions. The accompanying parent manual assists parents to better understand and respond to their child's anxiety. For therapists, the program is easy to follow and is easily adaptable to an individual or group format. — Third year clinical psychology postgraduate student