Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents

by Ronald Rapee PhD, Ann Wignall D Psych, Susan Spence PhD, Heidi Lyneham PhD, Vanessa Cobham PhD

Overview

Most children are afraid of the dark. Some fear monsters under the bed. But at least ten percent of children have excessive fears and worries—phobias, separation anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder—that can hold them back and keep them from fully enjoying childhood. If your child suffers from any of these forms of anxiety, the program in this book offers practical, scientifically proven tools that can help.

Now in its second edition, Helping Your Anxious Child has been expanded and updated to include the latest research and techniques for managing child anxiety. The book offers proven effective skills based in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to aid you in helping your child overcome intense fears and worries. You'll also find out how to relieve your child's anxious feelings while parenting with compassion.

Inside, you will learn to:

• Help your child practice “detective thinking” to recognize irrational worries
• What to do when your child becomes frightened
• How to gently and gradually expose your child to challenging situations
• Help your child learn important social skills

This book has been awarded The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit—an award bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781572245754
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	12/03/2008
Series:	Unassigned Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	296
Sales rank:	1,061,833
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Ronald M. Rapee, PhD, is currently professor in the Department of Psychology at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, and director of the Centre for Emotional Health. He has been involved in an advisory capacity with the DSM-IV and DSM-V, and he is a member of the US-government-sponsored Project Liberty, which works to develop anxiety management programs for children affected by disasters. He is on the scientific advisory committee for the Swiss Etiological Study of Adjustment and Mental Health, and the editorial board of several international journals.

Ann Wignall, M. Psych, is senior clinical psychologist and director of child and adolescent mental health for Northern Sydney Health Service. She founded the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Clinic, Royal North Shore Hospital, and works clinically with children and families with a broad range of anxiety and behavioral disorders.

Susan H. Spence, PhD, is professor of psychology and dean of the Division of Linguistics and Psychology at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. She was previously head of the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland, where she was also the head the School of Journalism and Communication for a time. She is a researcher and clinical psychologist who specializes in the assessment, prevention, and treatment of child and adolescent anxiety and depression. To date she has published more than 100 books and academic articles in her field.

Heidi Lyneham, PhD, is currently a research fellow within the Department of Psychology at Macquarie University and deputy director of the Centre for Emotional Health.

Vanessa Cobham, PhD, holds appointments within the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland and within the Mater Child and Youth Mental Health Service in Brisbane.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Understanding Anxiety 9

Chapter 2 Feelings, Thoughts, and Actions 43

Chapter 3 Detective Thinking 55

Chapter 4 Parenting an Anxious Child 97

Chapter 5 Facing Fear to Fight Fear 143

Chapter 6 Simplifying Detective Thinking and Creative Stepladders 179

Chapter 7 Troubleshooting Stepladders 203

Chapter 8 Social Skills and Assertiveness 223

Chapter 9 Relaxation 251

Chapter 10 Taking Stock and Planning for the Future 273

Chapter 11 Looking Forward: The Teen Years 295

References 313

Editorial Reviews

In Helping Your Anxious Child, parents are provided a step-by-step guide for assisting their children in overcoming a panoply of worries, fears, and anxieties. The strategies described are well-established ones, backed by considerable scientific support. Parents will find this book engaging, easy to read, and full of important ideas about how best to help their children.”
—Thomas H. Ollendick, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor in the department of psychology, Virginia Tech

From the Publisher

In a world awash with information for parents, it is a great pleasure to recommend a book soundly based on the best available scientific evidence. The authors are leading researchers who also bring the practical know-how that comes with extensive clinical experience to produce an immensely readable book packed with practical ideas and advice for parents of children struggling with anxiety.”
—Warren Cann, CEO of the Parenting Research Centre, and founding director of www.raisinghildren.net.au

Warren Cann

In Helping Your Anxious Child, parents are provided a step-by-step guide for assisting their children in overcoming a panoply of worries, fears, and anxieties. The strategies described are well-established ones, backed by considerable scientific support. Parents will find this book engaging, easy to read, and full of important ideas about how best to help their children.”
—Thomas H. Ollendick, PhD, University Distinguished Professor in the department of psychology at Virginia Tech

Thomas H. Ollendick

The authors have produced a timely and informative book for parents of children with anxiety disorders. The book is based on many years of the authors’ invaluable research, and is perfectly linked to their extensive and rich clinical experience. The many illustrative examples and helpful worksheets make the book a must-read for all parents who struggle to help their children overcome fears and become confident.”
—Silvia Schneider, PhD, professor of clinical child and adolescent psychology at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany, and director of the Center of Research and Treatment of Mental Health

Silvia Schneider

Readers are in excellent hands with Helping Your Anxious Child. It is written by leading international experts in child anxiety who together have worked with thousands of families where children have struggled with anxiety. The strategies they describe have been tried and tested in their many rigorous studies. But critically for busy families, the style of the book is extremely practical and, most importantly, written with empathy, compassion, and hope.”
—Cathy Creswell, professor of developmental clinical psychology at the University of Oxford, and coauthor of Helping Your Child with Fears and Worries

Cathy Creswell

I highly recommend Helping Your Anxious Child to parents who are serious about empowering themselves and their children to understand anxiety. The authors clearly lay out structured steps you can use to guide and support your child. The readings and activities in the book are based on decades of research about anxiety and anxiety conditions. The activities for parents and children are relevant and can be used in everyday life.”
—Judith Law, CEO of Anxiety Canada Association—a national mental health charity based in Vancouver, ON, Canada

Judith Law

Anyone looking for effective strategies to help an anxious child will find that this book is an absolutely incredible resource—it is packed with user-friendly tools to help families understand anxiety, and it will equip children with the essential skills they need to approach new situations with confidence and joy. I highly recommend this book for all parents looking to support children by putting anxiety-reducing strategies into action!”
—Donna B. Pincus, PhD, CAS Feld Family Professor of Teaching Excellence, and professor of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University

Donna B. Pincus