Cool Kids
Cool kids is a proven, skills-based programme for children aged 7-12 who are struggling with high levels of anxiety, and their parents. (Six to ten individual or group sessions, spread over 8-12 weeks)
Why Cool Kids?
Children benefit from learning how to recognise, manage and reduce their anxiety.Current results indicate that most young people who complete our programmes show significant improvement. In fact, studies have shown that, by the end of the programme, 84% of children show moderate or greater change and that the changes last over time.1
We know from research2 that better results are gained when parents attend with their children, so children aged seven years or older will only be accepted into the programme if at least one parent (but preferably both) can attend with them.
- Rapee, R.M. (2000). Group treatment of children with anxiety disorders: Outcome and predictors of treatment response. Australian Journal of Psychology, 52(3), 125-129.
- Barrett, P.M., Dadds, M.R., and Rapee, R.M. (1996). Family treatment of childhood anxiety: A controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 333-342.
Topics covered
- Learning about feelings and anxiety
- Learning to think more realistically
- Parenting an anxious child
- Fighting fear by facing fear
- Learning other coping skills such as building assertiveness or learning to solve problems
- How to deal with setbacks and difficulties
- Maintaining progress after the programme ends.
“The Cool Kids programme provides highly effective tools for the management of anxiety. It empowers both children and parents in this regard in a way that, in my experience, has not been available through the public system.”
– a Mother
What you can expect
On the programme, children learn new ways to recognise, manage and reduce their anxiety. They learn how anxiety affects our bodies, thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and identify the link between thoughts and feelings. Parents learn how to parent a child with anxiety, and long-term strategies and tips to help your child manage their anxiety. After learning the new skills, families usually notice significant change. This can include marked increases in school attendance, academic achievement, confidence, number of friends and involvement in extra-curricular activities and decreases in worry, shyness, fear and family distress. Sessions take between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the number of attendees. Group sessions typically takes longer than individual sessions. The biggest advantage of working in groups with other families is that kids learn that they’re not alone, and that their feelings and symptoms are experienced by other children too. And parents benefit by sharing their stories, problems and successes with one another – and by knowing there are other families going through similar challenges.“The Cool Kids programme provides highly effective tools for the management of anxiety. It empowers both children and parents in this regard in a way that, in my experience, has not been available through the public system.”
– a Mother
“Cool Kids has made a positive and dramatic difference to how we manage our child’s anxiety! It has helped us all understand each other better and we are now much better equipped to manage difficulties and able to stay calm. Thank you so much! Cool Kids really makes a difference! I highly recommend it!”
– a Father