cognitive behavioral therapy: 2 Articles

Build Independence with Great Books for Kids

Managing emotions June 29, 2021 10:00 am

In honor of Independence Day, here are some stories for kids about being independent. Whether it’s trying new things, overcoming anxieties, or making new friends, these stories can help your child strike out on their own. Too Shy To Say Hi by Shannon Anderson Shelli used to be content in her little world, thinking that her pet friends with feathers, fins, and fur were enough. But now, Shelli is determined to try to make friends with kids at school. Readers will relate as Shelli takes brave steps toward breaking out of her shell. Making friends can be tough, but this rhyming picture book will help navigate difficulties of shyness and social anxiety. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers by Elizabeth McCallum, PhD, with more information about shyness and social anxiety. “Nakata’s wispy, light brush strokes match the emotional impact of Shelli’s uncertainty, shimmering and delicate across the page... Echoes the inner thoughts some anxious children may have, hopefully making them feel less alone.” —Kirkus Reviews Hear Too Shy to Say Hi read aloud here. The Not-So-Scary Dog by Alanna Probst, MD Tommy’s fear of dogs is keeping him away from the birthday party of the year, so he and his mom hatch a step-by-step plan to overcome his fear in time for the party. This is a lighthearted, straightforward introduction to the concept of exposure therapy for kids dealing with phobias. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers about how to support kids working through exposure therapy. Read an excerpt from the Note to Parents and Caregivers here. Hear The Not So Scary Dog read aloud here. Baby Blue by Judi Abbot Baby Blue lives in a blue world—everything is blue, from the trees, to the flowers, to the animals. When he accidentally tears a hole and a strange light pours in, he can see someone that isn’t blue—another little person like him, only they are yellow. Scared but curious, he overcomes his fear and introduces himself to Baby Yellow. With his new friend, he realizes that the world is full of new and wonderful things to discover. This sweet story encourages children to conquer their fear of the unknown and take a chance on new and different things. Hear Baby Blue read aloud here. Read an interview with Judi Abbot about creating Baby Blue here. Find Your Fierce by Jacqueline Sperling, PhD Teens will become their bravest and fiercest selves and overcome social anxiety disorder with this helpful, upbeat book written by an expert in the field. Social anxiety is tough, but teens don’t have to figure it out alone. This empowering book will walk them through strategies that work. From practicing mindfulness to relaxing their bodies, readers can train their brains to help them gradually get back to doing more of what they love to do. These tools will help teens manage anxiety in the future and keep it from managing them. This book uses evidence-based skills from cognitive behavioral therapy to give teens a toolkit

Build Independence with Great Books for Kids Eileen Hanning 2021-06-29T01:28:07-04:00

Help Your Teen Understand and Manage Their Anger

Benefits of Mindfulness December 1, 2020 10:00 am By Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, ABPP

Sometimes emotions can be very powerful, like the revving engine of a race car. Anger and frustration can feel like they are driving you. Dr. Michael A. Tompkins has created a manual for teens to help them learn to calm anger, manage frustration and irritation, and de-escalate tense situations. This adapted excerpt from his Note to the Reader in Zero to Sixty: A Teen’s Manual to Manage Frustration, Anger, and Everyday Irritations, speaks directly to teens. It explores anger and some first steps teens can take toward controlling it based in cognitive behavioral therapy. High-performance cars can go from zero to 60 in just a few seconds. That’s moving; and that’s what anger can feel like sometimes. One minute you’re cool and calm and then next minute, in a flash, you’re boiling. When that happens, people tell you to chill out or calm down, but no one actually teaches you how to do that. There are tools to control your anger, and you can learn them. Understanding anger is an important first step in building those skills. Own your anger Anger is an interesting emotion. It makes people uncomfortable. Anger can push people away or even frighten them. This makes it hard for people to understand others who are angry in the same way they understand people who are stressed, anxious, or depressed. When people are stressed, anxious, or depressed, others will often sympathize with them and tell them that it isn’t their fault that they feel the way they do. When people are angry, however, they are often blamed for feeling that way because others believe they could calm down if they wanted to. This makes it hard for people to own the anger and ask for help. It’s not easy to own a problem. It takes courage to stare down anger and decide to take it on. Do you see anger as something outside of your control? Do you think that you wouldn’t be angry if people treated you differently? What if: Your teachers didn’t load you with so much homework, Your friends did things your way, or People left you alone? Then you wouldn’t get angry. It’s them, not you, and to a degree that’s true. Other people do play a role. Sometimes people say something that hurts your feelings or treat you unfairly. Sometimes people do these things intentionally, and sometimes accidentally. What you do have control over is how you react to these things. Owning your anger means you don’t blame your friends, your school, your parents, or yourself. Owning your anger is the first step in taking charge of it. Admit the Benefits of Anger and Give It Back Have you ever lost your temper: To get out of class, homework, or chores, So that you could get your way, or Put someone down so you could feel better about yourself? Part of owning your anger means admitting that sometimes you use anger to help you get what you want. But understanding

Help Your Teen Understand and Manage Their Anger Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, ABPP 2020-11-30T19:43:33-05:00