Services for Children and Special Needs

Children's Anxiety Program

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem during childhood and adolescence. It is estimated that approximately 13% of children and adolescents ages 9 to 17 experience some kind of anxiety disorder.

Anxiety affects normal day-to-day activities and causes considerable emotional and physical distress as well as impaired academic and social functioning. The recommended treatment approach for anxiety is overwhelmingly Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). CBT helps children learn to handle their fears and worries by modifying the ways they think and behave.

Techniques included in CBT are relaxation, positive self-talk, and coping behaviors. The Children’s Anxiety Program is a CBT program that incorporates all of these techniques.

Learning Objectives:

1. to learn a variety of cognitive (self-talk) strategies to decrease anxious feelings;
2. to learn a variety of behavioral (relaxation and activities) to decrease anxious feelings;
3. to develop improved emotional competence;
4. to improve self-esteem and self-mastery as a result of increased emotional competence.

Children will learn:

• Self-Talk −challenge self-defeating thoughts by replacing negative thoughts with positive, optimistic thoughts.
• Relaxation − calm down by using deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and meditation.
• Coping − distract by diverting attention away from anxious feelings to fun or effortful activities.

The program has a clinical game-based presentation with direct skill instruction and suggestions for between-session practice. A pre and post program screening is completed to chart progress and provide appropriate recommendations for further support. This program can be incorporated into home behaviour plans and school Individual Education Plans. (IEP).

PROGRAM
" Six 1 hour individual sessions
" $270 plus HST
Insurance receipts are not available for psycho-educational programs.