Cool Kids
CfC FP Objective | Supporting families and parents Create strong child-friendly communities |
Delivered to | Children and young people aged 7 to 17 experiencing anxiety disorders, and their parents |
Delivered by | Trained facilitators |
Delivery setting | School-based; community–based; home-based |
Program developer | Macquarie University Centre for Emotional Health |
About the program
Cool Kids is a cognitive behaviour therapy program that teaches children and their parents how to manage anxiety disorders.
Variations of the program for different groups are available including:
- Face-to-face programs:
- anxiety prevention program for parents of pre-school aged children (Cool Little Kids for parents: 3 to 6 year – see our Cool Little Kids page)
- child anxiety program (delivered in schools: 7 to 12 years)
- child anxiety program (delivered in community or private practice settings: 7 to 12 years)
- adolescent anxiety program (delivered in schools: 12 to 17 years)
- adolescent anxiety program (delivered in community or private practice settings: 7 to 12 years)
- program for children with high functioning autism or Asperger’s Syndrome (delivered in community or private practice settings: 7 to 12 years)
- Online treatment programs:
- anxiety prevention program for parents of pre-school aged children (Cool Little Kids online for parents of 3 to 6 years)
- child anxiety program (Cool Kids online for 7 to 12 years)
- adolescent anxiety program (ChilledOut online for 12-17 years)
For more details about accessing the online programs visit the Macquarie directory.
Program structure
A structured 10-session program run over a minimum of 10 weeks:
- Learning about feelings and anxiety
- Detective thinking, and learning to think more realistically
- Ways that parents can help
- Fighting fear by facing fear (stepladders)
- Learning to solve a problem
- Building assertiveness and dealing with teasing
Facilitator training
To deliver the program, you must have:
- a 4-year undergraduate or 2-year postgraduate degree in health (psychology, counselling, social work, occupational therapy) or education
- additional training in cognitive-behavioural therapy (dedicated postgraduate subject, introductory workshop or online training from recognised provider).
To run the program, you must complete training plus an online accreditation process.
Face-to-face workshops are conducted twice a year at the Centre for Emotional Health, Sydney.
Onsite training can be arranged by contacting the facilitators.
Online training is also available.
If you're from a not-for-profit/community organisation that has a large number of employees (i.e. over 15 staff) that need to be trained and accredited, contact the facilitators.
Participants are required to have a copy of the Cool Kids Anxiety Program Kit prior to attending training. Before purchasing any materials, check the advice given on the relevant program workshop page.
Cost
One-day face-to-face training workshop: $360 standard ($330 early bird).
Online training: $300 standard.
Accreditation: $300.
A program kit costs $65 and includes:
- 1 x program manual
- 1 x parent workbook
- 1 x child workbook
Materials can be purchased from the Centre for Emotional Health.
If you're from a not-for-profit/community organisation that has a large number of employees (i.e. 15 or more staff) that need to be trained and accredited in Cool Kids we offer a discount. The fee is $500 per head for training and accreditation. A saving of $100.
Evaluation and effectiveness
The program has undergone 2 randomised controlled trials and several other evaluations. Children who participate in the program show improvements in school attendance, academic results, confidence, number of friends and involvement in extra-curricular activities, decreases in worry, fear and family distress.
References
Chalfant, A., & Rapee, R.M. (2007). Treating anxiety disorders in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: A controlled trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 1842-1857.
Hudson, J., Rapee, R.M., Deveny, C., et al. (2009). Cognitive-behavioral treatment versus an active control for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders: A randomized trial. Child and Adolescent Psychology, 48(5), 533-544.
Lyneham, H., & Rapee, R. M. (2006). Evaluation of therapist-supported parent-implemented CBT for anxiety disorders in rural children. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44, 1287-1300.
Contact
Phone: (02) 9850 8711
Email: [email protected]
Website: mq.edu.au/coolkids or mq.edu.au/ceh