24 January 2006

Cool Kids program to help families cope with children's worries

For some children social situations, including starting a new school year, can be stressful.   The Cool Kids program run through the University of Canberra Psychology Clinic is a cognitive-behaviour group therapy program aimed at helping children and parents to develop better ways of coping with their worries and fears.

Clinical psychology lecturer Vanessa Hamilton, who runs the program, said that while the program will assist children with any kind of fear it is particularly suited to children with social phobias.

"The Cool Kids program is for families where children are at risk of developing or have developed an anxiety disorder that interferes with their normal life. Kids who are having trouble making friends or have trouble talking in class are particularly good candidates," Ms Hamilton said.

The program is based on research conducted at Macquarie University, Royal North Shore Hospital and the University of Queensland and it is the first time that it is being offered by the University of Canberra.  

As a research based program Cool Kids will be run out of the University's Psychology Clinic with the Clinical Masters students involved in the delivery. Evaluation of the program through controlled trials has shown that up to 80 percent of children who complete the program are diagnosis free or markedly improved.

The program is for children aged 9 to 12 years and their parents, with small group sessions of between three to five families, and costs $85 per family.

"The Cool Kids program is about teaching parents to be coaches in helping their kids overcome anxieties so that the family won't need professional intervention," she said. "It's all about expanding children's and parents' ability to cope," Ms Hamilton said.   

The program will be run in Term One and Term Three with the first beginning on Monday February 13. For further information call 6201 2883.

UC Communications

Gaye Morrison
T: 02 6201 5855
M: 0409 470 755

Kaddie Pass
T: 02 6201 2681

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Last Updated on August 1, 2005