The Cool Kids Series
The Cool Kids Series of Programs aims to help children and adolescents learn to manage anxiety and related difficulties. Within the series there are a number of programs including:​
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Cool Little Kids - A program for Parents of Preschool-Aged Children
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Cool Kids - A program designed for Primary School-Aged Children
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​Cool Kids (ASD) - An autism spectrum disorder adaptation​ For Primary School-Aged Children
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Chilled - A program designed for Adolescents.
The Cool Kids program was developed by Macquarie University and has been running since 1993. The program has undergone continual scientific evaluation and development to include the latest understanding of anxiety and its treatment. It has been translated into a number of languages and today, is used in clinics, schools and hospitals around the world.
The essential components of Cool Kids include:
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Psychoeducation: Including understanding of the components, presentation and nature of anxiety as well as factors involved in its development. Understanding of the relevant components to treatment and their purpose
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Cognitive restructuring: Including learning to act like a detective and gather evidence about whether feared events are really highly likely
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Parent skills: Including helping parents to manage their anxious child better and reducing their urge to control and overprotect; also teaching parents strategies to help manage their own anxious feelings
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In-vivo exposure: Including the development of stepladders for the child that allows them to gradually face their fears and learn that feared events are unlikely to happen and that they can cope
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Social skills: Including how to act in a more skilled manner and engage better with people and to act more assertively with peers
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Improved coping strategies: Including dealing more effectively with teasing and bullying, developing a range of coping strategies such as relaxation and reducing poor coping such as drug-taking, and problem solving
Cool Little Kids® |
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Delivery format: Group For Parents Age Range: Parents of 3-6 year olds
Targets: excessive shyness, separation anxiety and lack of confidence.
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The Cool Little Kids Anxiety Prevention Program is a 6 week for Parents of Preschool Aged children. It focuses on teaching children, through their parents, to build confidence and develop skills to help them manage their child’s anxiety and other negative emotions as they grow. It's aimed at parents of children who are shy, withdrawn, or inhibited.
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Parents will gain insight into why their child is shy; the links between shyness and anxiety, and how to prevent anxiety problems.
You will also learn practical strategies such as:
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What to do when your child is worried or scared
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How to encourage their bravery
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How to gradually and gently teach your child to face their fears
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How to use rewards to increase your child's bravery
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How to reduce unhelpful parenting strategies
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How to help your child become more independent
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How to keep your thoughts accurate
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How to prepare for future challenges
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Cool Kids® |
Delivery format: Individual and Group Age Range: 7 - 12 year olds
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Targets: all types of anxiety including general worry, separation anxiety,
social anxiety, specific fears and panic.
Cool Kids is a structured program that teaches children and their parents how to better manage a child’s anxiety. The program is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), involves the participation of children and parents, and focuses on teaching practical skills.
The goals of Cool Kids are to :
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ï‚· Reduce symptoms and amount of life’s interferences caused by anxiety
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ï‚· Increased school attendance,
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ï‚· Improved academic achievement,
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ï‚· Increased confidence,
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ï‚· Improved peer relationships
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ï‚· Increase engagement in extra-curricular activities
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ï‚· Reduced worry, shyness, fear and family distress.
Topics covered in the program include:
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Learning about anxiety
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Learning to think realistically
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Parenting an anxious child
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Facing fears using stepladders and
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Learning coping skills such as assertiveness or problem solving.
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What’s involved?
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The program involves 1 hourly sessions, held weekly.
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Parent and Child workbooks.
The program is designed for children aged around 7 - 12. It uses a cognitive behavioural approach which means that it focuses on teaching skills to manage anxiety.
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Practice tasks are a crucial part of the program and are given following every session. Practice tasks encourage use of new skills in everyday situations.
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The Cool Kids program also has an Autism Spectrum Disorder adaptation.
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Cool Kids® | "Chilled"
Adolescent Anxiety Program
Delivery format:individual or group Age Range: 13 - 17 years
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Targets: all types of anxiety including general worry, separation anxiety,social anxiety, specific fears and panic.
Cool Kids 'Chilled' is a structured weekly program that teaches children and their parents how to better manage a child’s anxiety. The program is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), involves the participation of children and parents, and focuses on teaching practical skills.
Topics covered in the program include:
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Learning about anxiety
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Learning to think realistically
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Parenting an anxious child
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Facing fears using stepladders and
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Learning coping skills such as assertiveness or problem solving.
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What’s involved?
Cool Kids "Chilled" is aimed at treating anxiety disorders in adolescents. It is designed for children aged around 13 - 17 years. It uses a cognitive behavioural approach which means that it focuses on teaching skills to manage anxiety.
Practice tasks are a crucial part of the program and are given following every session. Practice tasks encourage use of new skills in everyday situations.
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