Sam Cartwright-Hatton is a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer in clinical psychology at the University of Manchester. She previously held an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship, during which she developed and trialled a new parenting intervention for young anxious children. She was awarded the British Psychological Society May Davidson Award in 2009 for her research into anxiety disorders of childhood. With: Ben Laskey is a clinical psychologist who co-ordinates and delivers parenting programmes for the under 8s. He conducts research through the University of Manchester where he is an honorary tutor in Clinical Psychology. Stewart Rust is a consultant clinical psychologist in Neuropsychology at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. He previously delivered parenting groups to families struggling with their children's behavioural difficulties. Deb McNally is a Clinical Psychologist. She has a particular interest in parenting and cognitive behavioural interventions.

List of Contributors ix

Preface xy

Who Is This Book For? xiii

Acknowledgements xv

1 Theoretical Background to the Programme 1

2 How to Use This Book 17

3 Session One: Introduction to the Programme and Some Basic Concepts 27

4 Session Two: Securing the Parent--Child Bond through Play 45

5 Session Three: Understanding Children's Anxiety 57

6 Session Four: Using Praise to Build Children's Confidence 73

7 Session Five: Using Rewards to Get Children Motivated 85

8 Session Six: Setting Limits on Anxious Children's Behaviour 99

9 Session Seven: Using Withdrawal of Attention to Manage Children's Behaviour 109

10 Session Eight: Managing Children's Worry 121

11 Session Nine: Managing Really Difficult Behaviour: Time Out and Consequences 133

12 Session Ten: Wrapping Up: Review, Managing School, Celebration 147

Additional Resources 165

Index 167

"This book should be found in the library of every
community and school based clinician working in children
services." (Behavioural & Cognitive
Psychotherapy, 2012)

"As a mental health practitioner I found reading this book
extremely helpful in understanding how to apply a framework of
cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and Webster-Stratton style
parenting training into a group programme." (Young
Minds, 1 June 2012)

"Organised as a 10-session parenting-based course, this
step-by-step approach to conquering anxieties is easy to read and
potentially life-changing." (Family Interest Magazine, 1 August
2011)



'Parents and therapists will be delighted that there finally
exists a scientifically tested and clearly described program to
help change the lives of young, anxious children. This book
provides a clear and practical guide for mental health
professionals based on the authors' years of scientific
research and applied clinical experience. It will give therapists
the confidence and knowledge to address an important area of
emotional health that has been ignored for far too
long.'

--Dr Ronald M. Rapee, Macquarie University, Australia

'Anxiety is the leading problem for children in this era
of increased stress, vulnerability, and uncertainty. And parents
play a critical role in our attempts to both understand and treat
these vexing and troubling problems. Based on the well established
principles of cognitive behavior therapy and parent management
training, this is a highly readable, clinically sensitive, and
uncannily helpful volume. These master clinicians speak from the
trenches and the heart and they speak loudly and clearly. This is a
volume that will not only be helpful to parents - and, I
might add, grandparents - but also to clinicians and students
in training. It is a volume whose time has come.'

--Professor Thomas H. Ollendick, Virginia Tech, USA