The Worrybusters Program

counselling strategies for anxious children

by Marilyn Campbell (text) and Melissa Bates (illustrations)

Worrybusters is a series of books and resources written by Dr Marilyn Campbell to help prevent and manage anxiety in children. All the stories in this series are about anxious children and animals, set in Australia, that will appeal to children aged from five to twelve.

• Anthony the Shy Alien (Social Phobia)
• Beulah the Anxious Bully (Aggressiveness)
• Carla the Terrified Koala (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Cilla the Worried Gorilla (Separation Anxiety Disorder)
• Danny the Frightened Dinosaur (Physical Phobias)
• Dig the Fearful Pig (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
• Jali the Nervous New Boy (Generalised Anxiety Disorder)

• Teaching Tips for the Prevention of Anxiety in Children
• A is for Anxiety A parent's guide to managing children's anxiety

Dr Marilyn Campbell is a psychologist currently working within an Australian University. She has published papers on anxiety in children and presented workshops at national and international conferences in the area of children’s anxiety. Marilyn has worked as a teacher in primary and secondary schools as well as a teacher-librarian.

Melissa Bates is an innovative artist who is currently working and exhibiting on the Gold Coast in Australia. Her illustrations are highly textured often with embedded figures set in complex patterned backgrounds. Her often stylised work is full of vibrant colour. The illustrations for this book were created using mixed mediums of acrylic polymers, cardboard cut outs, coloured pencil and water colours.

Proudly published by PostPressed

Anthony the Shy Alien

ISBN 1 876920 01 7
AU$39.50 + p&p

What is social phobia?

The story in this book is based on an anxiety disorder called social phobia.

Most children go through a normal stage of being shy and can become fearful of what other people think of them.

However, some children worry excessively about being humiliated or embarrassed in normal social situations.

They avoid these social situations such as talking in front of a group, eating or dressing in front of others and become extremely distressed when in those situations.

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Beulah the Anxious Bully

ISBN 1 876920 02 5
AU$39.50 + p&p

Why are some anxious children aggressive?

When we think of anxious children we often picture only shy, nervous children who are very quiet. However, some children are excessively anxious about what others think of them and in trying to avoid situations where they think they could be humiliated or embarrassed, sometimes react defiantly.

Some children react to excessive fear by running away from help or fighting a perceived threat.

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Carla the Terrified Koala

ISBN 1 876920 03 3
AU$39.50 + p&p

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

This story book is based on an anxiety disorder called post traumatic stress disorder.

If children experience a traumatic event such as serious threat to life, for example, a car accident, the sudden destruction of their home by fire or earthquake, or even abuse, some of these children could develop this anxiety disorder.

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Cilla the Worried Gorilla

ISBN 1 876920 04 1
AU$39.50 + p&p

What is separation anxiety disorder?

The story in this book is based on an anxiety disorder called separation anxiety disorder.

Most children go through a normal stage of not wanting to leave their parents or their home. However, some children continually worry unrealistically that some harm will come to their parents or that some terrible event will separate them from their caregivers.

They will often refuse to go to school or sleep by themselves. They have nightmares, don’t want to be left alone at home and become excessively distressed when away from their parents or home.

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Danny the Frightened Dinosaur

ISBN 1 876920 05 X
AU$39.50 + p&p

What is specific or physical phobias?

The story in this book is based on anxiety disorders that are called simple or specific phobias.

These unrealistic fears often involve worry about negative physical outcomes.

Although many children are afraid of the dark when young, some children develop excessive fear of specific objects or situations such as dogs, water, heights, thunderstorms or the dark, beyond what is age appropriate.

They do everything they can to avoid the object or the situation and become very distressed if they cannot avoid it.

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Dig the Fearful Pig

ISBN 1 876920 06 8
AU$39.50 + p&p

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

The story in this book is based on an anxiety disorder called obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Many children will play games about not stepping on cracks and appreciate routines and orderliness.

However, some children have recurrent and distressing thoughts such as fear of contamination which leads to repetitive and irrational behaviours such as washing and cleaning rituals or counting or straightening rituals.

If prevented from carrying out these rituals or compulsions they become very anxious and distressed.

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Jali the Nervous New Boy

ISBN 1 876920 07 6
AU$39.50 + p&p

What is generalised anxiety disorder?

The story in this book is based on an anxiety disorder called generalised anxiety disorder.

Most children worry every now and again about school or friends or something or other. However, some children worry excessively about nearly everything.

They worry about what happened that day and what might happen tomorrow. They worry about negative social outcomes and negative physical outcomes. Their worry seems uncontrollable. They are often tense, watchful, restless, irritable and have difficulty concentrating.

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Worrybusters: Teaching Tips for the Prevention of Anxiety in Children

ISBN 1-876920-00-9
AU$35.00 + p&p

This book is divided into three sections. The first section deals with some background information on anxiety in children and anxiety disorders. The second section has some general tips on classroom strategies for preventing and managing anxiety in children at school. The third section contains structured activities involving each of the storybooks in the series. These activities can be used to assist in preventing anxiety and promoting resilience.

Contents

SECTION 1: INFORMATION ABOUT ANXIETY

• What is anxiety?
• When does anxiety become a problem?
• How widespread is the problem?
• What are the causesof anxiety problems?
• How are anxiety problems labelled?
• What other disorders can occur at the same time as anxiety problems?
• How do anxiety problems affect children?
• What are the signs and symptoms to watch for in school?
• How can teachers help?

SECTION 2: TIPS ON CLASSROOM STRATEGIES

• Introduction
• Provide routines
• Provide mistakes
• Reward effort
• Provide social support
• Talk about fears and worries
• Use descriptive praise and descriptive reassurance
• Plan selective ignoring
• Conduct claasroom meetings
• Use co-operative learning
• Wonga the Worry Wombat
• Assist with anxious kids plans
• Be reflective
• Take care of yourself
• Contribute to whole school strategies

SECTION 3: CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

• Introduction
• Separation anxiety
• Generalised anxiety disorder
• Physical phobias
• Social phobia
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Anxiety and agression
• Useful websites

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A is for Anxiety: A parent's guide to managing children's anxiety

ISBN 978-1921214-08-0
AU$35.00 + p&p

This book has been written primarily for parents seeking information and management strategies for children's anxiety. It can be used in conjunction with the storybooks for children or on its own. Counsellors may find it useful for parents as a resource book for managing children or as an adjunct to working with families with anxiety disordered children.

Contents

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