Publisher Description

Does your child have OCD? In this much-needed Instant Help workbook, kids will learn to identify obsessions and compulsions, understand them, and use simple tools based in exposure and ritual prevention to cope with and overcome this difficult disorder.If your child has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), he or she may suffer from obsessive thinking, use rituals to soothe anxiety, and act compulsively in ways that are disruptive and sometimes harmful. As you know all too well, OCD can greatly interfere with school, friends, and home life. So, how can you help your child be their very best?With this evidence-based workbook for kids, your child will learn how and why they struggle, and gain a greater understanding of what OCD is by identifying common symptoms, including contamination concerns, fear of harm, need for order/symmetry, and excessive doubting. Your child will then be gently guided to name their own symptoms and rate the extent to which each symptom causes them anxiety.The workbook also provides a framework for children to apply exposure and ritual prevention strategies to anxiety-provoking situations independently or with help from you or a caregiver. Detailed instructions for completing exposure exercises will be covered, including how long exposures should last, and how often they should be repeated. Finally, the workbook will show you and your child how to build a solid support system of family, friends, teachers, and professionals to aid you in managing OCD symptoms and building a lifestyle that will help you both deal with your child s symptoms more effectively.If your child s OCD is holding them back from living the happy childhood you want for them, this easy-to-read and practical workbook can help them cope with symptoms and really thrive at home, in the classroom, and well into adulthood.

Author Biography

Anthony Puliafico (Author)
Anthony C. Puliafico, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and director of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders-Westchester. He is a renowned expert in the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder in children, adolescents and young adults.

Joanna Robin (Author)
Joanna A. Robin, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and director of Westchester Anxiety Treatment Psychological Services, PC. She specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and has expertise in the treatment of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and behavioral problems.

Table of Contents

Foreword A Letter to Caregivers Part 1: Getting to Know Your OCD Activity 1: What Exactly is OCD? Activity 2: Regular Thoughts Vs. Sticky Thoughts Activity 3: Understanding Your Sticky Thoughts Activity 4: What Are Your Compulsions? Activity 5: Why OCD's Rules Don't Work! Part 2: You and Your OCD Activity 6: How Does OCD Affect Your life? Activity 7: What Is Your OCD's Name? Activity 8: Who's on Your Team? Activity 9: What's Your Rating? Activity 10: Keeping Track of Your Compulsions Part 3: Getting Stronger Than Your OCD Activity 11: Standing Up to Your OCD Activity 12: Just Notice and Be Present Activity 13: Brave Challenges and Why We Do Them Activity 14: Saying No to Compulsions Activity 15: Building Your Brave-Challenge Tower Part 4: Brave Challenges Activity 16: Getting Started with Brave Challenges Activity 17: Get Dirty! Exposure Ideas for Contamination Sticky Thoughts Activity 18: Live with Risk! Exposure Ideas for Safety Sticky Thoughts Activity 19: Make Mistakes! Exposure Ideas for Being-Perfect Sticky Thoughts Activity 20: It's Just a Thought! Exposure Ideas for "Bad" Sticky Thoughts Activity 21: Do It Wrong! Exposure Ideas for Not-Right Sticky Thoughts Activity 22: Keep Climbing Your Brave-Challenge Tower Activity 23: Enlisting Your Team to Help with Brave Challenges Part 5: Staying Strong Activity 24: Refueling Your Mind and Body (Sleep, Eating, Exercise) Activity 25: What to Do When OCD Follows You to School Activity 26: Is OCD Hanging Out with You and Your Friends? Activity 27: When You Don't Feel So Strong Activity 28: Staying Strong! A Caregiver's Guide to Brave Challenges References

Review

"As a child and adolescent psychiatrist that works with children diagnosed with OCD and their families, this workbook provides a much-needed resource for not only children and families living with OCD, but also for providers. The authors present the material in a way that is both understandable and engaging for young readers, and the many examples, activities, and handouts provide ample guidance for children, parents, and therapists."
--Moira A. Rynn, MD, consulting professor and chair in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University Medical Center
"In The OCD Workbook for Kids, Puliafico and Robin have created a masterpiece in the form of a step-by-step approach for helping children struggling with OCD (and their parents) in understanding and addressing this impairing condition. The writing style is fun, clear, and kid/parent friendly, and the text describes the core treatment components in an easy-to-understand manner. Given the difficulty that so many families of a child with OCD experience in accessing effective care, this book has the promise to help many children live their fullest, happiest life."
--Eric Storch, PhD, professor and All Children's Hospital Guild Endowed Chair at the University of South Florida
"Puliafico and Robin have done a great service for children with OCD and their parents. The activities in the workbook are clear, structured, and guided by the research on childhood OCD conceptualization and treatment. As a guide to accompany treatment with a trained clinician, the exercises here will undoubtedly serve as a great way to facilitate treatment and provide children with relief. I recommend it enthusiastically to parents of children with OCD and providers who regularly treat this condition."
--Dean McKay, PhD, ABPP, professor of psychology at Fordham University
"We know that you can't just talk about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)--if you want improvement, you have to do something! The authors put wisdom, energy, and life in their book, as they join with youth to build coping skills via activities that are developmentally appropriate in tone, style, and language. OCD is treatable, and this workbook is helpful for youth to understand OCD and for therapists to accompany therapy. The exercises come with both readable examples and advice for how to 'stay strong' when it gets tough. Puliafico and Robin are a team of experts bringing their expertise to life in this readable and helpful book."
--Philip C. Kendall, PhD, ABPP, Distinguished University Professor and Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology at Temple University

Review Quote

"We know that you can't just talk about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)--if you want improvement, you have to do something! The authors put wisdom, energy, and life in their book, as they join with youth to build coping skills via activities that are developmentally appropriate in tone, style, and language. OCD is treatable, and this workbook is helpful for youth to understand OCD and for therapists to accompany therapy. The exercises come with both readable examples and advice for how to 'stay strong' when it gets tough. Puliafico and Robin are a team of experts bringing their expertise to life in this readable and helpful book." -- Philip C. Kendall, PhD, ABPP , Distinguished University Professor and Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology at Temple University?

Promotional "Headline"

Children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may suffer from obsessive thinking, use rituals to soothe their anxiety, and act compulsively in ways that are disruptive and sometimes harmful. As parents know all too well, OCD can greatly interfere with school, friends, and home life.

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