- About the Child & Adolescent Anxiety Clinic
- Primary school children
- High school children
- Parent programs
- How to get help
High School Students (years 7-12, aged 12-18)
For Students in Sydney
If your adolescent is aged between 12 and 18 years, and appears to experience significant anxiety, they may be suitable to participate in one of our adolescent programs. We currently offer three programs, one is a group program for families that focuses solely on anxiety in 12-13 year olds, another is a group program which addresses anxiety as well as depression in 14-18 year olds, and finally we have a self-help CD-ROM study which addresses anxiety only in 14-18 year olds via a computer program (more information is available [.pdf files] for teenagers and for professionals).
If you are or have an anxious child, in years 7 through 12, you may be suitable to take part in our adolescent studies. After an assessment that will determine if the clinic programs are suitable for you, you will be randomly offered one of two different conditions. Allocation to each of the programs is based on strict research criteria so this means that families cannot choose which program they want to be involved in. Each of the treatments included in the study has been chosen because of its potential effectiveness and because it is based on established scientific principles.
The adolescent anxiety and depression program is designed for young people who are experiencing both anxiety and depression or low mood at the same time. Sessions focus on how anxiety and depression interact and on the key elements involved in overcoming anxiety and depression. The combined programme involves 12 group sessions and includes practical exercises both in and out of session. Parents are invited to participate in several sessions on understanding and overcoming anxiety and depression, however the majority of sessions involve adolescents alone, and parents are asked simply to take on a supportive role.
When involved in treatments at the clinic you may at some point be asked to participate in our ongoing research activities into anxiety in young people. What we learn from your involvement can help us treat other adolescents who seek help with us in the future and helps to better our understanding of anxiety.
If you would more information on how to become involved at the clinic, click here or call our intake officers on (02) 9850 8711.
For Students Outside Sydney
We have a self-help CD-ROM program available for rural teenagers (14-18 years) who experience anxiety and have regular access to a computer. This program is currently under evaluation, and so is being offered free of charge. More information is available [.pdf files] for teenagers and for professionals. Adolescents over 14 years can contact the clinic directly for more information on 02 9850 8711 or email Cool.Teens@psy.mq.edu.au.
We also continue to offer remote and rural families access to our Outreach Program. This is a home based assessment and treatment program for teenagers and their families which is provided by telephone, e-mail and written materials. Currently the outreach program is not the subject of research and so consequently this program is offered at the full fee paying rate. Please contact the clinic on (02) 9850 8711 to obtain further information on the private option or if you wish to purchase the outreach program materials.
