Cool Kids Anxiety Program
Macquarie University
The Cool Kids Anxiety program is a scientifically developed and demonstrated, structured program to help students experiencing high levels of anxiety or clinical anxiety disorders to better manage their feelings and reduce its impact on their lives. Different versions for primary and high school age groups and caregivers are available.
- ACT
- NSW
- NT
- QLD
- SA
- Tas
- Vic
- WA
Pricing: Paid
Origin: Developed in Australia for Australian schooling contexts
Product type: Program; Student activities; Activity sheets; External support services; Learning modules
Focus areas
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Mental health literacy and life skills
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Self-regulation and engagement
Curriculum alignment
Prospective users
Audience: Targeted small group early intervention (Tier 2), Intensive individualised approach (Tier 3)
Communities: Neurodiversity or disability
Context: School or centre-based
Main beneficiaries: Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, Year 11, Year 12
Delivery style: Classroom teacher is trained; Delivered by program staff
Aims & approach
The Cool Kids program is delivered by qualified and accredited staff with mental health expertise. This can be done within a school setting or an external clinical practice. Training and accreditation is delivered through Macquarie University for qualified personnel (e.g., school counsellors, psychologists).
The program involves around 10 sessions that teach young people a range of practical skills and strategies to help manage their anxiety and related difficulties. Caregivers are included as relevant to the age group. Within the school setting sessions can be delivered to students either in small groups or individually and caregivers attend a few, dedicated additional sessions. In the clinic setting, caregivers and students generally attend sessions together.
All skills covered within the program are supported by detailed workbooks for caregivers and students, and a detailed therapist manual guides practitioners to deliver the program.
Implementation support
- Implementation training webinars or modules
- Regular webinars or access to community of professional practice
Evidence
The Cool Kids programs have been extensively evaluated in multiple clinical trials and shown to have strong outcomes on symptoms of anxiety and their life impact (e.g., school attendance, sleep, relationships).
References:
Hudson, J.L., Rapee, R.M., Deveney, C., Schniering, C.A., Lyneham, H.J. & Bovopoulous, N. (2009). Cognitive behavioral treatment versus an active control for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders: A randomized trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 48(5), 533-544.
Rapee, R.M., Lyneham, H.J., Wuthrich, V., Chatterton, M.L., Hudson, J.L., Kangas, M., & Mihalopoulos, C. (2017). Comparison of stepped care delivery against a single, empirically validated CBT program for anxious youth: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(10), 841–848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac...
Rapee, R.M., McLellan, L.F., Carl, T., Trompeter, N., Hudson, J.L., Jones, M.P., Wuthrich, V. (2023). Comparison of transdiagnostic treatment and specialized social anxiety treatment for children and adolescents with social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 62(6), 646–655 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac...
Scaini, S.; Rossi, F.; Rapee, R.M.; Bonomi, F.; Ruggiero, G.M.; Incerti, A. (2022). The Cool Kids as a School-Based Universal Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Anxiety: Results of a Pilot Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19, 941. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph...