Judy Reaven, Audrey Blakeley-Smith
A typical school day can be full of anxiety triggers for students with autism or other social/learning needs. Help autistic students face and manage their fears—and overcome a major obstacle to school success—with this highly effective cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program designed for use with students ages 8–14. FYF is evidence based, has been shown to reduce anxiety in students with autism, and is an ideal way to increase student access to critical mental health interventions in school.
The Facing Your Fears (FYF) program consists of twelve 40-minute sessions that help students with autism or related social/learning needs manage interfering anxiety symptoms. The program is flexible: it can be delivered within the school day or before or after school; in 40-minute weekly lessons or in more frequently occurring 20-minute lessons; and in small groups of 2–5 students or individually with a school provider such as a school psychologist or counsellor, special education teacher, or other school provider. With an interactive workbook to guide them, students will manage anxiety using principles of cognitive behaviour therapy:
After each session, parents and other members of the school team receive handouts to help them support students in using their new skills and strategies during the school day and at home. The program also includes a workbook, a series of video clips, and other materials to engage parents and support their participation—a key factor in helping students make progress.
Facing Your Fears works because it:
About the Video Clips and Downloads
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
Introduction
At A Glance – Outline for Facing Your Fears in Schools Sessions
I. Program Introduction and Psychoeducation
II. Graded Exposure
Optional Pre-Graduation Session Making a Facing Your Fears Movie
Session 12 Graduation
III. Family Sessions
References
Index