March 20, 2015

New program to help get children back on track

A new program that helps primary-school aged children learn how to live with strong emotions is being launched at the University of Wollongong (UOW).

The program, designed by UOW psychologists from Northfields Clinic, takes a ground-breaking approach to therapy by applying mindfulness-based strategies in working one-to-one with children showing behavioural problems.

The therapist helps them become aware of their strong emotions, learn strategies to manage these emotions, and to choose to behave in a way that will make them proud.

Called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the six-week ACTive Kids program will also teach children to learn how the brain works, and how to problem-solve different solutions to tricky situations. Children are kept engaged through child-centred activities, role-plays, games, mindfulness, and drawing.

ACTive Kids is being offered in Term 2 as an adjunct to the clinic’s parenting program, Confident Carers – Cooperative Kids (CCCK).

CCCK has already been shown to reduce child problem behaviour as well as reducing parental stress, depression and anxiety. It also aims to strengthen the parent-child relationship.

ACTive Kids is designed to run alongside CCCK, and the skills children learn complement those being introduced to their parents.

“Research is now suggesting that some families may also benefit from a program that works directly with the children,” Supervising Clinical Psychologist Mark Donovan said.

“We have good evidence that acceptance and commitment therapy is effective in helping children manage strong emotions, and we are running this pioneering pilot program to determine the role this type of therapy will play in helping these families.

Researchers Annie Bovard (Provisional Psychologist) and Mark Donovan (Supervising Clinical Psychologist) are currently trialling ACTive Kids at Northfields Clinic. Parents need to attend CCCK during Term 2 this year for their primary-school-aged child to be eligible for ACTive Kids.

Note to media
CCCK is a nine-week program commencing Thursday 23 April from 6-8pm, and Monday 27 April from 10am-noon. CCCK costs $75 ($60 concession) per family for the entire program. The six-week ACTive Kids program is delivered on an individual basis.

Interested families should contact Northfields Clinic, University of Wollongong on +61 2 4221 3747 or nfc-uow@uow.edu.au.

Media contact
Annie Bovard, +61 411 068 804 or Mark Donovan, +61 410 239 030.