Child | Teen | Parents
Cool Kids Programs
Cool Kids Anxiety Management Program
What is Cool Kids?
Melanie Gotch is accredited by Macquarie University’s Centre for Emotional Health to deliver the Cool Kids anxiety management program.
The Cool Kids anxiety management program is a structured 10‑session program, delivered over a minimum of 10 weeks, designed to support children and their parents to better understand and manage childhood anxiety. The program is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and involves active participation from both children and parents, with a strong focus on developing practical, everyday skills.
Key areas covered in the program include:
- Understanding anxiety and how it works
- Learning to think more realistically
- Supporting and parenting an anxious child
- Gradually facing fears using stepladders
- Developing coping skills such as assertiveness and problem‑solving
The Cool Kids anxiety management program was developed by Macquarie University and has been running since 1993. It has undergone ongoing scientific evaluation and refinement to reflect current evidence‑based understanding of anxiety and its treatment. The program has been translated into multiple languages and is now used in clinics, schools, and hospitals worldwide.
Further information about the program can be found at:
https://www.mq.edu.au/research/centres-and-groups/centre-for-emotional-health/for-clinicians/cool-kids
Cool Little Kids
What is Cool Little Kids?
Cool Little Kids is a parent‑focused program designed for families of children aged 3–6 years who are shy or showing early signs of anxiety.
Who attends?
Ideally, both parents attend the program. If this is not possible, the primary caregiver is encouraged to attend and provide information to the other caregivers in the child's life. Parents learn practical, evidence‑based strategies to help their child cope more confidently with anxiety.
How does it run?
The program is delivered over 6 sessions. Additional individual parent sessions can be arranged to further support learning and skill development in key areas. The program can be offered in a group format or individually, depending on needs and availability.
Where and when?
Please contact us via email to enquire about running the program at your location, via a Zoom group, or individually.
