The Parents' Guide to Psychological First Aid

Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Predictable Life Crises

Gerald Koocher and Annette La Greca

An encyclopedic reference for parents concerned with maintaining the mental health of their children
Scientifically informed constructive parenting advice written in an engaging style
Helps parents understand when to seek professional help
Practical advice on many everyday problems parents will encounter

The Parents' Guide to Psychological First Aid

Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Predictable Life Crises

Gerald Koocher and Annette La Greca

Description

Does your young daughter talk endlessly about invisible friends, dragons in the basement, and monsters in the closet? Is your teenager about to start high school or being victimized by bullies? Is your son mortally afraid of certain insects or of injections at the doctor's office?
Compiled by two seasoned clinical psychologists, The Parents' Guide to Psychological First Aid brings together articles by recognized experts who provide you with the information you need to help your child navigate the many trying problems that typically afflict young people. Written in an engaging style, this book offers sage advice on a raft of everyday problems that have psychological solutions. The contributors cover such topics as body image and physical appearance; cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol; overeating and obesity; dental visits; the birth of a sibling and sibling rivalries; temper tantrums; fostering self-esteem; shyness and social anxiety; and much more. Each expert article provides an overview of the issues, offers reassurance for minor problems and strategies for crisis management, and discusses the red flags that indicate that professional help is needed. In addition, the book is organized into various categories to make it easier to find information. For instance, the "Family Issues" section includes articles on Blended Families, Divorce, and Traveling; the "Adolescent Issues" section covers such topics as Dating and Driving; and the "Social/Peer Issues" section explores such subjects as "Sportsmanship," "Homesickness," and "Making Friends."
An encyclopedic reference for parents concerned with maintaining the mental health of their children, this indispensable volume will help you help your child to deal effectively with stress and pressure, to cope with everyday challenges, and to rebound from disappointments, mistakes, trauma, and adversity.

The Parents' Guide to Psychological First Aid

Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Predictable Life Crises

Gerald Koocher and Annette La Greca

Adolescent Issues - Body image and physical appearance concerns (both sexes)
Adolescent Issues - Cigarettes, alcohol, drugs
Adolescent Issues - Dating - boy/girlfriends - breakups
Adolescent Isuses - Driving (readiness and safety)
Adolescent Issues - Self Injury (Should I be worried about suicide risk?)
Eating Problems - Introducing foods; Weaning children children from bottles
Eating Problems - Overeating and obesity
Eating Problems - Picky eating (and concern about Anorexia)
Sleep Issues: Bedtime resistance; nightmares; not sleeping in own bed
Toileting - Normal Development
Toileting - Problems [Enuresis and Encopresis]
Health - Dental visits
Health - Hygiene problems (Refusal to bathe, brush teeth, etc.)
Health - Medical procedures (immunization, blood draw, surgical prep)
Health - Medical treatment (adherence issues, as with medication)
Family Issues - Birth of sibling
Family Issues - Blended Families
Family Issues - Communication (parental conversations with an uncommunicative child)
Family Issues - Divorce
Family Issues - Non-Traditional Families
Family Issues - Secrets: (communicating with children on sensitive issues)
Family Issues - Sibling rivalry
Family Issues - Temper tantrums and noncompliance
Family Issues - Traveling (including first plane ride; long car rides; handling family vacations)
Family Issues - Witnessing parental argument or domestic violence
Anxiety related - Fears (of dark, insects, etc.)
Anxiety related - Imaginary friends
Anxiety related - Self-esteem (fostering and improving)
Anxiety related - Separation anxiety issues (parent going out; parent away on business trip; child leaving home, sleep overs, camp)
Anxiety related - Shyness/social anxiety
Anxiety related - Situational and performance anxiety/test anxiety
School Issues - Application process: including high school, college
School Issues - Avoidance and refusal
School Issues - Performance and report cards
School Issues - Starting a new school
School Issues - Conflict with teacher
School Issues - Beginning school; first day of school (including daycare) or school transitions
Sexuality - Gay/Lesbian - coming out and coping
Sexuality - Infant/Todler (Masturbation/Self-Stimulation)
Sexuality - Preschool and school aged (Sex ed, sex play)
Sexuality - Adolescent (Puberty, safe sex)
Social/Peer Issues - Bullying (victimization and fighting with peers, physical/verbal, teasing)
Social/Peer Issues - Change in caregivers (introducing nanny or babysitter)
Social/Peer Issues - Homesickness
Social/Peer Issues - Making friends
Social/Peer Issues - Moving away (family relocation)
Social/Peer Issues - Racial differences; religious differences (diversity issues)
Social/Peer Issues - Sportsmanship and competition
Unique Stressors - Death and loss (by age and affective intensity-- pet, peer, parent, etc.)
Unique Stressors - Disasters (coping with natural and human made)
Finale - Serious or Persistent Problems (How can I tell when my child needs professional help?)

The Parents' Guide to Psychological First Aid

Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Predictable Life Crises

Gerald Koocher and Annette La Greca

Author Information

Gerald Koocher is Dean of the School for Health Studies, Simmons College. He is a past president of the American Psychological Association and the author of Ethics in Psychology, Psychologists' Desk Reference, and The Clinician's Guide to Evidence-Based Practices.
Annette La Greca is Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami. She is editor of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and author of Helping Children Cope With Disasters and Terrorism.

The Parents' Guide to Psychological First Aid

Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Predictable Life Crises

Gerald Koocher and Annette La Greca

Reviews and Awards

"This book is by far the most user-friendly parents' guide for managing the day-to-day predicable crises that their children face as a normal part of life. Any parent could instantly find meaningful information that they could use immediately for practically any child problem. As a parent and a clinical professional, I highly recommend this book to all parents and parents-to-be as an extremely helpful guide with pragmatic advice on successfully managing the normal crises in your children's lives." --Doody's