What Works When with Children and Adolescents

This practical handbook is designed for counselors, social workers, and psychologists in schools and mental health settings. It offers over 100 creative activities and effective interventions for individual counseling with children and adolescents (ages 6-18). The activities include stories, songs, games, worksheets, role plays, and other strategies that address problems, such as anger, anxiety/worry, depression, underachievement, procrastination, perfectionism, self-downing, and acting out. The interventions, which are based on the principles of rational emotive behavior therapy, can be used for helping students with normal developmental issues as well as for helping those with more serious emotional or behavioral problems. Vernon provides strategies for establishing a therapeutic relationship with students who are sometimes apprehensive or opposed to counseling. Several case studies are included to help illustrate the counseling techniques and interventions. The book also includes a chapter on working with parents and teachers. An accompanying CD of all the reproducible forms and student handouts is included with the book.