Let’s ride the anxiety wave

This resource introduces the concept of the ‘anxiety wave,’ to help clients understand the natural rise and fall of fear. It explains how anxiety peaks and eventually subsides if the young person remains in the situation long enough, allowing the body to naturally return to a calmer state.   

This resource is design to support the delivery of graded exposure treatment.

References and Further Reading

  • Davis, T. E., III, May, A., & Whiting, S. E. (2011). Evidence-based treatment of anxiety and phobia in children and adolescents: Current status and effects on the emotional response. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(4), 592-602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2011.01.001.
  • Peterman, J. S., Carper, M. M., & Kendall, P. C. (2016). Testing the Habituation-Based Model of Exposures for Child and Adolescent Anxiety. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, pp. 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2016.1163707.
  • Flatt, N., & King, N. (2008). Building the Case for Brief Psychointerventions in the Treatment of Specific Phobias in Children and Adolescents. Behaviour Change, 25(4), 191–200. doi:10.1375/bech.25.4.191.