The Parents' Guide to Psychological First Aid: Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Predictable Life Crises [Paperback]

Gerald Koocher (Author), Annette La Greca (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 2010 | ISBN-10: 0195381912 | ISBN-13: 978-0195381917 | Edition: 1

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

As any parent can attest, every news cycle brings warnings of the newest threats facing children. Bullying remains a constant problem, with a new front: social networks. Substance abuse trickles down to elementary schools. Students choke each other to near-unconsciousness for the high. All parents struggle with helping children grow up the right way, certain that the decisions they make on a day-to-day basis will forever affect the outcome of a child’s life. While there will never be a manual for parents, this guidebook to “psychological first aid” deserves a place on every parent’s bookshelf. The range of issues discussed is remarkably comprehensive and usefully organized by categories: health, family, social/peer, school, anxiety, sexuality, adolescent, and “unique stressors” (which includes a chapter on how to determine whether professional counseling is indicated). All chapters provide clear, constructive information and directions that can help both parents and therapists in family counseling settings. While every single decision won’t make or break children, this excellent resource will help many adults navigate parenting’s difficult decisions. --Matthew Tiffany

Review

"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

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (November 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195381912
• ISBN-13: 978-0195381917
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #730,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Gerald P. Koocher completed his B.A. degree in Psychology at Boston University (1968), and his MA (1970) and PhD (1972) in clinical psychology at the University of Missouri. From 1971 through 2001 he served successively as an intern, post-doctoral fellow, and ultimately as Chief of Psychology at Boston's Children's Hospital and Judge Baker Children's Center. During this period he also served as a full time faculty member (Associate Professor) at Harvard Medical School. In June, 2001 Dr. Koocher became Professor and Dean of the School for Health Studies at Simmons College (Boston). He currently holds appointments as Lecturer in Psychology at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Koocher was elected a Fellow of twelve divisions of the American Psychological Association (APA) and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has earned five specialty diplomas from the American Boards of Professional Psychology (Clinical, Clinical Child /Adolescent, Family, Forensic, and Health Psychology). He has been licensed as a psychologist in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia.

Currently Editor of the journal Ethics & Behavior, Dr. Koocher previously served as Editor of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology and The Clinical Psychologist. He has published more than 180 articles and book chapters and authored or edited t13 books.

Areas of his expertise include:

-Adaptation to chronic and life-threatening illness in childhood (especially cancer, cystic fibrosis, and diabetes).
-Coping with bereavement and loss, psychological assessment.
-Professional and scientific ethics, and mental health malpractice.

Very active in professional affairs, Dr. Koocher served as President of the Massachusetts and New England Psychological Associations and of three APA divisions (Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Children, Youth, and Family Services). He served as President of the APA (2006).

Dr. Koocher lives in Brookline, Massachusetts where he has served more than two decades as an elected member of town government. His hobbies include photography and psittacine aviculture.

For more information see his web site: www.ethicsresearch.com.