Alvord Mary Karapetian - Conquer negative thinking for teens: a workbook to break the nine thought habits that are holding you back

Publishers Note

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2017 by Mary Karapetian Alvord and Anne McGrath

Instant Help Books

An imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

www.newharbinger.com

Cover design by Amy Shoup

Acquired by Wendy Millstine

Edited by Gretel Hakanson

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file

To Greg Alvord

And to our children, Bryce, Scott, and Justin

MKA

In memory of Kevin McManus

And to our children, John and Ellen

AM

With clear text, relatable examples, and useful exercises, this book gives teens the tools they need to break free of negative thinking habits and learn to manage their moods. Highly recommended!

Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author of RaisingEmotionallyandSociallyHealthyKids

In clear language and with accessible, age-appropriate vignettes, Alvord and McGrath do exactly what their title suggests, presenting the nine thinking habits that drag teens down. Better yet, they outline what to do about them with a step-by-step action plan. Easy to read and easy to follow, this immediately useful book will change lives.

Dawn Huebner, PhD, psychologist and author of the What-to-Do Guides for Kids

Freud based his psychodynamic therapy upon exploring the irrational mind. Beck based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on correcting irrational thoughts. Following Beck, ConquerNegativeThinkingforTeens by Alvord and McGrath is a clear and practical guide to CBT. This well-written workbook shows teens how to discard distorted thoughts and take control of their own mental health. Informed by years of clinical experience, this book is not just a call-to-reason for adolescents. It will also help parents and professionals think straight and keep it real. A great addition to the CBT literature!

Daniel G. Shapiro, MD, developmental and behavioral pediatrics; author of ParentChildJourney

ConquerNegativeThinkingforTeens gives families the tools to change negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. It provides relatable examples and fun exercises that give teens control over their thoughts and emotions. Every teenager (and parent of a teen) needs to read this book!

Kathryn Stamoulis, PhD, LMHC, therapist and adjunct psychology professor at Hunter College

Concentrate on the habits that hold you back. Explore other negative habits as you see fit. Diagnose yourself, and then learn to think about your own negative habits differently. And to boot, you will learn some bonus skills such as being mindful of the present moment and putting enjoyable activities in your schedule. This therapeutic strategy of Alvord and McGrath is a no-nonsense, practical approach with very clear steps that a teenager can take to break negative thoughts and habits. The teen gets solid advice based on some very basic principles and procedures of CBT. It is a book I will use with teens and their parents, and it is a book I highly recommend to therapists who work with teens.

K. Daniel OLeary, PhD, distinguished professor of psychology at Stony Brook University, and recipient of the APA 2015 Family Psychologist of the Year Award and the 2015 Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Trust Award for mentoring graduate students

Great book for any anxious or depressed youth! Mary Alvord has thirty-five years of experience doing CBT with kids and teens. Alvord has distilled the essence of what she does in CBT therapy into this book. Alvord walks a teenager through the process of catching, challenging, and changing the negative thinking habits that make us anxious or depressed. Her engaging style will grab tweens and teens. She does for her reader exactly what a good CBT therapist would do in person. The book is an awesome option for a youth who does not need, cannot find, or would prefer not to see a live CBT therapist. Kids and teens will recognize themselves in Alvord and McGraths stories, and experience her compassion and gentle, persistent encouragement to alter thinking habits that have made them anxious or depressed. I highly recommend Alvord and McGraths very readable book for use as a supplement to or alternative to therapy. An important addition to our toolbox!

Jennifer Lish, PhD, director of the Worcester Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Mary Alvord and Anne McGraths new book, ConquerNegativeThinkingforTeens, is an exciting new resource for adolescents and their families. This is a practical and highly useful guide for young people who are feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions and thought patterns. Alvord and McGrath provide a clear path for adolescents to recognize common negative thought patterns, and to learn how to overturn those patterns in favor of a more realistic and balanced state of mind. I expect that my patients and their families will really benefit from Alvord and McGraths straightforward and accessible approach.

Matthew Biel, MD, MSc, chief of the division of child and adolescent psychiatry at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and associate professor of clinical psychiatry and pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine

This book for teens is written in a manner that displays the authors ability to connect effectively with teens, comprehensive knowledge of the science pertaining to the treatment of internalizing disorders, and broad and deep experience base collaborating with teens to promote their wellness. Im confident that teens will find this book to be very relatable and highly practical. Moreover, I believe teens would find that a small investment of their time with this book stands to significantly benefit their day-to-day mental health and wellness. Finally, I believe that clinicians would find that the many practical exercises in this book would synergize their clinical work with teens.

David Palmiter, PhD, ABPP, author of PracticingCognitiveBehavioralTherapywithChildrenandAdolescents and WorkingParents, Thriving Families; fellow at the American Psychological Association; past president of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association; and professor of psychology and counseling at Marywood University

There is no other workbook like this. Concise, thorough, and easy to use, it fills a need felt by clinicians every single day. I plan on giving it to every teen in my practice.

Catherine McCarthy, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist in Virginia

If youre like most teens, you feel some days like you live at the center of a whirlwind of emotions. One minute youre excited and happy, and the next youre sad, anxious, scared, embarrassed, or filled with anger at the outrageously unfair decision that your parents just made. Often, it seems, youre hunkering down in your room by yourself, sad and discouraged. Or fear of looking stupid freezes you in your tracks, preventing you from trying new things. Maybe your anger erupts in sharp and hurtful ways that may feel good in the moment but create conflict in your relationships. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? Its common to feel helpless when youre swamped with unhappiness and worry or irritation, and to believe that these emotional ups and downs are outside of your control.