Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anger and Aggression in Children

Denis G. Sukhodolsky, PhD, is Assistant Professor at the Yale University Child Study Center. His work concerns the effectiveness and mechanisms of cognitive-behavioral therapy for children with disruptive behavior disorders, anxiety, Tourette syndrome, and autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Sukhodolsky has authored or coauthored over 60 papers and book chapters, and he has received awards from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Tourette Syndrome Association, and the Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation. He also provides clinical care to children and families and teaches cognitive-behavioral therapy to clinical fellows. This book is a result of several clinical trials that examined the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anger and aggression in children and adolescents. Lawrence Scahill, MSN, PhD, is Professor of Nursing and Child Psychiatry at Yale University, where he is Director of the Research Unit on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network at the Child Study Center. The RUPP Network is focused on developing and testing new treatments for children with autism spectrum disorders accompanied by disruptive and explosive behavior. Under Dr. Scahill's direction, the Yale group is also actively involved in a clinical trials consortium on Tourette syndrome, the aim of which is to develop and test new pharmacological and behavioral interventions in children and adults with Tourette syndrome. Dr. Scahill serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the Tourette Syndrome Association and on the editorial boards of several journals.

"This clear, well-written book incorporates evidence-based practices for anger management with children and adolescents. Sukhodolsky and Scahill also draw on their own behavioral treatment research with neuropsychiatric disorders. The book is notable for its practical emphasis on how to implement the program. Another feature that sets this book apart is the inclusion of assertiveness training and methods to help children prevent anger-provoking situations before they occur. It will be a useful text for graduate training in practicum courses and for training clinicians."--John E. Lochman, PhD, ABPP, Professor and Doddridge Saxon Chairholder in Clinical Psychology, University of Alabama"Sukhodolsky and Scahill address an important clinical need for professionals treating disruptive behaviors in 8- to 16-year-olds. Based on established research in the field, the approach in this book can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with other psychosocial or psychopharmacological therapies. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anger and Aggression in Children is a valuable resource for a wide range of clinicians who provide mental health services to children and adolescents."--Daniel F. Connor, MD, Lockean Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Chief, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine"Anger and aggression are major issues for many children and adolescents seen in outpatient settings, and practical, effective interventions are badly needed. This book provides empirically based tools that can help this volatile (yet often fragile) population. One strong asset of the authors' approach is that it attempts to put young people in the driver's seat so they can experience more control and autonomy over their own actions. Most of these patients are not deliberately aggressive; they feel powerless to manage their reactions to upsetting events. This book will help to break this vicious cycle."--Michael Aman, PhD, Nisonger Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, The Ohio State University -Useful for training programs for psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and others who provide mental health services to children….The first Appendix is a rich compilation of all 38 handouts used in the program. As mentioned, these resources are legitimately reproducible, greatly adding to the overall utility of this book….This is a well-done, well-laid-out, and well-researched treatment program presented in modularized fashion for use with a wide range of children and teenagers. The procedures can be utilized in both individual and group format, standardizing many elements of treatment interventions that have been studied and found to be efficacious. The book may be used in both inpatient and outpatient facilities and, while primarily meant for clinicians, it certainly can be an adjunctive graduate text in any child behavior therapy program or utilized as the format for a university-based clinic program for acting out children and teenagers.--Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 1/9/2013

• Introduction Module 1: Anger Management Session 1. Introduction to CBT and Education about Anger Session 2. Self-Instruction and Relaxation Session 3. Emotion Regulation Module 2: Problem Solving Session 4. Problem Identification and Attribution Session 5. Generating Solutions Session 6. Evaluating Consequences Module 3: Social Skills Session 7. Developing a Coping Template for Peer Provocation Session 8. Assertiveness Training Session 9. Social Skills for Conflict Resolution with Adults Session 10. Review and Conclusion Parent Sessions Parent Session 1 Parent Session 2 Parent Session 3 Appendices: 1. Client Handouts 2. Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale (DBRS) 3. Home Situations Questionnaire (HSQ) 4. Checklist of Anger Management Skills 5. Treatment Fidelity Checklist