Just for Kids

Kids are the Audience

Effective ways to treat anxiety have significantly improved over the last decades of research and clinical practice. Nevertheless, in our personal and clinical experience we grew increasingly frustrated that this life changing research and practice was not presented effectively for children in a way that was easily accessible.

There are many skillful clinicians who adapt effective anxiety treatment for children. What was missing was a comprehensive presentation of the “how-to” information in a format that was child-friendly and easily available to families. This is when we decided we needed create the program that became Turnaround.

There are several key communication principles that we applied to children in the Turnaround Anxiety Program. We recognized that today's media plays a significant role in our children's lives, and we understood the need to compete with the extensive resources that engage them. Additionally, we knew it needed to be widely accessible and easy to navigate.

The Right Experts

To realize this, we brought together a talented team of professionals. We enlisted an art director known for his work with Disney and Warner Bros, who connected us with a highly regarded illustrator that brought our envisioned characters to life. We dedicated hours in a high-quality audio production studio, commissioning original music from an award-winning composer, and were fortunate to work with local actors and a director who delivered astounding performances.

Talk with...Not at

Turnaround is centered on building rapport. This becomes increasingly crucial when children are feeling anxious. Our goal was for children to be pleasantly surprised by Turnaround. Instead of dreading a difficult treatment process, they become engaged in a narrative featuring characters that reflect their own experiences. The adults within the story are depicted in a fun and captivating way, encouraging kids to participate in a camping escapade rather than being lectured.

Psychological terms can be challenging, so effective communication with children requires language that is straightforward and suitable for their age. We developed a thorough vocabulary tailored for kids. For example, instead of using the phrase "cognitive distortions," we say "whacky thoughts." Similarly, instead of explaining the functions of the autonomic nervous system, we introduced a Samurai character named "Krank" and a surfer named "Chill" to personify those parts of the body.

Most of the characters in our program are children, featuring only two main adults and a few older characters, along with six primary child characters who confront similar anxieties. Moreover, numerous other characters appear in various scenes, assisting your child in finding identification and connection.

A Great Story

Most parents read or tell stories to their children, a cherished tradition in many households. A listening child will first notice that Turnaround is an adventure tale. It begins with Emily, the narrator, reflecting on her experiences from the prior year. The listener will soon discover that the entire program is intricately woven into the storyline.

Your child will listen as the different characters learn to overcome fear and address challenges in healthy ways. Since many kids don’t share their anxiety with their peers, the Turnaround program offers valuable examples they can learn from. This benefit alone makes it worthwhile for your child to engage with the program.

30 Seconds

It’s well-known that children's attention spans are limited, so any material aimed at them must be concise and diverse. No lengthy lectures or monologues. We designed Turnaround so that nearly no one speaks for longer than 30 seconds, with a few exceptions. The narrative transitions from dialogue to vignettes to playful exchanges, featuring sound effects and music throughout to keep it engaging without moving too quickly. Materials designed for children must be fun.

We infused the program with amusing characters, humor, and playful conversations, which is essential when addressing a serious topic like anxiety. We aimed to strike a balance between imagination and realism that is developmentally suitable for this age group.

Take Action

Recognizing that school-aged children need to not only listen but also act on what they learn, we developed a journal filled with puzzles, projects, and drawings to complement the audio treatment. We intentionally referred to it as a journal rather than a workbook to align with the adventure theme.

Why Audio and not Video?

Initially, we thought about creating a cartoon version of the program, but the costs made it impractical at the time. Ultimately, we believe that an audio program proved to be the best choice. We understand some children might struggle with focusing on audio content. However, research shows that the presence of a television can diminish interactive communication. Audio content allows each child's imagination to fill in the gaps in ways that are meaningful to them.

This overview certainly does not encompass all the elements that contribute to making a program suitable for children or everything included in Turnaround. However, we hope this provides insight into the professional quality and psychological depth we sought to incorporate.

Turnaround has given me my little girl back. Turnaround changed our lives.

Katrien, Ireland

Today, she is a different person than 2 months ago. No more waking up screaming or hallucinating, just a little manageably scared. But the best feeling is hearing her laugh all day long, instead of being stressed out and tired all day long.

Monica

You created such a clever, precise, useful, and wonderful program for kids with anxiety! My daughter loved the characters in the program, especially Jordan and Emily! After even the first night, her negative emotions and moods started changing and after several days, we were seeing that she was, little by little, going back to her normal, happy and enthusiastic self. We are so grateful for you amazing program!

Mili

The week before we received our Turnaround kit, she was refusing most foods, losing weight, and demanding elaborate bedtime rituals that lasted hours. I was ready to commit both of us to a mental institution, and I'm not even kidding. I was desperate. Now, two months later, she is a changed child. Her creativity, joy, and resilience are shining through. She is physically vital, mentally stable, and well on her way to fully embracing life instead of fearfully avoiding it.

Mollie and Dana