The CHAIN Links Program for Young Women and Girls with Anxiety

by Patricia A Houchin

Overview

Friends helping friends. Love and acceptance. In therapy, much time is often spent teaching basic skills of healthy thinking, communicating, and navigating relationships in the new and foreign territories of the teen years. At a time when mental health resources are stretched thin, this program prepares girls with basic skills that are often taught in therapy, leaving more time in the counseling room for professional treatment when needed. Leveraging the positive power of teenage peer relationships, the program is designed to be completed by two friends or one girl acting as her best friend. The girl who does the program as her own best friend, with her newly found confidence and the links of her CHAIN strengthened, is then asked to take the program and share it with someone in need. By doing so, she adds more strong links to the CHAIN and starts her own CHAIN reaction of girls and young women helping each other.

Solid research supports the premise that good communication, problem-solving, social, and coping skills learned and used during the teen years can improve the quality of life well into the future. The foundation of this course is self-love and self-acceptance--from there, all things are possible. Fun and practical, this program is an investment of time and effort, and the potential rewards are unlimited! So what are you waiting for? More info at www.chain-links.love

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798990841925
Publisher:	Patricia A. Houchin
Publication date:	06/30/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	58
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Introduction1

For Girls with Anxiety1

For Therapists3

For Parents3

Link 1.Getting to Know and Love Yourself5

Accepting Compliments7

All About Positive Affirmations8

My List of Positive Affirmations9

Sentence Completion15

Link 2.My Values and Goals, and What Do They Have to Do with My Life? Why Values?18

List of Values and Choosing Mine19

List of Values and Choosing Mine (continued)20

Thinking About and Stating My Goals22

Link 3.Goal-Directed Behavior and Setting Objectives26

How Values, Goals, and Objectives Fit Together26

Making SMART Objectives for Your Goals27

Accountability, Motivation, Focus, and Loving Support31

Link 4.Beliefs, Thoughts, Feelings, and Actions (BTFA for Short)33

Negative Beliefs36

Negative Beliefs and Triggers37

Difference Between Thoughts and Feelings37

My Triggers39

My BTFA&O With Positive Replacement Belief40

Bodily Sensations of Anxiety41

Level of Intensity of Emotions and Sensations42

Distorted Thoughts45

Link 5.Toolbox49

Belly Breathing to Start49

Protective Factors49

Communication Skills55

Coping Skills - List and Links60

Link 6.Problem-Solving Skills64

About Attitude64

Basic Steps in Problem Identification and Solving65

Problem - Before root cause analysis66

Root cause analysis66

Problem - After root cause analysis66

Generate Possible Solutions Through Brainstorming66

Evaluate Proposed Solutions66

Pros and Cons Worksheet for Evaluating Proposed Solutions67

Make a Plan69

Put the Plan into Action69

Improve the Plan Where Needed70

Assignment70

Link 7.Fears, Fear Hierarchy, and Neurobiology74

Basic Neurobiology of Fear and Anxiety74

Exposure "Experiments" to Reduce Fear and Anxiety75

Fear Hierarchy Chart78

My Gradual Exposure Plan79

Link 8.Mindfulness and Relaxation83

Grounding84

Mindfulness and Meditation Description84

Simple Mindful Meditation Exercise85

Progressive Muscle Relaxation87

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise87

Link 9.Positive Thinking and Imagery Rescripting92

Link 10.Acupressure Tapping (also Called EFT Tapping)97

Link 11.Gratitude and Sharing with Others105

Gratitude List106

Saying Thank You to Someone Every Day106

Gratitude Journal107

Writing a Thank You Note or Letter108

Gratitude Box or Jar to Give as a Present108

Ask Someone to Do Something for You109

Link 12.Self-Care: Growing a Healthy Brain and Body111

Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) and Neural Connections111

What's a Microbiome, and What Does It Have to Do with Me? 112

The Microbiota Make Neurochemicals that Affect Thinking and Mood112

Nutrient-dense foods (examples)113

Superfoods114

Elements of Microbiome Health114

My Microbiome Health Plan116

Link 13.Spiritual Nurturing: Identity, Purpose, Love, and Relationships119

Inner Circle Friends and Family and Values120

Boundaries122

Spirituality, Religion, and a Higher Power123

Love and Forgiveness125

References129