The Coping Cat Program

The Coping Cat Program, developed by Philip C. Kendall, Ph.D., is an empirically validated cognitive behavioral treatment used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and social phobia in youth ages 7 and older.

Children meet with the therapist individually on a weekly basis. Parents also attend separate parent sessions at different times during the course of treatment. The therapist, child, and parent collaborate in therapy to help the child develop mastery over their anxiety.

Children are encouraged to see their therapist as a coach who coaches them through anxiety provoking situations, just like any coach would teach skills, encourage practice, and provide feedback on how to improve a skill.

The basic goals of treatment are to help children learn to recognize when they are anxious, talk about their nervous thoughts and feelings, and learn skills to cope with anxiety rather than use escape or avoidance.

Children who participate in the Coping Cat Program learn how to:

• Identify and label their anxious feelings
• Learn progressive muscle relaxation and deep breathing
• Identify their anxious thoughts and develop coping thoughts that are more realistic and adaptive
• Use appropriate problem solving skills
• Rate their effort and recognize when they have coped well with anxiety
• Practice coping with anxiety provoking situations in a step-like manner