Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Of Childhood OCD: It's Only a False Alarm - Client Workbook
The It's Only A False Alarm workbook is structured companion for children undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Designed for use with a therapist, it provides psychoeducation, exercises, and exposure-response prevention (ERP) activities to help children manage and reduce OCD symptoms. A therapist guide is downloadable separately.
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Overview
An estimated 1 – 2% of children experience obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including exposure and response prevention (ERP), is an effective treatment for OCD. It is recommended by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Of Childhood OCD: It’s Only A False Alarm guide is written by John Piacentini, Audra Langley, and Tami Roblek. Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Of Childhood OCD: It’s Only A False Alarm provides therapists with all the tools they need to deliver effective, evidence-based psychological treatment for OCD in children aged 8 - 17. Part of the Treatments That Work™ series, the program consists of individual exposure plus response prevention (ERP) for the client, and a CBT family intervention for parents and siblings conducted concurrently.
Why Use This Resource?
Cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the most effective treatment for pediatric OCD. This workbook enhances therapy by providing:
- Child-friendly explanations which breaks down OCD concepts in an accessible and engaging manner.
- Structured exercise to guide children through exposure exercises and help them confront and reduce their fears.
- Symptom tracking that encourages children to monitor their thoughts, compulsions, and progress.
- Parental involvement which equips parents with strategies to support their child’s treatment.
Key Benefits
Structured
Presents a step-by-step framework for overcoming obsessive compulsive disorder.
Evidence-Based
Incorporates effective cognitive-behavioral techniques.
Clear
Provides clear explanations of OCD concepts and treatment principles.
Trusted
Part of the Treatments That Work™ series, developed by leading experts.
Who is this for?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Characterized by intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
Integrating it into your practice
01
Educate
Introduce the concept of OCD as a 'false alarm' to normalize the experience.
02
Assess
Help the child identify and list their obsessions and compulsions.
03
Track
Use symptom diaries to monitor OCD patterns and triggers.
04
Expose
Guide children through gradual ERP exercises tailored to their specific fears.
05
Prevent
Encourage response prevention strategies to break the OCD cycle.
06
Engage
Involve parents in supporting exposure exercises at home.
07
Review
Regularly assess progress and adjust exposure challenges as needed.
Theoretical Background & Therapist Guidance
OCD can be one of the most debilitating mental health conditions (Mathers & Loncar, 2006). An estimated 1 - 2% of children experience OCD, Rapoport et al, 2000). Symptoms include obsessions (repetitive and distressing thoughts, images, or urges) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors, including mental acts, that are performed in response to obsessions). Obsessions and compulsive are often time consuming and can have a significant impact on people’s relationships, work, and ability to function.
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Of Childhood OCD: It’s Only A False Alarm is a comprehensive program which assists clinicians in delivering an effective program of ERP for OCD. The program includes two books:
- Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Of Childhood OCD: It’s Only A False Alarm: Therapist Guide is the companion to this workbook. It details the step-by-step treatment of OCD using ERP, including common obstacles.
- Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Of Childhood OCD: It’s Only A False Alarm: Workbook will help your clients to become active participants in their treatment and learn how to implement ERP, both independently and with the support of a therapist.
Authored by leading psychologists including David Barlow, Michelle Craske and Edna Foa, Treatments That Work™ is a series of manuals and workbooks based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Each pair of books (therapist guide and workbook) contain step-by-step procedures for delivering evidence-based psychological interventions and will help you to provide the best possible care for your clients.
At Psychology Tools, we are proud to make many of the Treatments That Work™ titles available to our members. Each book is available to download chapter-by-chapter, and Psychology Tools members with a currently active subscription to our ‘Complete’ plan are licensed to share copies with their clients.
What's inside
- Child-friendly explanations of OCD and CBT principles.
- Structured worksheets for identifying obsessions and compulsions.
- Exposure hierarchy templates and tracking forms.
- Symptom diaries for monitoring progress.
- Parental guidance for supporting exposure exercises.
- Fun, engaging activities to reinforce learning.
FAQs
It is designed to be used alongside therapy sessions, helping children engage with treatment concepts and practice ERP exercises.
While some elements may be helpful for parents, the workbook is most effective when used with the guidance of a trained clinician.
It provides structured exposure plans, symptom hierarchies, and tracking forms to help children systematically face their fears.
Therapists can use motivational strategies, parental support, and gradual exposure to help children feel more comfortable with ERP.
How This Resource Improves Clinical Outcomes
- Encourages active participation in therapy through structured exercises.
- Helps children develop coping skills to manage OCD symptoms.
- Supports effective implementation of ERP, leading to long-term symptom reduction.
- Provides a collaborative framework for therapists, children, and parents.
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References And Further Reading
- Abramowitz, J. S. (2006). The psychological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, 407-416. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370605100702
- American Psychiatric Association. (2007). Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Retrieved from: https://psychiatryonline.org/pb/assets/raw/sitewide/practice_guidelines/guidelines/ocd.pdf
- Fawcett, E. J., Power, H., & Fawcett, J. M. (2020). Women are at greater risk of OCD than men: A meta-analytic review of OCD prevalence worldwide. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 81, 19r13085. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.19r13085
- Ferrando, C., & Selai, C. (2021). A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of exposure and response prevention therapy in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 31, 100684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2021.100684
- Mathers, C. D., & Loncar, D. (2006). Projections of global mortality and burden of disease from 2002 to 2030. PLoS Medicine, 3, e442. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0030442
- National Institute for Clinical Excellence. (2005). Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Core interventions in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder (Clinical guideline CG31). Retrieved from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg31
- Rapoport, J., Inoff-Germain, G., Weissman, M. M., Greenwald, S., Narrow, W. E., Jensen, P. S., Lahey, B. B., & Canino, G. (2000). Childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder in the NIMH MECA Study: Parent versus child identification of cases. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 14, 535-548.
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