Most self-help books on the market for teens focus on assisting them to manage their anxiety. However, many teens describe themselves as stressed rather than anxious. In particular, teens point to the increasing academic demands in middle and high school as a source of intense stress. Stress in teens can lead to mental health and medical disorders if the stress is so severe that it’s beyond the teen’s ability to cope. Regardless of the particular things that stress teens out, excessive stress can make life challenging for them.

In The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook for Teens, Michael Tompkins and Jonathan Barkin, specialists in teen anxiety and stress, have developed skills for teens to identify the things that tend to stress them out and make a plan to relax and reduce stress in their lives. The workbook offers teens proven-effective CBT interventions with over 40 simple age-appropriate evidence-based activities. They are then able to use these strategies to minimize their worries and stress, and deal with the many challenges life sends their way.

“This is simply a great workbook. Although written for teens, it will prove valuable for others, too: as self-help for adults, as an adjunct to treatment for therapists, and as a guide for parents of younger children. Tompkins and Barkin teach you powerful skills in a highly readable and interesting way, using real-life examples and step-by-step instructions. It will be so worth it to work through the exercises. You will undoubtedly reduce your stress, increase your well-being, and signi cantly improve your life.”

—Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., president of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy

“This book is an excellent resource for clinicians. It is chock-full of easy-to-understand-and- apply lessons that can be used as handouts for therapy clients. It can also be used as a self-help book for motivated teens struggling with anxiety. I recommend it highly!”

—Mary A. Fristad, Ph.D., ABPP, professor of psychiatry, psychology, and nutrition at The Ohio State University, and member of the Neuroscience Research Institute

“In The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook for Teens, Tompkins and Barkin provide a masterful, clearly written book to help teens effectively cope with anxiety and stress. In a time in which so many teens are experiencing distress, this book promises to be a highly useful resource for its readers.”

—Eric Storch, Ph.D., All Children’s Hospital Guild Endowed Chair Professor in the departments of pediatrics (primary), health policy and management, psychiatry and neurosciences, and psychology at the University of South Florida

“This is a hands-on, useful, and well-written workbook. The text and exercises are useful, clear, and written in an accessible way. This book will help teens build their capacity for dealing with anxiety and stress while developing skills and healthy habits that will have lifelong bene ts. I will be recommending this to parents and teens frequently, in addition to using some of the techniques myself.”

—Nelson Branco, MD, FAAP, pediatrician at Tamalpais Pediatrics in Larkspur, CA; and assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco

“Adolescents and young adults seem to be more stressed than ever. Now, there is a book that offers relief. The strategies in this workbook have been studied by researchers and used by therapists for decades, and here they are presented in an accessible, easy-to-digest format designed specifically for teens. The book is engaging and filled with helpful activities. Readers will learn tried-and-true strategies for calming their minds and relaxing their bodies. Any teen who feels stressed out by the challenges of school, friendships, family, money, or other areas of life should check out this book!”

—Martin M. Antony, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Ryerson University, and co-author of The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook and The Anti-Anxiety Workbook