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A review by milenabates
Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and Ocd: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents by Eli R. Lebowitz
1.0
This book starts off with some useful tidbits. Then it shows promise talking about parental regulation, not trying to change your kid's behavior and providing support. But he can call it something good and he can coach you to deliver it in a calm way, this method is disturbing and neglectful, and sometimes downright cruel. It demonizes helping your kid with their struggles, describing accommodations as something that is not letting your kid cope. And if you just give your kid an opportunity to cope on their own, they will see that they can and the anxiety will improve. Yeah except it doesn't work like that. And he says it might not. And if you tell your kid you will not provide the support for their mental health struggles and they get really upset, then you, the parent should get some support for yourself to make yourself feel better about what you are doing to your kid. Actual advice from the book. There are so many obvious ethical issues.
But wait, isn't this method scientifically proven? I looked up the study. The results that are measured are parental stress and family accommodations. That is how he measures child anxiety.
I was sceptical as soon as I picked up the book because of the title which is actually honest if you take it at face value. He has a program to make parents feel less burdened by their child's anxiety. Sure you will see your child coming to you less for support. Because you taught him it doesn't work. That you'll just nicely tell them they can deal with it on their own. And then praise them for enduring the lack of support. So messed up. The only reason I finished it is because it was recommended by a therapist, whose competence I now strongly question.
But wait, isn't this method scientifically proven? I looked up the study. The results that are measured are parental stress and family accommodations. That is how he measures child anxiety.
I was sceptical as soon as I picked up the book because of the title which is actually honest if you take it at face value. He has a program to make parents feel less burdened by their child's anxiety. Sure you will see your child coming to you less for support. Because you taught him it doesn't work. That you'll just nicely tell them they can deal with it on their own. And then praise them for enduring the lack of support. So messed up. The only reason I finished it is because it was recommended by a therapist, whose competence I now strongly question.