Does your child suffer from fears and worries that affect their behaviour or keep them awake at night?

Fears and worries are very common among children with around 15% thought to suffer from anxiety disorders; the most commonly identified emotional or behavioural problems among children. However, if left unchecked, they can cause more serious problems such as school avoidance, difficulties in making friends and long-term problems with anxiety and depression.

Written by two of the UK's foremost experts on childhood anxiety, this extremely useful guide will enable you to understand what is causing your child's worries and to carry out step-by-step practical strategies to help him or her to overcome them, including:

· Addressing specific fears and phobias as well as general anxiety and 'worrying'
· Using case studies, worksheets and charts

CATHY CRESWELL is a professor of developmental clinical psychology based in the school of psychology and clinical language sciences at the University of Reading and an honorary consultant clinical psychologist and joint director of the University of Reading Anxiety and Depression in Young People (AnDY) clinical research unit. LUCY WILLETTS is a clinical psychologist and accredited CBT therapist. She is also a visiting fellow at the University of Reading. She has a particular interest in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and young people and has published a number of research papers and several books. Both Cathy and Lucy have worked with hundreds of children who have experienced problems with anxieties, and with their families.

Helping Your Child is a series for parents and caregivers to support children through developmental difficulties, both psychological and physical. Each guide uses clinically-proven techniques.

Series editors: Professor Peter Cooper and Dr Polly Waite