Behavioral Activation with Adolescents A Clinician's Guide

This book presents the first behavioral activation (BA) program to help 12- to 18-year-olds overcome depression. The authors provide a systematic framework for increasing adolescents' engagement in rewarding activities and decreasing avoidant behavior. User-friendly features include session-by-session guidelines and agendas, sample scripts, and instructional materials. Strategies are described for actively involving parents and tailoring BA to each teen's needs and developmental level. In a large-size format for easy photocopying, the book contains 35 reproducible handouts. Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials.

Elizabeth McCauley, PhD, ABPP, is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Washington (UW), with adjunct appointments in Psychology and Pediatrics, and Director of the Mood and Anxiety Program at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Her clinical and research work focuses on the development and treatment of depression and suicidality in young people. She has developed and tested a number of prevention and intervention strategies, including leading a project funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health to test the efficacy of behavioral activation (BA) as a treatment for adolescent depression. Dr. McCauley is a past president of the Society for Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Kelly A. Schloredt, PhD, ABPP, is Attending Clinical Psychologist in Child Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Director of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UW. Dr. Schloredt is actively engaged in professional activities including management and administration, teaching, patient care, and supervision and training. She was a research therapist on the Adolescent BA Program study led by Elizabeth McCauley.

Gretchen R. Gudmundsen, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UW and Attending Clinical Psychologist in Child Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Seattle Children's Hospital. She has published numerous articles on the treatment of depression and the role of stress and coping in depressive disorders. Dr. Gudmundsen provides direct outpatient care in addition to conducting supervision and training. She has been a research therapist on several projects on the treatment of adolescent mood disorders and was awarded a Klingenstein Third Generation Fellowship for Child and Adolescent Depression.

Christopher R. Martell, PhD, ABPP, is Clinical Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin/n-/Milwaukee and the owner of Martell Behavioral Activation Research Consulting.  He maintained an independent practice for 23 years, providing cognitive-behavioral therapy to clients with mood and anxiety disorders. Dr. Martell conducts workshops and trainings on BA nationally and internationally and has consulted on research teams examining BA around the world. His books include Behavioral Activation for Depression: A Clinician's Guide (coauthored with Sona Dimidjian and Ruth Herman-Dunn). He is a recipient of honors including the Distinguished Psychologist Award from the Washington State Psychological Association.

Sona Dimidjian, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is a leading expert in BA for depression and in the clinical application of contemplative practices, such as mindfulness meditation. She has a longstanding interest in the dissemination of empirically supported treatments and evidence-based practices, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Dimidjian's teaching and clinical research have been recognized with awards including the Dorothy Martin Women’s Faculty Award and the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and the Susan Hickman Award from Postpartum Support International.

1. Depression and Behavioral Activation with Adolescents
2. Assessment, Case Conceptualization, and Treatment Planning
3. How to Use the A-BAP Session Guides
4. Management of Treatment Challenges within the A-BAP Approach
5. Applications of Behavioral Activation with Other Clinical Samples/Situations
A-BAP Treatment Sessions
Module 1. Getting Started
Module 2. Getting Active
Module 3. Skill Building
Module 4. Practice
Module 5. Moving Forward
Reproducible Handouts