Stress interventions for teenagers

The Study Without Stress (SWoS) program equips students with knowledge and practical tips on how to approach and overcome the stress associated with heavy workload and exams in the final years of high school.

Students are encouraged to participate in the program before stress has reached a severe level, but the program can be beneficial at any time. The program uses CBT techniques to help participants get the most out of their final years at school while keeping stress to a manageable level.

The program covers the following topics:

  • understanding stress (including causes, symptoms and the role of the stress response)
  • goal setting
  • managing expectations and beliefs about exams
  • creating effective timetables
  • learning how thoughts can affect performance
  • challenging negative or unhelpful thinking patterns
  • understanding perfectionism and procrastination
  • tips to deal with work avoidance
  • building good study habits
  • procedures for problem solving
  • exam preparation.

The SWoS face-to-face program is designed for teens in grades 10 to 12. The program is run over six to eight sessions and can be offered to individuals or in a group format, and is suitable for both school and clinic settings.

SWoS at the Emotional Health Clinic is offered for individual clients in one-on-one sessions. Teens can attend sessions at the clinic on the Macquarie University campus in North Ryde (Sydney, Australia) or can participate in sessions over telehealth.

If you are interested in individual sessions, call the clinic on +61 (2) 9850 8711 to complete an intake and discuss the current waitlist.

More information

Download the flyer on individual therapy services for teens.

The SWoS team is currently developing an online version of Study without Stress. SWoS Online will allow teens to complete the program independently at home or school.

More updates will be available soon.