Coping with Fears and Stress. ERIC Digest

Children's fears can have a self-preserving and motivational quality or have an inhibiting or debilitating effect. Counselors can use three levels of intervention for the prevention of disturbances related to fear and anxiety. The first of these focuses on developmental guidance and counseling activities designed for all children to develop a sense of control, security, and self-worth. The second level of prevention should focus on higher risk children--those who have been exposed to traumatic events and who are therefore more susceptible to developing fear related problems. Finally, the third level should focus on children who are actually in the process of experiencing fear disturbances and who lack the ability to cope with these fears.