Teens and Phobias

April 1, 2017
Grades 8-11 Many teens experience garden-variety fears, but some face serious phobias, and this installment in the Teen Mental Health series sheds some light on the topic. Kemper helpfully begins by drawing a distinction between fears and clinically significant phobias, which can get in the way of day-to-day functioning. Other chapters cover common types of phobias; where they originate (trauma, genetics, learned behaviors, and so on); how phobias can affect teens; and common treatment practices, including both therapy and medication. Generalized anxiety and depression get plenty of mention as well. While the dense text can be repetitive and is occasionally alarmist about fairly normal teen activities, there's plenty of information here to assist with reports, and a list of mental-health resources in the back matter will be particularly helpful for teens looking for guidance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)