The Growth Mindset Workbook for Teens: Say Yes to Challenges, Deal with Difficult Emotions, and Reach Your Full Potential

by Jessica L. Schleider PhD, Michael C. Mullarkey PhD, Mallory L. Dobias BS

Overview

Learn how changing your mindset can change your life!

Do you ever give up when things are difficult? Sometimes we all say things like, “I’m bad at math, so there’s no point in studying” or “I can’t change—so why bother trying.” This is called having a fixed mindset. When you have a fixed mindset, you take failure as evidence that you’re not good at something.

On the other hand, a growth mindset is a way of viewing yourself and the world that says, “I may not know how to do this now, but with effort, I can learn.” People with a growth mindset believe they can learn from challenges and setbacks—that they have constant potential for growth, change, and improvement. So, how can you develop a growth mindset?

Written by experts in growth mindset and neuroscience, this easy-to-use workbook will show you how to change the way you think, so you can change your life. You’ll learn powerful, proven-effective skills for coping with difficult feelings—including sadness, worry, and anger. And, most importantly, you’ll find the tools you need to transform a fixed mindset into a growth mindset, make change happen, and reach your highest aspirations. 

If you want to go from “No, I can’t do it,” to “Yes, bring it on!” this workbook will show you how to build a growth mindset and boost your confidence, so you can be your very best. Look out, world!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684035571
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	04/01/2021
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	312,179
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Jessica L. Schleider, PhD, is assistant professor of psychology at Stony Brook University, where she directs the Lab for Scalable Mental Health. Schleider completed her PhD in clinical psychology at Harvard University, her doctoral internship in clinical and community psychology at Yale School of Medicine, and her BA in psychology at Swarthmore College. Her research on brief, scalable interventions for youth depression and anxiety has been recognized via numerous awards, including a National Institutes of Health Director’s Early Independence Award; the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) President’s New Researcher Award; and Forbes’s “30 Under 30 in Healthcare.”


Michael C. Mullarkey, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at Stony Brook University. He previously completed his PhD in clinical psychology at The University of Texas at Austin, his doctoral internship in clinical psychology at Stony Brook University, and his BA/MA in psychology at American University. Mullarkey has been recognized as a Bridging Barriers Fellow and the Top Student Researcher in the Mindfulness Special Interest Group of the ABCT. He has partnered with nine high schools and colleges to test and disseminate single-session interventions for depression and anxiety.


Mallory L. Dobias, BS, is a clinical psychology PhD student at Stony Brook University, with a BS in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. Dobias has contributed to the development and/or dissemination of six different mental health interventions for depression and anxiety. Through intervention research, she disseminated an online growth mindset program to over 2,900 students in seven Texas high schools, and developed her own first-authored intervention program that is now undergoing research evaluation at the Child Mind Institute in New York City, NY.

Table of Contents

A Note to Teens vii

Part 1 Discover Your Power to Change

Activity 1 From Brain Change to Self-Change 2

Activity 2 Changing Your Brain Puts You in Charge 8

Activity 3 Beliefs That Do (and Don't) Boost Brain Change 14

Activity 4 Minding Your Mindsets 24

Activity 5 From Beliefs to Behavior Change Through Goals 32

Activity 6 Working Toward the Experiences You Want, Fast and Slow 41

Activity 7 Your Mindset Change Plan 48

Part 2 Become Who You Hope to Be, Especially When Life Gets Hard

Activity 8 Standing Up to Your "I Can't" Mindset 58

Activity 9 Know Your Values 65

Activity 10 Act on Your Values to Fight Fixed Thoughts 74

Activity 11 Act on Your Values to Master Your Mood 82

Part 3 View Yourself as a Good Friend

Activity 12 Brains Are Wired to Jump to Wrong Conclusions 92

Activity 13 Being Kind to Yourself Helps, Being Mean to Yourself Doesn't 96

Activity 14 Build a Bridge to Self-Kindness 102

Part 4 Treat Yourself like a Good Friend

Activity 15 Recognize Your Mean Thoughts About Yourself 108

Activity 16 Brainstorm Kinder Thoughts 113

Activity 17 Practice Kinder Thoughts in the Moment 118

Part 5 Bounce Back from Stress and Loss

Activity 18 Grow Your Ability to Notice Stress Early 124

Activity 19 Get Good at Getting Help 129

Activity 20 Grow Gratitude 134

Concluding Thoughts: To the Future You 141

Interviews

Schleider resides in Stony Brook, NY; Mullarkey resides in Austin, TX; Dobias resides in Austin, TX.

Editorial Reviews

Adolescents, like all of us, have setbacks and disappointments. These may undermine mental health, or they may become opportunities for growth. This engaging, highly readable workbook—based on sound research—guides young people through the kinds of thoughts and actions needed to turn challenges into strengths. The book is a truly valuable resource for young people, as well as for parents and clinicians”
—John R. Weisz, PhD, ABPP, professor of psychology at Harvard University, director of the Harvard Lab for Youth Mental Health, and past president and CEO of the Judge Baker Children’s Center

John R. Weisz

Jessica Schleider and colleagues have created a thoughtful, powerful, and science-guided workbook for teens who may feel ‘stuck’ in cycles of anxiety, depression, and stress. Their book is also the first to integrate our research on growth mindsets with brief, evidence-based treatments for youth depression and anxiety. The activities are creative, engaging, and right on-target with what science tells us can help teens cope and succeed!”
—Carol Dweck, PhD, Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor in the department of psychology at Stanford University

Carol Dweck

This is a terrific, engaging, much-needed, and practical workbook that will equip teens with powerful tools to reach their full potential. Youth will find using this book appealing, relevant, and accessible. It is full of interactive activities and thought-provoking exercises. Individuals of all ages will find this book beneficial for developing essential lifelong skills for thriving and surviving in a complicated world.”
—Golda Ginsburg, PhD, professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Golda Ginsburg

A gem of a book that is packed with evidence-based advice, practical strategies, and engaging material. It provides a much-needed road map for navigating the emotionally challenging teen years. I wish I had this book when I was a teen!”
—Christopher Beevers, PhD, Wayne H. Holztman Regents Chair in psychology, and director of the Institute for Mental Health Research at The University of Texas at Austin

Christopher Beevers

Schleider, Mullarkey, and Dobias bring the concept of using a ‘growth mindset’—overcoming obstacles, developing desired skills, and managing one’s mood effectively—to life for teens in this book. Full of useful, guided activities based on proven therapeutic strategies that work, this book will help both teens struggling with intense emotions and those that love them to follow a well-laid-out path toward achieving their goals.”
—Jill Ehrenreich-May, PhD, professor in the department of psychology at the University of Miami, and coauthor of Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Jill Ehrenreich-May

This book helps you understand why you think, feel, and behave the way you do, and delivers the tools you need to change for the better or deal with what life brings you. Reading it feels less like you’re in class, and more like you’re with a close friend who’s revealing secrets about life that you might have searched forever to discover, only your friend has a PhD from Harvard!”
—Andres De Los Reyes, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, Fulbright Scholar, and editor in chief of the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology

Andres De Los Reyes

This workbook is an exciting offering that leverages decades of research on people’s innate power to change. Written by a team of rising stars, this workbook uses easy-to-understand language and includes many real-world examples and helpful exercises. There is something here for all teens who wish to realize their dreams, design their futures, and become the best version of themselves.”
—Bruce F. Chorpita, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles; president of PracticeWise, LLC; and coauthor of MATCH-ADTC

Bruce F. Chorpita