The Development and Evaluation of the Therapist-assisted Online Parenting Strategies (TOPS) program for parents whose adolescents are experiencing clinical levels of anxiety and depression

This doctoral research consulted with parents and mental health professionals to develop a Therapist-Assisted Online Parenting Strategies (TOPS) program, which was then pilot tested. A trial of the TOPS program was then conducted with findings suggesting that TOPS could help parents to support their adolescents to manage anxiety and depressive disorders. Parents (N=28) showed a significant increase in (i) relevant parenting behaviours, (ii) parental self-efficacy, (iii) family functioning, and a significant decrease in (iv) carer burden. There was no significant reduction in (v) accommodation of anxious behaviours, or significant improvements in (vi) attachment, (vii) adolescent anxiety, or (vii) adolescent depression.