Help Kids Face Worry with Courage and Play
An evidence-based toolkit for the professionals who help children manage anxiety
Built on over 50 years of science and developed with the REACH Institute at Arizona State University, COMPASS for Courage gives mental health professionals an easy-to-use, hands-on way to teach the children children you work with the skills to handle worries, emotions, and challenges, all through games and role-play.
Made possible with support from
One-size-fits-all rarely fits
Every child responds to fear and anxiety differently. Worksheets and scripted lessons often aren't engaging enough to hold a child's attention, or don't offer the hands-on practice that actually builds skills. It can leave you reaching for something more flexible, more effective, and frankly more fun.
Kids are carrying more worry than ever
Children today face more stress, fear, and anxiety than any recent generation. The need for tools that build resilience has never been greater, yet finding resources that are both evidence-based and genuinely easy to use can eat up hours you don't have.
Play is how kids actually learn this
Play captures a child's attention and imagination in a way few other things can. It creates natural moments to practice handling hard feelings and turns difficult skills into something a child wants to do. That's the principle COMPASS for Courage is built on.
What COMPASS Does
Use engaging games and role-play to help children manage emotions, work through worries, build friendships, and face fears with growing confidence.
Teach skills that last
Adapt the activities to individual sessions or small groups, and to the specific needs of the kids in front of you.
Fit it to any child
Step-by-step guidance means you can add practical, proven strategies to your work without hours of hunting for the right material.
Save your prep time
Trade outdated, disengaging approaches for tools grounded in research, so you can trust what you're putting in front of kids.
Practice with confidence
Everything you need to help kids manage anxiety, in one box
WHAT’S INSIDE
A complete, ready-to-use system. No extra purchases, no separate downloads.
THE 5 COURAGE GAMES
Match It!
Spot how anxiety shows up in thoughts, body, and feelings.
Stand Up!
Spot how anxiety shows up in thoughts, body, and feelings.
Digital Materials
Every material digitally, so you can start before your box arrives.
Worryheads
Turn worries into plans and problem-solving.
Face It!
Spot how anxiety shows up in thoughts, body, and feelings.
PLUS, IN EVERY KIT
Guidebook
Step-by-step guidance for every game in a durable, spiral-bound book.
Group Rules Poster
For using the COMPASS Toolkit as a small-group program.
Breathing Toolkit
3 guided exercises: diaphragmatic breathing, guided imagery, and box breathing.
Courage Screener
A validated, child self-report tool to identify who could most benefit.
AND, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST
Video Walkthroughs
From the creators on why each game helps, and how to use them.
Make Believe
Practice everyday conversations and social skills.
All five, in one kit
See how the games build on each other.
Explore the toolkit →
Practice Challenges
Turn each game's lesson into a real-world skill kids can carry beyond the session.
Family Letters
Ready-to-send updates to keep parents informed and involved.
WHO THIS IS FOR
This is for you if you're looking for practical and engaging ways to foster children's resilience.
COMPASS for Courage is for mental health professionals who work with children dealing with stress, fear, or anxiety. It offers an easy-to-use, hands-on, evidence-based approach to help kids manage emotions, handle worries, and confidently face challenges and fears. This toolkit is for you if you:
Work in a school, clinic, private practice, or community program
Value proactive approaches that help kids before challenges escalate
Prefer tools that are grounded in research and empirically supported
Are a social worker, counselor, psychologist, therapist, or similar role
Aren’t satisfied with current resources for helping kids with stress, fear, or anxiety
Run individual sessions or small groups and want something flexible for both
What practitioners and kids are saying
TESTMONIALS
We're really empowered by COMPASS. It works wonders with these kids!
– Psychologist in K8 school
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I use S.W.A.P. a lot when I have bad thoughts and I overthink them. It helps me solve my problems.
– 11 year old after COMPASS
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My favorite part was learning that the more I do things that make me nervous, the less nervous I get.
– 10 year old after COMPASS
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COMPASS gives kids a way to practice facing fears without it feeling like heavy work.
– LCSW in private practice
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One toolkit. Everything included.
The complete physical COMPASS for Courage toolkit, with immediate access to the digital version and an expanded suite of online resources.
✦ 5 Courage Games
✦ Toolkit Guidebook
✦ Practice Challenges
✦ Breathing Toolkit
✦ Group Rules Poster
✦ Digital Access & Materials
What’s included
Get started
$229.00
Per Toolkit
THE SCIENCE
Built on decades of evidence, not guesswork
COMPASS for Courage is an exposure-based cognitive-behavioral intervention enriched with social-skills training – the approaches with the strongest evidence for helping kids manage anxiety. It's backed by multiple evaluations and randomized controlled trials, and was developed in partnership with the REACH Institute at Arizona State University.
Explore the full science behind the toolkit →
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely, COMPASS for Courage is versatile enough for mental health professionals and practitioners to effectively utilize in individual and group settings. It's designed specifically for flexible adaptation in various educational and therapeutic settings and the needs of the children being supported.
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COMPASS for Courage is an exposure-based cognitive-behavioral intervention enriched with social skills training. It's grounded in a substantial body of evidence, including multiple evaluations and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), ensuring its effectiveness in fostering resilience and courage in children.
You can view all of the science behind COMPASS for Courage at www.thecouragelab.org -
For professionals seeking additional support or training, the live training is available as an adjunct to the Toolkit. This program offers in-depth training and resources to maximize the impact of the Toolkit in practice, ensuring professionals are well-equipped to support children's resilience and well-being effectively.
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Yes, COMPASS for Courage is highly adaptable and can be seamlessly integrated into existing programs or curriculums. It can serve as a standalone set of tools or complement and augment existing practices. Its design allows for flexible use by mental health professionals and practitioners, making it an invaluable resource for enhancing the effectiveness of therapeutic and educational interventions focused on building resilience and managing fears and anxieties in children.
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Orders are processed within 3 business days. Turahe exact time it takes to receive your kit after it has been shipped will depend on the shipping service you select at checkout. General estimates for delivery times can vary, but most customers can expect to receive their kit within a week after their order has been processed, with variations based on the specific shipping options available and the delivery location.
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After purchasing COMPASS for Courage, you'll receive instant access to the digital materials, allowing you to begin incorporating the resources into your practice immediately from any device. The lifetime updates apply specifically to these digital materials, not the physical toolkit. This means you will automatically receive any future digital content enhancements, additional resources, and evidence-based updates at no extra cost.
