Internationally recognized author & educator for professionals, parents, and kids
Posts tagged anxiety
December Coffee with the Counselor Event
05 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
This school year, I’m offering monthly Coffee with the Counselor events at my school on the first (or second!) Friday of each month. Coffee with the Counselor mornings will provide an informal opportunity for parents & caregivers to discuss issues related to child and adolescent development, mental health, social & emotional development, and general well-being. I’ll share interesting resources and recommend readings on selected topics, to inspire discussion within the group.
On December 6th, we’ll be focusing on stress & anxiety in young people. We’ll look at the brain-basics of why kids worry and discuss how to use our knowledge of the brain to counter the repetitive negative thoughts that can create worry and anxiety..
RECOMMENDED ONLINE ARTICLES
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RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR ADULTS
Why Smart Kids Worry and What Parents Can Do to Help by Allison Edwards
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Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic & Worry by Catherine Pittman & Elizabeth Karle
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The Girls Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett & Gary Rubenstein
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Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak
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In January, we will welcome Dr. Christina Gorigoitia of West End Counseling & Wellness, LLC who will lead a discussion on the topic of Depression in Young People. Dr. Gorigoitia will talk about signs and symptoms of depression in young people, including what to watch for, how to support kids, and when to seek professional help.
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Coffee with the Counselor Resource List
05 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
This school year, I’ll be offering monthly Coffee with the Counselor events at my school on the first Friday of each month. Coffee with the Counselor mornings will provide an informal opportunity for parents & caregivers to discuss issues related to child and adolescent development, mental health, social & emotional development, and general well-being. I’ll share interesting resources and recommend readings on selected topics, to inspire discussion within the group.
To kick of the 2019-2020 year, here are some of the articles I hope can help all of us work together to build a caring community for children. Don’t be put off by the prevalence of the word “fail” in the titles below: these resources make a compelling case for cultivating the skills kids need to tolerate frustration, persist through uncomfortable emotional states, and pick themselves up whenever they fall…or fail. Looking forward to talking about these in October!
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ONLINE ARTICLES
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BOOKS
The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey
The Blessing of a B-: Raising Self-Reliant Children by Wendy Mogel
How Children Succeed by Paul Tough
Does Your Child Worry Too Much?
07 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
This week, I’ll be doing a presentation on how to understand and effectively respond to anxiety in children & adolescents at The Hillside School in Allentown, PA. There’s some natural overlap between this presentation and my Brain-Based Strategies for Helping Kids Calm Down workshop, as both anxiety and anger are brain-issues at their core–uncomfortable states caused by the triggering of the amygdala.
The bad news: Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million people or 18.1% of the population every year.
The good news: Anxiety disorders are highly treatable.
Being able to recognize the symptoms of anxiety for what they are, rather than confusing them with stubbornness, drama, or defiance is a key factor in meeting kids needs and helping them feel heard and understood. The article below, 15 Things Kids or Teens Say That Could Mean ‘I’m Anxious’–Where they Come From and How to Respond, is a great resource for helping adults to ‘decode’ the common ways kids describe their anxiety, in order to respond more effectively.
Another priority I’ll be talking about at Hillside is the importance of teaching kids–at a developmentally appropriate level–about their neuro-anatomy. Knowledge is power and even very young kids benefit from understanding the connection between their brains, their feelings, and their behaviors. The second post below, What Anxious and Angry Kids Need to Know About Their Brain, offers a terrific script for teaching little ones about their brain. My book, The 8 Keys To End Bullying Activity Book for Kids & Teens, offers explanations and activities for upper elementary and middle school aged kiddos on this same topic.
UPDATE, 4/27/18: Thanks to all who attended the presentation at Hillside last night. For those who attended–and those who emailed me because they were not able to attend but would like information–here are the video-instructions for making the Mindfulness Beads, as well as well as the HandBrain Model video from Dr. Dan Siegal.
For more information on training programs related to helping young people cope with anxiety, please email signe@signewhitson.com or use the Contact form on this site.
15 Things Kids or Teens Say That Could Mean ‘I’m Anxious’ – Where They Come From And How to Respond
What Anxious and Angry Kids Need to Know About Their Brain
Why Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone is Important
08 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
This morning, both of my kids are being challenged to do something outside of their comfort zone. The Mama bear in me wants to rush in and rescue them to save them from feeling fear. The loving Mama in me knows that these challenges are well within my girls’ abilities and will equip them with important life skills–including the confidence that they can face challenges head on. Breathe, Mama, breathe.
