Practical advice for parents on helping your children manage anxiety from Dr. Alden
It’s common for children to avoid the things that scare them. Our own Dr. Alison Alden shares her insight and expertise in how you can help your children to minimize anxiety by facing, rather than avoiding, their fears. She provides practical parenting advice so you can help your child gain self-confidence. Read more in Vice magazine:
Presentation at Northside Prep on Anxiety and Resilience
-
Drs. Siegel, Cassiday, and Ali at Northside Prep presentation on Stress and Resiliency
The Anxiety Treatment Center team was recently invited to Northside College Prep in Chicago for a panel discussion for parents on Stress, Anxiety, and Resiliency in Young Adults. Dr. Siegel, Dr. Ali, and Dr. Cassiday described how challenging stress can be during the teen years, and offered practical advice for healthy communication within the family. In addition, they discussed the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression, and offered suggestions for parents and school administrators on how to create healthier home and school environments. Parents learned why teen anxiety and depression have skyrocketed in the US, and strategies to minimize the impact within their own homes.
We’re Hiring!
As our practice continues to grow, we’re looking for talented anxiety experts to join our team.
Join our premier anxiety treatment private practice, under the direction of internationally recognized psychologist and Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) President Dr. Karen Cassiday. Come work with a friendly, talented and innovative team to offer cutting edge treatment to young children through adults suffering from anxiety and related disorders. We are a thriving and growing fee for service practice that offers individual, family and intensive exposure-based therapy, ACT, DBT and cognitive behavioral therapies. Our specialty practice is well-known for its creative and intensive treatment that helps complicated and treatment refractory patients make progress and discover mental wellness. We take pride in our beautiful, peaceful facilities in downtown Chicago, Deerfield and Oak Brook, Illinois. All staff receive a highly competitive salary, individual and group supervision, a full benefits package and numerous opportunities for continuing education and professional development. Preferred candidates will have a clinical background using cognitive behavioral therapies with anxiety and related disorders, enjoy working within a multidisciplinary team, view themselves as a lifelong learner and love the challenge of having fun while helping people with severe anxiety disorders, ASD and OC spectrum disorders. Immediate openings for post-doctoral and licensed clinicians – master’s level and PhD/PsyD. Both full -time and part-time opportunities are available, in all 3 office locations.
Interested applicants should send a letter of introduction and CV to KLCassiday@
AnxietyTreatmentCenter.com. For more information, contact us at 877-559-0001. Welcome back to Dr. Kerrie Armstrong!
Dr. Kerrie Armstrong recently returned to the Chicago area to re-join the Anxiety Treatment Center of Greater Chicago. She will be serving as the director of our Oak Brook office (which recently moved to 1550 Spring Road, Suite 220 in Oak Brook). We’re thrilled that she’s bringing her expertise in successfully treating anxiety, OCD spectrum disorders, and panic disorder back to our clinic. She’s gained valuable experience for the last several years under the guidance of Dr. Alec Pollard, an internationally recognized expert in anxiety disorders in St. Louis. Welcome back Dr. Armstrong!
On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety – Sept. 26 at New Trier H.S.
Dr
. Cassiday is honored to be participating in a Family Action Network event with Andrea Petersen, Wall Street Journal contributing writer and author of the memoir On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety. Andrea honestly described her own painful, personal history with anxiety and Dr. Cassiday provided insights into research and effective treatment. Over 350 people attended this meaningful presentation.The event was held on September 26, 2017 at New Trier High School in Northfield, IL.
- For more information, go to FamilyActionNetwork.net
To learn more about Andrea’s book, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety, go to: Oprah.com
Dr. Cassiday quoted in Reader’s Digest article on Managing Anxiety and Panic
Dr. Karen Cassiday provides her expertise throughout this Reader’s Digest article with insights and strategies for understanding and managing anxiety & panic disorder.
Everyone feels anxious and a little panicked now and then, but when worry becomes excessive and starts to affect everyday activities and panic attacks become more frequent and leave you fearing the next one, its time to take action and get your life back on track.
Managing Anger in Children and Teens with Anxiety Disorders
Dr. Alison Alden
Dr. Julieanne Pojas
Anger management can be a challenge for all teenagers, but teens with anxiety disorders often have greater difficulty with anger. ATC clinicians Dr. Alison Alden and Dr. Julieanne Pojas recently recorded a webinar for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) that describes strategies for managing tantrums, what to do when a child refuses to participate in treatment or school, and managing verbal and physical aggression toward others. Intended for other mental health professionals, this webinar can also be valuable for parents in dealing with their own children. To access the link, go to the ADAA on-line Store.
Strategies for Clinicians who Treat Eating Disorders
Eating disorders can be very complex to treat. Dr. Cassiday shares insights for clinicians on the importance of considering all aspects of mental health for clients with eating disorders: National Eating Disorders Association Blog
Mental Health Skills for the Next Generation
By Julieanne Pojas, PsyD
Mental health is an integral part of children’s overall health. However, strong mental health starts prior to stepping into a therapist’s office. Children who practice mental health skills regularly could reduce their risk for mental illness and relapse.
General guidelines for youth mental health:
Teach them compassion and gratitude
Teaching children how to be compassionate towards others inspires this behavior towards themselves. Encourage your child to be kind and caring to others by modeling unconditional acceptance. Acknowledge and admit your own mistakes in front of your kid. When they go through rough times, teach them to take the time to take care of themselves to re-energize.
Teaching your child how to express gratitude helps them to reframe their experiences in a positive way. Express things you are grateful for in front of your child. Ask children to list three things they are grateful for daily or develop a gratitude journal.
Encourage them to find purpose and meaning
Help your child find intrinsic value in what they do and live a life that is meaningful and productive. Encourage them to think about ways they can use their personal strengths and skills to create positive change in the world and society, which can be done through early involvement in volunteering. You can. Although your child’s purpose may change as they get older, it is most important that they continue to have a focus or ‘mission statement’ for their life.
Develop humor
Help your child develop good humor by modeling laughter and spontaneity. This will help your child challenge negative thoughts and tolerate emotional pain. Through acknowledging a smile and returning this emotion, brain chemistry is altered and one achieves a natural high more pleasurable than eating chocolate, receiving money, drinking coffee, or shopping. Teaching them how to have a good sense of humor helps them to be less stressed, more confident, and more resilient.
Establish a sense of community
Having mutually beneficial relationships is crucial to your child’s well being. We achieve a sense of belonging by offering support and seeking support from others. Children with a strong sense of community have an easier time seeking our help for themselves. They can build this relationship by connecting with a religious community or cultural group, or joining a special interest club. Children benefit from being reminded that they are beloved for who they are not just admired for what they do.
Encourage optimal physical health
Good diet and exercise is necessary for overall health. Encourage your children to eat fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, unprocessed foods, and to eliminate refined carbohydrates. As exercise enhances action of endorphins and improves mood and increases self esteem, model appropriate levels of physical activity. Children require 60 minutes of daily aerobic activity, which can be achieved through regular family walks.
Dr. Pojas and Dr. Alden will be teaching a webinar through the Anxiety and Depression Association of America website for clinicians to learn how to manage anger in children and teens with anxiety disorders. To access the webinar, go to: ADAA – Webinar for Professionals: Clinical Kung Fu.
What to do when your Anxious Child Throws a Tantrum?
Dr. Alden recently published an article on anxiety.org, with practical suggestions for parents in how best to respond to their child’s tantrums. Rule #1: Ignore! It’s important not to reinforce this type of behavior. Read more valuable suggestions here: What To Do When Your Anxious Child Throws A Tantrum.
