View our growing library of helpful webinars on various mental health and wellness topics for families and caregivers. Upcoming webinars are listed on our events calendar. Enjoy the helpful content below, and please join our next Helping Kids Thrive!
Many children express reluctance to attend school at some point in their lives, and the rates of school avoidance are rising. In 2023, about 1 in 4 students was chronically absent, according to new research. Join the Helping Kids Thrive webinar panel and learn the underlying reasons for school refusal with effective strategies to help children manage their anxiety for the upcoming school year.
Niro Feliciano – psychotherapist, podcast host, national media commentator, and expert on anxiety, brain science, and spirituality. Niro holds a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University and is a columnist for Psychology Today and author of “This Book Won’t Make You Happy: 8 Keys to Finding True Contentment”.
Dr. Melanie Pearl, Ph.D. – child psychologist who provides psychological, behavioral, and educational services to children, families, and schools in the Ridgefield, CT area.
Melissa Rotante, LMSW – Kids In Crisis TeenTalk counselor at Staples High School.
Supportive and Scared; Managing Anxiety While Supporting Our LGBTQ+ Youth
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A webinar for caregivers and professionals working or living with LGBTQ+ youth. Learn how to manage your fears, strategies for supportive communication, and tips to navigate difficulties that may arise in a young person’s journey to be their authentic and confident self.
- Phoebe Oler, Manager of Kids In Crisis Lighthouse youth program (she/her)
- Polly Morrow, Parent and Founder of Stamford Pride Family Alliance (she/her)
- Liz Semenyck, LMFTA, M.A.; Clinician at Triangle Community Center (she/her)
- Denise Qualey, MSW, Kids In Crisis Managing Director of Crisis and Clinical Services (she/her)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW WEBINAR RESOURCE SLIDE
Navigating the complexities of the mental health system
and strategies for sourcing the right help for your family’s needs.
A discussion with Dr. Andrew Gerber, Emily Segal, LCSW, and Vanessa Elias
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Andrew J. Gerber, MD, Ph.D. is President and Medical Director of Silver Hill Hospital, a private non-profit psychiatric hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut. Dr. Gerber serves as an associate clinical professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center and the Child Study Center, at Yale University. He completed his medical and psychiatric training at Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia medical schools and his Ph.D. in psychology at University College London. Dr. Gerber is the past Director of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and past Medical Director and CEO of the Austen Riggs Center.
Emily Segal, LCSW has been working with children and adolescents for over twenty-five years, with a focus on child sexual abuse, anxiety and depression, trauma, grief, LGBTQ+ youth, and Restorative Practices. Currently, Emily is the Director of Adolescent Behavioral Health at Family Centers, as well as the Senior Social Worker at the School-Based Health Centers program.
Vanessa Elias is a mental health activist, certified parent coach, and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) parent support group facilitator. Vanessa is mom to three girls (13, 18, and 21) and is the founder of Thrive with a Guide, LLC.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE WEBINAR RESOURCE LIST
Social Media – Pandemic Blessing and Burden Expert advice
to help families navigate the challenges presented by living with technology,
a discussion with Chris Parrott and Jamie Lee.
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COVID Mental, Physical Health & Resilience For Children and Families
Q&A with Dr. Charles Morgan, psychiatrist, and Dr. Susan Lasky, pediatrician
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Together our physician panel will be discussing physical and emotional health as it relates to Covid, the return to school, and any related health concerns you may have for the upcoming school year and navigating family life during a pandemic.
Dr. Charles Morgan is a diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry. He is a graduate of Cornell University Medical College and completed his residency in Adult Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Morgan has over thirty-five years of delivery of care to a diverse group of patients. His main focus at his private practice in Ridgefield is the treatment of young adults and adults with mood disorders, psychotic illness, and ADD.
Dr. Susan E. Lasky is a pediatrician in Stamford, Connecticut, and is affiliated with Stamford Hospital. She received her medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for 11-20 years.
Helping Children and Families Through a Divorce
a virtual discussion with Dr. Harry Adamakos
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Dr. Harry Adamakos is a clinical and forensic psychologist who has been in practice for over 30 years, specializing in family matters related to divorce, separation, custody, and blended family issues. Dr. Adamakos has also served as a Guardian ad Litem for children in family court.
Managing Back-to-School Anxiety – We Can Help!
a panel virtual discussion
Carol Mahlstedt MSW, Psy.D – Yvonne Learner MSW TeenTalk Counselor
Joanne Mortimer MS, LMHC, BCB – Polly Morrow, Parent
Moderated by Denise Qualey, MSW,
Kids In Crisis Managing Director of Crisis and Clinical Services
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE WEBINAR
Join a webinar panel on preparing children to return to school and effectively identify and manage their anxiety – a discussion for parents and kids. Our panel includes mental health professionals and a local mom. Together they’ll offer tips to manage stress, brainstorm solutions to ease the transition back to school, and answer your submitted questions.
How has the COVID pandemic period affected our eating and nutrition?
What habits do we need to look out for in our children?
Q&A with registered dietitian/nutritionist Lisa Bunce, MS. RDN, and Janet Lydecker, PhD
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE WEBINAR
Please join the conversation about, tips on nutrition, health, eating disorders, and much more. Ask the experts, and learn about resources available to you and your family.
Lisa Bunce is a Registered Dietitian with over 30 years of experience helping clients meet their health and weight management goals. Lisa founded Back to Basics Nutrition Consulting to help individuals make positive health changes in their lives.
Dr. Janet Lydecker is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Associate Director of Clinical-Research Training, and the Director of Child Eating and Weight Initiatives at POWER at Yale School of Medicine – a program for obesity, weight, and eating research. The goal of the child focus area of Yale POWER is to help youth and their families through research. There are several ongoing projects that look at individual youth, parents, and treatments.