Anxiety disorders are now recognized as the most common emotional problem in the majority of countries surveyed by the World Health Organization, including the United States. The increasing rate of stress and trauma to children, which includes violence in society, social media, divorce, family breakdown, and a failing school system, has produced a "shell shocked" generation suffering from anxiety in many cases. The challenge for clinicians and behavioral health professionals is to recognize anxiety in children and help them cope.

In this presentation, you will learn ways to connect with anxious children and teens, and inspire them to learn how to manage and even prevent anxiety. You will also acquire strategies to help anxious parents ("bulldozers," "helicopters," and "snowplows") be more effective in supporting their anxious children. The pros and cons of medication will be addressed. Pitfalls and strategies for high-conflict divorce cases will also be considered. In addition, you will learn what recommendations to make to schools and teachers to help manage anxiety in students.

To increase your effectiveness with the various manifestations of anxiety in children, the following disorders will be addressed with case examples and clinical vignettes:

• Separation Anxiety Disorder
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder (with Agoraphobia)
• Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (including skin picking and hair pulling)
• Social Anxiety Disorder (including Selective Mutism)
• Specific Phobias
• Trauma- and Stressor- Related Disorders

Emphasis will be on creative psychotherapy using insight, cognitive-behavioral therapy, somatic focus (yoga, movement, breathing games, flow activities), mindfulness practices, medication, and family system interventions.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to summarize the biological, environmental, and psychological mechanisms of anxiety in children to assist with assessment and treatment planning
• Participants will be able to identify the types of anxiety disorders in children and teens to improve treatment outcomes
• Participants will create games, strategies, and practices to inspire the anxious child to practice self-regulation skills
• Participants will discuss the impact of divorce on anxiety in children and teens and how to avoid legal involvement in high conflict divorce cases
• Participants will be able to describe the use of family system interventions for treating anxious children
• Participants will discuss recommendations for schools and teachers to help manage anxiety in students

Anxiety was on the rise before COVID-19, and has only increased since the beginning of the pandemic. Our kids and teens need to learn healthy and safe coping skills to manage their anxiety. Working on these coping skills is incredibly beneficial in the long run. It can make it easier to help them deal with big feelings and challenging situations as they continue to grow. 

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to identify current levels of anxiety with youth, how the pandemic has impacted students socially and emotionally and how we can help support them 
• Participants will learn to use the coping skills checklist to explore the coping skills kids already have, and identify new ones to try and add to their coping skills repertoire
• Participants will learn to identify coping skills for kids to try and home or school to implement safe and healthy ways to manage anxiety