Scroll down for descriptions of each workshop in Anxiety SOS with the associated speaker's bio.
Ann-Louise Lockhart, PsyD, ABPP
Are you a parent who feels lost when it comes to recognizing and managing your child’s anxiety? Do you find yourself questioning whether it’s just a phase or something more?
We understand the heartache and frustration parents face when their child's worries seem to overshadow their happiness. In this workshop, Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, a board-certified pediatric psychologist with 18 years of experience, dives deep into the nature of childhood anxiety. We’ll explore the fine line between normal fears and anxiety disorders, demystifying the signs that often leave parents in the dark.
What You Will Learn:
- Holistic Understanding of Anxiety: Through an exploration of physical, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive symptoms, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of how anxiety manifests in children and teens. Recognize those subtle signs – the sweaty palms, the tearful moments, and the racing thoughts – that are too easy to overlook.
- Effective Strategies to Manage Anxiety: From breathing exercises to structured routines and cognitive reframing techniques, discover practical, evidence-based methods to help your child navigate their anxieties. Learn how to integrate these strategies into everyday life in a way that empowers your child without causing additional stress.
- Your Role in Your Child’s Emotional Health: Gain insight into how your own anxieties and behaviors influence your child. Equip yourself with the tools to foster a supportive environment where open conversations about fears are encouraged, and both you and your child can grow together.
Imagine a home where worry doesn’t rule the day, where your child feels understood, and where you both can embrace fear as part of the journey, not the destination.
Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart is a renowned pediatric psychologist, parent coach, and national speaker with over 18 years of experience. Based in San Antonio, TX, she specializes in ADHD, executive functioning, anxiety, and supporting highly sensitive kids. Dr. Lockhart is dedicated to empowering overwhelmed parents with the tools and understanding they need to effectively support their children and teens. She is also an accomplished author and business owner, committed to fostering stronger family dynamics and mental well-being.
Emily King, Ph.D.
As parents, there are moments when we see our children struggle in ways that break our hearts—episodes of overwhelming anxiety, frightful meltdowns, and intense emotions that leave us feeling helpless and unsure of how to support them. This workshop, featuring the expertise of Dr. Emily King, Ph.D., invites you into a compassionate, understanding space where we embrace these tender experiences with empathy and actionable wisdom.
Join us as we delve into the profound journey of raising an anxious child, where you'll gain valuable insights and practical strategies that speak directly to your deepest concerns and aspirations for your child's well-being. In this session, you will:
- Understanding Stress Responses: Learn why punitive actions during moments of intense anxiety can be counterproductive and discover how to approach consequences in a way that teaches and guides rather than punishes.
- Building Trust and Self-Regulation: Gain tools to help your child develop self-regulation and confidence by validating their feelings and creating a safe space where they can navigate their emotions.
- Practical Coping Strategies: Get actionable steps for helping your child connect with their bodily sensations and signals, fostering early awareness and autonomy over their emotional responses.
By the end of this workshop, you’ll be equipped with the tools and understanding to not only manage your child's anxiety more effectively but also to transform these challenging moments into opportunities for growth and deeper connection.
Dr. Emily W. King is a Child Psychologist and former School Psychologist who has worked with neurodivergent children and teens for the last 20 years. She received a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she worked at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. She spent five years as a School Psychologist in Houston, Texas specializing in providing school-based mental health services in K-12 public schools. Dr. Emily now works in private practice in North Carolina supporting the mental health needs of neurodivergent youth, their families, and their teachers.
Dr. Emily is the creator of The Neurodiverse Classroom, a professional development curriculum for K-12 educators. She has been featured on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, quoted in The New York Times and The Washington Post, and has written for Parents.com. You can learn more with Dr. Emily by listening to her podcast or following her on Substack where she also hosts online parent workshops.
The Overlap Between Challenging Behavior & Anxiety
Dr. Gila
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Dr. Gila (she/her) is a Jai-certified parent coach and certified Clini-Coach®. She’s also a psychologist and neuropsychologist in New York State.
Most importantly, Dr. Gila is a single mom, and she is passionate about single parenting with connection, NOT perfection. She helps single parents build healthy relationships with their kids AND themselves, through workshops, individual coaching, and her group program, The SingleParentology™ Lab. Her motto is: Even if you're on your own, you don't have to do it alone!
The Interplay of Motivation & Anxiety
Melanie McNally, Psy.D.
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Dr. Melanie McNally is a licensed clinical psychologist and brain coach who helps adolescents and adults live up to their potential. She combines personal development, peak performance coaching, cheerleading, and accountability to help people discover who they truly are. Dr. McNally has worked in the mental health field since 2005. She has two books out: The Emotionally Intelligent Teen and Helping Your Unmotivated Teen, both of which can be found wherever you buy your books. She lives in the upper peninsula of Michigan with her husband, dogs, and cats.
Responding to Anxiety with Curiosity
Debbie Reber, MA
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Debbie Reber, MA is a parenting activist, bestselling author, speaker, and the CEO and founder of Tilt Parenting, a resource, top-performing podcast, consultancy, and community with a focus on shifting the paradigm for parents raising and embracing neurodivergent children. The Tilt Parenting Podcast has more than 7 million downloads and a slate of guests that includes high-profile thought leaders across the parenting and education space. Debbie’s most recent book is Differently Wired: A Parent’s Guide to Raising an Atypical Child with Confidence and Hope. In 2018 she spoke at TEDxAmsterdam, delivering a talk entitled Why the Future Will Be Differently Wired.
Prior to launching Tilt, Debbie spent fifteen years writing inspiring books for women and teens, including Doable, Chill, In Their Shoes, The Real Deal series from Chicken Soup for the Soul, Run for Your Life, and more than a dozen Blue’s Clues books. Before becoming a solopreneur, Debbie worked in TV and video production, producing documentaries for UNICEF, working on Blue’s Clues for Nickelodeon, and developing series for Cartoon Network. She has an MA in Media Studies from the New School for Social Research and a BA in Communications from Penn State.
Quiet, Unspoken Anxiety vs. Loud, Obvious Anxiety
Dayna Abraham
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Dayna Abraham, bestselling author of Calm the Chaos: A Fail-Proof Roadmap for Parenting Even the Most Challenging Kids.
As a National Board Certified educator, parent of three neurodivergent children, and an ADHD adult herself, Dayna brings a unique and out-of-the-box perspective to parents raising kids in the modern world.
Through her compassionate framework, Calm the Chaos, she has helped millions of desperate parents around the world, find peace and meet their children where they're at when conventional parenting tools have failed them.
Imposter Syndrome
Matthew Zakreski, Psy.D.
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Social Anxiety & Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)
Sharon Saline, Psy.D.
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Kids & Teens
Allison Lucchese, LMFT
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Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
Casey Ehrlich, Ph.D.
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SHORT: The Intersection of Gaming and Anxiety
Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD MPH (Dr. K)
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Dr. Kanojia’s integrative medical and psychiatric training includes Harvard Medical School’s MGH/McLean Residency Program, 100+ meditation therapies, and an evidence-based background in Ayurvedic mental health. He began studying alternative therapies including yoga, meditation, and Reiki in 2003 with particular attention to the Ayurvedic principle that mental health is inextricably linked to physical health. When he’s offline, he’s usually traveling, gardening, or grilling with his family.
What to Do When Your Kid’s Anxiety Doesn’t Make Sense to You
Vanessa Lapointe, R. PSYCH
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Dr. Vanessa Lapointe is a mom, parenting educator, best-selling author, international speaker, and a regularly invited media guest. She holds a doctoral degree in psychology, and practiced as a psychologist for nearly 20 years, before devoting her full-time energy to connecting with parents and other “big people” around the globe in 2023. Founder of The North Star Developmental Clinic, Dr. Vanessa has long been supporting families and children in her developmental clinic alongside her team, and has previous experience in community mental health and the school system. Dr. Vanessa is known for bringing a sense of nurturing understanding and humanity to all of her work. Her passion is in walking alongside parents, teachers, care providers, and other big people to really see the world through the child’s eyes. She believes that if we can do this, we are beautifully positioned to grow up our children in the best possible way.
Anxiety & Trauma
Aimie Apigian, MD MS MPH
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Double-board certified physician in Preventive and Addiction Medicine with
double Master’s degrees in biochemistry and public health, Dr. Aimie Apigian is
the leading medical expert on how trauma becomes our biology and what to do
once it creates a chronic health condition.
Yet her inspiration comes from her personal experiences. Becoming a foster
parent and adopting during medical school, and then experiencing her own
health crisis in her early 30s, she has been on a journey to find practical tools
and solutions, beyond the diagnoses, pills, and traditional therapies that weren’t
addressing the root problem.
She now hosts a podcast, a YouTube channel, and online Summits working
closely with experts in the health and trauma space. She speaks around the
world, leads groups through her programs to address stored trauma in the body,
and teaches practitioners to do the same in her Biology of Trauma online
training.
Treatment Options for Anxious Kids
Jenny C. Yip, Psy.D., ABPP
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Jenny Yip, PsyD, ABPP, is a board-certified, licensed psychologist, author, speaker, media contributor, and a nationally recognized OCD, anxiety, and parenting expert. Since childhood, Dr. Yip has fought her own personal battle with OCD. Inspired by her childhood struggles and motivated to help others overcome theirs, she has dedicated her professional career to treating families and individuals with severe OCD, anxiety disorders, and parenting stress for over two decades. Renowned as the go-to expert, Dr. Yip is a regular guest on television, print, podcasts, and national radio, drawing on her extensive 20-plus-year experience in evidence-based clinical treatments, teaching, and research. She is the creator of the Stress-Less Life™ brand, which includes hosting the Stress-Less Life podcast and the Stress-Less Mama masterclass. She has authored several books, with her most recent, Hello Baby, Goodbye Intrusive Thoughts, ranking as a top new release.
Dr. Yip is on the board of directors of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), where she facilitates the Perinatal OCD Task Force and co-directs the BIPOC Behavior Therapy Training Institute. She is a clinical member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), and a Clinical Fellow of the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA). In 2008, Dr. Yip established the Renewed Freedom Center in Los Angeles, followed by the Little Thinkers Center in 2016, dedicated to providing cutting-edge treatments for children, parents, and families. A sought-after speaker on mental health, family dynamics, pediatric development, and maternal wellness, she has delivered impactful presentations at over 100 national and international conferences. Recognized for her unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions to the field, Dr. Yip has received several prestigious awards. In an effort to raise accurate awareness, eliminate negative mental health stigmas, and provide practical parenting tools, she is tirelessly involved in a range of organizational, educational, and media projects to provide effective strategies for a Stress-Less Life. Her most paramount endeavor lies in nurturing her twin boys to live compassionately empowered by healthy and meaningful boundaries.
Helping Your Highly-Sensitive Anxious Child
Gabriele Nicolet, Ph.D.
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Gabriele is a developmental speech therapist, parent coach and host of the Complicated Kids Podcast. She is the owner and Head Toddler Whisperer at SpeechKids, a private speech therapy practice serving families both in and outside the DC Metro area. She is also the co-founder of Raising Orchid Kids, a parent education and coaching practice Gabriele is passionate about showing families how to help their Orchid Kids (highly sensitive kids who need “extra”) thrive and not just survive. She works with children and their families 1:1 and in groups.
How a Low Demand Approach Can Help Anxiety
Amanda Diekman
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Amanda Diekman is an autistic adult, parent coach, and author in the neurodiversity space. Amanda became a leading voice in the movement for low demand parenting practices, with her book Low Demand Parenting, published July 2023. Amanda runs a successful coaching practice for parents of neurodivergent children including online courses and a vibrant membership community. She lives with her husband and three neurodivergent children in an intentional community in Durham, NC.
Responding to Anxiety with Compassion
Emily Hamblin, MA
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Amanda Diekman is an autistic adult, parent coach, and author in the neurodiversity space. Amanda became a leading voice in the movement for low demand parenting practices, with her book Low Demand Parenting, published July 2023. Amanda runs a successful coaching practice for parents of neurodivergent children including online courses and a vibrant membership community. She lives with her husband and three neurodivergent children in an intentional community in Durham, NC.
What to Do When Anxiety is Masked by Aggression
Tosha Schore
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Tosha Schore is a parent coach and the founder of Parenting Boys Peacefully, where she is on a mission to create a more peaceful world, one sweet boy at a time. She is also co-author of “Listen: Five Simple Tools to Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges,” which has been translated into five languages. Tosha works with parents to care for themselves, connect with their boys deeply, set limits lovingly, and play wildly, and has been featured on Dr. Shefali’s Parenting Mastery Summit, GoZen’s Anger Transformation and ListenUp! Summits, and has spoken to audiences at the Institute for Child Psychology, the Diversity in Parenting Conference, the Davidson Institute, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, and on a boatload of podcasts!
How to Prevent & Heal Trauma in Uniquely Wired Kids
Debbie Steinberg Kuntz, LMFT
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(ADD BIO)
Supporting Executive Function Challenges to Reduce Anxiety
Seth Perler, M.Ed.
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Seth is a renegade teacher turned Executive Function, ADHD & 2e Coach based in Boulder, CO. He helps struggling students navigate a crazy educational landscape and does his part to “disrupt” and improve education. He specializes in Executive Function and 2e, Twice Exceptional learners.
Preventing Youth Suicide
Jonathan Singer, Ph.D., LCSW
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Jonathan B. Singer, Ph.D., LCSW is Professor at Loyola University Chicago's School of Social Work, Past-President of the American Association of Suicidology, coauthor of the best-selling text, Suicide in Schools: A Practitioner's Guide to Multi-level Prevention, Assessment, Intervention, and Postvention, and founder and host of the award-winning Social Work Podcast.
He is the author of over 85 publications. His research has been featured in national and international media outlets like NPR, BBC, Fox, Time Magazine, and The Guardian. Dr. Singer is a well-regarded international speaker who has served on several national youth advisory boards including Sandy Hook Promise, JED Foundation, Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and the National Suicide Prevention (988 Suicide & Crisis) Lifeline. He lives in Evanston, IL with his wife, three children and Springer Doodle Chewbacca.
SHORT: Spotting Social Anxiety
Penny Williams
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Idk, put your bio here, momma.
Let Grow: Fostering Independence to Reduce Anxiety
Lenore Skenazy
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Lenore Skenazy wrote the book, “Free-Range Kids,” which grew into the Free-Range Kids movement. Now she is co-founder and president of Let Grow, the national nonprofit making it easy, normal, and legal to give kids back some old-fashioned independence. Lenore says our kids are smarter, safer, and stronger than our culture gives them credit for. She lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. And if you want to know more, just Google, “America's Worst Mom.” Really!
The ABC's of Helping Your Child with Big Emotions
Elizabeth Sautter, MA, CCC-SLP
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Elizabeth A. Sautter, MA, CCC, is a speech-language pathologist, speaker, author, and trainer, with expertise in social communication, emotional regulation, and executive functioning. She is the author of Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick! Practical activities to help your child manage emotions, navigate social situations & reduce anxiety, along with many other resources, including an online course and community for parents. Elizabeth collaborates with the Zones of Regulation team as a trainer and is a coauthor of the Zones children’s books, card decks, and games. She is also part of the Everyday Regulation team where she has helped create the revised neurodiversity-affirming Whole Body Listening Larry resources focused. Elizabeth loves connecting on social @elizabeth.sautter (IG), ElizabethSautterMACCCSLP (FB) or www.ElizabethSautter.com
Celebrating Authenticity and Uniqueness
Emily Kircher-Morris, MA, M.Ed., LPC
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Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC, inspired by her own experiences as a neurodivergent person, is dedicated to destigmatizing neurodiversity and supporting neurodivergent people of all ages. She started her career in education and is now in private practice near St. Louis, Missouri as a licensed professional counselor, where she specializes in supporting neurodivergent kids and adults (and their families).
Emily hosts The Neurodiversity Podcast, which explores the psychological, educational, and social needs of neurodivergent people. She is the author of several books related to parenting and educating neurodivergent children and teens. Her next book, “Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted and Supported” will be released in January 2025.
Helping Kids Feel Capable & Competent
Deborah Farmer Kris
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Deborah Farmer Kris is a child development expert, parent educator, and the author of the “All the Time” and “I See You” picture book series. Her bylines include CNN, PBS KIDS, NPR’s Mindshift, The Washington Post, the Boston Globe Magazine, and Oprah Daily. Deborah is an advisor for a new PBS KIDS show, “Carl the Collector,” and is wrapping up edits on a parenting book, “Raising Awe Seekers: How the Science of Wonder Can Help Our Kids Thrive.”
Deborah spent 20+ years as a K-12 educator and has presented to thousands of educators and parents nationwide. Mostly, she loves sharing nuggets of practical wisdom that can make this parenting journey a little easier. You can learn more at her website: www.parenthood365.org
How to Talk to Kids About Their Anxiety
Dawn Huebner, Ph.D.
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Dr. Dawn Huebner is a Psychologist, Parent Coach, and the author of numerous books for children including perennial bestsellers What to Do When You Worry Too Much (second edition just released) and Outsmarting Worry. Her most recent series, Dr. Dawn’s Mini Books About Mighty Fears, speaks with warmth and humor to children struggling with specific phobias while teaching the tools needed to break free.
Dr. Huebner’s books are practical and relatable, selling well over a million copies in 25 languages. She has been featured on a host of news and information outlets and is frequently interviewed by popular parenting magazines.
The Art of Talking with Anxious Kids
Rebecca Rolland, EdD.
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Rebecca Rolland is a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and serves on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. She worked as a oral and written language specialist in the Neurology Department of Boston Children's Hospital. As a nationally certified speech-language pathologist, she has worked clinically with populations ranging from early childhood through high school and has provided teacher professional development. She has an Ed.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from the MGH Institute of Health Professions, an M.A. in English from Boston University, and a B.A. in English from Yale.
Helping Teens with School Stress & Anxiety
Natalie Borrell, Ed.S.
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Natalie is a school psychologist and an academic life coach for teenagers. She and her team of coaches help teens build their confidence, get grades that they are proud of, and reduce their stress.
Exercises for Overcoming Stuck Thoughts
Eliza Hope, LPC, NCC, MA
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NO BIO ON CLIENT LIST
Somatic Exercises for Anxious Bodies and Minds: Mindfulness, Yoga & More
Kate Lynch
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Kate Lynch is a meditation coach and inclusive yoga teacher. She has been teaching and cultivating community since 2002. In her role as Ocean’s mama, she continues to learn about advocacy, emotional balance and neurodiversity.
Kate specializes in supporting anxious parents of atypical kids with the mindfulness, resilience, and self care tools that help her get through the day.
Insider's View of School Anxiety
Luke Williams
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DAS ME 😀
SHORT: Fostering Resilience in the Age of Uncertainty
Tovah Klein, Ph.D.
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Tovah P. Klein, Ph.D. is a psychology professor at Barnard College, Columbia University; Director of the Center for Toddler Development; and author of Raising Resilience: How to Help Our Children Thrive in Times of Uncertainty and How Toddlers Thrive: What Parents Can Do Today for Children Ages 2-5 to Plant the Seeds of Lifelong Success. In her roles as a researcher and professor and in direct care with parents and children for over thirty years, Klein has helped to define what every child needs to thrive, regardless of their life situations. Working worldwide with programs addressing the needs of children, she is highly sought after as a developmental expert on a range of timely topics and an advisor to children’s media and organizations, including National Geographic Kids, Apple TV+, The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the Hunts Point Alliance for Children, Room to Grow, and Ubuntu Pathways South Africa.