March 15, 2010
Tips for Parenting an Anxious Child
Submitted by: Dvora Entin, LMSW, JFCS Aleinu Network
On February 17th, a group of over 40 women spent several hours together discussing and learning about the way anxiety can manifest itself in children. As a parent of several of my own, it was fascinating to see how anxiety has touched the lives of many of my friends and presents challenges to so many families at different stages in life.
The speakers, Dr. Jennifer O’Connor of Remuda Ranch, and Dr. Holly Asher Drinen, a psychologist in private practice, presented practical advice and guidance in the treatment and understanding of anxiety.
Jennifer focused on understanding the symptoms of anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in children, with “scrupulosity” of significant concern to those in the religious community. If an individual has OCD tendencies, devout religious observance can highlight the obsessions and compulsions. Dr. O’Connor encourages a partnered approach to treatment to include rabbinic guidance working with a therapist for successful minimization of symptoms. Additionally, she encouraged parents to focus on teaching distress tolerance to their children, helping a child tolerate uncomfortable emotions or anxieties.
Holly presented a four-step plan to reduce anxiety in the school environment where anxiety symptoms can classically present. Her clever acronym of STIC (Show That I Can) encourages children to gradually face fears and calm the physical symptoms of anxiety. Through practice and a supportive environment, children can usually work through many fears and anxiety provoking situations. Dr. Drinen helped us understand how teachers can develop anxiety reducing techniques and environments to encourage behavior modification and a successful learning experience.
Parents are an integral part of helping children face their fears and anxieties to create healthy, productive children which leads to healthy adults. Both professionals encouraged parents to acknowledge and address the fears rather than avoidance of situations where the fear can present. Parents should be careful not to “shelter” the child from her emotion as the family could end up avoiding any situation which could provoke a negative response from the anxious child, and the child will not learn how to tolerate the emotional discomfort. However, sometimes, parental support and involvement is not enough and families need to seek professional help and medication to help a child with anxiety.
Training children in “distress tolerance” will encourage a healthier, more successful child!
For more information on this or other mental health and wellness classes, please email dvora.entin@jfcsarizona.com
December 8, 2009
JFCS Youth Take a Private Tour of White House
Youth from the JFCS Youth in Transition program at the Capital Building, 12/03/09.
A note from Mary Schraven, JFCS System of Care Director:
(Mary Schraven manages the Youth in Transition programs, which assist teenagers that are transitioning out of foster care and CPS custody into healthy, independant adult lives. These JFCS programs help teenagers with positive life skills, coping skills, counseling, job training, GED education, preparation for college, and much more.)
**December 3, 2009**
“I wanted to take a moment to update you all on the trip that I am on with some of our JFCS teens. I am so proud to be here in Washington D.C. representing Jewish Family & Children’s Service and our state of Arizona. Even with the challenges that we face, I am proud to be from Arizona. I spent the day yesterday with some amazing people and some of the greatest minds at Georgetown University. I learned so much that I cannot wait to share!
The kids arrived last night, and we took them to Union Station for dinner. This morning, at 11:00am, our young adults had a tour of the Capital. They were wonderful, gracious and in awe. I spent the day working with lobbyists and legislative aides to be sure that they know who we are, what we do, and how they can help us continue to help empower people. We are now getting ready to take them to have a nice dinner in the city, and then to the White House to have a private tour of the West Wing!
As I sit here and think about the evening ahead of us, I am overcome with joy that these young men and women, who have faced seemingly insurmountable odds are going to walk the very halls where some of the greatest men and women in our history have stood. I believe with all my heart that because of what we do each and every day at JFCS with love and support that one of “our” children could one day sit behind the desk that we will see tonight! Each one of our staff in someway has made this possible for these youth. I wanted to say thank you for caring for these kids and cheering them on when they succeed! Most importantly, thank you for continuing to care for them when they do not have anyone else to care about them. Tonight, we will represent JFCS and all of the staff with grace and pride!”
(The trip to Washington, D.C. with Mary Shraven and JFCS youths, was sponsored in part by Magellan Health Services, Inc.)