Learn from Experts Videos

An eating disorder is about much more than a person’s desire to change their body. In fact, it’s a way of coping with deeper emotional pain and is very much a mental illness.

Sarah Halvorson, LMFT, Director of Clinical Services, Ascend Consultation in Heath Care – Chicago, Northbrook answers questions about diagnosis, treatment, and more.

Depression and suicide rates are on the rise.  Learn thoughtful ways to engage with your teen about depression, self-harm, and suicide to help them or their friend.

Erica Leibrandt, LCPC, RYT, MA, Sound Mind Counseling, Glenview, IL, answers questions about teenage depression, symptoms, treatments, active and passive suicidal ideation and more.

Social situations can feel awkward for many people, but for some, that discomfort can become extreme and present as social anxiety.

Megan Hoffman, LCSW, Compass Health Center, Northbrook, IL, explains how it impacts a kid, signs and treatment, and what parents can do to support their child when dealing with this challenging situation.

Did you know that when a child struggles to get to school, stay there, or go there in the first place, that’s called school refusal?

It’s often an indication of underlying mental health issues.

Toni Boos, PsyD, Compass Health Center, Northbrook, IL outlines the signs of school refusal, how parents should respond and support their child, when to seek professional help, and how to find the balance between pushing a child and accommodating them.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular treatment for a range of mental health challenges for both kids and adults, but do you really know what it is?

Dr. Erica Wagner-Heimann, PsyD, Co-Founder and Director,  Center for Anxiety & OCD, Deerfield, IL explains how CBT works, its benefits, and the role parents play in the process.

Some kids need more support than a weekly therapy session or an IOP (intensive outpatient program). In that case, the child may find help in a partial hospitalization program or PHP. 

Shannon Goebel Paul, CEO,  Plena Mind Center, Northbrook, IL, explains what a PHP offers and allays the common fears that come with the word “hospitalization”. 

If a weekly mental health therapy session is not enough to meet a child’s needs, another option is attending an IOP, an intensive outpatient program.

Dr. Dan Mortenson, PhD, Chicago Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Center, LLC, explains this level of treatment including how to know if this is the right choice for your child, what the typical schedule looks like, and expectations for parents. 

Children caught in a cycle of unwanted thoughts, fears, and worries may be dealing with OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

While this mental illness can greatly disrupt daily life, it is treatable.

Dr. Andrea Barmish Mazza, PhD, Co-Founder and Director,  Center for Anxiety and OCD, Deerfield, IL, discusses OCD signs, symptoms, and treatment options, as well as the role parents play in the entire experience.

If your child is expressing intense fear that’s getting in the way of daily life, they may be experiencing a phobia.

Dr. Jennifer Keller, licensed clinical psychologist,  Center for Anxiety and OCD, Deerfield, IL explains a fear vs. phobia, symptoms, treatment options, and suggestions for how to support a child as they manage life with phobias. 

Anxiety is widespread these days, but all cases are not created equal. There’s typical anxiety that is quite manageable and then there’s a range of anxiety disorders which are more serious, diagnosable, and treatable with therapy and/or medication. How do you know the difference and how do you handle each one?

Dr. Amber May, Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist, The Bloomberg Institute, Northbrook, IL, answers these questions and more to help parents understand their child’s anxious behavior, how to respond to it, and when to get professional help.

Practicing gratitude is scientifically proven to improve your physical and mental health, help you sleep better, and enhance your relationships. However, it’s more than listing the things for which you are grateful.

Empowerment Coach Judith Joy explains how to start a meaningful gratitude practice for yourself, how to engage your kids in the experience, and how to incorporate it into your Zoom Thanksgiving.