Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents
An Educational Forum for Ann Arbor Public Schools Parents and Staff
Thank you for your interest in the "Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents" presentation which took place on Tuesday, May 12.
The speakers were Kate Fitzgerald, MD; Aileen Prout, LMSW; Melissa Webster, LMSW; and Karen Nicholson-Muth, LMSW from the U-M Dept. of Psychiatry Child & Adolescent Anxiety Disorders program. Appointments can be made by calling the Department of Psychiatry intake line at 734-764-0231.
Aileen Prout, LMSW, is beginning a four module CBT group for children diagnosed with Separation Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobia, Social Phobia, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. For more information contact Susan Bryant at 734-764-0267.
The clinician from the Ann Arbor community who was not part of the panel but who answered questions is Shauna Tindall, (734) 769-8208. Her office is located in Ste 21B, 1945 Pauline Blvd., Ann Arbor.
Other clinicians in the Ann Arbor community who treat anxiety disorders:
Alison Adlaf at (734) 834-1055; office is located at 204 E Washington Street, Suite 201.
Laura Nisenson, PhD, works with adults, and will take some older youth (17, 18 year-olds). Her phone number is 734-623-0895 and her office is located at 425 E Washington St 101d, Ann Arbor, MI
Shelly Van Etten Lee runs an excellent CBT group for social anxiety at the U-M Dept of Psychology. It is for adults, but she will also take older youth. The next CBT for Social Anxiety Group will begin on May 19, from 5:30-7pm. This will run for eight consecutive weeks. So far the group make-up is mixed gender, age range from 27-50's, a mix of grad students and community people. There is a predominance of members with severe performance anxiety but most appear to have less anxiety across social situations more generally. They are all fairly socially skilled. Screening appointments remain available for Friday and Monday (764-3471). Group leaders will be Rita Chang and Rachel Port (predoctoral interns).
EMU Psychology Clinic: CBT for child anxiety provided by clinical psychology graduate students under the supervision of Alyssa Huth Bocks, PhD who trained at the UM Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic. (734) 487-4987, located at 611 West Cross Street, Ypsilanti.
Leah Robertson, MSW. She is trained in CBT for child anxiety and practices at the Huron Valley Child Guidance Clinic, 2940 Ellsworth Road, Ypsilanti MI 48197. Phone: 734-971-9605. Patients must quality for community mental health services.
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
7:00-8:15 p.m.
Huron High School “New Theater”
2727 Fuller Road
A majority of children report that they worry "every now and then," with common worries relating to school performance, illness of self or others, getting teased, making mistakes, or concern about physical appearance. In moderation, worry can be helpful; for instance, motivating a child to prepare for a test or an athletic event. However, if worry is intense, distressing and/or difficult for a child to control, it may impair a young person’s function and get in the way of healthy development.
Stressful events such as starting school, moving, or the loss of a parent can trigger the onset of an anxiety disorder, but a specific stressor need not be the precursor to the development of a disorder. In contrast to “normal anxiety”, the worry that characterizes anxiety disorders is excessive, distressing, and interferes with school performance, activities, friendships, and/or family relations.
Research has shown that anxiety disorders are common, occurring in up to 30% of all youth. If left untreated, children and teens with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, to have less developed social skills, and to be more vulnerable to substance abuse.
The good news is that safe and effective treatments – both “talk therapy” and medications – are available to help youth to control anxiety, so that it does not get in their way.
To learn more about anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, including the latest research advances and treatment options, we hope you will join us for an educational forum entitled, “Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents.”
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Kate Fitzgerald. MD |
Kate Fitzgerald, MD, a clinical lecturer in the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Program at the University of Michigan and member of the U-M Depression Center, will discuss how parents can differentiate “normal” worry from something more serious, review which treatment options are most effective, and describe ongoing efforts to advance the treatment of anxiety in children and adolescents.
The presentation will be followed by questions from the audience and discussion with panelists including Aileen Prout, LMSW, Melissa Webster, LMSW and Karen Nicholson-Muth, LLMSW, clinical social workers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Michigan.
This forum is presented as part of an ongoing educational partnership between the Unversity of Michigan Depression Center and the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and is appropriate for parents of students at any grade level. AAPS staff members are also encouraged to attend.
For more information about this event, please contact Trish Meyer at meyerpa@umich.edu
