Tickets Now Available!

Reducing Anxiety:  Strategies to Interrupt the Worry Cycle

April 1, 7 P.M. Mclean Community Center Alden Theater

Anxiety is a very persistent master; when it moves into families, it takes over daily routines, schoolwork, bedtime, and recreation. Despite our best intentions, parents often unwittingly plant the seeds of worry. Action, not avoidance, is the key to success in helping children and teens push through their fears, worries, and phobias to ultimately become more resilient, independent, and happy.

As part of a yearlong focus on youth anxiety, the Safe Community Coalition is proud to present an evening with Lynn Lyons, nationally-recognized licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist, on April 1 at 7 p.m. at the McLean Community Center’s Alden Theater.

Lynn is the co-author with Reid Wilson, PhD of the groundbreaking book Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children. In it, Lyons provides families with step-by-step plan to solve the puzzle of anxious, avoidant kids. It explains the difference between healthy worrying and debilitating anxiety and provides the tools to help children and teens face their challenges and stop the cycle of fear.

Using current research and contemporary examples, Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents exposes the most common anxiety-enhancing patterns including reassurance, accommodation, avoidance, and poor problem solving and offers a concrete plan with seven key principles that foster change. And, since new research reveals how anxious parents typically make for anxious children, the book offers exercises and techniques to change both the children’s and the parental patterns of thinking and behaving.

Based in Concord, New Hampshire, Lynn has over 28 years of experience working with parents and children with anxiety. She is a sought-after speaker and consultant specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders in adults and children, including generalized anxiety, phobias, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and performance anxiety.

Join the Safe Community Coalition on April 1 at 7 p.m. for an informative evening. This event is for parents only. A limited selection of Lynn’s books and materials will be sold at the event, and a book signing will be held after the presentation.

When purchasing your ticket, please consider making a donation so that the Safe Community Coalition can provide tickets for area teachers and school counselors.

“Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents” Community Book Talks

Langley High School, Monday, March 18, 12 pm

Come join Principal Greer as she leads LHS’ book club on Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents:  7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children.”  Bring your lunch for the book club at noon on Monday, March 18th in the Lecture Hall.  Dessert and drinks will be provided.

McLean High School, Tuesday March 26, 10 am

Dr. Melissa Sporn, local psychologist and McLean High School mom, will lead a book talk on Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents:  7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children. Come join other McLean High School and Longfellow Middle School parents for coffee and danishes while discussing the book’s topic of anxiety. Having read the book isn’t necessary to participate. All attendees must check in at MHS front office and will be directed to the discussion room. Beth Werfel, MHS school psychologist, will also be present to describe the school’s mental health supports.

Ethics Days Need Volunteers!

The Safe Community Coalition is very appreciative of the generous financial support from our local donors, which helps underwrite the “6th Grade Ethics Day” workshop for all 6th graders in the McLean and Langley school pyramids. Volunteers are needed to serve as table leaders for small groups of students from 9am-1pm on the following dates: March 8, 15, 22 & 29. No prior experience is needed, and training is provided. Click HERE to volunteer.  For more information, contact Maria Barnett.