Events Calendar

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*Please note that this webinar will be a 75 minutes session – 60 mins of presentation and 15 mins of Q&A

Dr. Jonathan Dalton, licensed psychologist and Founder of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change will focus on specific skills that parents can use to respond to anxiety in their children and teens.

In particular, he will discuss:

- What is anxiety and how do I recognize it in my child
- How and why avoidance and anxiety are teammates
- What to do (and not to do) to help children confront their anxiety in a productive fashion
- How to identify which behaviors to respond to and which to ignore

As parents, we all need help identifying what is “typical” anxiety vs. when to seek additional help.

Dr. Dalton will help us to make that determination as well as provide ways to reduce our child’s experience of anxiety.

(1) Source: Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

*link will be sent ~3 days prior to webinar

Learning from a Distance

‘Proactive Strategies to Prevent Reactive Parenting’

Jan 19th | 9AM EST | FREE

As a parent, are you…

…Tired of putting out fires?

…Dealing with conflict?

….Yearning for more consistency?

If any of these ring true and you would like to learn strategies to become more proactive in your parenting, please join us for our January webinar featuring:

Tina Long, M.Ed., Executive Function Coach, Author, and Behavior Analyst, who will present:

“Proactive Strategies to Prevent Reactive Parenting”

Tina will share specific “how-to’s” for parents including:

How to create greater predictability in your family, life, and home routines
How to utilize more effective language to communicate with your children
How to implement the “5 P’s” to transition from “reacting” to “preventing”

As parents, we can all benefit from just a bit more predictability in our families and lives. If you are tired of threatening to take away electronics and frustrated with putting out fires, you will certainly walk away with some fresh new ideas and inspiration from Tina’s highly practical parenting tips.

*link will be sent ~3 days prior to webinar

watch the replay
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Learning from a Distance

‘How to Talk to Your Kids About Technology‘

Dec 9th | 9AM EST | FREE

In our December Learning from a Distance Webinar, Dr. Edward Spector, a nationally recognized expert in digital addition, will present:

How to Talk to Your Kids About Technology

Dr. Spector will share:

The latest research about gaming disorder and comorbidity
What our kids are doing when they are online (and the biology behind it)
How we can improve the dialogue we are having with our kids in our quest to maintain a healthy use of technology

Dr. Spector‘s deep knowledge will help parents better understand what drives our kids to tech as a preferred “outlet” as well as how we can have the most productive and effective dialogue with our kids to help build a balance in all of our lives.

*Dr. Spector will speak for ~40 mins followed by a Q&A

*link will be sent ~3 days prior to webinar

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Learning from a Distance

‘Executive Function Tips to Reduce Homework Friction

Nov 15th | 7:30 PM EST | FREE

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It’s easy to get anxious when you believe your kids aren’t doing the work that needs to get done. However, most of the time, attempts by parents to get involved don’t have the intended effect and instead only damage our relationship with our children.

So, what can we do to help students get (and stay) on track with homework?

In this enlightening talk brought to you by the Yorktown HS PTA, Lindsey Thoms, M.Ed. and Debbie Rosen, co-owners of The StudyPro Executive Function and Study Skills Center will share how by better understanding Executive Functions we can reduce the resistance we get from our students and more effectively help them to do their job of getting the work done.

*link will be sent ~3 days prior to webinar

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Learning from a Distance

‘A Parent’s Guide to the Teen Brain’

nov 10th | 9AM EST | FREE

In our November “Learning from a Distance” we are proud to welcome Elisa Nebolsine, LCSW and author of “Your Amazing Teen Brain“.

In this talk, Elisa will help parents better understand:

What’s happening in the teen brain
Why teens feel more deeply than they will in any other time of their lives
How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies can be used to help teens better manage emotions and reactions

The adolescent brain is unique and far more powerful and vulnerable than we once understood.

Elisa will share the latest research from the fields of neurology and neuroscience to help us gain a clearer picture of the role of the teen brain in emotions, friendships, risk-taking, learning and more.

MS WORKSHOP MORE INFO/REGISTER

FREE MS AND HS IN-PERSON WRITNG WORKSHOPS:

‘How to Get Unstuck And Write‘

Middle School: Sat Oct 22nd

High School: Sat Nov 5th

Both workshops: 1-2:30 PM

Whether it is coming up with a main idea, starting, or editing, many students find writing more of a chore than a joy.

The Writing and Executive Function Coaches at The StudyPro will share how students can jumpstart their writing, how to make writing fun, and how to take the sting out of writing assignments.

Our coaches will walk students through:

Techniques for getting unstuck in writing,
Strategies to better understand writing assignments,
Effective writing “tools”, e.g. T-Charts, Mind Maps, Acrostics, and more

Students will learn how their thoughts about writing impact how they write and leave knowing that for every writing roadblock there is a strategy they can use to help them through it.

HS WORKSHOP MORE INFO/REGISTER

Learning from a Distance

‘The Surprising Effect of the Brain on our Bodies’

Oct 20th | 9AM EST | FREE

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In our October “Learning from a Distance Webinar” Dr. Ali Navidi, an expert in the brain-body connection, will help us understand the “why, what, and how” of this connection and what we can do to reduce the effects of stress for ourselves and our children.

Dr. Navidi is a licensed clinical psychologist who works with both children and adults struggling with chronic health issues, anxieties and other disorders using CBT as well as Clinical Hypnosis.

Dr. Navidi will help us understand:

The brain/body connection – how the brain can change any sensation into pain
How “pain” that is influenced by the brain is professionally treated via clinical hypnosis and CBT
What parents can do to help your child reduce the impact of stressors on their physical health

The mind is constantly influencing how the body is operating. Dr. Navidi will work to demystify this connection and help us to implement ways to reduce the impact of stress on ourselves, as well as for our children.

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Learning from a Distance

‘Takeaways for attention management’

Sept 15th| 9AM EST | FREE

In our first “Learning from a Distance” webinar for the 2022/23 school year we are excited to host

Lauren Schwabish, M.S., CCC-SLP, who will delve deeper into the topic of how we can all improve our ability to manage our attention.

In this unique and brain-centered talk, Lauren will provide new perspectives on attention as well as evidence-based strategies for how to help you (and your entire family):

Understand the multi-faceted aspects of attention
Consider attention as a resource to ensure you have enough of it
Improve attention and sustained focus (including how to set your kids up for success).

Just like we all need to learn to save our money, we need to know how to save our attention for its best uses.

By learning brain-healthy, attention-conserving strategies we can help our entire family better value (and direct) their attention.

Learning from a Distance

‘USING DBT SKILLS TO REDUCE CONFLICT IN OUR FAMILIES’

May 13th| 9AM EST | FREE

Most of us aren’t trained at how to manage conflict, especially when it’s with our kids.

Yet it’s learning to manage our own emotions when stressed that is the best way to help our children learn to manage their own.

In our May webinar, we are proud to host Nicole McGarry, LPC, PLLC who will present:

“Using DBT Skills to Reduce Conflict in Our Families”

Nicole’s work as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Parent Consultant, and Clinical Supervisor as well her training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) has focused heavily on helping families learn emotional regulation skills.

During this webinar, she will share:

How parents can be non-reactive to be more effective at guiding behavior
How we can help our children be more responsible for self-regulating
How the skills of Distress Tolerance and Radical Acceptance can improve emotional regulation.

Join us for this useful webinar to learn how mastering the skill of emotional regulation will make the biggest impact to improve the emotional tone of our home.

Learning from a Distance

‘AN INTRO TO SPACE: A NEW PARENT-CENTRIC APPROACH TO ANXIETY’

Apr 8th| 9AM EST | FREE

The SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) approach, is a new, innovative, short-term intervention developed at Yale University’s Child Study Center under the leadership of Dr. Eli Lebowitz, a prominent child therapist, researcher and author.

In our April (extended) webinar, Amy Killy, LICSW, and Clinical Director at The Helix Center will share the key elements of SPACE to help parents rethink parenting children with anxiety.

She will explain how a simple shift in parents’ behavior can lead to significant changes in their children — and to a more peaceful and cooperative household.

Amy will cover:

An overview of SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions)
How any parent can use SPACE principals as a foundation for good parenting.
A deeper dive into the 2 main components of SPACE (Supportive Statements and Accommodations)

Please join this webinar which will be a 75 minutes session – 60 mins of presentation and 15 mins of Q&A

Learning from a Distance

‘Why Should Parents Play the Role of a Scaffold?’

Mar 10th| Noon EST | FREE

A scaffold is a structure that supports a building under construction until it can stand on its own and comes down in stages as the building rises.

This is the parenting philosophy outlined in the book Scaffold Parenting.

In The StudyPro’s special March Event, we will interview world-renowned child psychiatrist, Dr. Harold Koplewicz, Founding President and Medical Director of the Child Mind Institute and author of Scaffold Parenting.

In this webinar Dr. Koplewicz will discuss:

The tenets of “scaffolding” parenting including the concepts of pillars and planks
Practical guidance for how we can support our children while also allowing for failure
Why the only way to fight anxiety is through exposure and response prevention

In Scaffold Parenting, Dr. Koplewicz introduces the powerful and clinically tested idea that scaffolding — a deliberate build-up and then gradual loosening of parental support — is the single most effective way to encourage kids to climb higher, try new things, grow from mistakes, and develop character and strength.

Please join us for this very special, not-to-be-missed event. *The link will be sent ~3 days prior to the webinar for those who have registered.

Watch the replay
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Parenting example video

Learning from a Distance

‘Healthy Pressure: Putting our Children on the Path to Success’

Feb 24th| 9AM | FREE

Applying healthy pressure enhances kids mental health and performance but unhealthy pressure does the opposite per Drs. Thurber & Weisinger..

If you’ve ever wondered, ‘What’s the right amount of pressure to put on my kids?” you’ve been asking the wrong question. In The Unlikely Art of Parental Pressure, Dr. Thurber and Dr. Weisinger reveal why the critical question to ask is: What’s the right KIND of pressure to put on kids?

In February’s “Learning from a Distance Webinar” The StudyPro welcomes Dr. Hendrie Weisinger and Dr. Christopher Thurber, authors of “The Unlikely Art of Parental Pressure.” who will present:

“Healthy Pressure: Putting Our Children on the Path to Success”

In this webinar Drs. Weisinger and Thurber will share:

How to identify the distinction between healthy and harmful pressure
Practical suggestions to transform harmful pressure to healthy pressure
What to do and say if your child is underperforming despite your best efforts

Parents will learn how to transform unhealthy pressure into a powerful force that guides, encourages, motivates, and inspires their children to be their best selves and will ultimately build a deeper connection with their child.

Watch the replay
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Parenting example video

Learning from a Distance

‘How SMALL Changes Help Children with BIG Emotions’

Jan 21st| 9AM | FREE

In our January “Learning from a Distance” webinar, we will learn from Rachel Bailey, M.A., a parenting expert who specializes in long-lasting solutions specifically created for parents with children that have big emotions.

She will discuss how to bring more predictability and connection and less drama into your home and family.

In this webinar, “How SMALL Changes Help Children with BIG Emotions”, she will cover

How to not get triggered when your child is being strong-willed
How to help to reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of emotional episodes
How to implement strategies to change the dynamic in your home

To develop healthy self-esteem and resilience in children with big emotions, we must start by helping them understand how they feel and why. And when WE understand how they feel and why, we can be more patient with them and more supportive.

*Link will be sent ~3 days prior to webinar

Learning from a Distance

‘What Do You Say: Effective Tools to Talk to Teens’

Dec 10th| 9AM | FREE

In our December “Learning from a Distance” webinar, bestselling authors Bill Stixrud, Ph.D. and Ned Johnson, will share effective communication tools that parents can use to best reach their children as they enter middle school and the teen years.

Based on their new book, What Do You Say, How to Talk with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home, Dr. Stixrud and Mr. Johnson will share:

How to use empathy and validation to have powerful conversations with your child
How we can employ the “language of a non-anxious presence” to help children feel heard
How to use motivational interviewing techniques to help children when they are stuck

It’s not the ‘what you say’ to your children that is as powerful as ‘how you say it’. The good news is that effective communication can be cultivated, learned, and taught. And as you get better at this, so will your kids.

Learning from a Distance

‘The Best of CBT: Tips and Tricks for Anxiety’

Nov 18th| 9AM | FREE

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most empirically supported approach to treating anxiety disorders in children & adults.

It is problem-focused, solution-oriented, and teaches coping strategies and techniques.

In our November “Learning from a Distance” webinar, we are proud to host Dr. Bonnie Zucker, author, and director of Bonnie Zucker & Associates who will present:

“The Best of CBT: Tips and Tricks for Anxiety”

Dr. Zucker’s presentation will be chock full of strategies that parents can use to help their children manage stress and anxiety including:

How to identify and reduce anxious behaviors
How to identify “thinking errors” and how to manage them
How to reduce the worry cycle
What to do and say to your child when they are feeling anxious
How to help foster resiliency by helping children know that they can handle whatever comes their way

Watch the replay
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Learning from a Distance

‘Power Panel on Parenting: Being the Best Parent We Can Be Amidst The Turmoil’

Oct 27th| 9AM (75 min) | FREE

Parenting has never been easy. But raising children to become responsible, caring, and resilient adults amidst the challenges of COVID, social media, and world turmoil can take a toll on the best of us.

If you have been feeling the “stress of it all”, this Power Panel is here to help.

In this special 75-mins “Power Panel”, Dr. McCarthy, Dr. Dalton, and Dr. Zimmitti will share their guidance for what parents can do to be the best they can be during these challenging times.

The panel will share:

The “State of the State – what the data says about the effect of the pandemic on children
What parents can do (and how) to take a “gentler” approach
How parents can best support their child with anxiety
How parents can be their best selves by “putting on their oxygen masks first”

We hope you can join us for this special 75–mins webinar* including the opportunity to have your questions answered by this power-packed expert panel.

Watch the replay
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY CHESTERBROOK ELEMENTARY PTA

‘Helping Your Child Build Study and Organizational Skills’

Sept 24th| 9AM | FREE

In this webinar*, Lindsey Thoms, M.Ed. and Debbie Rosen, Owners of The StudyPro Executive Function and Study Skills Center will share proven and straightforward techniques for building a growth mindset and Executive Function (EF) skills to help your child overcome their struggles with homework, and prepare them for middle school, high school and beyond.

Information will include specific strategies you can use to bolster EF skills and help your child become a more independent planner, manager and “finisher” of work.

Learning from a Distance

‘The Know/Go Model: Translating What ADHD Kids Know into Action’

Sept 24th| 9AM | FREE

Most ADHD kids know what needs to be done. Brushing Teeth. Homework. Not fighting with their sibling. So why is it so hard to get them to do it (consistently)?

In our September “Learning from a Distance” webinar, Dr. Karin Varblow, ADHD expert and behavioral pediatrician, will present:

“The Know/Go Model: Translating What ADHD Kids Know into Action”

In this practical and unique talk, Dr. Varblow will share:

How to better understand the brain of a child with ADHD
How to be solutions-oriented in our approach to help our children “go the way they know”
Positive language we can use to limit the negative messaging we may inadvertently be sending our kids

If you find yourself often asking “What were you thinking?”, “Why did you do that?”, or “Why isn’t this done yet?”, this webinar will help you build some new strategies and dialogue with your ADHD child.

Learning from a Distance

‘Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindset in Kids‘

May 7th| 9AM | FREE

*Replay not available per presenter’s request*

In our May Learning from a Distance webinar, we will host New York Times Best Selling Education Author, Mary Cay Ricci, national speaker, consultant and author of Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindsets in Kids.

Mary Cay will discuss:

How to build a growth mindset environment at home
Strategies for building resilience and perseverance in our children
Ways to respond effectively to mistakes and frustration

As parents, we can sometimes find ourselves overly concerned about grades, advancements on sports teams, or our children’s growing ‘resume’. We can put emphasis on the final destination and sacrifice teaching the need for resilience on the path to getting there.

Learning from a Distance

‘How to shift from reactive to proactive parenting‘

apr 16th| 9AM | FREE

In our April “Learning from a Distance Webinar”, Cathi Cohen LCSW CGP, acclaimed author and Founder and Clinical Director of In Step will share practical strategies and “how to’s” from her parent workbook: “Raise Your Parenting IQ – Moving From ‘I’ve Had It’ to ‘I’ve Got This’”.

Cathi will share why and how reactive parenting “sucks us in” and how to adopt the 5 key attributes of proactive parenting:

1. Empathize
2. Get Neutral
3. Narrow
4. Optimize
5. Get Moving

Cathi will also discuss how to avoid the common parenting traps that keep us from misunderstandings and negative responses with our children.

Learning from a Distance

‘Communication Secrets to Improve the Parent/Teen Connection‘

Feb 19th| 9AM | FREE

Please join The StudyPro for a special February “Learning from a Distance” webinar and Q&A with Cameron “Dr. Cam” Caswell, PhD. Dr. Cam will share her PRIME parenting method which she developed to help parents navigate the tricky teen years.

In her presentation, “Communication Secrets to Improve the Teen/Parent Connection”, Dr. Cam will cover:

How to effectively motivate and encourage teens using her PRIME parenting method.
What to do and say in the difficult situations parents commonly encounter.
How to help teens understand the emotions they are feeling and express them in a healthy way.

Teens act out when they feel misunderstood. And they feel misunderstood because they usually are. How we relate to our kids really matters because we, as parents, are the single most important influence our teens have.

watch the replay
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Shared Ideas and Resources

Learning from a Distance

‘Coping Now and Later: Building Resilience that will Last a Lifetime’

JAN 28th| 9AM | FREE

2020 was a despicable year. We spent an inordinate amount of energy staying afloat and quelling our COVID fears:

When will it end?
How can we stay safe?
Will the future (ever) look like the past?

So how do we bottle up these plights of the pandemic to become “better copers for life”, resulting in greater resilience for ourselves and our family?

In our January “Learning from a Distance” webinar, Melinda Wenner Moyer, contributing editor at Scientific American, and writer for the New York Times and Washington Post will present:

“Coping Now and Later: Building Resilience that will Last a Lifetime”

During her presentation, Melinda will share:

Evidenced-based strategies for coping
How to support yourself and your family in ways that build resilience
The best way to manage feelings and behaviors (for yourself and your children) throughout it all

Melinda will share the research and strategies from her numerous articles, parenting newsletter, and upcoming book. We look forward to hosting her and hearing your questions!

watch the replay
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Shared Ideas and Resources

Learning from a Distance

‘How to be Your Child’s Executive Function Cheerleader’

DEC 17th| 9AM | FREE

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One of the great joys for a parent is to cheer our children on as they build new skills.

And although learning itself is a skill, when we see missing work, avoidance, or a poor test grade, we often fail to identify the root cause of that behavior as a missing skill. But most likely, it is.

In our December Learning from a Distance Webinar, The StudyPro’s Center Director Lindsey Thoms, M.Ed. and Founder, Debbie Rosen, will present:

“How to be Your Child’s Executive Function Cheerleader”

Lindsey and Debbie will share:

What Executive Functions (EF) skills look like “in real life”
How to recognize an EF challenge vs. common behavioral challenges
How to help our students overcome the barriers of under-developed EF skills
How to improve EF skills by focusing on small successes and growing their “seeds”

Improving Executive Function skills will help with focus, flexibility, and pushing through frustration.

And that’s definitely something to cheer about.

WATCH THE REPLAY
Download the Slides

Learning from a Distance

‘The Do’s and Don’ts of Effective Parent-Child Communication’

Nov 12th| 9AM | FREE

Healthy communication is the cornerstone of healthy relationships. This is especially true of relationships between parents and children.

FCPS School Psychologists Michelle Scales and Katie Hidalgo Arrieta will share key strategies and specific approaches to communicate more openly and effectively with your children.

You will leave feeling better equipped to guide your children through the increasingly difficult process of growing up.

In this presentation, we will cover:

Why and how to validate our children’s feelings (even if we don’t agree)
Why and how to resist the temptation to change unpleasant feelings “in the moment”
What to say to effectively engage cooperation and problem solve

Michelle and Katie will provide common scenarios with specific examples of how parents should best respond.

The link will be provided upon registration. We hope you join us and bring your questions!

Learning from a Distance

‘MAKING DEPOSITS: 5 Ways to Better Connect with Your Child’

OCT 22nd| 9AM | FREE

There are five key emotional needs that our children have and making “deposits” in these areas will not only strengthen our bond but will also improve their self-esteem.

For our October “Learning from a Distance” Webinar, Rachel Bailey, M.A. will present:

“MAKING DEPOSITS: 5 Ways to Better Connect with Your Child”

What we will cover:

The YUCK Factor: How to connect when kids (or parents!) are in “YUCK”.
Five areas of EMOTIONAL NEED: How to deposit in the 5 areas that fulfill our children’s needs and reduces their “YUCK”.
How to Connect via Modeling: Even when emotions are high, if we model how to manage emotions, we show our children we can handle their big emotions.

The link will be provided upon registration. We hope you join us and bring your questions!

Learning from a Distance

‘Helping Kids Build Resiliency & Self-Efficacy in the Era of COVID‘

SEPT 25th | 12PM | FREE

Building self-efficacy means building confidence within our children that they are able to cope with the circumstances they encounter. Please join Dr. Jonathan Dalton, Founder of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change, on our “Learning from a Distance” community call for:

Helping Kids Build Self-Efficacy and Resiliency in the Era of COVID where he will share how parents can help their children to be confident that they can cope and become stronger coming out of COVID.

Dr. Dalton will help us with strategies to:

Model for kids by “coping out loud”
Teach our children to be “anxious and…”
Help our children problem-solve even when they are anxious

The link will be provided upon registration. We hope you join us and bring your questions!

Learning from a Distance

‘helping kids leverage the power of a growth mindset’

June 18th | 4PM | FREE

Increasingly schools are embracing a growth mindset to bolster student motivation and achievement. Learn how parents can bring this home!

In the webinar, Sarah Werstuik, M.Ed. and Chelsea Boateng, M.Ed. of The StudyPro will share:

What a growth mindset is and why it drives motivation and achievement.
The critical role parents can play in developing a growth mindset in their students.
The best way to praise your students in order to encourage them to take risks and support the growth of their talents.

We’re excited to share how we can help our students shift their view of mistakes, “change their words to change their mindsets” and embrace the “Power of Yet”

The webinar is designed to support parents, however, school-aged students are welcome.

Link to summer Growth Strategies course teaching Growth Mindset +Study Skills for rising 4th and 5th graders.

Learning from a Distance

‘Rock Your Talk: An Intro to Public Speaking’

June 4th | 4PM | FREE

In this high-energy workshop by Sumedha Bahri, J.D., Stand-Up Comic, and founder of Highest Speak, parents and children will learn the “how-to’s” of effective public speaking.

In the workshop, we will cover:

How we can use speech to our advantage!
How to combat anxiety in public speaking
A simple way of thinking in structure, no matter what the topic may be.
Simple tips and tricks that you can always use when public speaking or speaking in any group setting (even with your teacher or boss!)

This will be an informative and enjoyable workshop for children and parents alike!

Parents and school-aged students welcome.

Link to summer public speaking course (5 sessions) – scroll to bottom of SUMMER page.

Learning from a Distance

‘Powering Through: Piloting the Emotional Wave of the Pandemic’ Fears’

May 28th | 12PM | FREE

It’s an extraordinary time. We wake up and fall asleep to losses of all kinds.
Loss of our sense of control. Loss of our ability to see our friends; to have our kids in school.
And the longer it goes on, the more inevitable is the uptick in our anxiety as we wonder what the future will bring (or when it will end).

To help us know we aren’t alone, we asked leading therapists to identify the top themes they are hearing on “repeat” as well as the counsel they are sharing to address them.

Please join us on for a discussion on:
Powering Through: Piloting the Emotional Waves of the Pandemic
Dr. Christina Tripodi Mitchell, Psy.D., NCSP, a Psychologist and the Director of Psychological Testing and Evaluation at The Ross Center, will discuss these challenges and share her counsel to address them. We will use a challenge/solution approach and welcome your questions around these key themes.

In this webinar (including an open Q&A), Dr. Tripodi Mitchell will discuss strategies to manage:

Screen-time usage
Expectation management
Anxiety over the unknown
Social isolation and loneliness
Shifting Family Dynamics

The link and a brief (optional) questionnaire will be provided upon registration.
We hope you join us and bring your questions!

Learning from a Distance

‘The Practical Power Of Gratitude During A Pandemic’

download the pdf

May 14th | 9AM | FREE

Actively recognizing our gratitude in the time of COVID will improve our mood, increase our optimism and remind us of how special, beautiful and fortunate our lives are, even under these stressful conditions.

Please join The StudyPro and Jerry Posner, author, speaker and humorist will share:

“The Practical Power of Gratitude During a Pandemic”

Jerry will share with us:

The benefits of showing gratitude, especially in the time of COVID
What parents can do to model gratitude for our children
Simple “Grati-Tools” that help us easily practice ourselves and with our families (e.g. his famous “grati-Tuesdays” and gratitude walks)
How to being to build the habit of gratitude

Noticing more of what and who we are grateful for not only improves optimism but it improves our moods and provides us with a better way to cope with stress.

The link will be provided upon registration.

We hope you join us and bring your questions!

download the pdf

Learning from a Distance

‘TO PARENTS FROM THE PROS: making distance learning work’

April 30th | 9AM AND 12PM | FREE

Distance Learning is hard. From knowing what is due to getting it done, these pros have tips to help make it easier.

Please join The StudyPro executive function coaches who will provide strategies, tools and tips that parents can use to help students:

Know what has to get done
Track unfinished work
Stay organized
Stay focused
Stay motivated

Remote learning has created increased executive function demands, and this dramatic shift has left parents scrambling to figure out how to help in a supportive way. We will spend these 45 minutes sharing our experience, so you know when and how to help, as well as how much help to offer.

The link will be provided upon registration.

We hope you join us and bring your questions!

Learning from a Distance

‘The Pandemic: 3 Essential Strategies to Ease Kids’ Fears’

April 16th | 9AM AND 12PM | FREE

Anxiety wants us to avoid things that make us sick, hurt or scared. It’s designed to be a prompt for us to problem-solve, but if it becomes overwhelming, it no longer serves the purpose of helping us solve any problems. And while there are a lot of reasons to be anxious right now, we are also in control of a more than we might think — from how we spend our time to if we are living in accord with our values in the presence of these larger stressors.

Please join Dr. Jonathan Dalton, Founder of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change, on our “Learning from a Distance” community call where he will share what we can do to ease our kids (and our) fears.

In this 45mins briefing (including an open Q&A), Dr. Dalton will help us strategies to:

How to talk to kids (both younger and older)
How to be “anxious and…” with the 3 C’s model
Better tolerate our uncertainty

The link will be provided upon registration. We hope you join us and bring your questions!

Learning from a Distance

‘Let’s Get Real: Getting it Done When We’re All Home 24/7’

April 2nd | 9AM AND 12PM | FREE

In our first LEARNING FROM A DISTANCE community call co-hosted with Rachel Bailey, M.A., Clinical Psychology and Parenting Specialist, we will focus on the challenging task of how to work at home when everyone else is there.

In this 30 mins briefing (followed by open Q&A), we will cover our current reality:

Parents need to get work done: Rachel will provide 3 tips to create a routine that works for you
Kids need to get school done (or, if no school, some routine): The StudyPro will talk about how to help your kids with initiation and transitions, two of the hardest parts of independent work
Everyone needs to maintain their sanity, relationships, and optimism: Rachel will tell us how 🙂

This webinar will be held at 9am and Noon on April 2nd.
The link and a brief (optional) questionnaire will be provided upon registration. We hope you join us and bring your questions!

Watch the livestream here

Lunch and Learn Series

‘The Good News About Bad Behavior’

March 12th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

“What If Everything You Knew About Disciplining Kids Was Wrong?”

This was the celebrated article in Mother Jones that sparked a generation of parents to consider their approach to discipline. Realizing that a never-ending series of punishment and rewards doesn’t create any permanent learning or intrinsic change in our children, we have been seeking a way to do better for our kids.

In The StudyPro’s March Lunch and Learn, Katherine Reynolds Lewis an award-winning journalist, parent educator and author of The Good News about Bad Behavior will explain how children’s lack of self-regulation and resilience is at the root of so many modern parenting dilemmas and will share guidance on how we can help our children feel more in charge of their own behavior.

Lunch and Learn Series

‘Are We Helping or Hurting Our Child’s Self-Esteem?’

Feb 13th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

Healthy self-esteem doesn’t simply come from being good at something or believing we are pretty enough or smart enough. It also doesn’t come from parents who may heap on the praise. Instead, self-esteem comes from the belief in our unconditional worthiness and from feeling competent that we are able to handle what we have to face in life.

In this month’s Lunch and Learn, Rachel Bailey, M.A. Clinical Psychology and Parenting Coach will help us to learn:

“How to help children build self-esteem (even in a high-pressure culture)”.

We will learn how to talk to our children in a way that helps them feel “heard”, emotionally supported and worthy, all keys to healthy self-esteem.

Rachel and The StudyPro have also teamed up to offer a 6-week (paid) workshop addressing the 5 biggest challenges we hear from parents. To learn more, see the WORKSHOPS tab on our website or click here.

LECTURE AND BOOK LAUNCH WITH dR. SHAPIRO

“Managing ADHD Medications” and book signing

jan 24th | 10AM – NOON | FREE

In his recently published book, Parent Child Excursions: ADHD, Anxiety, and Autism , Dr. Shapiro shares that children with ADHD have difficulties with managing time, planning, organizing, initiating, shifting, and “in short being strategic.”

ADHD is not a disorder of knowing what to do.
It is a disorder of doing what you know. Those with ADHD know what to do but have a hard time with implementation.

In this discussion, Dr. Shapiro will share how medication can help those with ADHD with their implementation challenges.

He will also cover:

Parent concerns about medication
How to manage medication side effects
How to manage uneven medication coverage
When and how to stop ADHD medication

Please come with questions and be ready for an active dialogue!
Books will be available for purchase and signing.

watch the livestream here

Lunch and Learn Series

‘Raising tweens: 10 skills kids need in middle school and beyond’

jan 9th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

In The StudyPro’s January Lunch and Learn, Phyllis Fagell, LCPC, NCC, author of “Middle School Matters” will present:

“Raising Tweens: 10 Key Skills Kids Will Need in Middle School and Beyond”

In this talk, Phyllis will share sound and tried advice for how we can help our children to navigate the key issues that arise in the tween years such as making good friend choices, negotiating conflict, regulating emotions, and self-advocating. She will also discuss:

Why tween years matter
Common myths about the tween phase
How to stay connected with your tween

Surviving and thriving in middle school can be difficult for kids and parents alike. With her extensive experience as a middle school counselor and based on her new book, Phyllis will help us leverage these middle school years to build the relationship we want and have the conversations that matter.

Watch the Livestream Here

Lunch and Learn Series

‘Preparing your high school student for College’

Dec 5th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

Whether you have a ninth grader just starting high school or a senior about to head off, there is a lot you can do to prepare your children for a successful launch to college.

In our Dec Lunch and Learn, Dr. Andrea Brenner, co-Author of “How to College: What to Know Before You Go (and When You’re There)” and creator of the American University freshman transition course and former faculty member in the Department of Sociology at American University will share:

The differences between high school and college that matter
How parents can transition from parents of high school “adolescents” to parents of college “young adults”
Critical conversations to have before they go (including discussion starters)
Tips for teaching important life skills required of college students including budgeting, asking for help, and resiliency
Guiding your students to be responsible for their own lives

watch the livestream

Lunch and Learn Series

‘Executive Function Challenges? 5 Proven Ways to Help’

Oct 17th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

We are never more aware of challenges with Executive Function then when it is homework time. We often wonder if there is “a better way” to get our kids to manage (or care) about their work the way that we do!

In our October Lunch and Learn, Lindsey Thoms, Director of Development and Operations, The StudyPro, and Assistive Technology Resource Teacher at FCPS, will will help parents understand how we can bolster Executive Function challenges with proven and straightforward techniques.

Lindsey will share:

How parents can recognize EF challenges and distinguish them from behavioral challenges,
Specific strategies parents can use to bolster EF skills and support a student’s move to independence,
Tools that EF coaches use to improve studying techniques and homework habits

watch the livestream here

Lunch and Learn Series

‘When Anxiety Impacts Education’

Sep 26th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

In our Sept Lunch and Learn, Dr. Jonathan Dalton and Dr. Monique Reynolds of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change will focus on specific strategies that parents can use at home to assist with school-based anxiety.

In addition, they will discuss:

the mechanisms through which anxiety interferes with learning
the hidden roll of avoidance in school-based anxiety (e.g. procrastination, not asking q’s in class, etc.)
how we can accommodate anxiety without enabling avoidance, including how we can work with the school

WATCH THE LIVESTREAM HERE

Lunch and Learn Series

‘How to Talk to Your Kids About Anxiety’

May 16 | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

As parents, we don’t always know what to do or say to help to respond to our child’s anxiety “in the right way” or to ensure that the communication lines stay open.

In our final Lunch and Learn for the school year, Author, Psychologist and Washingtonian Top Doctor, Dr. Alicia Clark, will present:

“How to Talk to Your Kids about Anxiety”

Dr. Clark will share:

How to empower our kids to learn to harness anxiety to create our best selves
How to curb judgment and increase empathy to maintain open communication
How to avoid letting our own anxiety dictate our responses

It can be liberating to know that we can truly use anxiety as a force for good and leverage it to motivate ourselves.

BOOK SIGNING

Dr. Clark will sign her book “Hack Your Anxiety” after her talk.She will bring a limited number of books with her for sale, so you are encouraged to purchase a copy and bring it with you for signing.

Lunch and Learn Series

‘Hot Topics in ADHD Medication and Treatment’

April 11 | 2 Sessions 9:45 – 11:15am AND 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE
THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL

If you are someone who isn’t able to follow the research on ADHD medication and treatment but would love to hear from a trusted source who does, this is the right talk for you.

In our April Lunch and Learn, Dr. Catherine McCarthy is a board-certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in private practice in McLean, VA will discuss:

An up-to-date synopsis of the most exciting findings from neuroscience
The latest treatment studies and long-term outcomes
What’s new in ADHD meds and surprising facts about the impact of long-term treatment
Genetic testing and its efficacy regarding selecting meds
Questions you want to ask your doctor about medication options

For parents of children with ADHD who have questions regarding meds, treatment and how doctors chose the best drug for your child, this talk will be chock full of information you’ll want to know.

Lunch and Learn Series

‘Wondering About Gap Years?’

April 16 | 10:00AM – 11:30AM | FREE

The StudyPro and The Chesapeake Center is proud to host Jon Baker, Director of Admissions from College Excel, a comprehensive, residential college support program, who will present:

“The Who, What, When, Where and Why’s of Gap Years”

Jon will cover:

What is a gap year and why do students take them?
What are the different types of gap years?
When do you make the decision to take a gap year?
What are the common concerns about gap years?
What is College Excel and where does it fit in?

So if you are considering a gap year to provide an extra year of maturity or to give your over-worked student a break, this presentation will help the conversation be more complete and also help you feel more well-informed.

Lunch and Learn Series

‘Launching Your High School Student’

Mar 14 | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

Whether you have a ninth grader starting high school or a senior heading off, there is a lot you can do to prepare your children for a successful launch to college!

In this important presentation, Dr. Melissa Sporn, will cover:

How to integrate college prep throughout high school
The important differences between HS and college
Conversations you want to have before your child leaves
The skills students need to thrive in college

Please join us to hear the ways that we can help our children (and ourselves) be as successful as possible on the most exciting journey of their lives.

‘LIKE’ Documentary Screening

Feb 22nd, 7pm-9pm and Feb 23rd, 1pm-3pm

Is your child addicted to social media? Are you?

Today we are more connected than ever, but is it helping or hurting us? Join The StudyPro as we explore the impact of social media at our exclusive film screening of the IndieFlix Original documentary that explores the impact of social media on our lives and the effects of technology on the brain. The goal of the film is to inspire and help equip us to self-regulate.

Following each screening is a live Q&A featuring Dr. Adam Pletter, an expert in improving our relationship with technology.

Cost: $10/person. Parents, teens, and tweens (10 and above) are welcome.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Lunch and Learn Series

‘Are We All Just Too Busy?’

Feb 21 | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

We seem to live in a culture where “being busy” is the new norm, even a badge of honor.But are we fulfilled? And do we feel accomplished and in control? So, if your answer to “how are you?” is a version of “I’ve been so busy”, please join us for our February (free) Lunch and Learn featuring author, international speaker, and professional trainer, Jackie Woodside, CPC, LICSW.

Jackie will share practical strategies from her highly acclaimed book, Calming the Chaos, for how we can:

Get more done and feel better about it
End procrastination and improve our scheduling priorities
Manage our energy vs. our time (hint: there is no such thing as ‘time management’!)

Lunch and Learn Series

“Students and Stress: What’s Going On and How Can Parents Help?’”

Jan 24th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

A 2013 survey* on ‘Teens and Stress’ by the American Psychological Association was one of the first to report that teens are reporting stress levels that are higher than adults. In 2018, 45% of nearly 36,000 high school students said that they feel stressed “all the time”.

In our January Lunch and Learn, Dr. Michelle Mulaley, will address this important issue and share strategies for helping parents recognize stress-based behavior in their children.

Dr. Mullaley will cover:

issues that create stress for today’s students
common emotional and interpersonal reactions to stress
stress management techniques to help manage stress

Lunch and Learn Series

“How to Stay Calm When Your Kids Push Your Buttons”

Dec 6th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

You know your kids are going to do things that frustrate you…but that doesn’t help you stay calm when it happens. So you yell, threaten, and even say awful things in the heat of the moment. You’re eventually left with lots of regret (and even more guilt). In this workshop, Rachel Bailey, M.A. Clinical Psychology and Parenting Coach will share the science behind why it is so hard to stay calm when your kids are pushing your buttons. You’ll also learn strategies and tips for staying calm — even when your kids are driving you crazy! – so that you can address your child’s behavior more effectively.

Rachel and The StudyPro have also teamed up to offer a 6-week (paid) workshop addressing the 5 biggest challenges we hear from parents. To learn more, see the WORKSHOPS tab on our website or click here.

Lunch and Learn Series

“Reducing the Impact of Anxiety in our Children”

Nov 16th | 10AM – NOON | FREE

In a special FREE WORKSHOP with Jonathan Dalton, PhD and founder of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change, will present specific skills that parents can use to respond to anxiety in their children and teens.

This workshop will cover:

What is anxiety and how do I recognize it in my child?
How and why avoidance and anxiety are teammates
What to do and not to do to help children confront their anxiety in a productive fashion
How to identify which behaviors to respond to and which to ignore
How a behavioral reinforcement system can assist children with anxiety

This 75-minute panel talk and Q&A will be followed by an opportunity for attendees to ask our experts individual /personalized questions as well as learn more about their services.

Lunch and Learn Series

“Parenting in the Digital Age”

Nov 8 | 11:45AM – 1:45PM* | FREE

*Please note extended format

Over the last decade, our evolving digital culture has changed how most of our families operate and created a new universal parenting struggle. During this 90-minute workshop, Dr. Adam Pletter, a clinical psychologist and digital parenting expert, will share with parents the strategies and tactics he recommends in his clinical practice.

Dr. Pletter will discuss how to set up a family technology contract and guide parents in how to protect children by combining basic parental controls with proven behavior modification techniques to empower them to use technology safely. He will also include developmental recommendations for digital access so that parents are better equipped to teach their children as they grow and demonstrate good digital citizenship.

Lunch and Learn Series

“Top Providers Talk Test Prep”

Friday Nov 2nd | 1PM – 3PM | FREE

Featuring:

Ned Johnson, President, PrepMatters
Phil Pine, President, Capital Educators
Alex Chip, Founder, Top Score Education

Join The StudyPro for a special Test Prep workshop where three of the DC area’s leading Test Prep Providers will host a panel discussing:

What are the differences between the SAT and the ACT?
How do you decide which test is best for your child?
Why are schools going “Test Optional” and what does this trend mean?
How many times should my child take the test and what is ‘Superscoring’?
What should I know about the accommodations process?

This 75-minute panel talk and Q&A will be followed by an opportunity for attendees to ask our experts individual /personalized questions as well as learn more about their services.

Lunch and Learn Series

“Executive Function Challenges? 5 Proven Ways to Help”

Oct 18 | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

Lindsey will review:

How parents can recognize EF challenges and distinguish them from behavioral challenges,
Specific strategies parents can use to bolster EF skills and support a student’s move to independence,
Key interventions that EF coaches use to build EF skills for all students.

Lunch and Learn Series

“What Works With Teens”

Sept 27 | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

In our first Lunch and Learn of the 2018/19 school year, we are proud to host Britt Rathbone, LCSW-C, therapist, author and founder of Rathbone and Associates, a highly-respected provider of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) services in Bethesda, MD.

Britt will share insights from his work with teens, as well as from the latest book, ‘What Works With Teens’ to help parents:

Understand the current research on how to successfully engage with adolescents
Better understand the factors that contribute to challenging adolescent behaviors
Identify specific techniques for improving parent-teen relationship effectiveness

Britt will also provide a high-level overview on what DBT therapy is and who it would most benefit.

Special Event

Open House

Sat., Sept. 15 | 2 – 5PM | Families Welcome!

Join the staff of The StudyPro for a tour of the center, helpful study tips, and ways to get the school year started right.

Students, parents and professionals welcome. Light refreshments will be served.

Lunch and Learn Series

“Parenting in the Digital Age”

Nov 8 | 11:45AM – 1:45PM* | FREE

*Please note extended format

Lunch and Learn Series

“The Case for the Self-Driven Child”

May 17th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

As parents, we are not fully aware the impact we have on our children’s feeling of self-control. In their new book, The Self-Driven Child, William Stixrud, Ph.D. and Ned Johnson argue that this sense of feeling “out of control” is a main source of anxiety in our children and results in chronic stress. Helping our children feel greater self-control results in greater resilience, motivation and healthy life-long habits.

In our May Lunch and Learn, Dr. Stixrud and Mr. Johnson will make the case for “The Self-Driven Child and share:

Why our children feel so “out of control”,
How we can hand control back, and
How we can help them learn how to deal successfully with stressful situations, i.e. to develop a high stress tolerance.

Lunch and Learn Series

“Screens – How Much is Too Much?”

April 12th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

Just when we think we have a handle on our children’s relationship to technology, some new device, app or game comes along. As they grow, we constantly have to re-evaluate what works and doesn’t work for our family, and for each of them as individuals. The StudyPro will host licensed psychologist and tech use expert, Dr. Edward Spector to present: “How to Promote Healthy Use of Technology”.

Dr. Spector has comprehensive knowledge of video games and the internet and helps clients change how they use technology so they can lead more productive, balanced lives. He will discuss the warning signs of compulsive use technology as well as strategies for promoting the healthy use of technology.

“The Secret Power of Growth Mindsets”

April 21st | 12:00PM – 1:30PM | FREE

At this special StudyPro event, Mary Cay Ricci, author of ‘Mindsets in the Classroom’, ‘Mindsets for Parents’ and now “Nothing You Can’t Do – The Secret Power of Growth Mindset’ for students, will be sharing just how powerful growth mindsets can be.

She will discuss:

What a growth mindset is and why it matters,
Where you can apply a growth mindset to break through barriers, and
Strategies you can use when you just want to give up!

Book Signing to Follow. Refreshments will be served.

Lunch and Learn Series

“Finding a Great College for EVERY Student”

March 8th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

If your child learns differently or isn’t quite “there” yet in readiness, many schools, large and small, offer excellent services that range from free tutoring to full-blown support programs.

This enlightening presentation led by Judy Bass, a nationally recognized expert in the field of college placement, will take the stress out of the college-searching process. She will cover:

The skills kids need to succeed in college,
How to find the right college for your child’s learning profile, and
How we as parents can help our children be ready.

Lunch and Learn Series

“Are We Helping or Hurting our Child’s Self-Esteem?”

Jan 18th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

Healthy self-esteem doesn’t simply come from being good at something or believing we are pretty enough or smart enough. It also doesn’t come from parents who may heap on the praise. Instead, self-esteem comes from a belief in our unconditional worthiness and from feeling competent that we are able to handle what we have to face in life. In this month’s Lunch and Learn, Rachel Bailey, M.A. Clinical Psychology and Parenting Coach will help us to learn:

“How to help children build self-esteem (even in a high-pressure culture)”

We will learn how to talk to our children in a way that helps them feel “heard”, emotionally supported and worthy, all keys to healthy self-esteem.

Lunch and Learn Series

“Growth Mindset for Parents – The ‘How To’ Guide”

Dec 7th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

Research shows that parents can have a powerful impact on their children’s mindsets. The language you use and the actions you take can both influence and inspire your children’s behavior and school success. The StudyPro will host New York Times Best Selling Education Author, Mary Cay Ricci, national speaker, consultant and author of Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindsets in Kids.

Mary Cay will discuss:

Ideas for building a growth mindset home environment
Strategies for building resilience and perseverance in our children
Ways to respond effectively to mistakes and frustration

Lunch and Learn Series

“How the Best Teachers Teach”

Nov 9th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

It’s hard to know how much to “push in” and help versus how much to “pull back” and let our children work (or even fail) on their own. Learn how the best teachers motivate, model and provide feedback to students. Dr. Fran Polman, an internationally recognized consultant specializing in educational leadership, school improvement and instructional strategies will present:

“How the Best Teachers Teach: Skills to Help Your Child’s Mindset and Motivation”

Parents will learn to “help right” vs. “over-help” by:

Praising process vs. results
Creating low-stake islands for students to take risks
Being present by learning to “ABSORB”
Providing authentic feedback vs. giving advice

Lunch and Learn Series

“The Other Side of Executive Function”

Oct 19th | 11:45AM – 1:15PM | FREE

We often limit our discussions of Executive Function to how it effects students academically, but there is another side.

Nicole McGarry, LPC will help us by:

Defining the social/emotional challenges associated with weak executive function
Helping us to understand the “why’s” of the behavior
Providing better coping strategies to reduce the impact on the child, the family and all social relationships