How to Help Your Anxious Kids: An Interview with Samantha Sweeney, Ph.D.
We’ve been waiting a long time to share today’s episode with you and we couldn’t be more excited! Dr. Samantha Sweeney is one of Amanda’s oldest friends and an expert on working with parents of anxious kids. She’s a psychologist, author, educator and has a private practice where she works with kids, families, and adults.
Together with Melissa Kilbride, Sam wrote the book ‘Working With Worry: A Workbook for Parents in How to Support Anxious Children’ and on today’s episode, she is sharing all about this must-have book and much, much more.
“In my own personal and professional life,
I don’t know that I know anybody who’s not anxious.”
– Dr. Samantha Sweeney
Tune in to hear Samantha’s amazing insights and new strategies to help kids manage their own feelings and her answers to burning questions like ‘Why do parents have so much power in their kids’ anxiety?’ And ‘What do you do when one parent is on board with doing the work, but the other isn’t?’.
More about Samantha Sweeney
Dr. Samantha Sweeney is a licensed psychologist, author, and educator in Washington, DC. She has a private practice on Capitol Hill serving kids, families, and adults. Additionally, she is a cultural competence expert dedicated to helping kids and parents develop this essential skill. Dr. Sweeney’s latest book, written with Melissa Kilbride LICSW, is Working With Worry, a workbook for parents to support their anxious child. It is full of recommendations, support, and accessible information about what anxiety looks like in children and how parents can reflect on their own experiences with anxiety. The various intervention activities that can be found in the book are organized by type of intervention, age, and area of interest, so you can always find the activity that suits you and your family best.
Dr. Sweeney deals with her own anxiety by getting outside, baking, and breaking out into spontaneous dance parties with her husband and two kids.
In this episode, we cover
- Why parents have so much power in their kids’ anxiety;
- What strategies Samantha suggests parents to use;
- What to do when one parent is on board with doing the work, but the other one isn’t;
- How parents and kids can use the book ‘Working With Worry’ together;
- And much, much more.
Resources and links mentioned in this episode
- Are you or your child struggling with anxiety and do you need more than Sam’s book? We have a team of psychologists and psychiatrists who can help you out. Don’t hesitate to contact us here.
- Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram.
- Enter the competition on our Instagram to win a copy of the book!
- Get in contact with Sam on her website, or on Facebook.
- Find ‘Working With Worry: A Workbook for Parents in How to Support Anxious Children’ in your local bookstore, or on Amazon.
Disclaimer: Please remember we are real live therapists, however this is a podcast and is not considered a therapy session. Not only because there is no co-pay but also because we can’t speak to your individual experiences. We are here to help you keep raising healthy kids. And remember, if you are an imperfect parent, we are right there with you. If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, please call your local crisis hotline or go to your nearest emergency room.