MAA kicked off its “Managing Anxiety and Building Resiliency Speaker Series,” made possible by a generous grant from the Catholic Health Foundation, on October 15th. Ms. Jennifer Dirga, MSW, LICSW, and Dr. Julie Edmunds led a discussion on how children can develop skills to manage anxiety and the different aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). 

Ms. Dirga, the former school counselor at MAA, has expanded her professional speaking series while working part-time at the Chestnut Hill School. Dr. Edmunds, a specialist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety, mood, and behavioral disorders, is an assistant in Psychology at MGH and an instructor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

From prevention strategies and interventions at home to how parents and educators can model good coping, our speakers provided a wealth of knowledge and some helpful takeaways for all in attendance. Their talks provided an excellent base of knowledge and an introduction to the second presentation in our “Managing Anxiety and Building Resiliency Speaker Series,” by Jessica Minahan on December 4th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Ms. Minahan is a licensed and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), author, special educator, and consultant to schools. Since 2000 she has worked with students who struggle with mental health issues and challenging behavior in school systems. She will discuss how caregivers and educators can help children reduce anxiety at home and at school. We are excited to have Ms. Minahan on campus. This event for parents and caregivers is open to the public. Click Here to RSVP.