Name: Anxiety and Children: Implications for Education
Time & Date: November 3, 2011 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: 2125 Main Mall, Room 278 Scarfe Building (library Block), UBC
Description:Anxiety disorders in childhood are associated with problems in many domains of functioning, including academic achievement (Ost & Treffers, 2001). Anxiety disorders have a lifetime prevalence of 28%, and typically have a childhood onset. Anxiety disorders interfere in a variety of life domains including school, social activities, and day to day functioning. The purpose of this panel is to discuss childhood anxiety from a number of viewpoints and explore how this condition interferes with academic learning. Each speaker will explore a unique facet of anxiety and will aim to present useful insights into assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Six UBC graduate students will each provide current, useful information regarding childhood anxiety and provide practical information, such as information on local treatment centers and available in- person p profess ionals and students in the area of psychological assessment. Implications are discussed for graduate training programs in psychology and other mental health programs. The final speaker will provide information on a variety of available and local anxiety services and resources, and discuss anxiety awareness across Canada. Attendees will gain a better understanding of anxiety disorders in general and will leave with knowledge of treatment options for children and adolescents with anxiety.
Speaker Biographies:
All speakers are graduate students, and members of Dr. Lynn Miller’s Anxiety Projects Lab at the University of British Columbia.
Ellen Shumka, BA is a Masters student in the School Psychology program at UBC. Her current research interests include childhood anxiety and school-based interventions.
Karen Hamill, MA is a doctoral student in the Counselling program at UBC. Her current research interests focus on early assessment of childhood anxiety in young children.
Hannah Dohl, BA is a Masters student in the School Psychology program at UBC. Her current research interest involves the evaluation of a school-wide anxiety prevention program called Fun FRIENDS.
Heather Baker, MA is a doctoral student in the School Psychology program at UBC. Her current research interest focuses on safety behaviour use in anxious children and adolescents.
Christine Yu, BA is a Masters student in the Counselling program at UBC. Her current research interest is exploring relationships between parental and child anxiety.
Carolynn Turner, BA is a Masters student in the Counselling program at UBC. Her current research interests are early screening of anxiety in young children and the availability of anxiety resources across Canada.
Ticketing Information: This event is free and open to the public. For individuals interested in anxiety and children, minimal background knowledge in psychology would be beneficial but not necessary