Talks and Presentations
I speak with parents, schools, clinicians, and community organizations about children’s mental health, adolescent wellbeing, and the everyday realities families are navigating. Below are selected recent talks, national presentations, and examples of topics I frequently speak on.
Community & School Talks – Selected Recent
Teens, Social Media, and Mental Health
Parent presentation on how social media and smartphones affect mood, anxiety, sleep, and peer relationships, with practical strategies families can use right away.
Frost Middle School PTA – Fairfax, VA – April 2025
Teens, Social Media, and Mental Health
Parent presentation on supporting teens’ mental health in the age of constant connectivity, including boundaries, communication, and when to worry.
John Poole Middle School PTA – Poolesville, MD – November 2025
Guest speaker at Screening of Can’t Look Away
Discussion of common harmful impacts of social media among children and adolescents
February 2026 White Oak Middle School
Parenting in the Digital Age
Coming up in March 2026
Churchill High School
National & Professional Conferences – Selected Talks
Mind the Gap: Bridging Training Shortfalls and Boosting Practitioner Wellbeing in Early Childhood Mental Health
Presentation on how infant and early childhood mental health certificate programs can address workforce training gaps, reduce burnout, and improve services for diverse families.
ZERO TO THREE LEARN Conference – Baltimore, MD – October 2025
Attachment Disorders: Update on Treatment
Talk on current clinical thinking about attachment disorders in children, emphasizing accurate diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment approaches in real-world settings.
OASIS Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Conference, American Physicians Institute – Naples, FL – 2024
Understanding, Assessing, and Preventing School Violence
Presentation for child and adolescent psychiatrists on bullying, cyberbullying, school shootings, the role of social media, and using structured threat assessment and collaboration with schools and families to reduce risk.
OASIS Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Conference, American Physicians Institute – Naples, FL – 2024
Strengths-Based Strategies to Promote Child and Family Wellbeing
Talk highlighting strengths-based, community-centered approaches in infant and early childhood mental health, including wellness assessments and coaching models that engage caregivers and address structural adversity.
AACAP Annual Conference – Chicago, IL – 2025
Treatment of ASD in Young Children
Presentation on early identification and treatment of autism spectrum disorder in young children, covering assessment in psychiatric settings, evidence-based therapies, and careful use of medications in the context of high comorbidity.
AACAP Annual Conference – Seattle, WA – 2024
Treating Internalizing Disorders in Young Children
AACAP conference session focused on anxiety and depression in preschoolers, including developmental considerations, assessment strategies, dyadic and CBT-based therapies, and cautious, evidence-informed use of psychopharmacology.
AACAP Annual Conference – New York, NY – 2023
Topics I Frequently Speak On
In addition to the specific talks listed above, I regularly speak with schools, PTAs, community groups, and professional audiences on topics such as:
Big Feelings, Small Bodies: Helping Children Cope with Anxiety and Stress
Recognizing early signs of anxiety in elementary and middle school–aged kids, understanding what’s “developmentally normal” versus concerning, and concrete ways parents and schools can respond.
From Meltdowns to Communication: Understanding Behavior as a Window into Kids’ Needs
Reframing “challenging behavior” as communication and introducing practical strategies to support regulation, connection, and clearer expectations at home and at school.
School, Sleep, and Screens: What Really Affects Kids’ Mental Health
A research-informed look at how sleep, academic pressure, and digital life intersect, with realistic suggestions for families who are already stretched thin.
Supporting Neurodiverse Students: Practical Strategies for Home and School
An accessible overview of ADHD, autism, and related challenges in school-age kids, focusing on strengths-based approaches, collaboration with schools, and helping kids feel understood rather than “fixed.”
The Big Kid Years: Supporting 6–12-Year-Olds Through Friendship, Frustration, and Growing Independence
A talk focused specifically on school-age children, covering peer dynamics, perfectionism, school stress, and how parents can stay connected while fostering resilience and confidence.
Raising Resilient Teens in an Anxious World
A conversation for parents of tweens and teens about independence, limits, social media, and how to stay connected when your child acts like they don’t want you around.