The Anxiety Wellness Program

02/19/2026

I’m making my doctoral dissertation publicly available.

This research focuses on childhood anxiety from a prevention perspective — specifically the protective factors provided by parents, educators, and pediatric providers that reduce the likelihood that normal anxiety becomes a chronic disorder.

The work examines how a child’s support systems influence developmental outcomes and why strengthening those systems is often more effective than treating symptoms after they are established.

I’m sharing it for clinicians, educators, and parents interested in prevention rather than late intervention.

01/25/2026

Protective factor against childhood anxiety is to unlearn the cry it out method.

Denmark is officially moving away from the cry it out method after a nationwide study revealed it was still being taught in most municipalities. More than 700 psychologists signed a unified statement urging immediate discontinuation of the practice. They emphasized that prolonged crying without comfort elevates cortisol and affects how the infant brain forms emotional and stress regulation pathways. This national push reflects growing scientific awareness of early neural sensitivity.
Researchers highlight that when babies cry alone, their stress signals rise sharply. Without caregiver response, the brain begins wiring for self protection rather than trust. These early patterns influence later attachment styles emotional stability and even learning behavior. Denmark’s decision aligns with decades of neuroscience showing that infants depend on caregiver regulation to build healthy neural circuits.
Despite this, the cry it out approach continues to be recommended in parts of the U.S. where outdated models of infant independence remain common. Scientists argue that babies do not learn self soothing through isolation. Instead they learn through repeated experiences of comfort which stabilize heart rate breathing and emotional processing. This helps form long term resilience.
Denmark’s shift highlights a global conversation about infant well being. The science is clear. Responding to a baby’s distress supports healthier development than leaving them to cry alone.

01/21/2026

09/19/2025

09/16/2025

09/16/2025

Core DBT Skills.


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💠 A reminder about our DBT Membership Subscribers Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/469904102596793

08/22/2025

Slime therapy!

08/22/2025

02/03/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Bd88hJase/?mibextid=wwXIfr

11/10/2024

Register below for this webinar on helping students with disappointing grades on Tuesday, November 12, at 1pm ET. Sign up and receive the free webinar replay link as well!

10/29/2024

It might feel like stress is something that lives strictly inside your head. But stress also can be a physical issue. Learn the causes of stress and strategies to de-stress and relax.