This conversation explores the impact of anxiety on teenagers and the importance of managing our own anxiety to assist students better. The guests discuss optimistic teaming as a strategy to foster collaboration among educators, mindfulness practices to enhance emotional regulation, and practical techniques for teachers to implement these strategies in the classroom. The discussion emphasizes the interconnectedness of adult and student mental health and the need for tailored approaches in educational settings.

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Related Resources: Kids’ mental health is in crisis. Here’s what psychologists are doing to help |. The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on cognition and mental health in children

Ben Springer is an award-winning and Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Ben is also the author of the popular books, "Happy Kids Don't Punch You in the Face" and "GPS: Good Parenting Strategies: The No-Guilt Survival Guide for Parents During the Pandemic and Beyond" from Corwin Press. Ben has just released his third book with co-author Ben Belnap called, "Optimistic Teaming" also from Corwin Press. Ben received his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Utah in Educational Psychology.

Ben has worked professionally as a teacher, autism specialist, school psychologist, and director of special education. Currently, Ben works as the director of the Family Education Center in Wasatch County School District and manages Optimistic Teaming/Totem PD, a professional learning company focusing on practical, ready-to-use tools for educators.

Ben Belnap is an award-winning clinical psychologist practicing in the state of Utah. Dr. Belnap has contributed to state and national professional learning trainings for over a decade focusing on the applications of Positive Psychology, Family Systems, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Dr. Belnap has served in schools as an assistant superintendent of student services, behavior specialist, and school psychologist. Dr. Belnap currently manages a neuropsychology and counseling clinic in Heber City, Utah and helps manage Totem PD as a trainer and consultant.

Dr. James L. Floman is an Associate Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. He received his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, where he studied the effects of mindfulness and compassion meditation on teacher emotion regulation and prosocial behavior with Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl. Dr. Floman has three core research streams: 1) The assessment of dynamic social-affective processes (i.e., developing and validating EI and well-being measurement tools); 2) EI, mindfulness, and well-being training (i.e., developing, optimizing, and scaling EI and well-being-enhancement interventions for real-world applications); and 3) Affective neuroscience (studying mental training-induced changes in ‘emotional brain’ function and structure).

Teachers are seeing continued growth in challenging teen behaviors in classrooms nationwide. What do we need to understand, support, and better manage this trend and its impact on our students?

Follow on Twitter: @copingkids @RLamourelle @bamradionetwork @jonharpe.r70bd

Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has been working with children, teens, and their families for 20 years. She has been helping children and teens build their coping skills throughout her career in a variety of settings, including schools, mental health clinics, and in her private practice. She founded Coping Skills for Kids to help children and teens learn healthy and safe ways to manage big feelings. She has written several books, including the bestselling Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, the Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, and the Social Skills for Kids Workbook. She is also the host of the Calm & Connected Podcast. Her work has been featured in the Boston Globe, CNN, Huffington Post, and The Skimm® Newsletter. Janine lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.