Understanding why children and teenagers become anxious and how to help them heal

On this evening presentation, Margot will explore the fact that anxiety is a symptom not a cause. She will discuss the four key causes of anxiety (backed by neuroscience and psychological research) and how these must be addressed before a child or teenager can heal. She will look at the impact of adverse childhood experiences, but also the impact of parental mental health problems, never having developing stress regulatory systems in the brain in childhood, and traumatic experience that "shakes belief in a safe world"  (Alain de Botton School of Life).

Through moving case material she will explore how it really is possible to heal from anxiety by addressing the core pain that’s fuelling panic attacks, phobias, OCD etc in the safety of a therapeutic relationship.

Dr Margot Sunderland

Director of Education and Training at The Centre for Child Mental Health, Director of Innovation and Research Trauma Informed Schools UK, Honorary Visiting Fellow at London Metropolitan University and Child Psychotherapist with over thirty years’ experience of working with children and families.

Trained initially in Child psychotherapy with John Hood Williams (former Principal - Institute of Child Psychology - Lowenfeld training). Worked for years as a child and adolescent psychotherapist in children’s homes and adolescent units.

Author of over twenty books in the field of child mental health, which collectively have been translated into eighteen languages and published in twenty-four countries. Internationally acclaimed book, “The Science of Parenting” (Dorling Kindersley), won First Prize in the British Medical Association Medical Book awards 2007 Popular Medicine section. Dr Sunderland has two doctorates, one in child psychotherapy, thesis entitled “The Application of Art and Science to the Psychological Treatment of Children.”