Child Study Center Workshops

The Child Study Center, part of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, hosts weekly workshops on various topics related to raising healthy kids, managing behavior, and emotional health. The workshops are led by our expert clinicians who provide insights, tips, and advice on working with children and adolescents.

For information on upcoming workshops, please subscribe for email updates.

More Than a Habit: A Community Night for Children and Families with Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors—October 4, 2018

Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), such as trichotillomania, skin picking, and nail biting, affect millions of people worldwide and can result in significant personal distress. At Community Night, part of BFRB Awareness Week during October 1-7, children, teens, adults, and families learn about appropriate care and local support for people living with these conditions. Experts from NYU Langone and the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors offer guidance and information. Attendees have the opportunity to discover local support groups, meet cosmetologists who specialize in providing services to people with BFRBs, and interact with others who have common experiences and concerns.

Presenters: Rebecca R. Berry, PhD and Samantha Busa, PsyD
Register Here

The Next Step: How to Help Children Exposed to Traumatic Events—December 6, 2018

When discussing trauma, we tend to think in terms of extreme incidents. Children today are frequently exposed to upsetting and confusing events. They are also receiving electronic information at a rate never before seen. In this workshop featuring Dr. Adam D. Brown and Dr. Patrick J. Heppell, we explore the difference between typical and post-traumatic reactions to traumatic stress, standard emotional and behavioral responses versus ones that raise concern, how trauma impacts development, and how caregivers can help.

Presenters: Adam D. Brown, PsyD, and Patrick J. Heppell, PsyD
Register Here

Zen Parenting: When to Relax, When to React, What to Do—January 17, 2019

Determining how to respond to your child’s behavior can be quite challenging. Do you validate, implement a consequence for, or ignore a behavior? Balancing validation of your child’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while also setting appropriate limits is seldom a simple task. Led by child psychologist Dr. Randi D. Pochtar, this interactive workshop provides useful tools that can help you feel calmer, in control, and prepared to make the decisions that can improve communication and reduce conflict.

Presenter: Randi D. Pochtar, PhD
Register Here

Let’s Get Real: An Honest Discussion About Eating Disorders—February 28, 2019

Eating disorders are common and can be life-threatening. Unfortunately, many children, teens, and adults are hesitant to talk about them. This leaves them without support and unaware of where to turn or how to get help. In this webinar, a panel of NYU Langone experts in psychiatry, psychology, nutrition, and pediatrics answer questions and guide individuals and families dealing with eating disorders on how to seek help and learn about the types of therapies and community resources that are available.

Presenters: Rebecca R. Berry, PhD; Chanelle A. Coble-Sadaphal, MD; Michelle R. Miller, PsyD; Bridget Murphy; Melissa A. Nishawala, MD; Paula J. Prezioso, MD; and Andrea D. Vazzana, PhD
Register Here

The Struggling Learner: Understanding the Signs and How to Help—March 14, 2019

When children encounter persistent difficulties in school, they have different ways to show us that they are struggling. Some may become quiet and withdrawn, whereas others may act out. This workshop, led by Dr. Sarah Powell and Dr. Nicole G. Katz, helps parents recognize academic and behavioral indicators of a struggling learner, understand the process of seeking additional information and evaluation, and learn about available support and interventions.

Presenters: Sarah Powell, PhD, and Nicole G. Katz, PsyD
Register Here

Co-Sleeping: When Your Child is Your Roommate—April 11, 2019

Training infants and children to sleep in a separate bed or separate room can be one of the major challenges of parenting. In this workshop with Dr. Argelinda Baroni and Dr. Stephanie M. Wagner, who are experts in early childhood and sleep disorders, we discuss whether co-sleeping is helpful, needed, or harmful. We also discuss how to know when a child might be too old to sleep with his or her parents, and share safe and new strategies to help both you and your child sleep better while keeping marital relationships healthy.

Presenters: Argelinda Baroni, MD, and Stephanie M. Wagner, PhD
Register Here

Honey, Where Are the Brakes? How to Reduce Your Child’s 0–100 Anger Acceleration—June 13, 2019

Although children can be naturally predisposed to displaying a range of intense emotional reactivity, the “0-to-100” descriptor many parents use to describe their child’s anger may often represent a child’s low emotional self-awareness rather than a lack of impulse control. This propensity can often extend to other family members, which can result in greater conflict and more destructive arguments. This workshop, led by Dr. Samuel J. Fasulo, focuses on one specific, family-based skill designed to help each family member improve his or her own emotion-management capacity, while also respecting the ability of other family members to do the same.

Presenter: Samuel J. Fasulo, PhD
Register Here