Anxiety in Children and Teens with Shannan Blum, LMFT, CCATPCA, CEDS

The primary mental health issue that many counselors have seen
increase during COVID has been anxiety, which was already the
number one mental health issue in the US. Today’s guest is
Shannan Blum, Clinical Director at The Woodlands Recovery and
Wellness, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a
Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional for Children
and Adolescents. She specializes in treating individuals and
families suffering from depression, anxiety, and relationship or
family conflict, as well as substance abuse, post-traumatic
stress disorder, and difficulties adjusting to life transitions
among others. In this episode, she shares her expertise and
practical advice for those experiencing depression and anxiety
and for parents who might be unknowingly exacerbating the anxiety
of their children. Tuning in, you’ll hear from Shannan as she
emphasizes flexibility over rigid routines and skill-building
over comfort and certainty, explains how she sees our
outcome-based culture contributing to the anxiety that children
and teens are experiencing, and shares her externalization
approach to treating anxiety, which is in opposition with the
traditional approach that says we should eradicate it. You’ll
also learn about the invaluable skills that Shannan teaches,
including mindfulness and self-soothing techniques, and the top
four skills she believes children and teens need to know to
tackle anxiety and depression head-on. Tune in today to find out
more!





Key Points From This Episode:


Learn more about Shannan and her personal history with family
trauma and anxiety.

The certifications and experiences that have allowed her to
approach anxiety and depression from a unique perspective.

Hear Shannan make the distinction between stress, worry, and
anxiety.

How parents are unwittingly contributing to their children’s
anxiety; how to help them manage uncertainty and discomfort
instead.

Not the introvert’s dream: why the pandemic has been tough
for kids suffering from anxiety.

The importance of helping your children build skills to help
them segue back into school.

How Shannan sees an achievement focused, outcome-based
culture contributing to anxiety.

While systemic changes could be made, parents have to decide
to make individual changes.

When to seek a higher level of care, starting with a free
professional assessment.

The value of keeping a log to track sleep, appetite, or
medication during treatment.

Learn more about the traditional approach to anxiety, which
deals with eliminating it.

Why Shannan tells her patients to thank their brains for
trying to protect them and then move into the realm of positive
creativity.

Find out how your depression and anxiety hijack your values;
you are not your anxiety!

Shannan shares her approach, which centers around
externalizing not eliminating anxiety.

The mindfulness, self-soothing, challenging cognitive
distortion, and reaching out for support skills that Shannan
teaches.

How to rally and use the energy of your anxiety as a
resource; go on the offense!

Shannan explains why parents are not assisting their kids by
removing obstacles for them.

Four top skills: dialectical versus dichotomous thinking,
identify and challenge distortions, self-analysis, and
mindfulness.

Why Shannan tells patients to exhale first; the tendency to
hold your breath with anxious.






Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


Shannan Blum on LinkedIn


Shannan Blum on Instagram


Shannan Blum on Facebook


The Woodlands Recovery and Wellness