Dealing with Feeling Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD with Dr. Eli Lebowitz
What if the goal isn't to eliminate anxiety in kids, but to help them feel safe enough to face it?
Dr. Eli Lebowitz joins Dr. Marc Brackett on Dealing With Feeling to unpack what childhood anxiety really is, why well-meaning adults can accidentally feed the fear, and what it looks like to support kids without overprotecting them.
In this conversation:
- What childhood anxiety is and what it is not
- The difference between scary and dangerous
- Two common parenting traps that keep anxiety in charge
- How adult responses shape resilience
- What makes emotional strength possible in kids
Whether you are a parent, educator, or mental health professional, this episode offers a practical roadmap for helping kids feel stronger, not smaller.
About the guest
Dr. Eli Lebowitz is Director of the Program for Anxiety Disorders at the Yale Child Study Center and author of Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD.
Connect with Marc Brackett:
Website: https://marcbrackett.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/marc.brackett
X: https://x.com/drmarcbrackett
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drmarcbrackett
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drmarcbrackett
Dr. Marc Brackett's Books
Explore Marc Brackett's work at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, where he serves as founding director, and learn more about RULER—an evidence-based, systemic approach to SEL developed at Yale that supports leaders, educators, students, and families in building emotional intelligence and creating healthier school climates.
A special thank you to the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence for supporting this webcast. I also want to thank Oji Life Lab for their generous support. Visit https://ojilifelab.com and use promo code DEALINGWITHFEELINGS to save 25%.