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Glenbard to present Tough Teen Topics: Social Media Safety & Anxiety, Parties and Depression

The Glenbard Parent Series: (GPS) Navigating Healthy Families will present two distinguished panels on Tough Teen Topics: Social Media Safety & Anxiety, Parties and Depression on Wednesday, March 22, at Glenbard South High School.

The teen years pose some of the most difficult challenges for families. Day-to-day ups and downs are a normal part of adolescence, making it difficult to distinguish when there is a concern. Teens may feel misunderstood, angry, alone, anxious, moody and confused while facing concerns about their identity, emotional development and alcohol and other drugs. Providing accurate information about teen tough topics can reduce a teen's confusion or shame and break through the communication gap.

At 6:30 p.m. March 22, a panel regarding digital safety will feature DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin; Cpl. Frank Bibbiano, DuPage County Sheriff's Department; and Detective Rich Wistock, Naperville Police Department High Technology Crimes Unit. The discussion will be held in the auditorium at Glenbard South, 23W200 Butterfield Road in Glen Ellyn. CPDUs are available.

At 7 p.m., a second panel of experts will discuss anxiety, parties and depression. The panel will include:

Judge Christopher Stride was the presiding judge in a landmark case involving a couple found guilty of allowing their son's friends to drink at a homecoming party in their basement. Two teenage guests were killed in a car crash shortly after leaving the home.

Patrick McGrath has extensive training and expertise in the area of anxiety and stress disorders. He is the director of the Center for Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and co-director of the School Anxiety Program at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital.

Justin Wolfe is a clinical therapist in the adolescent addiction services program at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health Hospital. Wolfe has experience in working with the doubts, insecurities and feelings of teens that can become overwhelming in the teen years, feelings that can lead to destructive behaviors.

Linda Lewaniak, program director of integrated services at Eating Recovery Center, Insight, will serve as moderator. Lewaniak has a private therapy practice treating adults, adolescents and children suffering from addiction, anxiety, depression, dual diagnosis and family issues

GPS is generously sponsored by the Cebrin Goodman Center, Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE), College of DuPage, DuPage Medical Group, Emmy Gaffey Foundation and Trust Company of Illinois. For further information, visit glenbardgps.org or contact Gilda Ross, Glenbard District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at 942-7668 or gilda_ross@glenbard.org

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