Webinar, August 26th, 2025, with McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA. While it’s not uncommon for a child to be scared of imaginary foes or a teen to be afraid of social rejection, these and similar fears can lead to various types of anxiety disorders when not addressed with care.
* So how can parents and other adults best help young people navigate their fears? What are the signs that typical childhood and adolescent fears have become more serious? And when is the right time to seek professional help?
* Jacqueline Sperling, PhD, breaks down common fears for kids and teens, offers strategies for parenting children who are feeling scared, and answers questions about specific phobias and how they’re treated.
About the speaker: Jacqueline Sperling, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, faculty at Harvard Medical School, and the co-founder and co-program director of the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program. She specializes in implementing evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy, and working with youth who present with anxiety disorders and/or obsessive compulsive disorder. Dr. Sperling is the author of the young adult nonfiction book “Find Your Fierce: How to Put Social Anxiety in Its Place” and a contributor for Harvard Health Publishing.
To register or for more information visit https://home.mcleanhospital.org/webinar-series and scroll to your desired event. 
