September brings fresh starts and new transitions—whether it’s students stepping into classrooms, young adults navigating campus life, or parents adjusting to evolving family needs. These shifts can be exciting, but they can also stir up worry, self-doubt, and uncertainty. This month, we’re spotlighting resources designed to support you and your loved ones through these transitions with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
Wherever this season of change finds you, we hope these resources provide encouragement, direction, and a reminder that you don’t have to navigate anxiety alone.
Warmly,
Dr. Debra Kissen
In This Issue:
How to Make Friends in College: Heading off to college can feel overwhelming, but connection is possible. Explore 10 practical tips (and a quick video!) to help ease the awkwardness and build meaningful friendships.
Separation Anxiety: Separation anxiety doesn’t just affect children; it can show up across the lifespan. Learn what it looks like, why it happens, and tools that help.
Parenting Anxious Children: Simple strategies really do work. Dr. Debra Kissen shares 6 practical tools for supporting your child while also easing your own worry.
Parenting Neurodiverse Minds (New Group!): Led by Dr. Meena Dugatkin, this new virtual group provides connection, guidance, and support for parents of neurodiverse children (ages 4–12). Starts September 22nd.
Support for School-Based Mental Health: For teachers, social workers, student services, and school professionals, practical tips to spot anxiety in students and tools to help them thrive in the classroom.
What’s Your Anxiety Spirit Animal? Is your anxiety a Guard Dog, Busy Bee, Hamster, Owl, or Turtle? Take our 2-minute quiz to discover your anxiety style and get CBT tools to calm and retrain it.
Do I Need Help from an Educational Consultant? From academic struggles to executive functioning and special education needs, our Educational Consulting Services help families bridge the gap between school and mental health. Take our 1-minute quiz to see if support could benefit your child.
News from Light On Anxiety: Big updates! We’ll soon be accepting United Healthcare and are opening a brand-new Arlington Heights office this fall.
Sometimes All It Takes is Saying “Hey”. Explore 10 Practical Tips to Turn "Hey" into a Real Connection
Starting college can feel like stepping into a whole new world, but it’s also the perfect chance to build a brand-new crew. From late-night pizza runs to laughing through study chaos, those awkward “hey, wanna hang?” moments quickly become the glue of real friendships. In the end, it’s the small, silly interactions that turn strangers into lifelong besties.
From Clingy to Confident: Helping Kids & Parents Face Separation Worries
Separation anxiety can feel tough—not just for kids, but for parents too. When your child struggles to separate at school, calls you constantly for reassurance, or needs to be right by your side at home, it’s a sign their worries are getting in the way of daily life. The good news is that support is available: with strategies like CBT, kids learn to build confidence, manage their anxiety, and remind themselves, “I’m safe and strong, even when family isn’t right next to me.”
Calm Starts With You: 6 Simple Tools for Raising Brave Kids
Parent anxiety often rises alongside a child’s struggles, making tough moments feel even heavier. Simple, science-backed strategies—like coaching instead of rescuing, facing fears step by step, and using playful tools like the anxiety guard dog—can ease the stress for both parent and child. By calming your own nervous system, you set the stage for your child to grow more resilient, confident, and ready to take on challenges.
Parenting Neurodiverse Minds (New Group Open Now!)
If you’ve been looking for extra support in parenting your neurodiverse child, this new virtual group is for you. Led by Dr. Meena Dugatkin, the program provides parents of children ages 4–12 with stress-reducing strategies, communication tools, and a deeper understanding of ADHD, autism, and related needs. Alongside expert guidance, you’ll connect with other parents who truly get it—building confidence and community every step of the way.
From Signs to Solutions: An Anxiety Toolkit that Supports School-Based Mental Health
For teachers, social workers, student services, and school professionals, the School Social Worker Anxiety Toolkit is packed with resources to make supporting anxious students easier. Inside, you’ll find clear guides on spotting anxiety at every age, practical classroom strategies, and a library of worksheets, activities, and assessments you can use right away. With so many tools at your fingertips, this digital toolkit makes it simple to explore new approaches, spark meaningful conversations, and help students feel calmer and more capable in the classroom.
Gain insight and control with our 2-minute Anxiety Spirit Animal Quiz. Discover whether your anxiety shows up as a Guard Dog, Busy Bee, Hamster, Owl, or Turtle—and what that means for you. Each style comes with tailored CBT tools to help you manage anxiety with more confidence and ease.
We’ll soon be accepting United Healthcare, making it easier for individuals and families to access the care they need. This update means less stress about coverage and more focus on getting the right support. Plus, our brand-new Arlington Heights office is opening this fall, bringing expert care even closer to your community.
