Conversations With William James College

Research has found that conversations about race lessen the presence of prejudice and bias, but these conversations are much less likely to occur in white families than they are in families of color. Children are keen observers. As they grow, in the absence of conversations with people they trust, children make sense of what they see in the world around them in ways that justify inequities. They also start to internalize stereotypes and prejudices, even if they live in homes where these views are not promoted. As they get older, these internalized observations become hard-to-change implicit biases. In this special addition to the "Advice for Parents" series, Dr. Elana Wolkoff, associate professor of School Psychology at William James College, presents information for white parents and adults on how to talk with, and listen to, children and adolescents about race and discrimination. We have a lot of work to do to counter racism in our society, she says, but it won’t get done if we’re not able to talk abo

Rosie Turner, who is completing her second year in the School Psychology Program, offers tips for parents about how to talk to teens about social stressors during this unprecedented time.

Sandy Li and Aurore Siano discuss tips for parents on how to manage their own mental health right now, along with their child’s.

Sandy Li and Aurore Siano, who are both completing their final year in the School Psychology program, discuss strategies for managing children's behavior at home.

Rose Perez, a second-year graduate student in the School Psychology program, discusses how involving kids in chores can provide benefits to both the parent and the child.

Alyssa Repetto, a second-year graduate student in the School Psychology program, offers suggestions for activities that are educational and memorable, and give children and parents time away from their electronic devices.

Connor Fallon, second year Master’s and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (MA/CAGS) student discusses the benefits of making time to read with your child. Reading is a foundational activity for many academic skills, it also helps to create deeper parent/child bonds.

Carolyn Kaye, a rising third-year School Psychology student at William James College, addresses how to talk with children about the abrupt end to the school year, and offers age and response-appropriate tips about how to help your child find closure.

Between juggling work responsibilities, relationships, and home-life needs, and the pressures created by the COVID19 pandemic, parents are managing a lot right now. School Psychologists generally work in schools to support children’s mental health, behavior, and their ability to benefit from instruction; they also work with parents to support children's needs. Under the guidance of Dr. Elana Wolkoff, associate professor of School Psychology, students in the William James College School Psychology program created this collection of brief lessons to help parents in the context of current pressures, and to increase positive interactions at home while school is out.

Learn how to calm anxiety quickly, this clip discusses guided imagery. This series is hosted by Dr. Julie L. Ryan, associate professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration, and Dr. Nadja Reilly, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development.

Learn how to calm anxiety quickly, this clip discusses using progressive muscle relaxation. This series is hosted by Dr. Julie L. Ryan, associate professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration, and Dr. Nadja Reilly, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development.

Learn how to calm anxiety quickly, this clip discusses using a technique called paced breathing. This series is hosted by Dr. Julie L. Ryan, associate professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration, and Dr. Nadja Reilly, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development.

Learn how to calm anxiety quickly, this clip discusses using intense exercise as a technique. This series is hosted by Dr. Julie L. Ryan, associate professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration, and Dr. Nadja Reilly, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development.

Learn how to calm anxiety quickly, this clip discusses using temperature change. This series is hosted by Dr. Julie L. Ryan, associate professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration, and Dr. Nadja Reilly, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development.

Learn how to calm anxiety quickly with the tips off in the next several clips. This series is hosted by Dr. Julie L. Ryan, associate professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration, and Dr. Nadja Reilly, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development.

Focusing on the present can help a person manage anxious feelings. This clip offers advice on how to stay in the present. This series is hosted by Dr. Julie L. Ryan, associate professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration, and Dr. Nadja Reilly, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development.

Curiosity can be a powerful tool. This clip discusses "attunement," a process of tuning into a child's feelings and reflecting them back so the child feels seen, heard and understood. This can help parents to better establish routines and offer developmentally appropriate support for a child. This series is hosted by Dr. Julie L. Ryan, associate professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration, and Dr. Nadja Reilly, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has created a great deal of stress and anxiety for caregivers. This special series offers tips for managing anxiety during this time of interrupted routines. The series is hosted by Dr. Julie L. Ryan, associate professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration, and Dr. Nadja Reilly, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development. Clips can be played in any order but are presented in a suggested order on this playlist: https://soundcloud.com/william-james-college/sets/managing_anxiety

Times of stress and anxiety can understandably leave one feeling overwhelmed. There are several strategies that can be used to regain a feeling of understanding and control. This clip offers tips for parents or caregivers for how to model this for their children. This series is hosted by Dr. Julie L. Ryan, associate professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration, and Dr. Nadja Reilly, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development.

In a world marked increasingly by insensitivity and intolerance, faith and spirituality can serve as the motivational energy that animates the pursuit of a more socially just society and propel us toward social action and advocacy. In this episode, William James College President Dr. Nicholas Covino is joined by Dr. Nicholas Rowe, Ph.D., Dean of Student Engagement and Associate Professor of History and Peace Studies at Gordon College, and Rabbi Victor Reinstein, co-founder of Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue in Jamaica Plain with his wife Mieke and a congressional rabbi for over 30 years, for a discussion on spirituality, social justice, and social activism.