Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. – Parents Ask

Expert Biography

Bonnie Zucker Psy.D.

Current: Dr. Bonnie Zucker, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist with a background and expertise in psychotherapy with children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Zucker specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adults and utilizes a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) approach. In addition to CBT, she integrates a family systems approach and works with parents to help them learn the most appropriate responses to their child’s anxiety disorder. Dr. Zucker conducts psychotherapy at the National Center for the Treatment of Phobias, Anxiety and Depression in Washington, DC and Washingtonian magazine named her one of the best DC-area mental health specialists for the treatment of phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and troubled children and adolescents. In her book, Anxiety-Free Kids: An Interactive Guide for Parents and Children, Dr. Zucker offers parents strategies that help children become happy and worry free, methods that relieve a child’s excessive anxieties and phobias, and tools for fostering interaction and family-oriented solutions. Using a unique companion approach that offers two books in one—a practical, reader-friendly book for parents and a fun workbook for kids—this solutions-oriented guide utilizes the cognitive-behavioral approach to therapy by integrating the parent in the child’s self-help process.

Anxiety Free Kids by Dr. Bonnie Zucker
Product Description
Anxiety-Free Kids offers parents strategies that help children become happy and worry free, methods that relieve a child’s excessive anxieties and phobias, and tools for fostering interaction and family-oriented solutions. Using a unique companion approach that offers two books in one—a practical, reader-friendly book for parents and a fun workbook for kids—this solutions-oriented guide utilizes the cognitive-behavioral approach to therapy by integrating the parent in the child’s self-help process.
Research has shown that if left untreated, children with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, to have less developed social skills, and to be more vulnerable to substance abuse. The author employs cognitive-behavioral therapy, the most empirically supported treatment of anxiety disorders, along with a family approach to build a supportive team to help kids with anxiety successfully overcome their worries.
Covering the six most commonly occurring anxiety disorders in childhood—generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, specific phobias, social phobias, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder—this book gives kids and their parents successful strategies for achieving relaxation, conquering worries, challenging faulty thinking patterns, developing positive self-talk, and facing one’s fears

Contributions by Bonnie Zucker Psy.D.:

Videos:

Mommy over Daddy: When your toddler prefers one parent over the other.

"I only want mommy to dress me" is a common request from many a toddler. Whether it's a daily routine like getting dressed, taking a bath or being put to bed, a child's insistence that "only mommy do it!" can leave dad feeling rejected and mom feeling exhausted. But as our Parents Ask experts share with us in this video, parental preference is normal (really normal!) and with a little work can be changed so there's more mommy AND daddy instead of mommy NOT daddy.
Upcoming Episode - When maternity leave is over: Dealing with your back to work doubts.

When maternity leave ends, many moms are left with doubts about their original game plan to return to the office. Our Parents Ask experts discuss this sometimes tricky transition, looking at the source of anxiety for new moms and offering advice and solutions to help them make the right decisions that are right for them.
When maternity leave is over: Dealing with your back to work doubts.

*Update: New UK study confirms that working mothers don't harm children! Read more and join our Parents Ask experts as they look at this source of anxiety for new moms heading back to work and offer advice and solutions for this often tricky transition.
ADHD: How to identify & treat the symptoms.

ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a very common, yet treatable illness found in children. Join our Parents Ask experts Thomas Phelan, MD, Robert McKenzie, MD and Bonnie Zucker, Psy.D as they discuss the symptoms and treatments of ADHD and their experience with young patients and families dealing with this condition.
Chores vs. Allowance: To Pay or Not to Pay

Even if your kids are still in diapers, it's never to early to teach them the value of contributing to the daily operations of the house-- that is--Chores! But as they get older, your child will probably not volunteer to help mommy or daddy out. In fact, they'll most likely expect some sort of compensation or an increase in their allowance. But as parents we need to know: should chores and allowance go hand in hand? Parents Ask experts Bonnie Zucker, Foster Cline, and Joanne Stern give us their opinions!

Articles:

Anxiety Can Lead to Obesity in Your Kids Too!

Helping your child cope with fears and anxiety may be more important and crucial than you think. In fact, much like the link between childhood traumatic experiences and obesity, anxiety as a child can have an equally profound effect.
Mom Melts Sons Fears Away With French Fries

Have you ever made a parenting decision then immediately regretted it? You're not alone and you haven't screwed your kid up for life. Well, at least not yet anyhow. Read more....
French Fries Won't Kill Your Kid

If you've used food as a way to bribe your children or make them feel better, you need to read this! Dr. Bonnie Zucker gives tips on ways to help your children cope with emotions with out literally feeding in to them. Read this!
Parents are Asking: Does My Child Need a Behavioral Specialist

How can you tell if your child needs to see a behavioral specialist? Our expert has the answer.
Parents are Asking: Is My Child's Behavior Normal?

Wonder if your kid's behavior is "normal?" Our expert calms your nerves...
Parents are Asking: How Do I Talk to My Child About Feeling Left Out?

No matter how hard you try to protect your child, at some point in their young lives, they will feel "Left Out." Parents Ask readers have shared their concerns and questions on this issue. Today, Dr. Bonnie Zucker, Psy.D, weighs in and gives advice on this delicate issue.
Parents are Asking: How Can I Help My Child With Separation Anxiety?

Does your little one have a hard time saying goodbye? Do you dread the morning drop-off because of it? Dr. Bonnie Zucker weighs in on ways you can help your child through their separation anxiety.
Parents are Asking: When Should My Child Give Up Their Comfort Objects?

If you're concerned that your child will enter high school still sucking on a pacifier and needing their blankie every time the go, have no fear. Dr. Bonnie Zucker weighs in on when and how parents can transition their children from comfort objects in today's Parents Are Asking article... Read on!