Local Psychologist to Speak to Parents at Millburn Middle School Dialogue Night

Millburn Middle School will host a Dialogue Night for parents on Thursday, Nov. 20 will focus on strategies for coping with stress and anxiety for middle school students. The program, entitled “Riding the Wave,” will feature Kim Painter, Ph.D., who is a licensed psychologist with a local practice specializing in children and adolescents. On her web page, she describes her approach as one “that combines practical, solution-focused work with warmth and humor.”

The evening will begin at 7 p.m. in the Middle School auditorium. Dr. Painter will present tools and strategies that she uses in her practice for teaching distress tolerance. Parents and students will learn about ways to “ride the wave” more effectively when dealing with the stress and anxiety of middle school life.

Parents want their children to be successful in school, but, more importantly, parents want them to be independent and successful in life. This requires much more than study skills and test-taking tips; students need to be able to deal with stress, tolerate disappointment, face life’s challenges, and effectively manage anxiety. As this aspect of their education falls primarily on the shoulders of parents, this year’s Millburn Middle School Dialogue Night will offer them assistance in this area.

After Dr. Painter’s presentation, students and parents will be divided up into several breakout rooms in which the CORE 8 Peer Leaders will facilitate a fishbowl activity designed for parents to gain insight into the life of a Millburn Middle School student -- what causes stress and anxiety in their lives and how effective they are at tolerating it.

The third part of the program for participating parents will be a debriefing in the auditorium with Dr. Painter discussing what was learned from the students and discussing a parent’s role in teaching distress tolerance. Meanwhile, the students will remain in the breakout rooms with the peer leaders to discuss ways to apply Dr. Painter’s tools for managing stress. The program will run until about 8:30 p.m.

All middle school parents are encouraged to attend with their students.

Dialogue Night is co-sponsored by the MMS Peer Leadership Program and the MMS Guidance Department. Students are encouraged to bring a parent to this event, and there is no fee for admission. Certificates will be provided for students who participate.

Information courtesy of Nancy M. Dries, Communications Coordinator, Millburn Township Public Schools