Anxiety disorder support for children the focus of the 10th annual Lisman Lecture in Clinical Psychology

Parental involvement in helping children get treated for anxiety disorders is the focus of the 2025 Stephen A. Lisman Lecture in Clinical Psychology at Binghamton University. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 in the Anderson Center Chamber Hall on campus.

The lecture, by Wendy Silverman, PhD, BS ‘77, entitled “Parent involvement in childhood anxiety disorders treatment: Lessons learned and clinical and research paths forward,” will focus on how parent behaviors can help improve treatment outcomes for children with anxiety. Silverman is a renowned researcher – serving as the Alfred A. Messer Professor of Child Psychiatry and Director of the Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program at the Yale University Child Studies Center. During this lecture, Silverman will use her decades of research experience in the field of child psychology to highlight how parent behaviors like avoidance and psychological control can contribute to the maintenance of childhood anxiety.

The presentation will examine the theoretical and empirical foundations of involving parents in therapy, discuss and compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy with and without parental involvement, and conclude with practical, research-based strategies for improving parents’ support of their children in managing anxiety.

Established in 2015, the Stephen A. Lisman Annual Lecture in Clinical Psychology brings a leading clinical psychologist to campus each year to share their expertise. The series honors Distinguished Teaching Professor Stephen A. Lisman for his 43 years of service and lasting impact on Binghamton University and the field of clinical psychology.

The series is designed to improve training and education while introducing students, faculty, and the community to key issues in the field. Topics in previous years covered a wide range of areas within clinical psychology, which have broad applications to our everyday lives – including alcohol/drug treatment, mental health practice, and emotional disorders.

For more information, contact Stephen A. Lisman at slisman@binghamton.edu.