Strengthening Connection with Your Kids: ADHD Parenting Shift

Parenting a child with ADHD and/or anxiety brings unique challenges—and unique opportunities for growth.

In this thoughtful and practical session, Melissa Bildner and Stacey Dobrinsky, PhD explore how a child’s developing brain, particularly in the context of ADHD and anxiety, influences behavior, emotions, and connection. Together, they offer a powerful perspective shift for parents: moving from simply managing behavior to truly understanding your child’s experience.

Through relatable insights, research-backed guidance, and simple, sustainable strategies, Melissa and Stacey empower parents to foster deeper relationships built on empathy, curiosity, and resilience. This workshop will help you see your child—and your role as a parent—in a whole new light.

Learning Objectives

How to meaningfully connect with your child, even in moments of stress or heightened anxiety.
Ways to use a growth mindset to shift communication and strengthen your bond.
The 4 essential parenting steps that create lasting, healthy relationships.
Practical strategies for supporting children with ADHD and anxiety in both home and school settings.

Presenters

Stacey Dobrinsky, PhD

Director of Training, Anxiety Institute

BA, Rutgers University // MA, Montclair State University // MEd, University of Florida // PhD, University of Florida

Dr. Stacey Dobrinsky has over fifteen years of experience treating children and adolescents with OCD and anxiety disorders. She was a founding faculty member of the McLean OCD Institute for Children and Adolescent program (OCD Jr.) and ultimately served as the Clinical Director. Dr. Stacey Dobrinsky specializes in severe, treatment refractory anxiety and OCD while utilizing a combination of exposure response prevention (ERP) and acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) in her treatment.

She has been trained through the International OCD Foundation’s Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) and has completed the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) training. She is also certified in cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for PTSD. Dr. Stacey Dobrinsky has given multiple presentations on OCD, Anxiety and ACT, both locally and nationally.

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Melissa Bildner

ADHD & Executive Function Parent Coach, LiveBetter Training

Melissa Bildner has 3 kids and a husband all with ADHD! She has almost 20 years of experience living with and parenting kids with ADHD and executive function challenges. This unique situation has empowered Melissa to develop a unique and practical set of skills and strategies to living with kids who have ADHD.

Melissa is formally trained as a Certified Professional Coach, an ADHD Parent Coach and Personal Trainer. Melissa also has training in Collaborative Problem Solving from Dr. Stuart Ablon at Think Kids. She regularly keeps up with the latest research on parenting, ADHD and executive function skills.

Melissa’s personal experiences combined with her formal training make her uniquely qualified to provide an authentically supportive and empathetic coaching experience. She has the ability to allow parents to feel heard and understood and combine this feeling with offering practical strategies that parents can easily implement into their own parenting style.

Co-Hosted By

Questions regarding this workshop?

Kyrsten Bravo, Director of Outreach

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (203) 570-9623