Sheryl Roessler

How Anxiety Interferes With Being Successful Academically & In Life

Educational Therapist with Master’s Degree who started NORTH SHORE EDUCATIONAL THERAPY to Bridge The Gap Between Tutoring and Therapy — Speaker

Healing Conversation #1313

— Over the past 7 years or so, Sheryl Roessler has seen a huge uptick in students with anxiety (sometimes mixed with depression). She has always had clients who deal with anxiety, but our world has changed dramatically. Sheryl first saw indications of this with the broad use of cell phones and social media –TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and in the past, Facebook. It began with feelings of missing out or seeing people who looked a certain way and wanting to be like them.

As the outside world has become closer to us, and news travels faster, events that would not have been known are now binging on their cellphones all hours of the day. The teens and young adults have lived through school shootings, lockdown drills, a pandemic, climate change issues, hearing people spouting hateful ideas and thoughts such as racism, anti-Semitism, anti-LGBTQ trans rhetoric, and now, a war in Ukraine. The pandemic only heightened student’s fears and anxiety on top of losing a normal part of their school life during lockdown.

They basically lost 14 months academically, socially, and emotionally. It is most important that students are given a safe place to land. Hopefully, that is at home, but as academics have been impacted, home sometimes becomes a place where an emphasis is on schoolwork and test taking and everything else takes second place.

Valeria interviews Sheryl Roessler, M.A. — She is an educational therapist who started North Shore Educational Therapy to bridge the gap between tutoring and therapy.

Sheryl earned her undergraduate degree in Special Education and earned a master’s degree in counseling. With decades of experience as a special education teacher and counselor in Chicago’s North Shore, Sheryl has developed educational and therapeutic resources for students with issues that impact self-confidence and academic success. With her unique approach, Sheryl is equipped with the tools to help struggling students succeed in their academic endeavors. Sheryl bases her services in Chicago’s North Shore suburbs, but sees clients virtually all over the country, and often internationally.

Sheryl works with the student to become more accountable and self-confident, while also giving guidance and support to the parents. Not everyone gets to live their dream. Sheryl is living hers by helping her clients achieve theirs. This is where her heart lies.

To learn more about Sheryl Roessler and her work, please visit: https://northshoreeducationaltherapy.com/

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SHOW NOTES

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SUMMARY

In this enlightening conversation, Valeria interviews Cheryl Rassler, an educational therapist, about the rising anxiety levels among today's youth and how it impacts their academic success and overall well-being. Cheryl shares her insights on the role of technology, particularly smartphones, in exacerbating anxiety, and discusses her holistic approach to therapy that emphasizes self-acceptance, empowerment, and the importance of building meaningful connections. The conversation also touches on procrastination, perfectionism, and the detrimental effects of comparison in a competitive society. Cheryl's passion for helping students achieve their dreams shines through as she offers practical tools for managing anxiety and fostering resilience.

TAKEAWAYS

  • Cheryl Rassler is an educational therapist focused on bridging the gap between tutoring and therapy.

  • Anxiety levels in students have significantly increased, particularly since 2016.

  • The rise of smartphones has been linked to increased anxiety and depression among teenagers.

  • Cheryl emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and empowerment in her practice.

  • Procrastination is often linked to anxiety and perfectionism in students.

  • Building meaningful connections is crucial for overcoming feelings of isolation and anxiety.

  • Cheryl uses a holistic approach, addressing not just academics but also emotional well-being.

  • Parents today face unique challenges in raising children amidst societal pressures.

  • Cheryl encourages students to take charge of their lives and make positive changes.

  • The pandemic has had a lasting impact on students' social skills and mental health.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Cheryl Rassler

07:13 Understanding Anxiety in Today's Youth

14:07 The Impact of Technology on Mental Health

20:18 Guiding Students Towards Their Dreams

25:28 Tools for Managing Anxiety

27:19 Holistic Approaches to Student Wellbeing

30:02 The Importance of Sleep and Nutrition

31:34 Understanding Procrastination and Perfectionism

35:09 The Impact of Comparison and Societal Pressure

39:10 The Role of Parental Expectations

42:35 Spirituality and Self-Acceptance in Education

SOUND BITES

"I want the student to choose to work with me."

"I treat them like I would want to be treated."

"The opposite of addiction is connection."

KEYWORDS

anxiety, educational therapy, mental health, technology, youth, procrastination, perfectionism, self-acceptance, spirituality, holistic approach