The Psychology of Helping Kids Face Their Fears

From Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove:

Everyone has a Perception Box that shapes how they see the world, but it’s elastic and can change by doing hard things. Alongside ‪Unlikely Collaborators‬, psychology professor and board certified clinical psychologist Dr. Camilo Ortiz helps kids and parents expand their perception boxes through rollerblading. He explains how anxiety, frustration, and perfectionism can make it difficult to try new experiences and introduces “the four Ds,” which stand for distress, discomfort, disappointment, and danger. As kids face their fears, practice responding to anxious thoughts, put on their safety gear, and start skating, they learn to acknowledge their anxiety and try anyway. Despite a few falls, they keep going, build confidence, and discover that doing hard things can change how they view themselves and what they believe they can accomplish.

Watch the full segment.