Dr. Eli Penela - Anxiety and OCD Treatment Expert
As seen on...
Parent Webinar for Parents hosted by The Selective Mutism Association
How to Help Your Child Cope with Anxiety:
A Look at SPACE Training for Parents and Caregivers
A Look at SPACE Training for Parents and Caregivers
The Selective Mutism Association invited Dr. Eli Penela to speak at a live webinar for parents on 4/10/25.
Children with selective mutism often struggle with anxiety in different situations. They might feel nervous at friends’ birthday parties, when doing presentations or tests at school, and when trying out new things in the community (e.g., starting a new extra-curricular activity, or checking out an event at the library). When you see your child struggling with anxiety - what is the best way to help them?
Navigating these situations can be challenging! Dr. Eli Penela discussed helpful strategies based on the SPACE therapy (Supportive Parenting of Anxious Childhood Emotions) approach. SPACE is an effective, research-backed treatment program that was developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at Yale University for parents of children with anxiety. During this presentation you will learn effective tools that will help you feel confident when helping your child cope with anxiety.
Navigating these situations can be challenging! Dr. Eli Penela discussed helpful strategies based on the SPACE therapy (Supportive Parenting of Anxious Childhood Emotions) approach. SPACE is an effective, research-backed treatment program that was developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at Yale University for parents of children with anxiety. During this presentation you will learn effective tools that will help you feel confident when helping your child cope with anxiety.
Link to Parent Webinar coming soon!
Helping Your Child Cope with Back-To-School Anxiety
Public Webinar with Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
Como Identificar el Estres en los Niños
Interview on CNN en Español with Dr. Azaret
Junta de la Comunidad: La Acomodación Familiar
Town Hall in Spanish, hosted by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
Finding Your Calm Webinar
Webinar for parents of children who struggle with anxiety and OCD
Serving the South Florida Community
After decades of research, psychologists now have a solid understanding of what kinds of treatments are most effective for specific problems, especially with regard to anxiety, OCD, and related disorders.
My goal is to share this information as widely as possible. I am passionate about serving my community in order to help others to better understand and learn to mange anxiety, OCD, and related issues.
My goal is to share this information as widely as possible. I am passionate about serving my community in order to help others to better understand and learn to mange anxiety, OCD, and related issues.
As part of my community outreach efforts, I've presented throughout Dade and Broward at schools and several organizations. A few past presentation topics include:
- Parenting Hacks to Help Your Child or Teen Cope with Anxiety
- Understanding and Managing Anxiety in the Classroom
- Supporting Caregivers First: The Key to Empowering Youth to Face their Fears
Are you interested in organizing a talk or workshop to share information about coping tools for anxiety or OCD?
Articles Published in Academic Journals
Suarez, G. L., Morales, S., Miller, N., Penela, E.C., Chronis-Tuscano, A., Henderson, H., & Fox, N. A. (2021). Examining a Developmental Pathway from Early Behavioral Inhibition to Emotion Regulation and Social Anxiety: The Moderating Role of Parenting. Developmental Psychology.
Penela, E. C., Walker, O. L., Degnan, K. A., Fox, N. A. & Henderson, H. A. (2015). Early behavioral inhibition and emotion regulation: Pathways toward social competence in middle childhood. Child Development.
Walker, O. L., Henderson, H. A. Degnan, K. A., Penela, E. C., & Fox, N. A. (2014). Associations between behavioral inhibition and children’s social problem-solving behavior during social exclusion. Social Development.
Penela, E. C., Henderson, H. A., Hane, A. A., Ghera, M. N., & Fox, N. A. (2012). Maternal caregiving moderates the relationship between temperamental fear and social behavior with peers. Infancy.
Penela, E. C., Walker, O. L., Degnan, K. A., Fox, N. A. & Henderson, H. A. (2015). Early behavioral inhibition and emotion regulation: Pathways toward social competence in middle childhood. Child Development.
Walker, O. L., Henderson, H. A. Degnan, K. A., Penela, E. C., & Fox, N. A. (2014). Associations between behavioral inhibition and children’s social problem-solving behavior during social exclusion. Social Development.
Penela, E. C., Henderson, H. A., Hane, A. A., Ghera, M. N., & Fox, N. A. (2012). Maternal caregiving moderates the relationship between temperamental fear and social behavior with peers. Infancy.
