Parent Workshop: Teen Anxiety, Stress and Overuse of Screens

Drs. Michele Foster & Nina Mafrici are clinical psychologists and the co-directors of Toronto Psychology & Wellness Group (TPWG). Their clinical practice focuses on supporting adolescents and adults struggling with difficulties pertaining to emotion regulation and Eating Disorders. TPWG is the first outpatient non-hospital-based Eating Disorder Program in Ontario to provide OHIP-covered physician care alongside psychological and dietetic treatment across the lifespan. Created with a vision of reducing gaps in healthcare and providing a patient-centered approach to evidence-based treatment, TPWG’s programming has successfully guided children, adolescents, and adults toward successfully achieving recovery.

Drs. Foster and Dr. Mafrici had the unique experience of working together throughout their graduate training. From doctoral rotations at Sickkids, to residencies at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, and supervised practice within private clinics focused on assessment and comprehensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, they fostered a meaningful and supportive partnership while completing doctoral graduate studies at University of Toronto.

While Drs. Foster and Mafrici share similar training and expertise, they also have some unique areas of interest and focus. Dr. Mafrici works with older adolescents and adults, and has special interests in parent-work for Eating Disorders, mindfulness-based and emotion-focused approaches, and the management of perfectionism and emotion dysregulation. She is a strong advocate for educational spaces that prioritize mental health, and she liaises with academic institutions to facilitate the same. Dr. Foster treats adolescents 11+ and is particularly interested in DBT and treatment for self-harm, Eating Disorders, picky eating, emotion dysregulation, and diagnostic assessment. She is passionate about the impact of media on mental health and body image. She is a board member for the Ontario Psychological Association and an active member of CPO, regularly facilitating college examinations.

Both Drs. Foster and Mafrici work closely with athletes, entertainers, and institutions on the management and prevention of mental health challenges. They started TPWG in 2016, now leading a team of 50+ staff and students in providing psychological services and psychoeducational assessments throughout Ontario.

Website: www.tpwg.ca

Instagram @torontopsychologywellnessgroup