Learn at Laguna: Managing Student Stress & Anxiety with Phyllis Fagell

When things go wrong for tweens and teens, it can feel overwhelming—whether it’s failing a test, being excluded from a group chat, struggling with body image or identity, or not making the team. Middle and Upper School bring a whirlwind of challenges: physical changes, social pressures, shifts in family and friend dynamics, academic demands, and countless new experiences that can feel daunting. Phyllis Fagell, a licensed mental health therapist, author, and school counselor from Maryland, joins us at Laguna Blanca School to share practical strategies to help parents support their children in managing stress and anxiety related to friendships, academics, life balance, and technology. 

Phyllis L. Fagell is a licensed mental health therapist and certified school counselor in Maryland. She's the author of Middle School Matters, The Ten Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond – and How Parents Can Help (Hachette, 2019) and Middle School Superpowers, Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times (Hachette, 2023). Phyllis is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and other national publications, including CNN and U.S. News & World Report, and her ideas have been shared in outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, The Chicago Tribune, and NPR. Phyllis lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband and three children.