Phyllis L. Cohen CSW

Residence : New York, NY

Biographical information

Phyllis L. Cohen CSW is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of adolescents, adults and families. A native New Yorker, she lives and practices in Manhattan and Brooklyn. She has developed mental health programs for adolescents at the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services and she co-founded and directed the Brooklyn Center for Families in Crisis, a community mental health clinic. Currently, she is in full time private practice and writing about adolescence and family life issues. She is the co-author of the award winning book, "You Have To Say I'm Pretty, You're My Mother": How To Help Your Daughter Learn To Love Her Body and Herself, and published by Simon and Schuster May 2003. Cohen lives in New York City and Sagaponack, Long Island.

Discussion topics

• Teenage Body Image - What Can A Mother Actually Do?
  Body image obsession in teenagers is a problem that has parents confused and overwhelmed. These days there's an absolute epidemic of bright, beautiful, accomplished teenage girls who don't feel beautiful. They believe that looks are everything and that their looks don't measure up to some impossible ideal. They are matched by loving, well-meaning mothers who feel helpless and terrified. They worry about what she'll do next - develop anorexia, get a tattoo or a piercing. Our discussion covers this subject in a smart, savvy and practical way that will help mothers understand why their daughters are so body obsessed. Mothers can find real answers to the universal mother questions: What do I do now? What do I say to her? How do I get through to her? The audience is encouraged to participate fully in a lively question and answer session.
• "You Have To Say I'm Pretty, You're My Mother", Body Image and Your Daughter - When To Worry, How to Help.
  "Mom, do I look particularly fat today?"
  "What's wrong with my knees?"
  "Why do I look so gross when everyone else looks so good?"
  No, she doesn't look fat; nothing is wrong with her knees and she truly doesn't look gross - she looks great. But the mother who tries to reassure her teenage daughter of that is likely to get a roll of the eyes and a response like, "well you have to say I'm pretty you're my mother." Body image problems bring up many fears of current trends such as eating disorders, early sexual behavior or body piercing. Communication is the biggest problem for these parents. Teenagers turn off to parents' real concerns about their health and well being. Our discussion focuses on smart, savvy, practical ideas for parents so they can develop more understanding, empathy and effective communication in their relationship with their teenager.

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