Raising Calm Kids in a World of Worry: Book Launch & Discussion

We're honored to be joined by authors Ashley Graber, LMFT and Maria Evans, LMFT for the launch of their newest book, Raising Calm Kids in a World of Worry.

This essential book, published by Maria Shriver's Open Field at Penguin Random House, introduces groundbreaking strategies to navigate anxiety and fear, brought to you by two nationally recognized psychotherapists and parent coaches. Ashley Graber, LMFT, and Maria Evans, LMFT, will take us through the book’s creation, its significance, and practical ways to incorporate its tools into everyday life.

20% of proceeds from book sales for this event will go towards the LAUSD Education Foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund, supporting schools, parents, and teachers impacted by the 2025 California wildfires.

About the book:

Kids today are more susceptible than ever to anxiety and stress. As a parent, you want to shield your child from these overwhelming feelings, but it can be daunting in an unpredictable world. Fortunately, there are ways to help, and Raising Calm Kids in a World of Worry shows how.

Psychotherapists and parent coaching team Ashley Graber, LMFT, and Maria Evans, LMFT, introduce SAFER Parenting—a simple yet powerful five-step approach designed to help children ages 6-12 regulate emotions and build lasting self-esteem. Offering real-life examples and drawing on their experience working with thousands of families struggling with anxiety, they outline key practices to reduce worry both in the moment and over time. You’ll learn how to:

• Recognize often-missed signs of anxiety and uncover their root causes
• Manage big feelings and guide your child toward useful coping tools
• Navigate difficult conversations with therapist-approved techniques
• Nurture your child’s confidence and independence
• Create psychological safety at home to increase calm and lower anxiety

Meeting parents where they are, Raising Calm Kids In a World of Worry shows how despite having plenty of reasons to worry, you can become a more confident parent and help your child find ease when they need it most.

About the authors:

Ashley Graber and Maria Evans are nationally recognized parent coaches, child and family psychotherapists, and speakers based in Los Angeles, CA.

Ashley and Maria empower parents to navigate the intricate journey of raising children, offering knowledge and a supportive network that spans across continents. The duo run ongoing parenting groups in which parents around the globe can discover a wealth of strategies and practical insights for better parenting, making these groups a nurturing space for honing parenting skills while embracing the diverse perspectives of fellow caretakers.

In addition, Ashley and Maria have trained over 8,000 psychotherapists, psychologists, counselors, and parent coaches to support children with anxiety, as well as teach mindfulness tools for anxiety and work-life integration training for parents at corporate events around the world. They teach empirically-backed psychotherapeutic exercises and tools that are effective and easy to implement at home with children or in psychotherapy offices.

The pair’s teachings combine the wisdom of child and family psychology and their understanding of trauma, bridging Maria’s background in researching the effects of the 9/11 attacks on young children at Columbia University, with Ashley’s expertise in meditation and mindfulness to show the impact of anxiety on the family and help parents and children find calm in a world of worry.

Host or Publisher Village Well Books & Coffee