How Safe are Our Children?: School Violence, Parenting, and the Media

We all fear for the safety of our children. More than ever the media is filled with reports of violence in schools, bullying and victimization. Are things getting better or worse for our children and what, as citizens and parents can we do? Peter Sheras will present research findings and discuss what we know about violence, parenting and the media, and our hopes for the future.

Daily Progress article:
Experts Warn of Threat Overreaction
By Melanie Mayhew (February 13, 2006)

Inside UVa article:
Bullying Not Inevitable Part of Growing Up
By: Anne Browley (2002)

About the Speaker

Peter L. Sheras, Ph.D.
Professor of Clinical Psychology
Associate Director for the Virginia Youth Violence Project

Peter Sheras is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Charlottesville Virginia. He holds a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is Professor in the Curry Programs in Clinical and School Psychology at the University of Virginia Curry School of Education and is former Director of the Center for Clinical Psychology Services. His work with adolescents, couples and families includes service as a co-coordinator of the Charlottesville/Albemarle School Crisis Network and as a member of the Phi Delta Kappa National Task Force on Adolescent Suicide. In addition to his University position, he practices with Charlottesville Psychological Associates and works with adolescent, family and adult populations specializing in group, individual and couples therapy. He counsels and lectures in the area of parenting adolescent children and creating lasting marital relationships.

He has conducted a number of congressional briefings related to youth violence, has been a member of the Virginia State Department of Education Task Force on Crime and Violence in School Settings, and is associate director of the Virginia Youth Violence Project.

Dr. Sheras is the author of books and articles on adolescent behavior, youth violence, and clinical psychology. He was a member of the writing panel which produced Early Warning:Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools, published by the U.S. Department of Education and distributed to every public school in the United States. He has been a consultant for the American Psychological Association to their project with MTV on youth violence prevention for teens.

Dr. Sheras received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his graduate degrees from Princeton. His clinical training was completed at Rutgers University and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto California. He has been a practicing psychotherapist for 30 years.

Read Dr. Sheras' full bio.

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