Press Releases

March 11, 2009

Prominent psychologist to speak on “The Price of Privilege”

Women’s Health Advisory Council of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital welcomes Madeline Levine, Ph.D., to its 4th Annual Speaker Series

The Women’s Health Advisory Council is proud to welcome recognized author and psychologist Madeline Levine, Ph.D., to Lake Forest. Levine will visit Lake Forest for the first time to share her thoughts on what drives well-meaning parents to be over-involved in the wrong things and under-involved in the things kids need most. She is the author of “The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids.”

The event will be held on Tuesday, April 21 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, Illinois. A question and answer session, as well as a book signing, will follow Dr. Levine’s presentation.

“We’re thrilled to bring Madeline Levine to Lake Forest,” says co-chair Jennifer Margolis. “The mission of this speaker series is to promote wellness. And wellness goes beyond our physical health; it’s about our family’s emotional health too. Madeline Levine is an ideal speaker for this community.” Alison Kohlmeyer and Liz Lincoln are also co-chairing the event.

Levine says that for today’s children, a privileged life isn’t always a happy life. Depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse are seen more often in privileged children than in the general population. She will discuss why privileged children might be more vulnerable and what role their parents play.

“Parents who persistently fall on the side of intervening for their child, as opposed to supporting their child’s attempts to problem-solve, interfere with the most important task of childhood and adolescence: the development of a sense of self,” Levine says.

In her book, Levine says it doesn’t matter how lavish a kid’s house is if his internal “home” is empty. She says this emptiness could extend to affluent moms as well, as affluent communities may stress “looking good” over being emotionally supportive.

Tickets for the event are $25, and limited seating is available. To RSVP, call the Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Office of Philanthropy at (847) 535-6111 or visit lfh.org/philanthropy by April 14.

The Women’s Health Advisory Council of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital organizes its annual speaker series around relevant health and wellness topics and is now in its fourth year.

Arrangements for the appearance of Madeline Levine were made through HarperCollins Speakers Bureau, NY, NY.