Teen Talk

Looking to meet other young people with food allergies? Check out Teen Talks, our monthly program just for pre-teens, teens, and young adults between 11 and 22 years of age. The primary purpose of Teen Talks is simply to connect, share experiences, and have fun! Each month, Teen Talks attract 40-90+ participants from all over the country and beyond. Time is spent both as a large group and in smaller breakout room discussions led by members of the Teen Advisory Group. Smiles and laughter are guaranteed! 

If you have questions about Teen Talks or are interested in Child Chats (ages 8-10), contact Melissa Engel at mengel@foodallergy.org.

“Teen Talks have been such a positive support for my daughter. After the first one she attended she had a HUGE smile on her face and said, “Mom, I’m not the only one who is dealing with this.” These have been such a positive life changing experience for her, and us as a family. We appreciate the connections and support from her peers who truly get what she is going through.” -Parent of a Teen Talk Participant

About the Facilitator

Melissa Engel, PhD, is a Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow with a concentration in Allergy and Asthma in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She earned her PhD and MA in Clinical Psychology from Emory University, as well as an MA in Developmental Psychology from the University of Minnesota, and completed her predoctoral psychology internship at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine. Clinically, Dr. Engel works with a variety of pediatric populations, with a focus on children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions. Her research is within the Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research at Northwestern University, with a focus on identifying and addressing the unique psychosocial challenges faced by youth with food allergies. Dr. Engel has published in several academic journals and presented her work at many allergy and psychology conferences. In her spare time, Dr. Engel serves as FARE’s Lead Programming Developer of Teen Outreach. In this role, she developed and leads monthly Teen Talks and Child Chats, virtual peer support programs for youth with food allergies.