RIDGEFIELD — Whether she is strolling through the grocery store, cheering on her kids during local soccer games, or socializing at cocktail parties, people often corner local author and therapist Niro Feliciano to ask: Why am I so stressed? Is the way I feel normal? Why can’t I just be happy?

Feliciano recently told The Newtown Bee that she will take the opportunity to address those important questions and many others when she headlines an upcoming event at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Tuesday, April 19.

For just a $10 admission, attendees will get loads of beneficial pointers from Feliciano, along with a few laughs courtesy of former Saturday Night Live writer Tim Washer, inspiring music from American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke, and some exciting visual entertainment from the Ridgefield High Dance Team as they celebrate positive ways to find true contentment and focus on life skill hacks that every teenager and adult should know.

The truth is happiness is fleeting, Feliciano shared, and we are all stressing ourselves out trying to achieve it.

Despite its title, her latest publication — This Book Won’t Make You Happy — does offer a road map to contentment and a deeper, more satisfying state of living.

“I’ve been in private practice for 17 years as a therapist and anxiety specialist,” she explained. “So I wrote the book because from what I’m seeing, we’re not getting any happier — in fact, we’re becoming more anxious, and at younger and younger ages. I mean, everybody knows somebody who is dealing with anxiety, if they’re not dealing with it themselves.”

By embracing eight simple, research-based postures outlined in the book, which will be available for purchase (and an autograph) at the event, Feliciano says we can pivot away from anxiety toward balance and calm.

“I know we’re coming out of COVID, but even before I thought about writing this book because the issues were already becoming so prevalent,” she said — fixing a huge level of blame on the very thing you might be using to read this article — your mobile device.

“People are spending so much time on their phone just inundating themselves with images of really curated perfection. But we’re holding that up to the reality of our lives and feeling a lot of discontent,” Feliciano observed. “That’s just one of the cultural factors that have affected our feelings of happiness and contentment.”

The bigger piece, she said, is identifying and talking about the things that make us feel fulfilled and content.

“As I say in the book, we’ve been culturally influenced to believe happiness is having everything you want — whether it’s a family, a home, material things, accomplishment. But contentment is learning to want everything you have. It’s common wisdom but not common practice, and the book really shows how to get started in that direction finding contentment and fulfillment in the life you already have,” she said.

While adults may believe the kind of fulfillment they desire is distinctly different than what younger adults and teens may want, Feliciano says it isn’t so.

“Actually, it’s the same for young and old,” she said. “I have the same conversations with 12-year-olds that I have with 45-year-olds, because at the heart of it our needs are the same, belonging, acceptance, and love — and to be included. That doesn’t change. But what we’re seeing is everybody is looking for a quick fix or reward, and that’s why social media is so powerful.”

But the momentary relief that comes with a snappy Facebook reply is actually an addictive response, and it’s not your fault.

“It’s an actual addictive, neurochemical response involving dopamine,” Feliciano said. “So maybe the only difference between kids and adults is, adults remember a world where this was different. For younger people, this is kind of the air they’ve been breathing since they were old enough to understand they have these needs. And they’ve adapted their responses and needs around these practices.”

So when an adult may have never found out they weren’t invited to a party, kids today are facing that rejection in real time. As a result, they are instantaneously infused with feelings of discontent and unworthiness that can do long-lasting damage, or worse — inspire unhealthy responses like turning to intoxicating substances, self-harm, and even suicide.

“That’s why when people are feeling anxious or discontent, I urge them and help them find a way to take a break from social. But in so many cases, this suggestion even makes them more anxious because they know how to get their needs met there,” Feliciano said. “And whether that means starting with just an hour off, then a day, then a week, I’ve never had a client come back and tell me they didn’t feel better — never.”

Feliciano said this is why it’s as important for parents and adults to come out April 19, as it is for teens and young adults to attend, or make it a family affair.

And because Playhouse organizers believe that the arts are also a surefire way to bring joy into your life, they called on Locke to sing some of her favorite songs that boost her mood, and the newest Woodland Regional Dance Competition and New England Interscholastic Dance Champion RHS Dance Team to raise everybody’s spirits with their hip hop dances and other great moves.

Washer, a successful stand-up comedian and former writer for Tina Fey and Saturday Night Live will serve as host.

A percentage of all book sales and ticket proceeds will go to Kids in Crisis – which provides emergency shelter, crisis counseling, and community education programs for children of all ages and families facing crisis.

For more information or to purchase a touchless print at home ticket ($10) go online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org or, visit or call the box office at 203-438-5795. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a nonprofit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield.