GI problems are so common in children and adolescents who struggle with anxiety. Dr Navidi talks about disorders of gut-brain axis such as irritable bowel syndrome and how a combination of CBT and hypnosis can lead to dramatic improvement. He talks about the brain can misinterpret signals from the body and how that can lead to the experience of chronic pain. Fortunately, there are therapeutic interventions which Dr Navidi describes in this interview,  that can make a dramatic difference with GI problems

Dr Navidi has established a practice  GI Psychology which provides telehealth services in all 50 states.

 For more information

https://www.gipsychology.com/

Bedtime is a time for stories and it also a favorite time for anxious thoughts to make an appearance.  Randolph B. Schiffer, MD has just written Bedtime Stories That Will Terrify Children: Eight Tales to Help Parents and Children Navigate Through Fear .  The stories won't actually terrify your child, but they give voice to how scary childhood can be.

"Children don't need us to make the world feel safe. They need to know that they are not alone when it isn't" Randolph B. Schiffer

He created these stories to help his son who was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia deal with the  very painful and arduous treatment process.  These are stories to model courage and persistence. 

For more information https://randolphbschiffer.com/

It has been estimated that 1 in 5 children and adolescents suffer from chronic pain and it can seriously interfere with their life.  Pain Reprocessing Therapy is an evidence based approach that has been proven effective for chronic pain. Daniella Deutsch, LCSW, Penina Zilberberg, PhD and Paulina Soble, LCSW have just published The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook for Teens: Rewire Your Brain To Find Relief From Chronic Pain.

In this interview I talk with Penina Zilberberg, PhD and Paulina Soble, LCSW about pain reprocessing and how to help teens turn the volume down on the pain through a carefully structured sequence of guided exercises. Teen learn to be pain detectives and ultimately to develop a different relationship to the pain and respond differently to it. I found their book very helpful and I rather liked their use of optical illusions to explain how the brain can get things wrong and the power of belief illustrated by a London construction worker.

For more information about pain reprocessing, their website contains a lot of useful material.

https://www.painreprocessingtherapy.com/

Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD has written two books: Hunt, Gather, Parent What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans 2021and Dopamine Kids: A Science-Based Plan to Rewire Your Child's Brain and Take Back Your Family in the Age of Screens and Ultraprocessed Foods  2026.

In my experience, people outside of the mental health field often write the best books. Dr Doucleff, whose degree is in chemistry,  has provides a very clear explanation about how the neurotransmitter, Dopamine, is relevant to understanding why your child has trouble getting off of screens and why they might be such picky eaters. Her research into these topics is impressive, but more importantly is her capacity to explain the science in ways that anyone can understand. That is part of her gift. Drawing upon the latest work on habit formation, she also provides a template of how we can begin to free ourselves from screens and ultraprocessed foods. It is not about will power, but rather "Curating the Cues". 

For more information: michaeleendoucleff.com 

David Gottsegen, M.D.. is a pediatrician who uses hypnosis and mediation to help children with discomfort and fears about headaches, stomachaches, bedwetting, sleep issues, anxiety and many other common pediatric disorders. His recently published book is  Mending the  Body with the Mind: Harnessing Kids' Superpowers to Stay Healthy He is a strong advocate for helping children use their natural imaginative skills to deal with many challenging health related issues.  In this interview he shows us how he does it and for the sceptic there are 70 pages of references!

Kristen Cook, M.D. is a pediatrician who has just published Parenting REDEFINED: A Guide To Understanding and Nurturing Your Child's Behavior To Help Them Thrive. She also has a podcast MomDocTalk https://www.kristencookmd.com/podcast

Whenever there is a problem with your child, the first recommendation is often to consult with your pediatrician. They have a unique vantage point of being familiar with every stage of child development and have often seen the same child from infancy to college graduations. So as think about how to help our anxious children, the perspective of a pediatrician is an extremely valuable contribution. In  Dr Cook book and podcast, she provides very clear and concise information on a wide range of issues. Today we focused on vaccines, medical trauma and how parents and pediatricians can collaborate effectively together. I

Dr Mari Swingle was one of the first people to warn us about the dangers of screen based technology. Her book i-Minds: How and Why Constant Connectivity is Rewiring our Brains and What to Do About It was first published in 2019. This well researched book provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and promises this new technology poses for us. I found her explanation about why children have such difficulty getting off or dismounting from their technology compelling. Her intriguing phrase is that it involves vestibular system lock-in. Listen to the interview to hear her explanation for what is an all frequent occurrence in many households.

For more information about Dr. Swingle

https://swingleclinic.com/about/our-staff/dr-mari-k-swingle

http://www.drmariswingle.com/about-dr-mari/

The first edition of Freeing Your Child From Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Tamar E. Chanksky, PhD was published 25 years and now there is  a revised and updated edition (2025) . This book has remained the standard reference book for parents who are trying navigate the complex territory of parenting a child with OCD. The book has  stood the test of time. Children as David Elkind, PhD once explained are "cognitive aliens" in that they think about the world quite differently from adults. Fortunately, Dr Chansky is remarkable in her ability to articulate a program of action in child friendly language with a mixture of humor and compassion. This one of the things that makes her so special. 

For more information about Dr Tamar Chansky https://tamarchansky.com/

When a child engages in hair pulling, skin picking and other body focused repetitive behaviors, it can be very alarming for parents. Children feel compelled to engage in the BFRB but often feel quite embarrassed and ashamed. Drs Jennifer Gola, Marla Deibler and Renae Reinardy talk about their new book, Free To Be Me with a BFRB: The Ultimate Kid's Guide to Living Well with Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, Nail Biting, and other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors. 

This book provides a very comprehensive and compassionate approach to the treatment and management of BFRB's. Our discussion provides an excellent introduction to this topic and to a very useful resource for parents, children and therapists.  

For more information

https://thecenterforemotionalhealth.com/staff/dr-jennifer-gola

https://thecenterforemotionalhealth.com/staff/dr-marla-w-deibler/

https://www.lakesidecenter.org/about.html

and also see Dr Marla Deibler's blog on Psychology Today

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/from-surviving-to-thriving

Meredith Elkins, PhD is a clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and families. She is also the co-program director at the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program at McLean Hospital. She has just published Parenting Anxiety: Breaking The Cycle of Worry & Raising Resilient Kids. Her book provides a comprehensive foundation for parents to help themselves and their children who are struggling with anxiety. In our discussion, Dr Elkin points out the importance in distinguishing between the everyday usage of anxiety and the more clinical use of the term. She also talks about the current parenting culture of "intensive parenting" can inadverently predispose children towards anxiety. As a true expert of the treatment of anxiety disorders both in the interview and in her book, she offers such practical advise for parents and clinicians. 

For more information about Dr Elkin https://www.meredithelkinsphd.com

Lizzie Assa, MSED, discusses her new book BUT I'M BORED: Discover the Power of Independent Play to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids

 It is a book about how to compassionately foster independent play in your child and why it is so important. It is filled with fun suggestions about how to build "play pockets" and rather profound insights such as "Who we are alone is someone different from who we are with others, and knowing both parts of yourself is valuable for everyone's growth. Until they are alone, a child may not be able to distinguish their needs and desires from someone else's" (p15)

In the process of following her suggestions about fostering independent play, you will also be building many of foundational skills in coping with anxiety in whatever form in may show up for your child. Lizzie Assa is someone to listen to. For more information about Lizzie Assa https://www.workspaceforchildren.com/about

Marni L Jacob, PhD, ABPP has just published What to Do When You Have a Tricky, Sticky, Picky Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Strategies to Help Kids with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Dr Jacob discusses her new book and provides an overview of the cognitive behavioral treatment for OCD. Her book is geared toward adolescents and teens when the condition is most commonly diagnosed. It has been estimated to affect 1-2 out of every 100 children.  Central to the treatment of OCD is understanding the relationship of Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviors and well as the centrality of response prevention based therapy. Adolescents will find the answers they have been searching for in this comprehensive guide.

For more information about Dr Jacob

https://www.jacobcenterforebt.com

Will Dobud, PhD talks about his new book coauthored with Nevin Harper KIDS THESE DAYS: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health.

Rather than adopting the age old perspective of looking at the younger generation and saying some version of "Kids these days..." The authors suggest that the youth mental health crisis is what might be termed a "wicked problem" that does permit easy solutions. What has been missing is taking a serious look at the environmental context in which children are growing up in. Digital interference, environmental toxins, a culture of safety are some of the environmental factors impinging on the younger generation and adversely effecting their mental health.

For more information

https://www.kidsthesedaysbook.com/will-dobud

Dr Melissa Giglio and Daisy Geddes have recently published Bravery Grow and an accompanying workbook The Bravery Grows Journal & Workbook: Building Bravery in Anxious Kids with Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety

Dr Melissa Giglio is a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders. She is the director of Central Health Partners Child Development Team in Hong Kong. She created an intensive group therapy program for selective mutism "Confident Crew"'. Her coauthor, Daisy Geddes is an associate Psychologist and assoicate director of the Selective Mutism Program at CHP.

In this interview I talked with Dr Giglio about the book she coauthored with Daisy Geddes. In any anxiety disorder, psychoeducation about the condition is a critical first step. Bravery Grows captures the experience of a child with selective mutism in a way that will appeal to children and their caregivers. It can be a puzzling condition for both the child and caregivers and this book will provide much needed clarification. 

For more information

https://bravemightyminds.com/

Rhiannon Theurer, LMFT has just published The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Teens: DBT Tools To Help You Deal with Sensory Sensitivity, Manage Emotional Overwhelm and Thrive.

Rhiannon Theurer is a  neurodivergent therapist in private practice who works with neurodivergent teens and adults. She can be found at rhiannon@rhiannontheurer.com

Rhiannon Theurer talks in her book and in this interview about  how the skills taught in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be so helpful for neurodivergence teens who may for a variety of reasons experience the world in a more intense and nonvalidating manner.

Coltan Scrivner, PhD has just published Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look. 

He defines morbid curiosity "...a curiosity about things that are threatening or potentially dangerous". In the interview and in his book he explains why it is important to be curious about things that are dangerous. He provides an entirely new perspective about why children enjoy scary stories, the appeal of horror movies, haunted houses and true crime stories. All of these activities help you become familiar and explore the sensation of being afraid in a fictional context which in turn has been shown to help you with real life fears and dangers.

For more information about Coltan Scrivner, here is his website

https://www.coltanscrivner.com

Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP is a clinical psychologist and senior director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Related Disorder Program at Cognitive Behavioral Consultants in White Plains, NY. She was previously the past president of the Selective Mutism Foundation and the director of the Selective Mutism Service at the Child Mind Institute. She also runs a camp for children with Selective Mutism Voices Rising which is held during the summer and during the school year. 

Dr Busman has written Being Brave with Selective Mutism: A Step-by-Step Guide for Children and Their Caregivers. This is a very helpful guide for parents and children dealing with selective mutism. In this interview, Dr Busman provides an overview of selective mutism and highlights some the key interventions for this condition. She speaks with an energy and clarity that I think you will inspiring and motivating. 

For more information about Dr Busman https://www.cbc-psychology.com/cbc-staff/rachel-busman-psyd-abpp

and for the Voices Rising Program https://www.cbc-psychology.com/events/voices-rising-winter-2026

Dr Busman recommends the Selective Mutism YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GwY4kccpkcmgl-uNIA5tg

and of course The Selective Mutism Foundation is an excellent source of information

https://www.selectivemutism.org/

Robyn Koslowitz, PhD is the director of The Center for Psychological Growth of New Jersey and the educational director of the Targeted Parenting Institute. In this podcast episode we talk about her recently published book Post Traumatic Parenting: Break The Cycle And Become The Parent You Always Wanted To Be.

This is a valuable book for parents and clinicians. Traumatic experience in childhood and adulthood can effect our parenting. This is not an unusual observation. However,  Dr Koslowitz dissects the issue of how trauma effects parenting in a way that makes more understandable and also leads to clear plan of what to do. As a child psychologist, I found this book to be the most useful book I have read this year. 

I think you will also enjoy her podcast on Post Traumatic Parenting https://www.drrobynkoslowitz.com/podcast-2/

And you can also find more information about Dr Koslowitz at https://www.drrobynkoslowitz.com/about/

Sophia Vale Galano, LCSW  has just published Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Teenager Cope with Worry

Her book is a practical and accessible guide for parent to talk about all forms of anxiety with their teenager. It provides a blue print to guide conversations regardless of the way in which the anxiety might be showing up.

She maintains a private practice in California and has extensive experience working with adolescents in inpatient, outpatient, medical and educational settings. She also has completed Sex Therapy certification from California Institute of Integral Studies, an Animal Assisted therapy certification from The Animal Behavior Institute and a Forensic Social Work Certification from The National Organization of Forensic Social Work. 

Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD is a licensed psychologist and a leader in the field of BRFB. Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC is also a leader in the field of the treatment of BFRB. 

In this interview we talk about their latest book, The BFRB Survival Guide: A Workbook for Overcoming Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors. This workbook provides a clear program of action for dealing with these complex disorders. It involves identifying the BRFB potentially mainfest themselves in 5 domains (Sensory, Affective, Cognitive, Motor and Place) and then with this comprehensive knowledge developing a treatment plan.

I have previously interviewed the authors on my podcast about their previous books: Helping Your Child with Sensory Regulation by Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD and Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC, Psychological Interventions for Children with Senory Dysregulation by Ruth Goldfinger Golomb and Suzanne Mouton-Odum, Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) Treatment of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors by Charles S Mansueto, Suzanne Mouton-Odum & Ruth Goldfinger Golomb

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hair-pulling-and-skin-picking-interview-with/id937022377?i=1000634550977

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/expert-interview-25-ruth-goldfinger-golomb-lcpc-helping/id937022377?i=1000519775283

Also of interest is their book for parents of children who pull their hair. 

https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Guide-Hair-Pulling-Disorder/dp/0615657400/ref=asc_df_0615657400?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80539280274815&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=51562&hvtargid=pla-4584138866830203&psc=1#:~:text=A%20Parent%20Guide,LCPC%20(Author)

The authors are also on the scientific advisory board of the TLC Foundation for BFRBs which is a very helpful resource https://www.bfrb.org/

Gina Rippon has just written Off The Spectrum: Why The Science of Autism Has Failed Women and Girls.

Gina Rippon is emeritus professor of cognitive neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre, where she uses brain-imaging techniques to investigate patterns of brain activity in developmental disorders such as autism. She is also the author of Gender and Our Brains. She lives in England. 

In this interview, Dr Rippon talks about the research on autism has overwhelming focused on males and consequently the different ways in which this condition may present itself in females has been neglected until recently. She suggests that one of primary differences between autism in males and females, may be in the predominance of camouflaging and masking in women. This is certainly relevant in understanding anxiety, as she points out in her book "...if you read the testimonies of camouflaging autistic females so much of their anxieties concern the anticipation of what might go wrong" (p219). She also talk about the particular challenges autistic adolescents face at a time when their brains are undergoing a significant reorganization. Dr Rippon presents a very thoughtful discussion about this important topic.

Lisa A Phillips talks about her new book First Love: Guiding Teens Through Relationships and Heartbreak. She teaches journalism and a very popular seminar "Love and Heartbreak" at the State University of New York at New Paltz. She noted that there are plenty of good books dealing with sex education for teens but very little addressing the emotional aspects of these first relationships. These first relationships and crushes are not "puppy love" but "first drafts" in the development of a romantic identity. In this podcast and in her book, Lisa Phillips provides thoughtful suggestions about how a parent can help their child deal with a break-up and many other issues.

For more information https://www.lisaamyphillips.com

Martha B Straus, PhD is an emeritus professor of clinical psychology at Antioch University New England. She is the author of seven books including No-Talk Therapy for Children and Adolescents, a book that has truly stood the test of time and is a favorite of mine. Today we are primarily talking about her most recent book Cool, Calm & Connected: A Workbook for Parents and Children to Co-regulate, Manage Big Emotions & Build Stronger Bonds

If we are  going to help our child who is either very anxious or struggling with another "big feeling" it is critical that we don't get caught up in the excitement but remain as the title of book suggests cool, calm and connected. Easier said that done. Her workbook breaks this task down into manageable steps. 

David Russ, PhD is a clinical psychologist  specializing in anxiety disorders and is the founding partner of the Carolinas Counseling Group in Charlotte, North Carolina. He and Christopher T McCarthy created the audio program for children Turnaround: Turning Fear into Freedom which I have to be a very useful resource for anxious children. He and Anna S. Christie have written Emetophobia: Understanding and Treating Fear of Vomiting in Children and Adults . For the purposes of this podcast, Dr Russ e-book for children, Emetophobia: The Ultimate Kids' Guide available as a kindle book is a must have for parents and children. 

Emetophobia is a very common but understudied phobia. Dr Russ is one the leading authorities on the treatment of Emetophobia  and he generously shares his wisdom about treating this condition in our discussion

Links to Dr Russ and Emetophobia are listed below

https://carolinascounseling.info/david

https://emetophobia.net/

In this podcast, I talked with Dr Gordon Flett about the psychology of mattering, a topic in which he has been a leader in the field. Mattering is a core component of one's self concept which refers to a genral sense of being significant, and valued in our relationships. A felt sense of mattering is a strongly protective factor against a variety stressors. Conversely, the absence of mattering has been associated with depression and suicidal ideation. A sense of mattering becomes especially relevant  during the adolescent years as fitting in with peers becomes so important The importance of mattering is an idea that immediately resonates with many people and is the  theme in movies such as It's a Wonderful Life and Mr Holland's Opus. Unfortunately, in keeping with the crisis in youth mental health, survey data suggest that about 30% of adolescents do not feel or are not certain that they matter to anyone. So this is obviously an important topic for us to consider

Dr Flett has written two books on the psychology of Mattering: Mattering As A CORE Need in Children and Adolescents  and The Psychology of Mattering: Understanding the Human Need to be Significant

In an earlier podcast  on 9/13/22, I also talked to Dr Flett about his book he coauthored with Paul Hewitt Perfectionism in Childhood and Adolescence: A Developmental Approach

The Mattering Movement website is an excellent source of information https://www.thematteringmovement.com/

see also

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/27/well/mind/mental-health-mattering-self-esteem.html

Lisa Danahy is a registered  yoga therapist  who recently published Creating Calm in Your Classroom: A Mindfulness-Based Movement Program for Social-Emotional Learning in Early Childhood Education. She also directs www.CreateCalm.org a nonprofit organization dedicated to educational programming for schools, teachers, children and special populations.

Although her book is focused on the classroom, it is actually quite appropriate for families and health care professionals. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the energy level of the child in front of you and what their body  may need in order to function optimally. In her book, she has a series of movement exercises appropriate to the different energy levels a child may show especially around transitions. In the interview, we talk movement/breathing exercises appropriate for a child who is afraid of throwing up and has just gone to the nurses office and several other situations. 

Her book can be found at https://amzn.to/4jOI4W1

The movement exercises discussed in the podcast can be seen in at https://youtu.be/h2IxJNuzuDc

Claudia Gold, M.D. is a developmental pediatrician who has just published her fifth book Getting to Know You: Lessons in Early Relational Health From Infants and Caregivers. She has previously been on this podcast when we talked about her book The Developmental Science of Early Childhood (2017).

Dr Gold discusses how early infant-caregiver relationship serve as a prototype for all the relationships that follow. She talks about the importance of just observing your infant and that relationships are always messy. As a pediatrician she is well versed in practical advice, however in this interview and in her book she talks about what do when nothing seems to work. She illustrates how taking a stance of "not knowing" can often help relationship heal and move on

Anna Scetinina, MACP, RP is a psychotherapist in Toronto, ON Canada who has just written A Workbook for Kids Who Worry: 50 Ways to Stand Up To Worry. She is also an award-winning professional artist whose pictures delightfully illustrate the ideas in the workbook

She discusses how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be used to help anxious children. Her workbook will provide parents, children and therapist with a range of activities that will help children build the skills to tame anxiety. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action

Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from. 

Lenka Glassman, PsyD has just published What To Do When You Panic: A Kid's Guide to Transforming Panic Into Personal Power

She has also written a book for middle school children How to Master Your Mood in Middle School

She is a clinical psychologist practicing in Bethesda MD and can be found at drlenkaglassman.com

Her workbook fills a much needed gap in helping children with intense feelings that really take over. She delightfully engages her school age audience with using "magic tricks" to tame panic such "magic breathing", and  paradoxically doing the opposite of what "panic" wants. Parents will feel more confident handling tough moments after reading this book. 

Ellen Hendriksen, PhD has just published her second book, How To Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists. I talked previously with Dr Hendrikson on this podcast on 1/30/2023 after she published her first book, How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety. In both podcasts, you will find her eloquent and deeply informative.

In this podcast we talk about perfectionism and social anxiety. Her new book is fun to read and deeply informative on the topic of perfectionism. She describes the alarming increase in perfectionism and the 7 shifts that are needed to develop a more balanced life. 

For more information about Dr Hendrikson https://www.ellenhendriksen.com/

Climate change and the anxiety children may experience learning about it, is a challenging topic. Leslie Davenport is a climate psychology educator and therapist. She has just written What to Do When Climate Change Scares You: A Kid's Guide to Dealing with Climate Change Stress for ages 6-11. For tweens and up she had previously published All The Feelings Under the Sun: How To Deal Climate Change. In this podcast, Leslie Davenport explores some the complex issues around climate change, how we maintain hope in the face of some very serious facts, and how we can help children struggling with this issue. 

For more information about Leslie Davenport https://lesliedavenport.com/

Tovah P. Klein, PhD is an adjunct associate professor of psychology at Barnard College and director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development. She has written two books and published numerous journal articles. Her first book, How Toddlers Thrive is absolutely one of my favorite books. She helps us decode toddler behavior which can often be quite baffling and confusing.  Her most recent book Raising Resilience could not be more timely. It is about how to do help parent children so that they can deal with uncertainty and adversity. Her knowledge of young children brings fresh insights into what  children of all ages, need from us in order to thrive in a very uncertain world. 

https://howtoddlersthrive.com/

Melanie McNally, PsyD has just published Helping Your Unmotivated Teen: A Parent's Guide to Unlock your Child's Potential. She was seeing a lot of parents complain about how their teens appeared lazy and what she found was it was really a problem in motivation. Dr McNally talked with me about how to think about motivation and what goes into it,  She talks about how motivation involves three skillsets: drive, grit and goals and then how to address difficulties with skillset

Dr McNally is a licensed clinical psychologist  who is also the author of The Emotionally Intelligent Teen. You can learn about Dr McNally at her website https://www.destinationyou.net/

PDA or Pathological Demand Avoidance, alternatively also called Persistent Demand for Autonomy is a topic that is getting increasing attention in the United States. Ruth Fidler and Diane Gould have just published Navigating PDA in America

In this interview, I talk with Diane Gould, LISCW, who founded the PDA North America in 2020, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about this condition. PDA is viewed as a type of autism in which ordinary demands of everyday life are experienced as a threat and consequently fought against. In this interview, Ms Gould explains this complex condition and how parents can respond to it.

For more information about PDA https://pdanorthamerica.org/

Anna Housley Juster has just published a delightful book How to Train Your Amydgala, illustrated by Cynthia Cliff. In this interview we talk about her book and how to use it effectively with children. This children's book talks about how befriend the amydgala, our first responder to any threat or danger, and how to talk it down from any false alarm. A book which is both accessible to any child and accurate with regard to the latest neuroscience is going to be an important addition to the books I share with families. A helpful resource for all children but especially for those who struggle with anxiety

Anne Housley Juster, PhD, LICSW is a licensed mental health clinician and education consultant. Among the many things Dr Juster has done, she was for many years as the director of content for Sesame Street.

In this interview, I talk with Peter Vermeulen about his hypothesis that context blindness is the primary feature of autism. This is a perspective that I think beautifully explains some of the unusual fears and phobias that autistic individuals and thus significantly enlarges our understanding of autism and anxiety. His most recent book with Kobe Vanroy is What Really Works for Children with Autism written especially for parents and teachers.

Dr Vermeulen has written over 15 books on autism and is an internationally recognized expert on this topic. 

More information about Dr Vermeulen can be found at

https://petervermeulen.be/

If you have had more than one child, it is very hard not to realize how important temperament is when it comes to children. It certainly plays a role in the development of anxiety disorders. In today's episode I talk with Drs Lengua and Gartstein about how we need to take temperament into account in raising our children. It is such an important topic that can such a difference in raising our children and helping  us really see them as the individuals they are.

Liliana J. Lengua, PhD and Maria A. Gartstein, PhD have just published Parenting with Temperament in Mind: Navigating The Challenges and Celebrating Your Child's Strengths

Dr Lengua is Martiz Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington, Director of the Center for Child and Family Well-Being. She is the author of over 150 published articles on the effects of stress and adversity on children. For more information about Dr Lengua

https://ccfwb.uw.edu/team/liliana-lengua/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/contributors/liliana-j-lengua-phd

Dr Garstein is Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at Washington State University. For more information about Dr Garstein

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/maria-gartstein-phd

Paul DePompo, PsyD, ABPP and Cassandra Moore, LMFT have written Tic'd: a child's guide to defeating tics. Dr DePompo is the founder of the Cogntive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Southern California. Cassandra Moore, LMFT is in private practice specializing in Tourette Disorder, ADHD, mood disorder and and anxiety disorders. 

They have written a very practical and helpful book for children dealing with a tic disorder. The authors provide an easy to follow sequence of steps to implement, CBIT (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics) the most effective non-medication treatment for Tourette's Syndrome. It is a resource that clinicians, parents and children will find very helpful. Listen to this podcast and you see why I am so positive about this book

For more information 

https://getticd.com/

Danielle Dick, PhD is the distinguished Commonwealth Professor of Psychology and Human and Molecular Genetics at Virgina Commonwealth University. She is an internationally recognized expert on genetic and environmental  influences on human behavior. 

In this interview, we talk about her book The Child Code. In this book, she provides a interesting review on how genes influence behavior, spoiler alert-there isn't a gene for anxiety-it is more complicated. But more importantly from a parenting perspective, she provided a convenient way of thinking about temperament, what she called the 3 E's and quizes to help you figure out where you and your child are on this dimension. Importantly, she notes that we have to adjust our parenting style to match the temperament of your child. The Child Code is an extremely useful book for parents that is grounded in very solid science.

For more informaton about Dr Dick and access to her online resources for you to explore your child's genetic code.

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrhdUqZUoxmfFgfv7dXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1721681818/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.danielledick.com%2fabout/RK=2/RS=x9LSJGmG3cgi7kWLccRRgKZd2M0-

Dr Sherryse Corrow is a professor of psychology at Bethel University in St Paul University, Minnesota. She is talking  with me today about her research into face-blindness or Prosopagnosia. Developmental Prosopagnosia is a condition that has been estimated to effect 1 in 50 with very profound implications for those with this condition. Quite simply, the world is going to be a much more anxious place if you can't identify faces. Dr Corrow explains how this condition shows up in children, how adults can begin to identify it and some of the research into Prosopagnosia.

Dr Corrow can be reached at

shc62369@bethel.edu

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrEsGa8E3tmCAQA0wtXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1720551613/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.bethel.edu%2facademics%2ffaculty%2fsherryse-corrow/RK=2/RS=_KLD0xt2y42lz5iqMfMNY5NlAHI-

A link to where she summarizes her research in more scientific terms

https://youtu.be/4n8_upaJMxI?si=NHHewNFR6vXDO91S

and for a reference mentioned in the podcast

https://www.faceblind.org/

Dr Sherryse Corrow is a professor of psychology at Bethel University in St Paul University, Minnesota. She is talking  with me today about her research into face-blindness or Prosopagnosia. Developmental Prosopagnosia is a condition that has been estimated to effect 1 in 50 with very profound implications for those with this condition. Quite simply, the world is going to be a much more anxious place if you can't identify faces. Dr Corrow explains how this condition shows up in children, how adults can begin to identify it and some of the research into Prosopagnosia.

Dr Corrow can be reached at

shc62369@bethel.edu

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrEsGa8E3tmCAQA0wtXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1720551613/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.bethel.edu%2facademics%2ffaculty%2fsherryse-corrow/RK=2/RS=_KLD0xt2y42lz5iqMfMNY5NlAHI-

A link to where she summarizes her research in more scientific terms

https://youtu.be/4n8_upaJMxI?si=NHHewNFR6vXDO91S

and for a reference mentioned in the podcast

https://www.faceblind.org/

Kiley Hanish, OTD, PMH-C is a neurodivergent occupational therapist specializing in mental health during the perinatal period which includes pregnancy, postpartum and perinatal loss. She has coauthored "Descriptive Study of the Sensory Experiences of Autistic Mothers as Occupational Beings". Recognizing that the majority of autistic individuals experience sensory processing challenges, this study looks at the challenges autistic mothers face in the transition to parenting. Becoming a parent is an intense experience from a sensory standpoint at each point in the journey. In this interview Dr Hanish describes some of the challenges autistic mothers face and the implications for health care. It is a fascinating topic which has not received the attention it deserves. 

For more information about Dr Hanish: https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrEqxvcx2hmIjoBfepXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1719352541/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.drkileyhanish.com%2f/RK=2/RS=8BPfR.zToOrMxj_B.c1WCsPKSFI-

And for her nonprofit about perinatal loss, Return to Zero: HOPE https://rtzhope.org/

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwriiK1CyGhmHQQAEy9XNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzQEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1719352643/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2frtzhope.org%2f/RK=2/RS=wZ7b.lvdCYyWokpOIkBMOgYl5Ys-

Jonathan Dalton, PhD is a licensed psychologist who is the founder and director of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change in Rockville, MD. He specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. He is a sought after speaker and passionate advocate of public education concerning mental health issues.

In this podcast, Dr Dalton explains anxiety may present differently in neurodivergent children. While a decrease in parental accommodation is a central part of the treatment in neurotypical children, Dr Dalton points how accommodations to the sensory sensitivity of neurodivergent can be a critical part helping the child. Listen to this podcast to learn some practical interventions and also the thoughtfulness required in helping these children. Dr Dalton has a way of presenting methaphors that I think you will also enjoy

Dr Dalton can be found at:

https://changeanxiety.com/about-us/

His recent master class "Understanding Anxiety: A Strength-Based Perspective" can be found at

https://neurodivergentinsights.com/trainings

Yshai Boussi, LPC is a licensed professional counselor who works with teens and families. Polyvagal theory developed by Steven Porges is a perspective that many clinicians have found very useful. Yshai Boussi has presented this theory in very practical terms that can help parents become more attuned to their teenager and remain more connected to them.

To learn more about Yshai Boussi and view his blog

https://portlandfamilycounseling.com/about-us/yshai-boussi-lpc/

Lenore Skenazy is the author of Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow and is President of Let Grow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting play and independence in children and adolesecence.

Ms Skenazy created quite a sensation after her article "Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone" and got labeled "America's Worst Mom". This lead her to start Let Grow which is an invaluable resource for helping schools and parents promote healthy growth promoting independence in children. Her approach has the benefit of simplicity and common sense. By encouraging independent activity, you are promoting confidence and decreasing anxiety in your child. And it also happens to be fun. Pair this interview with the one I did last year with Camillo Ortiz, PhD who developed an innovative approach to helping anxious children by givng them mega doses of independence. 

Ms. Skenazy also helped Jonthan Haidt in his recent book Anxious Generation write the recommendations about how to correct a "phone based childhood" and return it to a "play based childhood". 

Let Grow website

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrFEIxplh1mPrQWQyNXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1714424681/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fletgrow.org%2f/RK=2/RS=UD_aH_MXQEBH_BBxdrHFYlXabIM-

Linda K. Murphy is a speech language pathologist who has written two books, Declarative Language Handbook and Co-Regulation Handbook. I found her books wonderful in clarifying how language can either turn the volume up or down on anxiety. Imperative language, those questions or comments that demand a response can create stress or anxiety. In contrast, declarative or descriptive language can help your child achieve a more regulated and open state. In this conversation, we talk about the power of just describing or observing, rather than jumping into problem solving. In this approach, we can begin to avoid unproductive power battles and foster a more collobrative relationship with our children.

For more information about Linda K. Murphy, MS, CCC-SLP https://www.declarativelanguage.com/

Regine Galanti, PhD has just published Parenting Anxious Kids: Understanding Anxiety in Children by Age and Stage. She is the author of several other books aimed at helping children with anxiety such as Anxiety Relief for Teens.  She is the founder of Long Island Behavioral Psychology and can be found at https://www.longislandbehavioral.com/team

In this interview we have a chance to explore her new book which contains invaluable advice for parents of anxious children at each stage of their development

Dr Jame Gregory is a clinical psychologist and researcher based at the University of Oxford. She has written with Adeel Ahmod a very helpful book on Misophonia that clinicians, those with misophonia and significant others will truly benefit by. She helps clarify why misophonia often gets attached to a significant person and details a program of therapy that can lessen the severity of this condition. It is really a must read for anyone concerned with this condition, but first listen to the podcast because her passion for this material is so evident.

It was a pleasure to have Natasha Daniels as a return guest on this podcast to talk about her new book Crushing OCD: Workbook Kids.  This book is going to be an excellent resource for families and therapists trying to help children with OCD. One of strengths of this book is that it lays out in very digestible units the sequence of steps needed in order to "crush OCD". It is also no small feat the language in this book is very child friendly but always respectful. 

https://hillchildcounseling.com/

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/p/difficult-behaviors

Stephen P. H. Whiteside, PhD is a clinical psychologist, Professor of Psychology in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and Director of the Pediatric Anxiety Disorders Prgram at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  His new book will be out in April in which he  outlines parent-coached exposure therapy. Unlike other therapy experiences, where children meet alone with a therapist, Dr Whiteside focuses on teaching parents how to help children work on their anxiety or OCD at home. In this interview we talk about his approach to treating anxiety disorders and some of the challenges in treating all anxiety disorders. 

I had the opportunity to talk with Aimee Kotrba, PhD on the occasion of the release of the second edition of Selective Mutism: An Assessment and Intervention Guide for Therapists, Educators and Parents co-authored with Katelyn Reed, M.S. She is an international expert on the topic of selective mutism and I have used her material frequently with children struggling with selective mutism. Listen to this informative and fun talk with Aimee Kotrba, PhD.

Dr Aimee Kotrba,  is the owner of Thriving Minds Behavioral Health Clinic in Michigan and directs a camp for children with selective mutism Confident Kids Camp

For more information about Dr Kotrba and to access her webnairs and other material

https://www.thrivingmindsbehavioralhealth.com/

Emily Edlynn, PhD is a clinical psychologist who has just published Autonomy-Supportive Parenting: Reduce Parental Burnout & Raise Competent, Confident Children.

As Emily Edlynn explains "This book gives parents a roadmap to move away from hovering and over-helping (burning us out and undermining our kids competence and confidence) to raising self-sufficent children ready for the world. We can all shift from "full service" to "self-service" in our homes by focusing on three fundamental human needs: autonomy, relatedness and competence."

In this interview, Emily illustrates how we can move away from more fear based parenting which tends to be very controlling and contributes to anxiety in children to parenting that fosters competence and a sense of agency. 

https://www.emilyedlynnphd.com/

She is also co-host on the podcast Psychologist off the clock and check out her interview with Jennifer Wallace author of Never Enough: When Achievemnt Culture Becomes Toxic-And What we Can do About it.  This book nicely compliments Autonomy-Supportive Parenting

https://offtheclockpsych.com/toxic-achievement-culture-with-jennifer-wallace/ 

In this episode, I talk with Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD and Ruth Goldfinger Golomb about their recent book with Charles S Mansueto.  These authors have done some of most important work in developing effective treatment for BFRBs. We discuss   the key elements  ComB model for the treatment of hair pulling and skin picking. Since sensory issues are often very important in the treatment of BFRB, we also talk about Suzanne Mouton-Odum and Ruth Golomb other books on sensory dysregulation.

Helping Your Child with Sensory Regulation: Skill to Manage the Emotional and Behavioral Components of Your Child's Sensory Processing Challenges by Suzanne Mouton-Odum and Ruth Goldfinger Golomb

Psychological Interventions for Children with Sensory Dysregulation by Ruth Goldfinger Golomb and Suzanne Mouton-Odum

Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC can be found at http://www.behaviortherapycenter.com/new-page-2

Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD can be found at https://psychologyhoustonpc.com/.

The brain changes that happen as a result of pregnancy is a fascinating topic. Dr Pawluski is one of the leading authorities on this topic. We talk about her book Mommy Brain in which she discusses how the brain changes as a result of pregnancy and how the transition to parenthood does not get the recognition that it deserves. She also sets the record straight about what actually happens to a mother's memory during pregnancy. Most importantly she highlights the amazing ways the brain adapts to the task of having a child. 

Jodi Pawluski, PhD is a neuroscientist who specializes in the neuroscience of motherhood and perinatal mental illness. She has a podcast Mommy Brain Revisited in which she talks to leading scientists and others about the latest thinking and research on the changes in the maternal brain as a result of pregnancy.

 https://www.jodipawluski.com/mommybrainrevisited/episode/3735c11f/43-attachment-and-neural-synchrony

Her website where you can also information about Dr Pawluski's webinars for parents

https://www.jodipawluski.com/about

And her book which is available in English and French

https://www.drdonnahenderson.com/

In this interview I talk with Donna Henderson about autism and anxiety. Dr Henderson and Sarah Wayland with Jamell White have written two books about autism: Is This Autism: A Guide for Clinicans and Everyone Else and Is This Autism: A Companion Guide for Diagnosing. 

Dr Henderson talks about how understanding some of the nonobvious ways in which autism can present itself and the unique features of anxiety in this population. 

Camilo Ortiz is an Associate Professor of Psychology and the director of clinical training at Long Island University-Post as well as maintaining a private practice.

Dr Ortiz is developing a novel approach to treating childhood anxiety by providing children with opportunties to practice being independent. Everyday acts of doing things independent of adults essentially exercise the same psychological muscles that a child need to deal with anxiety. His approach has the potential to be a promising addition and at times an alternative to traditional exposure based therapy for anxiety. This approach has an accessible simplicity and leverages children natural wish to be independent and competent. 

His Website is http://drcamiloortiz.com

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/04/opinion/anxiety-depression-teens.html

https://profectusmag.com/treating-childhood-anxiety-with-a-mega-dose-of-independence/

https://letgrow.org/program/the-let-grow-project/

Chelsea Conaboy is a  journalist specializing in personal and public health. Her recent book, Mother Brain, is now available in paperback. Her book is a thoughtful and well researched discussion of the emerging neuroscience about the brain changes that occur as a result of becoming a parent. In addition, she offers an incise critique about the concept of "Maternal Instinct" and how it is fundamentally flawed and inaccurate.https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/26/opinion/sunday/maternal-instinct-myth.html

This is a major developmental period and transition which is actually similar in magnitude to the changes that occur in adolescence.  However, this sensitive developmental transition has not received the attention and recognition that truly deserves. Chelsea Conaboy has corrected this imbalance with her highly readable and thoughtful book 

https://cc.au.dk/en/recreational-fear-lab

The question of why we would be drawn to movies and other material such as haunted houses is what Mathias Clasen and Marc Andersen investigate at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University. The negative effects of children watching movies that are inappropriate for their age has received substantial attention. However, Clasen and Andersen note how all ages are drawn in different ways to scary material, and in their work they demonstrate some of benefits of this exposure. Among other things it can help us learn how to manage our fears and bring us closer together. In this interview we talk about "the threat simulation theory of horror movies" and importantly how horror movies represent one end of a continuum in which we seek to explore fear and other emotions.  They point that even in nursery or preschools books, such as We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury explore what it is like to be afraid. These safe explorations are one way in which we learn to manages anxious feelings. 

We are born with a set of primitive reflexes that are necessary for our survival but over the course of the first year should be gradually inhibited or integrated with higher cortical functions over time. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons primitive reflexes do not always get integrated as higher cotrical functions get online. Sonia Story is a leading expert on the role of primitive reflexes in contributing to a variety of mental health issues. It is an exciting area that provides a new set of interventions for children based on movement patterns. 

Some helpful links to supplement the podcast

How neurodevelopmental movements can help with mental health issues.

https://www.moveplaythrive.com/MentalHealth

The importance of Primitive Reflexes

https://www.moveplaythrive.com/learn-more/item/importance-of-integrating-reflexes

About ADHD and Primitive Reflexes

https://www.moveplaythrive.com/learn-more/item/can-adhd-be-dissolved

About Sonia Story's Brain and Sensory Foundation course

https://www.moveplaythrive.com/OBSF1

In this interview we talk about needle phobia and pediatric pain with Dr Jody Thomas who is the Founder and Director of the Meg Foundation. The Meg Foundation is one of the primary resources to help children deal with needle phobia and pediatric pain. It is so important for parents and childen to know that something can be done to make the experience  vaccinations and blood draws less scary and painful. Dr Thomas and the Meg Foundation are the go to resource for helping parents and children cope with vaccinations and other medical procedures. In this interview Dr Thomas outlines the steps to help children with this important part of their medical care.

• https://www.megfoundationforpain.org/

Bethany Saltman has written a compelling book about the science of attachment. It is a memoir of her journey into the science of attachment, a summary of what is known about attachment and the process of how this important theory was established. In this interview we talk about some of the basic features of attachment. The relationship an infant forms with their caregiver puts down a psychological foundation that biases development in certain directions. For the purpose of this podcast, we note that an insecure attachment increased the probablility of developing an anxiety disorder. However, developmental trajectories are complex and nothing is fixed in stone. 

Bethany Saltman has many facets to her work, including being a writing coach and she can be found at https://www.bethanysaltman.com/strange-situationn.com

Dr Zucker is a licensed psychologist in Washington D.C. She has published several books on the treatment of anxiety disorders. In this interview , I talk with her about her two most recent books: A Perfectionist's Guide to Not Being Perfect and How to Manage Your Social Power in Middle School. The two books deal with separate but related challenges of the middle school years. The middle school years can pour jet fuel on any tendencies towards perfectionism. And it has been said of middle school children that peer relations become so important that it is as if children get addicted to popularity. Her comments on social power can help children manage these rough waters.

For more information on Dr. Zucker

https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com/publications

We discuss two videos in the interview that she recommends.

J. Jiang What I learned from 100 days of rejection.

https://youtu.be/-vZXgApsPCQ

Brooks Gibbs How to Stop a Bully

https://youtu.be/7oKjW1OIjuw

Anxious Nation is a provocatively intelligent look into the global crisis of anxiety and mental health as it affects Americans, especially it crippling impact on children and adolescents. In this podcast I talk with Laura Morton about her new film which opens on May 3 with livestream event. For more information go to anxiousnation.com

If you have a child with OCD, Natasha Daniels is a resource you want to know about. She has a variety of online course such as "How to Teach Your Kids to Crush OCD" and "Crushing OCD Classs for Kids & Teens" and actually much more. 

She can be found at natashadaniels.com

Judith Warner is author of AND THEN THEY STOPPED TALKING TO ME: Making Sense of Middle School which is the topic of this podcast. It is a time period most of us remember all too well and a time when many anxiety disorders become quite evident. She has also written New York Times best sellers: Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety and We've Got Issues: Children and Parents in the Age of Medication. She has been a frequent contributor to The New York Times and is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. She has written a highly readable book which explains this vulnerable phase of development with clarity and precision.  

You can read her other articles on her website

https://judithwarner.com/

To talk about reading on a podcast concerning anxious children may seem a little far a field. However, reading is an essential skill in which if you struggle with it, school  becomes a very stressful and anxiety provoking environment. Reading also helps in many different ways in dealing with anxiety. Unfortunately, we are in bit of a reading crisis, where recent surveys have shown the 2/3 of 4th graders are not proficient readings.

Claire N. Rubman, PhD is a psychologist who specializes in reading and we are talking about her new book This May Be Difficult to Read: But You Really Should (for your child's sake) 

For more information Dr Rubman website is https://difficulttoread.com/

David Carbonell, PhD is a clinical psychologist who has specialized in the treatment of anxiety disorder since 1985. He is the author of several books on anxiety: Panic Attacks Workbook, The Worry Trick, Fear of Flying Workbook, Outsmarting Your Anxious Brain The Intrusive Thoughts Toolkit (coauthored)and he has a very helpful website anxietycoach.com

In this interview we talk about some of the basic in the treatment of anxiety disorders and how he has found it helpful to conceptualize anxiety as a trick. 

Randy Frost is a emeritus professor of psychology at Smith College. He is the co-author of Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding the Meaning of Things.   He is widely considered to the world's expert on the topic of hoarding and has published over 100 scientific papers on OCD, hoarding and perferctionsism.

Eric Storch, PhD is a professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department at Baylor College of Medicine. He is an expert on OCD and  related conditions in childhood with over 100 publications on these topics

  Also Randy Frost and I have published a paper on hoarding in children

Edward H. Plimpton, Randy O. Frost, Brianna C. Abbey and Whitney Dorer "Compulsive Hoarding in Children: 6 Case Studies" International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 2009,, 2 (1) 88-104

Dr Kissen is a clinical psychologist who is the CEO of Light On Anxiety CBT Treatment Center. I talked with her about her recent book on using cognitive behavior therapy to help with parental anxiety. 

In this interview, I talked with Ellen Hendriksen, PhD about social phobia and her book How To Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety She is clinical psychologist  who works at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) in Boston MA. Her website ELLENHENDRIKSEN.COM contains a number of helpful resources for dealing with Social Anxiety and a very helpful online course on Social Anxiety. 

I have found the way in which she talks about Social Anxiety in terms of a worry that a fatal flaw will be revealed in four potential ways a very helpful tool in my work, but there much more as you will see in the interview 

Michael A. Tompkins, PhD has just published the anxiety & depression workbook for teens: simple cbt skills to help you deal with anxiety, worry, and sadness with New Harbinger Publications. He a cofounder of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy, an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Universtiy of California at Berkleley and an adjunt faculty at the Beck Institute for Cognitve Therapy. Among his other publications relevant to this podcast are My Anxious Mind: A Teens Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic and Zero to 60: A Teen's Guide to Manage Frustration, Anger and Everyday Irritations.

Given the documented increase in the prevalence of depression and anxiety in teens, this is a timely and important topic that I was fortunate to talk with Dr Tompkins about.

Jeremy W. Pettit, PhD and Ryan M. Hill, PhD,  experts on suicidal ideation and suicide in teens talk about their new book overcoming suicidal thoughts for teens: cbt activities to reduce pain, increase hope, build meaningful connections

I apologize for the sound quality in this interview, there were some unexplained technical problems, but the content is still very important and worth your listening time.

Ed Tronick, PhD is one of the leading authorities on infant development. His collaboration with the famous pediatrician, Berry Brazelton, MD was instrumental in the development of Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale. His Still Face Experiment with mothers and infant monumental in demonstrating the social competence infants. A link to a video demonstration is listed below

https://youtu.be/YTTSXc6sARg

Robyn L. Stern, LCSW, is a licensed social and therapist in New York where she specializes in Body Dysmorphic Disorder, OCD and BFRBs. This is a condition someone becomes preoccupied with perceived defects in their appearance which are not apparent to others. 

This is an important psychiatric condition to know about. It is more frequent than OCD, and can lead to unnecessary cosmetic surgery.

In this interview I talk with Robyn Stern who is passionate advocate for BDD awareness

She knows first hand about what it is like to suffer from BDD and she has two very compelling videos in which she bravely tells her story. I would strongly recommend watching these videos. 

https://youtu.be/77JthR5HXv8

and

https://fb.watch/go3vJ3C-2q/

Heather White is the author of One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet.

She is the founder of OneGreenThing.org and has two decades of experience in environmental advocacy including serving as a presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore and numerous other activities.

Climate change is the big challenge for the younger generation and many therapist such as myself are noticing how much it comes up with our young clients. Heather White discusses the importance of a intergenerational discussion of climate change, how doing one green thing a day can create the necessary cultural shift to deal with this crisis and most importantly how to identify the ways in which you and your child can play a part. The program of action Heather White describes are crucial in managing the understandable anxiety that comes with thinking about climate change. 

Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy have written a wonderful book How to Tell Stories to Children. Anxious children can greatly benefit from stories that parents tell them and this book tells you how to get started. As they explain storytelling "... becomes like a Swiss Army knife for parents-a multi-tool that helps a child learn new skills, build empathy, soothe difficulty emotions, and make meaning out the challenging moments in life". Story telling is as much and probably more  about building a connection with your child than making a narrative. As they explain "The goal is not perfect story. The goal is connection". And if we are going to help our anxious children, it begins with connection. 

 You can learn more about this story telling method at HowToTellStoriesToChildren.com and there is also a podcast on itunes with the same name

Jon Hershfield, MFT is the Director of The Center for OCD and Anxiety at Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore Maryland. He is the author of several books on OCD and is prominent figure in the world of OCD treatment. In this interview, we talk about his book for teens the ocd workbook for teens: mindfulness & cbt skills to help you overcome unwanted thoughts & compulsions  with illustrations by Sean Shinnock, New Harbinger Publications. 

Jon Hershfield has provided a workbook that provides both an explanation of  the treatment of OCD and relevant exercises presented in a very adolescent friendly fashion. This is a valuable resort for clinician, parent and teen. 

Perfectionism in children and adolescence is a growing problem with serious implications. Drs Molnar and Flett are leading investigators on perfectionism and children. In this interview they provide an overview of perfectionism, discuss an intriguing study they did on the effect of the pandemic and provide a cautionary word about perfectionism and suicide. 

Danielle Molnar, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University in Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Her blog/vlog on her most recent research findings can be found at https://brocku.ca/dphwb-lab-blog-the-young-and-the-perfectionistic

Gordon Flett, PhD is a professor in the Department of Psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada. His most recent book with Paul Hewitt is Perfectionism in Childhood and Adolescence: A Developmental Approach. 

I interviewed Stephanie Meyers, MS, RDN about her recent book End the Mealtime Meltdown: Using Table Talk Method to Free Your Family from Daily Struggles over Food and Picky Eating  newharbingerpublications.  She is a registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of Families Eating Well, a nutrition practice training parents to coach healthy eating habits in kids. She can also be found on Instagram under tabletalkcoach. 

Mealtimes can be a tremendous source of stress for parents and children for many reasons. Fortunately, there are some very simple ways that you can change the way you talk about food with your child that can have a dramatic difference. In this interview, Ms. Meyers describes how changing your table talk can dramatically decrease mealtime time stress and anxiety. She provides very concrete suggestion about what to say that is reminsent  of the classic parenting book How to talk so children will listen and listen so children will talk.  Ms Meyers provides us with a great opportunity to change the tone at dinner time  by the way we talk about food with our children. 

Angela Mansolillo is a speech-language pathologist and Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Diorders who works at Cooley Dickenson Hosptial, Northampton MA. She is a clinical supervisor and adjunct faculty member at Elms College Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is the author of Let's Eat! A Clinical Guide to the Management of Complex Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders.

I have encountered a number of children who have developed a fear of choking and consequently become very cautious eaters. Choking is of course a very frightening thing to happen and can be rather traumatic.  Interestingly, there a some children who have a reason to be worried about choking because of the mechanics of their eating. In this interview, Angela Mansolillo talks about how sometimes a fear of choking and cautious eating can be the result of a problem in motor component of eating. This leads to an additional approach in dealing with a fear of eating where the mechanics of eating are addressed. 

David A Clark, PhD is a clinical psychologist and emeritus professor at the University of New Brunswick. He is a leading authority on the nature of intrusive thoughts, cognitive behavior therapy and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. He is the author of numerous books and articles, in this interview I talk with him about his latest book the anxious thoughts workbook for teens: cbt skills to quiet the unwanted negative thoughts that cause anxiety & worry newharbinger publications 2022.

The adolescent has a new found ability to think about thinking which is a departure from the more concrete thinking of middle childhood. This ability opens new possibilities but also create challenges. Dr Clark provides a comprehensive guide for dealing with the more problematic aspect of dealing with unwanted thoughts,

Dawn Huebner, PhD is a clinical psychologist and parent coach specializing in childhood anxiety.  Today we are talking about two of her more recent books for school age children Facing Mighty Fears About Throwing Up and Facing Mighty Fears About Health.

Her workbooks for children and parents, What to Do When Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kids Guide to Overcoming OCD  are basically the classic, go-to references for helping anxious children. In addition, she has a book for older children Outsmarting Worry (An Older Kid's Guide to Mangaging Anxiety) that was the focus on an earlier podcast in 2018 with me.

At her website there is an online class Seven-Step Solution For When Worry Takes Over that covers in greater depth what was talked about in this podcast. 

Heather Turgeon, MFT and Julie Wright, MFT have written their third book together Generation Sleepless: Why Tween and Teens Aren't Sleeping Enough and How We Can Help Them  which is the topic of this interview. 

As they point out in their book, it is going to be very hard to help an anxious child if they are sleep deprived. This book explores this alarming problem of sleep deprivation in tweens and adolescents and offers some very practical suggestions. 

Their other books are The Happy Sleeper: The Science-Backed Guide to Helping Your Baby Get a Good Night's Sleep-Newborn to School Age and Now Say This: The Right Words to Solve Every Parenting Dilemma

They also offer online courses at their website thehappysleeper.teachable.com for infants, toddlers and preschool children.

The topic of today's podcast is fostering resilience in children. Caren Baruch-Feldman, PhD and Rebecca Comizio, MA, MEd have just published a very timely book The Resilience Workbook for Kids: 32 Skills to Build "I CAN DO IT Muscles"

Caren Baruch-Feldman, PhD is a clinical psychologist and a certified school psychologist. She maintains a private practice in Scarsdale, NY and works as a school psychologist in Harrison, NY. She is also the auther of The Grit Guide for Teens. 

Rebecca Comizio, MA, MEd was named Connecticut's 2019 School Psychologist of the Year. She is a practicing school psychologist , and licensed professional counselor at the New Canaan Country School, in New Canaan, CT. and the Waverly Group. She is also the cohost of the School Psyched Podcast and the coauthor of 70 Play Activities for Better Thinking, Self-Regulation, Learning, and Behavior.

They also have an instructional webnair on teaching resilience to children which can be found below

https://www.praxiscet.com/our-courses/#courses-tabs-1

Mona Delahooke, PhD is a clinical psychologist with a specialization in infant mental health. She is the author of Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Rasing Joyful, Reslient Kids  and Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioral Challenges

In this interview, she describes how using Steve Porges Polyvagal Theory helps us understand when our children's behavior is intentional and when it is a stress response and how making that distinction is a critical guide about what to do next.

Her website www.monadelahooke.com contains several useful webnairs, a blog and other very practical information

Dr Alan Sroufe has been described as "attachment chief spokesman in the United States"  He conducted a longitual/prospective study of 170 people from birth to middle age looking at the type of attachment they had in infancy and what happened to them in subsequent years. He found certain types of experiences in infancy increased the chances that one might develop an anxiety disorder in adolescents. He is the author of three books: The Development of the Person: The Minnesota Study of Risk and Adaptation From Birth to Adulthood, Emotional Development: The Organization of Emotional Life in the Early Years, and A Compelling Idea: How We Become the Persons We Are and 150 scientific papers.