All Episodes

Our bodies and minds have been on high alert for a year now. COVID has altered almost every aspect of our lives, and the effects of this cumulative and prolonged stress response can affect our brain size, structure and functioning. But not all stress is bad, and adapting in the face of adversity can build resilience, confidence and skills to weather future storms. In today’s podcast, we sat down with Clinical Program Manager and Licensed Psychologist at CHC, Patty Crisostomo, PhD, to learn about the very individualized ways that stress can manifest itself in kids and adults, and effective vs. ineffective coping strategies.

Parenting in a pandemic is hard, and each age has specific developmental needs that are challenging to meet in isolation. The work of young children is to build language and social skills, much of which happen through family relationships, play and social interaction with peers. With kids spending so much more time at home and online, it’s important to create lots of opportunities for our young children to practice these skills in other ways. We sat down with Shirit Megiddo, Speech & Language Pathologist at CHC, to learn how to support your young child’s development, often using existing routines and items you already have around the house!

Currently, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is the only well-established, evidence-based treatment for self-harming adolescents at high risk for suicide. In today’s podcast episode, hear one mom’s brave story of helping her teenage daughter through panic attacks, PTSD and self-harming behaviors using DBT skills like mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness and communication, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. We are so grateful that she is willing to share her life-changing journey with us.

After nearly a year of remote learning, parents have a window into their child’s learning style like never before. As a parent, you may have observed some behaviors that make you wonder: does my child have a learning or attention difference or is it just Zoom-fatigue? We sat down with Chris Harris, MEd, an expert in learning, social-emotional, behavioral and attention challenges, to find out. In today’s podcast episode, Chris tells us what behaviors might be cause for concern and offers concrete action steps to support and advocate for your child.

Let’s face it. Life can be painful. While we can’t avoid pain, our resistance to accept reality only exacerbates our suffering. In this podcast episode, we sat down with Patrice Cristosomo, PhD and Leeanne Merritt, LCSW, to discuss the power of Radical Acceptance – a practice that involves letting go of the illusion of control and developing a willingness to accept things as they are right now.

What does 2e look like, and how can you best leverage the strengths and interests of your 2e child during distance learning? In today’s episode, Resilience and Engagement for Every Learner (REEL) founders and parents of 2e kids, Callie Turk and Yael Valek, share the joys and silver linings of flexible learning for 2e students.

How do you even start the college conversation without your child shutting down or storming off? In today’s episode, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Katie Reeves, shares communication strategies for launching meaningful discussions with your teens about college, COVID, mental health, and more.

As a parent in a pandemic, you feel like you have to be superhuman or you’re not doing enough. The reality is that if you can be kinder to yourself, you will also be happier, more resilient and compassionate with others. In today’s episode, Pardis Khosravi, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist at CHC, shares three key steps toward self-compassion.

Distance learning is hard, even for kids without emotional or behavioral challenges. Not to mention the strain on parents working remotely while trying to support their child’s at-home education. We sat down with behavioral expert Jody Miller, MEd, BCBA, to hear her best strategies for promoting and positively reinforcing good behavior, as well as what steps to take when your child is struggling.

Today’s podcast highlights a few favorite excerpts from some of our previous episodes, including Top 3 Mindfulness Strategies to Reduce Stress (Episode 5), Best Strategies for ADHD & Distance Learning (Episodes 8 & 9), Family Dynamics While Sheltering in Place (Episode 11) and more. We hope it brings a smile to your face and perhaps even makes you want to go back and listen to the episodes that resonate most.

This is a holiday season like no other. It can be hard to feel festive in the absence of friends and loved ones. As we all hunker down in our own homes, it may seem lonely or insular, but there are still so many ways to find (and share) holiday cheer!

We are all feeling the strain of living, working and schooling under one roof. It is a challenging time for families – if there has ever been a need for compassion, it certainly is now. We sat down with Jennifer Leydecker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Program Manager at CHC, to get her expert advice on ways to reduce stress and add compassion to your family dynamic. Spoiler alert: take care of yourself first!