Shows
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleAddressing Your Family's Anxieties about California WildfiresThe Palisades Fire has been devastating California since the start of the year, destroying over 23,000 acres and nearly 5,000 structures. In this special episode of Shrinking it Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins explore the emotional impact of these fires, sharing strategies for parents to help them manage their own and their family's anxieties about the fires.Media ListPalisades Fire (MalibuCity.org)California Wildfires Response (Red Cross)Breaking News and Kids (MGH Clay Center)The Psychological Gift Of Giving A Gift (MGH Clay Center)Climate Anxiety and Kids, featuring Elizabeth Pinsky, MD ...2025-01-2325 min
The Country MileThe Country Mile 354NEW FACEBOOK PAGE - facebook.com/CountryMile24 - please do 'like' and share.
**PLAYLIST:**
Ella Langley - Weren't For The Wind
Sierra Ferrell - The Garden [ alt. version ]
Aaron Watson - Haggard Blues
Allie Rae - Cinderella For A Night
Gabe Choate - Look At The Mess
Madison Hughes & Brent Cobb - Nobody Knows Your Love
Bob Minner - Ruby Jean ft: Jesse Smathers
Pitney Meyer - Bear Creek Clay
Tony Logue - Cinnamon Blonde
Paige Plaisance - Highway 65
John Mutchler - Young Man's Lament
...2025-01-201h 00
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleParents Under PressureIn the recent Advisory, Parents Under Pressure, the US Surgeon General noted that parents are currently more stressed, burned out, and lonely than ever before. The alarming statistics are not all that different than his Advisories on the Youth Mental Health and Loneliness Epidemics that have been escalating since the late 1970s.In this episode of Shrinking it Down, Gene and Khadijah discuss this new advisory and what parents can do to combat these increased feelings of stress and loneliness.Media ListParents Under Pressure (U.S. Surgeon General Advisory...2024-11-2125 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleSupporting Youth in a World Riddled by ConflictLet's be honest, we're all stressed.We're stressed about climate change, world crises, the upcoming election, or even just the common stressors of everyday life: economic pressures, relationship issues, burnout, you name it. So, with all stress, our conversations can easily become more uncivilized.In this episode of Shrinking it Down, Gene and Khadijah discuss the key elements of conflict resolution, strategies for civil conversations, and a special role-play scenario to help demonstrate positive conflict resolution.Media ListPolitical Polarization in the American Public (Pew Research Center)Conflict Resolution...2024-10-1732 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleNavigating Special Education in Schools Part 1: Legal and Practical TipsWelcome back to a new season of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple! For our season premiere, Gene and Khadijah are joined by two special guests who specialize in learning disabilities and special education law – Ellen Braaten, PhD, and Eileen Hagerty, Esq, – to do a deep dive on the special education system. On part 1 of this two-part series, they provide legal and practical tips by discussing the definitions, rights, and processes involved in special education evaluationsMedia ListLearning & Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) (MGH) Ellen Braaten, PhD (MGH) Eileen M. H...2024-08-2950 minThe Country MileThe Country Mile 328
UPDATE - NEW FACEBOOK PAGE - facebook.com/CountryMile24 - please do 'like' and share.
**PLAYLIST:**
Taylor Sheridan - Hometown Love
Kaitlin Butts - Spur
Jim Lauderdale - I’m A Lucky Loser
*Album of the Month* - Brinley Addington - Same Old Sins
Clay Hollis - Floatin’ Down The River w/ Kevin Fowler
Danni Nicholls - Under The Neem Plum Tree
Jack McKeon - Past The Point Of Rescue
Kenny & Amanda Smith - Good Thing Gone Wrong
Zakk Gran...2024-07-131h 00The Country MileThe Country Mile 322**UPDATE - NEW FACEBOOK PAGE - facebook.com/CountryMile24 - please do 'like' and share.**
PLAYLIST:
Jenny Tolman - Better Place
The Redhill Valleys - Rhinestoned
Midland - Old Fashioned Feeling
ERNEST - Bars On My Heart
Chad Cooked Band - Smoke & Mirrors
Kayla Ray - The Least You Could Do
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes - Trip Around The World w/ Dierks Bentley
Wood Box Heroes - Made Up My Mind
Jenny Don’t & The Spurs - You’re What I Need...2024-06-021h 00The Country MileThe Country Mile 315**PLAYLIST: **
Twitty & Lynn - After The Fire Is Gone
Creed Fisher - The Ride
Kelsey Waldon - Uncle Pen [ with Amanda Shires ]
Zach Top - Use Me
Dan Marshall - Heaven’s Honky Tonk
Matt Koziol - Last Of The Old Dogs
Never Come Down - #42
Darin & Brooke Aldridge - The Price I Pay
Jesse Daniel - Comin’ Apart At The Seams
Pat Reedy - Tallest Man In Tennessee
Clay Walker - I Know She Hung The Moon 2024-04-251h 00
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleThe Role of Roleplay in TherapyIf you’re a regular listener, you’ll know we often reference the benefits of casual roleplay games - from dress up to Dungeons & Dragons - for healthy child development. It can help kids better understand themselves, gain a deeper understanding of others, and build confidence. Today, Gene and Khadijah explore roleplay through a more therapeutic lens. They are joined by special guests John Corbett, MD and Terrance Dolan, MD, two MGH/McLean Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows (and lovers of roleplay games) to delve deeper into how it can be used in therapy and at home to suppo...2024-04-1838 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleAlcohol & Drugs - Why Do Teens Use?The teen years can be a time for experimenting with alcohol and other drugs. But a recent CDC study found the reason why teens use substances today isn’t just for experimentation, but also to stop worrying about problems, and even to help with depression or anxiety. Today, Gene and Khadijah discuss how to approach your teen if you’ve discovered they are using alcohol, marijuana, or a prescription or over-the-counter drug, and what health risks to know about for each of these.These are hard conversations to have. We hope that ours will help you...2024-03-2133 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleWhat Can States Do to Support Youth Mental Health? feat. Senator John C. VelisTo address the youth mental health crisis, we need to approach it from different angles – including access, education, and legislation. So, what are states doing to make a difference?Today, Gene and Khadijah are joined by special guest Senator John C. Velis of Massachusetts. Senator Velis shines light on current efforts in Massachusetts to better utilize schools for prevention and early intervention, to help increase the behavioral health workforce, and more. He also generously shares some of his personal mental health journey.Read the episode transcript.Media ListFollow along with th...2024-01-1844 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleStimulants! feat. Anthony Rostain, MD, MAWhat role should prescription stimulant medication play in a child’s ADHD treatment plan? Today, Gene and Khadijah are joined by Tony Rostain, MD, MA, chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Cooper University Health Care, to discuss this and more.How do you talk to your child about stimulants? What side effects should you watch out for? How do you manage after-school rebound? If you’re a parent trying to navigate the stimulant shortage, Dr. Rostain has advice on that, too. PLUS, some cool info on the history of stimulants.Read the episode transcript here...2023-12-2145 min
The Clay Edwards ShowTUESDAY’S FULL SHOW W/ MIKE WATKINS (Ep #660) 12/19/23Ep #660 Of The Clay Edwards Show W/ Mike Watkins On 103.9 WYAB (12/19/23)
Mike is with the Mississippi Independent Cannabis Association (MICA), he joined me to discuss the year end review for everything the association accomplished this year and what they look to accomplish in 2024.
Some of the topics we hit were: Workplace drug testing for people with prescription cards, gun ownership, gas station cbd / hemp, military veterans using cannabis for ptsd and much, much more.
Check out my website at Www.ClayEdwardsShow.Com for all things Clay
2023-12-191h 19Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleLonely College StudentsRecent national surveys show that a significant proportion of college students report having felt overwhelmed, anxious, and lonely during college. If college is supposed to be the “best years of your life” then why are so many students lonely? That’s what Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins dive into today: what’s contributing to feelings of loneliness, when should we worry about it, and what can we do to help? They share tips for parents and caregivers, and college students themselves.Media ListFollow along with the conversation.New Surgeon General...2023-11-1627 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleFears and Phobias in Kids and Teens, feat. Susan Sprich, PhDAll of us have fears – kids and adults alike. Many of us even enjoy a good scare now and again (there’s a reason why horror movies do so well). Most fears – real or imagined – eventually respond to reassurance, emotional calming, or distraction. But when a fear persists, resisting rational or emotional soothing and creating obstacles in daily life, it becomes a phobia.Just in time for Halloween, we’re kicking off our new season with a look at specific phobias in kids. We’re joined by special guest Susan Sprich, PhD of Massachusetts General Hospital to learn more a...2023-10-1936 min
Faith Producers International PodcastJUST IMAGINE THAT ! #1291/ WITH DR GEORGE WATKINSJUST IMAGINE THAT
Your imagination is like clay; reform it. There is a mysterious Scripture in the book of Genesis concerning the tower of Babel. God said that if he left these people to their own doing, they could imagine anything and do it. To understand that is so far beyond our comprehension in the natural mind that we miss the power of it.
The imagination is the seedbed for thoughts and actions. Things we end up doing start in that seedbed and grow into giant trees. Our life's good, bad, and ugly originate in our...2023-09-0416 min
The CYPT PodcastGetting Into The Roofing Business (Special Guest Robert Watkins)#roofingservices #rooferslife #roofermarketing #roofinginstallation #roofingexpert Today we talk about how Robert Watkins from R Watkins & Brothers Roofing. Robert talks about how he got into the roofing business and how his business has been successful.Check R Watkins & Brothers Roofing at:Facebook and at 313-350-7940CHECK US OUT AT:CYPT DETROITFOLLOW US ON IG: https://www.instagram.com/cypt313FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@canyoupicture... FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/cypt313WEBSITE: www.shopcypt.com www.cyptmemo...2023-07-2759 min
Better Lawns and GardensBetter Lawns and Gardens - Hour 1 Clay Wallace Caladium Festival July 15, 2023
Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Garden expert Teresa Watkins is joined by Clay Wallace, head grower of Classic Caladiums to discuss the popular colorful shade plant and the annual Caladium Festival July 28th and July 29th that celebrates this wonderful tropical bulb. Clay provides his advice on growing caladiums and how to order caladium bulbs online. Teresa answers garden questions on an apple tree that is blooming in July, when do sand pears ripen, magnolia tree losing leaves and not flowering, how to stop oak trees from suckering, ugh, lubber grasshoppers, and more...2023-07-1553 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleHow Should We Respond to Anxiety in Our Kids? feat. Kevin Simon, MDAnxiety. It's rising in our kids and teens. What can we do to help? Today, Gene and Khadijah are joined by very special guest Dr. Kevin Simon, Chief Behavioral Health Officer for the City of Boston. Dr. Simon draws on his experience in child & adolescent psychiatry, addiction medicine, health policy, and more, to help us talk through childhood anxiety. What’s the right way to respond to a child with anxiety? Why can parental accommodation make things worse? How do we reassure kids whose anxiety stems from legitimate concerns, like community violence or discrimination? What’s the role of ment...2023-03-1640 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleUnderstanding Obesity Stigma, feat. Angela Fitch, MD, FACP, FOMAWe often hear about how stigma can prevent treatment for mental disorders and promote feelings of shame or low self-worth among those struggling. Did you know the same is true for obesity? Obesity is a complex disease, and stigma stems from a misunderstanding of what it is, what contributes, and how it can be treated.Today, we're joined by Angela Fitch, MD, a leader in the field of obesity medicine, to help us learn more about what we can all do to support kids who are struggling with obesity and shift the culture around weight bias. We...2023-02-1645 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleDr. Gene and Dr. Khadijah Answer Your QuestionsFrom challenges with hair pulling to supporting a child through a regression in toilet training, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer real parent questions in this episode. For each question, they offer clinical insight to help parents better understand what might be going on, and suggestions for next steps and ways to support the child. We think all caring adults will be interested in this discussion. Be sure to tune in.Follow along with the media list below, and if this episode sparks another question, write to us! We’ll include it in a fu...2023-01-1930 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleOur next special guest is... YOU.We're kicking off 2023 with a special episode of Shrinking It Down featuring *you* our listeners. What questions do you have about the mental health of a child or teen in your life?Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins will answer them on January 19!E-mail your questions: gene@mghclaycenter.orgMessage us your questions: Instagram (instagram.com/mghclaycenter) or Facebook (facebook.com/massgeneralclaycenter)Leave a voice mail with your questions: (617) 643-1590 (press # to skip the message)We'll see you back here on January 19, and the Third...2023-01-0501 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleYoung People, Sports, and Mental Health ft. Dr. Jonathan Jenkins, Psy.D, CMPCSports can be such a positive space for young people to let off steam, learn important life skills, and build long lasting relationships. There are times, though, when it can be too much, injury strikes, or someone doesn’t make the team they were hoping to.Dr. Jonathan Jenkins joins Gene and Khadijah to discuss all things sports psychology and how best to support our young people in an important area of their lives. Whether your child dreams of being a professional or just likes to play for fun, tune in to learn how parents can promote a...2022-12-1539 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleSelf-Harm In Teens ft. Dr. Blaise Aguirre, MD*Content Warning: This episode contains segments of discussion that may be difficult for some audience members to hear. Content such as descriptions of self-harm methods are included.Self-harm is a rising mental health concern that tends to begin in the teenage years. But what are some of the causes and what can we do to help our kids who are struggling? In this episode, very special guest Dr. Blaise Aguirre of McLean Hospital joins Gene and Khadijah to unpack why some kids engage in self-injury, what some of the warning signs are to look out for, and...2022-11-1748 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleThe Benefits of Music Therapy ft. Marisabelle Díaz-Falcón, MT-BCAs Dr. Gene Beresin always says, music is a universal language. To kick off our new podcast season, and in honor of Gene’s new book, Music, today we’ll look into the ways music can help us heal. Special guest Marisabelle Díaz-Falcón, a board-certified music therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital joins Gene and Khadijah to talk about the ways music therapy helps kids (and adults!) in the hospital. Backed by science, the benefits of music therapy are plentiful, and we’re here to give you tips on how to bring some of these benefits home!Media...2022-10-2032 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleGet Ready for a New SeasonIt's nearly time for a new season of Shrinking It Down! Co-hosts Gene Beresin, MD, MA and Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH have some great mental health topics and great guests in store for you. But until then, Hold On....Beginning October 20, tune in the 3rd Thursday of every month for new episodes. Subscribe wherever you stream. See you soon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2022-09-1503 minThe Country MileThe Country Mile 236NB: TCM 237 will be available soon - just relocated so having a two week break to set up!
PLAYLIST:
The Western Express - Flower Of The Rio Grande
Leo Alejandro Garcia - Celebrating Good Life
Brandon Maddox - Cruisin' In A Small Town
Jamey Johnson - I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal
Sturgill Simpson - When It Comes To You
Adam Hood - Speed Of The South
Kelsey Waldon - Peace Alone ( Reap What You Sow )
Peter Rowan - New York Town
Volume Five - Losing My Religion 2022-08-2100 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleHow do I talk to my kids about gender and sexuality? Ft. Dr. Marshall Forstein, MD, DLFAPA*Content warning: Some of the conversation today includes topics that some listeners may find sensitive including sexuality, gender identity, and violence towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community. What is gender identity? How is it different from sexual orientation? And why are pronouns so important? We talk through all of these questions and more in this week’s episode. Gene and Khadijah are joined by special guest, Marshall Forstein, MD, DLFAPA, to discuss some of these common terms we are hearing more and more every day and give tips on how to have conversations with your kids about al...2022-06-3042 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleHow Does Schizophrenia Affect a Young Person and Their Caregivers?May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Leading up to this month, we received questions from our Instagram followers. In this podcast miniseries, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer them. Today's question: How does Schizophrenia affect a young person and their caregivers? Dr. Abigail Donovan of the Mass General First Episode and Early Psychosis Program joins to help answer. Media ListAbigail Donovan, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)First-Episode and Early Psychosis Program (Massachusetts General Hospital)What Is Family Therapy? (MGH Clay Center)Psychosis in Chi...2022-05-2408 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleHow Do You Find Out If Your Teen Has Undiagnosed ASD?May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Leading up to this month, we received questions from our Instagram followers. In this podcast miniseries, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer them. Today's question: How do you find out if your teenager has undiagnosed ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)?Dr. Gagan Joshi of the Mass General Bressler Cetner for Autism joins to help answer.Media ListGagan Joshi, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)Alan & Lorraine Bressler Clinical Research Program (Facebook)A Closer Look at High-Functioning Autism, featuring Robyn Thom, MD – Shr...2022-05-1715 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleThe Power of Peer Support ft. Valerie Grison-Alsop & Julia EspositoWe all know that parents and other adults tend to be the last people teenagers want to talk to about their problems. At this stage of life teens are more likely to reach out to friends in times of need. With this in mind, Valerie Grison-Alsop, founded Give Us the Floor, a nonprofit organization that promotes peer support for teens, by teens. Give Us the Floor launched an app that provides a safe, anonymous space for teens to reach out to each other for support, with guidance from trained teen advisors as well as adult advisors. ...2022-05-1241 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleHow Do You Find a Therapist for School-Age Kids?May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Leading up to this month, we received several mental health questions from our Instagram followers. In this podcast miniseries, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer them. Tune in to "You Ask, Our Docs Answer!" each Tuesday in May for a short episode answering one of your questions.Today's question: How do you find a therapist for elementary kids with anxiety?Have a question for our docs? E-mail us or tag us on Instagram!Thank you for all you do to support the young developing...2022-05-1010 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleHow Do I Fall Asleep When I'm Anxious?May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Leading up to this month, we received several mental health questions from our Instagram followers. In this podcast miniseries, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer them.Tune in to "You Ask, Our Docs Answer!" each Tuesday in May for a short episode answering one of your questions.Have a question for our docs? E-mail us or tag us on Instagram!And thank you for all you do to support the young developing minds in your life. It really makes a difference. Hosted...2022-05-0308 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleA Teen's Take On the PandemicThe COVID pandemic is like nothing most of us have ever lived through. This is especially true for kids and teens who are still developing mentally and physically. This week we talk with special guest, Annabel Reddick, a high school senior in Davidson, North Carolina about her experience living through the pandemic, and how things are going two years into it. Gene, Khadijah, and Annabel discuss the struggle of remote learning and maintaining relationships, readjusting to school more than a year later, how she and her sister coped, and what she thinks adults should know about teens...2022-04-2840 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleYoung Athlete Mental Health, featuring Mai Uchida, MDAt what point are we pushing our young athletes too hard? We all watched 15-year-old Russian Olympic skater, Kamila Valieva, exit the ice in tears after a doping scandal. Where did the adults in her life fail her? What can be done to make sure situations like this don’t happen again?These are the questions Gene and Khadijah try to answer this week, with the help of former competitive skater turned child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Mai Uchida, MD.Dr. Uchida is passionate about supporting youth athlete mental health and has written about Naomi Os...2022-04-1451 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleSelf-Esteem: How do we build our kids up?Low self-esteem gets all of us down at one point or another. For kids, the goal is to help build them back up. Lots of things can lower our kids’ self-esteem like body image, cyberbullying, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and surprisingly, guilt (along with lots of other things!).This week, Gene and Khadijah break down the ways that we can help our kids elevate their self-esteem and their sense of worth. From giving positive feedback to creating a sense of competency, there are plenty of things parents – and other caring adults – can do to help their kids. If thi...2022-03-3136 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleUkraine: What Do We Tell Our Kids?The crisis in Ukraine feels to many like the straw that broke the camel’s back. Between the COVID pandemic, police brutality, the climate crisis, and now the war in Ukraine, the world may feel increasingly unsafe. Very young children, though, actually respond more to their adults’ distress than to the tragic events themselves. That said, repeated media exposure of horrific events can sometimes lead to PTSD in kids who do not experience the tragedies themselves.This week, Gene and Khadijah discuss the important work of protecting our young people from the very real conflict they are witn...2022-03-1738 minThe Country MileThe Country Mile 215PLAYLIST:
Hog Leg Band - How It Feels To Be A Cowboy
Eric Bolander - Montgomery Hill
Hailey Whitters - The Neon
Aaron Watson - Unwanted Man
Joe Purdy - Heartbreak In The Key Of Roger Miller
Alex Miller - Through With You
Brennan Leigh - If Tommy Duncan's Voice Was Booze
Cedar Hill - Smilin'
Kenny & Amanda Smith - Everything To Me
Joseph Hauck - Gonna Take Her Dancin'
David Quinn - Heartland
Kendall Shaffer - Watering Hole
Addison Johnson - Out Of Control
Clay...2022-03-1200 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleBody Image and Young People, featuring Holly Peek, MD, MPHTurning on TV, opening a magazine, or going on our phones these days, kids are overwhelmed with images showing us what we should look like. Even on “reality” TV, none of the people look like your average person. With all of these images circulating in our everyday lives, it is easy for any of us to get caught up and judge our own bodies, but especially young people who soak these images in and can internalize these “ideals”.Today, Gene and Khadijah are joined by special guest Dr. Holly Peek, Assistant Medical Director of the Klarman Eating Disorder...2022-03-0339 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleAlcohol & Adolescents, featuring John F. Kelly, PhD, ABPPDid you know that 3 out of 4 addiction cases in the U.S. are alcohol addictions, and that kids who start drinking before age 15 are significantly more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder than those who wait? Alcohol causes more deaths each year than all other drugs combined, including around 5,000 deaths to children under age 21. Yet, culturally, we don’t tend to think of alcohol as a serious psychoactive drug that causes intoxication, toxicity, and addiction.Today, Gene and Khadijah talk about alcohol, adolescents, and what parents should know. To help make sense of it all, they ar...2022-02-1747 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleCOVID-19 Risk, Fear, and AngerCOVID-19. We can’t seem to escape it no matter where we turn, even in our own homes. All of us – caregivers and young people, alike – are experiencing feelings of fear, frustration, and anger as we balance trying to stay safe and trying to move on with our lives. It’s mentally and emotionally draining.How do we keep going? That’s what Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins talk about today. Ways to manage our strong emotions in a healthy, sustainable way. They explore why emotions like anger and fear arise, and share concrete tips for r...2022-02-0334 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleBonus: School Refusal Conversation StartersIf your child is struggling to go to school and regularly wanting to stay home, it's important to learn more about what's making things so hard for them. Talking about it can help. Here are a couple ways to start a conversation with your child or teen, from child & adolescent psychiatrist Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH.If you missed Khadijah and Gene's full discussion about school refusal, tune in here!We hope that our conversation helps you to have yours. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2022-01-2101 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleIs Your Child Struggling With School Refusal?Does your child get stomach aches at the thought of going to school? Does your younger child throw temper tantrums? Does your teenager spend all day in the school counselor’s office, or even refuse to leave the home? When kids struggle to go to school, it can be a really challenging situation. And since the pandemic, child psychiatrists Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins are hearing more concerns about this kind of behavior from the parents they work with.Today, Gene and Khadijah talk through school refusal: what it is, how to recognize signs in...2022-01-2030 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleStrategies for Managing Holiday StressFamilies have felt tremendous stress over the past two years due to the pandemic. But for many, this is a special time of year that we fantasize about and look forward to, and it’s not healthy to go into the holiday season at this heightened state of stress and duress.Perhaps you're anxious about spending time with loved ones in a safe way, or fighting about house rules with your college student who is home. The season may be challenging because it awakens traumas from your past. Or maybe you just want to give your child th...2021-12-1631 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleBonus: ADHD Conversation StartersIf your young person is struggling in school, and you think it might be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins has some ways to start a conversation with them. These conversation starters might help you learn more about what's making things so hard at school. Also, watch Dr. Booth Watkins' short video on recognizing signs of ADHD in your child. Thanks for tuning in! We hope that our conversation helps you to have yours. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-10-2901 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleAll About ADHDIn today's episode of Shrinking It Down, we revisit some of the most helpful conversations we've had with clinical experts about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in kids and teens. First, we talk through what ADHD really is with Dr. Ellen Braaten (01:10), including the three types of ADHD and how the behavioral signs can be different in different children. Then, we take a closer look at the use of medication for ADHD with Dr. Timothy Wilens (15:55), including when medication can be most useful as a treatment for your child, and when it probably isn't needed. Finally, we learn more...2021-10-2824 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleBonus: Asking About Social MediaIf Instagram and social media are still on your mind after our last episode, but you still haven't talked to your teen about your concerns, here are some things to say to start the conversation. Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins says, it can actually be pretty simple if you approach the conversation with curiosity. Dr. Gene Beresin says, you might learn a lot about what's really going on in your child's digital media circles if you're willing to include them as part of the problem-solving team.Tune in for their suggestions. We hope our conversation will help...2021-10-0902 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleUnsettled About Instagram?We weren’t due for another episode until next week, but given the news of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and her disturbing claims that the company knows its platforms cause mental harm, including to teen girls, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins are back early. They put on their shrink caps to process the concerns that Instagram poses to children and teens, and talk through guidance to help young people navigate digital media in healthier and safer ways. We’re all hostages to this digital age, and we need to know how to harness it, protect ourselves, and...2021-10-0730 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleMental Health Myths - BUSTEDWelcome back to Shrinking It Down – because mental health is anything but simple. What better way to launch Season 5 than by busting some mental health myths?In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins check in with each other after the summer break, and then share the facts on some common misconceptions about depression and anxiety, violent video games, "bad" parenting, and more.Thanks for joining! We hope our conversation will help you to have yours.Media ListGene Beresin, MD, MAKhadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPHMental Health Myths: BU...2021-09-3039 minThe Country MileThe Country Mile 196PLAYLIST:
Caleb Lee Hutchinson - I Must Be Right
Ray Scott - Forgivin' Him
Charley Crockett - Are We Lonesome Yet?
Kayla Ray - The Losing End
Nashvillains - There To Catch Me
Natalie Henry - When'd You Change Your Mind
Malcolm MacWatt - Banjo Lullaby
Kim Robins - Johnny Clay
Old Baby Mackerel - Long Journey Home
Joshua Ray Walker - Three Strikes
David Adam Byrnes - Too Much Texas
Joe King - Drinkin' Doubles
Elijah Ocean - A Chip Off The Barroom Floor
Stevie...2021-09-2500 min
Core PrinciplesAnn Watkins, The Power of FoodHost Clay Howerton interviews Ann Watkins (annmwatkins [at] bellsouth [dot] net) about Ketogenic Metabolism. 2021-09-2125 min
The KickoffAnother One Rides the Bus (For the Last Time) - Clay Helton Fired and a Crazy NFL Week 1Join host Harry Broadhurst, Erik Watkins, and Keneddi Eddings as they present their unique looks at the worlds of college and professional football, mixing a blend of statistical knowledge with razor-sharp wit. The gang starts with the return of Studs and Duds, giving their best and worst of the past football week. Because of course there's somewhat breaking news, Erik calls an audible to discuss who won the college football coaching sack race for 2021 in So, THAT Happened. Watch your sodium, because the salt will flow when the group Pours One Out for the Homers (and...2021-09-161h 17The Country MileThe Country Mile 189PLAYLIST:
Scotty Alexander - One More Reason
Hannah Juanita - Call Yourself My Man
Hailey Whitters / ERNEST - Islands In The Stream
Hayes Carll - You Get It All
Erin Enderlin - Somebody's Shot Of Whiskey
Dori Freeman - The Storm
Emily Scott Robinson - Old Gods
Unspoken Tradition - Irons In The Fire
Milan Miller - Callie Calling
Hannah Dasher - You're Gonna Love Me
Chuck Cusimano - Another Chapter In The Workin' Mans Blues
Dan Herrell - The Good Ole Days
Leah Blevins - Beautiful...2021-08-2600 minThe Country MileThe Country Mile 188PLAYLIST:
Minnie Murphy - Get Over It
Briana Adams - Belle Of The Beer Bash
Daryn Wright - The Jukebox Has A 45
Jesse Daniel - El Trabajador [ with Raul Malo ]
Charlie Daniels - Daddy's Old Fiddle [ with Dolly Parton ]
Dallas Burrow - The Other Side
Jon Young - Here & Now
Rick Faris - See You On The Other Side [ with Sam Bush ]
Jesse Brock - Shuckin' The Corn
Drake Milligan - Kiss Goodbye All Night
Daryle Singletary - Fly On The Wall
Summer Dean - Blue Jean Country...2021-08-2600 minThe Country MileThe Country Mile 179PLAYLIST:
Hayden Haddock - Honky Tonk On
Sammy Kershaw - Evengeline
Clay Walker - Texas To Tennessee
Flatland Cavalry - Some Things Never Change
Cody Johnson & Willie Nelson - Sad Songs & Waltzes
Casey Chesnutt - Love Won't Let You Do That
The Steel Woods - Old Pal
Rhonda Vincent - What Ain't To Be Might Just Happen
Wilson Banjo Co. - Just A Few More Miles
Brock Gonyea - My World Turns To Silver
Gary Gibson - Together We Have It All
Summer Dean & Colter Wall - You're...2021-06-2600 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleEverything You've Wanted to Know About Sleep, featuring Bernard Kinane, MDIt’s our last episode of the season, but never fear – we're signing off with tips to last you the summer long. Today’s episode is all about sleep!Sleep is so important to our overall health and well-being. So, very special guest Dr. Bernard Kinane, Director of the Pediatric Sleep Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, joins Gene and Khadijah to answer all of your questions about how to support kids in healthy sleep habits. What are the most common sleep problems in toddlers and teens? Why is sleep hunger important for maintaining a healthy sleep...2021-05-2845 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleMental Health Challenges and Latinx Children & Teens, featuring Angel Caraballo, MDOver the past year, the Clay Center has worked to support even more young people by translating our free, online resources for Spanish-speaking parents and caregivers. In this time, we’ve seen high readership on topics like emotionally supporting kids and teens during COVID-19, the importance of sleep for child mental health, and how to help young people manage anxiety and stress. On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Khadijah welcome special guest Dr. Angel Caraballo for a conversation about the unique mental health challenges impacting Latinx and Hispanic families. From his experience as a child and ad...2021-04-2843 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleA Closer Look at High-Functioning Autism, featuring Robyn Thom, MDComing into April, Autism Awareness Month, we’ve noticed more families coming to our website with questions about high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some are seeking guidance on challenges families face, some wanting to learn more about behaviors stereotypically associated with ASD, and others wondering what happened to the Asperger’s diagnosis. On today’s episode of “Shrinking It Down,” we welcome special guest Dr. Robyn Thom, a psychiatrist at the Lurie Center for Autism at the Massachusetts General Hospital, for a conversation about challenges for kids and teens with ASD, including with social relationships and repetitive behaviors. She...2021-04-1435 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleOne Year Later – Young Adults and COVID-19Everyone has been hit hard mentally and emotionally during the pandemic, but there’s growing research to suggest that young adults – that special 18-24 age group – are suffering more than we might think. GenZ and Millennials had already been flagged as possibly the loneliest generation, even before COVID-19. Now many are faced with increased social isolation and a devastating economy at a time when, developmentally, they should be building independence and identity through higher education or work.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Khadijah share insights from their clinical practice on navigating these unique challen...2021-03-3132 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleOne Year Later – Back-to-School Anxiety During CovidDuring COVID-19, many kids across the country have been doing most or all of their schooling online. But now, a year later, many communities are finally finding ways to bring kids back to school, in person. While it’s largely agreed on that in-person schooling is critical for child and teen positive mental health and social-emotional development, going back comes with its own concerns and a host of new anxieties for kids, parents, and teachers alike.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Khadijah share insights from their clinical practice as child psychiatrists on supporting th...2021-03-0332 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleTeen Breakup Violence, Part 1Content Warning: Today’s episode is the first in a two-part series on teen relationship violence. It may be difficult for some of our listeners.Romantic relationships are a critically important part of life for teenagers. In fact, one of the most common reasons for emotional struggles in high school and college are breakups with friends or romantic partners. We all know that breakups can be emotionally distressing for teens, but we don’t often talk about how they can also be emotionally or physically violent. Somehow, it feels easier to talk about the sadness or loneliness that...2021-02-0343 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleThe Nuts and Bolts of Telepsychiatry, featuring Janet Wozniak, MDDid you know the first telepsychiatry visits at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), conducted back in 2014, weren’t for adults, but for children? Flash forward, we never imagined how critical teletherapy and telemedicine would become – in such a short period of time – as a part of routine healthcare for all age groups and populations, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, we welcome special guest Dr. Janet Wozniak, Associate Chief of Quality and Safety for Department of Psychiatry at MGH, for a conversation about telepsychiatry. What is it? How has it been helping...2021-01-2041 min
BIG Truths of Small BusinessEp 34 - The Art of Influence and Persuasion with Clay CuttsWe are back with Clay Cutts with Square Peg Counseling and Coaching to discuss the tactical methods behind influencing others to do what you need them to do in your small business. When dealing with our customers in sales, our vendors and our employees, your ability to influence and persuade them will have a large affect on your success in business.2021-01-1259 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleMedia Literacy and Mental Health, featuring Michael Robb, PhDToday’s young people are spending more time online than previous generations, and many parents and caregivers worry about how digital media is affecting their mental, emotional, and social well-being. Strengthening media literacy skills can help us all better use media as engaged and informed consumers. But what does “media literacy” mean, and how can we help kids and teens build these skills? On today’s episode of 'Shrinking It Down,' Dr. Michael Robb, Senior Director of Research at Common Sense Media, joins Gene and Khadijah to talk about how parents can help kids better understand the media...2020-12-2341 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleTackling Racism Internally to Better Serve Our Communities, featuring Joseph Betancourt, MD, MPHWhen it comes to structural racism in healthcare, commitment to change stems from the top in creating physically and emotionally healthier communities. Today, on ‘Shrinking It Down,’ special guest Joseph Betancourt, MD, MPH, Vice President and Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), joins Gene and Khadijah to help us understand how seriously MGH takes this charge.Dr. Betancourt has focused his life’s work on issues of equity and social justice, and has a long history of researching these issues and creating educational tools to improve cross-cultural interactions and increase diversity and equity in hea...2020-12-0938 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleHow Do We Heal From Here?When the body is injured, it begins the healing process despite the ongoing physical injury. Our minds should be no different. Right now – amidst a pandemic, economic strain, political tension, rising mental illness, and more – we are desperately in need of emotional healing, despite the many challenges ahead. But communities are divided, families are divided, and fear and anger are rampant. How do we heal from here?On today’s episode, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins think hard about and reflect on how to begin the healing process, for ourselves and the young people in our...2020-11-1127 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleManaging Family Conflict During CovidSince the pandemic began, many families have spent more time together. A lot more time.More time together than we’re used to + challenging times + uncertainty about the future + none of the outlets we'd typically use to recharge = a perfect storm for rising family conflict. Conflict between siblings, conflict between kids and parents, conflict between partners or other adults at home – all relationships feel up for grabs. What can we do to help?As we launch a new season of ‘Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple,’ Dr. Gene Beresin and our new co-host, Dr. Khadijah...2020-10-2831 minBIG Truths of Small BusinessUnSelling - How to Really Serve and Sell Your Clients - Back with Clay Cutts, Square Peg Counseling & CoachingBack with Clay Cutts with Square Peg Consulting & Coaching, Joe Watkins and Travis Cassell of YesiRent Property Management take a deep dive into a mystery that all businesses can identify with--how do we sell to more clients and raise our conversion ratios. We unpack the idea of UNSELLING in this episode of BIG Truths of Small Business where building trust and serving the real needs of your customers is the magic.2020-09-1156 minBIG Truths of Small BusinessMindset - the Importance it Plays in every aspect of your Business - an Interview with Clay Cutts, Business Coach & TherapistWe have a fantastic interview with Clay Cutts, owner of Square Peg Counseling & Coaching, LLC in Peachtree City, GA, who specializes in business coaching. We take and in-depth look at MINDSET and the role it plays throughout our business, our life, and our people as small business owners. Prepare to be challenged in your way of thinking.2020-08-211h 01Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleMedications: For Better or Worse? featuring Tim Wilens, MDMany parents of kids struggling with a mental health issue have concerns – even fears – about medication as a part of treatment. Will it help? Will it hurt? What are the side effects? Today, Dr. Tim Wilens, chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, joins Gene and Ellen to talk about prescribed medications, and other substances used recreationally to ease symptoms: How they can help, how they can harm, and how to know when medication should be considered for your child or teen. Plus, a closer look at medications for treating ADHD. Thank...2020-06-2434 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleManaging Challenging Behavior in Kids During Stressful Times, featuring J. Stuart Ablon, PhD – Shrinking It DownThese past months and weeks have put tremendous stress on families across the country, on top of the daily challenges we were already navigating. And under tremendous stress, it can become even harder to regulate our emotions, leaving our kids – and even us – struggling with challenging behavior. In today’s episode, Dr. Stuart Ablon, Director of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital, joins Gene to talk through strategies to help you and your kids do the best you can right now. A huge part of this is changing our mindset to remember that challenging behavior is about skill, not...2020-06-1035 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleCOVID-19 and College Students, featuring Khadijah Booth Watkins, MDWhen teens leave home for college, it’s natural for both parents and young adults to adjust to new lifestyles and living apart. But many college students unexpectedly returned home due to the coronavirus pandemic, and this can pose challenges for families as they reestablish norms and expectations for living together. How can parents and young adults find the right balance between respect and independence during this time of uncertainty? On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins, Associate Director of MGH's Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Training Program and parent to a college freshman, joins Gene to dis...2020-04-2938 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleGrowing Up With a Parent on the Autism Spectrum, featuring Hillary Hurst Bush, PhDIf you do an online search for the words “parenting” and “autism,” most of the results will be about parents who don’t have autism raising children who do. But what if you’re a parent on the autism spectrum, or have a partner or co-parent who is? In today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene welcomes special guest Dr. Hillary Hurst Bush to share her story of growing up with a Dad with autism – both from the perspective of her younger self and her professional experience as a neuropsychologist with the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program at Mass General Hospita...2020-04-1528 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleCOVID-19: Mental Health Check-InLife as we know it has changed since our last episode. Disruptions, anxiety, and uncertainty surrounding the new coronavirus disease have affected us all. While we can’t immediately change this public health crisis – though we can do our part by staying home if we’re able! - we do have the power to change how we think about our individual situations, and help our children and teens to do the same.In today’s short episode, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Ellen Braaten take a mental health break to check in with all of you, to check in...2020-03-2510 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleIs Your Teen an Emotional Sponge?Peers can be an excellent source of social support, and it’s great that more young people today talk to friends about their emotional challenges. But for every teen who shares, there’s another teen absorbing the info like an emotional sponge. And while it feels good to help a friend, it can also feel overwhelming - even scary - to be a friend's sole source of support, especially for serious issues.On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Ellen Braaten help parents to think about the pros and cons of being an...2020-02-2624 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleNature vs. Nurture, featuring Jordan Smoller, MD, ScDMany parents worry that their own or a family member’s mental health disorder destine their children to struggle in the same way. But, while many psychiatric disorders do run in families to some extent, so do lots of things! Right down to food preferences and professions. So, how much do genes have to do with it? On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, special guest Dr. Jordan Smoller, of MGH’s Center for Genomic Medicine, joins Gene and Steve to discuss how nature and nurture always work together. How much does our environment influence our lives and compete w...2020-02-1238 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleExtra Time on Tests - Does It Work?When “extra time” on tests first began decades ago, the goal was to level the playing field for students with learning disabilities by allotting them the same amount of time that everyone else had. Today, it seems every parent thinks their kid could benefit from extra time on tests, and in some cases will go to great lengths to get it. But does extra time really help a student to score higher on exams? On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Ellen discuss the three types of specific learning disabilities for which a child might benefit from e...2020-01-2928 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleNew Year Resolutions: We Can Manage This!Did you know? According to a recent Clay Center survey, six out of 10 parents encourage their kids to adopt New Year’s resolutions. To bring in the new year (and decade!), we’re dedicating this episode to strategies on guiding young people towards meaningful and manageable goals. From getting specific about the “how,” to finding that spark in your child, to involving the whole family, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Ellen Braaten talk through different ways of framing goals to set us all up for success in a new year. Plus, they make their own resolutions based on their own advi...2019-12-1831 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleMaking Family Dinner Possible, featuring Anne Fishel, PhDThere are many emotional benefits that come from connecting over a family dinner. But with the competing demands of reality, like busy schedules, technology, and picky eaters, this simple idea isn’t always so simple. On today’s episode, Dr. Anne Fishel, executive director of The Family Dinner Project at Massachusetts General Hospital, joins Gene and Steve to discuss her new book, Eat, Laugh, Talk! From speaking with thousands of different families – including single-parent, three-generational, those with infants, those with teens – this book crowd sources the best tips that real families have found to make dinner an easier lift, along wi...2019-12-0430 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleIs This Normal?One of the most common questions Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman hear from parents, as adolescent psychiatrists, is: “How can I tell if my kid is struggling with a mental health issue?” All kids go through behavioral phases and changes at different stages of life. But when it comes to teens, in particular, it can be hard to tell the difference between typical irritability, withdrawal, and fatigue and something more problematic. When is it cause for concern? The answers to these questions are not crystal clear, but in today’s episode Gene and Steve provide tips and guidan...2019-11-2024 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleThe Loneliest GenerationData suggest that Generation Z, the teens and young adults coming of age right now, feels lonelier than any other age group. But we don’t know why. Is it a symptom of digital and social media or the hyper-scheduling of their daily lives? Does it stem from anger about or hopelessness of dwindling future prospects? No one has the answers, but it’s concerning as loneliness can negatively affect both physical and mental health. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman look to the literature and to their child psychiatrist instincts to h...2019-11-0626 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleStay In Shape: Kids' Bodies Feed Their Minds, featuring Ming Sun, MCHES How can we guide children to healthfully navigate food, fitness, sleep, and more (especially when Takis® taste so much better than eggs for breakfast)? These aren’t just important for physical health but mental health, as well. The MGH Stay In Shape Program for elementary and middle school students, going on 20 years strong, is one solution that’s benefited several communities in Massachusetts. In today’s episode, special guest Ming Sun, MCHES, of MGH Community Health Associates, joins host Steve Schlozman, MD to share more about Stay In Shape – including strategies to help kids set goals around activities that will bene...2019-10-2331 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleWhen Kids Talk of SuicideAs the summer fades and we move into Autumn, activities in our lives start to build up and so can the stress. Perhaps this is one reason that September is national Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It’s an unsettling topic, but in our first episode of the season Gene and Steve talk about young people and suicide – not to bring folks down but to give it the time it deserves. Whether you’re trying to make sense of increasing suicide rates, practicing how to talk in detail to a young person you’re concerned about, wondering how to talk to a nei...2019-09-2528 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleSummer Challenge: Come Together for Mental WellnessWe shouldn’t need science to tell us that getting together with other people is beneficial. Still, the science is pretty fascinating, and in the data-driven age in which we live, knowledge is power! In this episode, Steve and Gene dig into the biology and neuroscience beneath why connecting with others in our communities—particularly those outside of our everyday circles—not only feels great but is really important for our physical and mental health. We think it’s so important, in fact, that we have a summer challenge for you all. Tune in for more!Thank you for...2019-06-0527 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleIlluminating Mental Health Through Art, featuring Elisa H. HamiltonAt the Clay Center, we often stress the importance of creativity for supporting healthy youth development and community relationships. So, we’re thrilled to have socially engaged multimedia artist Elisa H. Hamilton join Gene and Steve in today’s episode! Elisa is a visiting artist with the Clay Center. Since January, she’s been developing a project to help everyday families and communities become more aware of and engage with young people around issues of mental health. All of this using art as the entryway to these conversations. Tune in for more and stay tuned for the launch of her project in Fall...2019-05-2226 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleSelf-Care for ResilienceDid you know Ellen enjoys boxing for self-care, and that Gene depends on daily interactions with his dog, Bear? This week is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week! What better way to celebrate than by focusing on self-care, and on building resilience in young people from the earliest ages? When we help them work self-care into their routines now, they’ll have it to fall back on as they enter adulthood.Self-care can mean different things depending on the stage of child development, family dynamics, and more. Gene and Ellen talk through it all in today’s episod...2019-05-0625 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleUnderstanding ADHDWe all get distracted and disorganized. Today, it seems more than ever with digital media consuming our lives. We bet you’ve even wondered, at some point in your life, whether you might have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Heck – do we all have some form of it? Like all things in mental health, it’s complicated. Not all that’s inattentive is ADHD. In today’s episode, our co-director Dr. Ellen Braaten joins Gene to really delve into what ADHD is, what it’s not, the different ways it can present in kids, and things we can do to manage it...2019-04-2424 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleIt’s the Time of the Season for... Mental IllnessFlowers are blooming. People are smiling. On the surface, it seems like spring is the sweetest season of all. And while it is rejuvenating and joyful in many ways, it’s also associated with the highest rates of psychiatric issues. Gene and Steve take a closer look at why this might be, from research to theories to their own clinical experience. They also talk about steps you can take to manage this time of year if your child or you are struggling. With the right strategies and supports, we can get through this together. Thank you for joining us in...2019-04-1823 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleDiscipline and PunishmentIt’s not the most fun part of the job, but parents know they have a responsibility to discipline their kids when they do something that’s not right – stealing, hitting, staying out past curfew. But how do you make the punishment fit the crime, and help your kid to process the situation after the fact so that it doesn’t happen again? Also, why might a psychologist or psychiatrist ask a child about discipline measures at home? In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Steve put their heads together to think about discipline, punishment, and what makes se...2019-03-2723 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleCannabis and the Teen Brain, featuring Jodi Gilman, Ph.D.Welcome to today’s “pot-cast”! Marijuana is on everyone’s mind, especially the parents of tweens and teens, as it becomes legal in more states – not just for medicinal use, but for recreation. We’ve learned from alcohol that teens are going to have easier access to cannabis the more state laws ease up, even when the age minimum is 21. But pot today and pot in the 70s are almost like two different drugs. And the truth is, we don’t know all the ways that it affects teen development because it hasn’t been studied for that long.So, what do...2019-03-0632 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleSurviving Tantrums with Toddlers, featuring Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, Ph.D.Almost every parent has been there. Whether your child is age two or twenty-two, we’re all familiar with the “T” word. Out-of-control meltdowns on the way to school, embarrassing moments in the supermarket. Tantrums can feel like a nightmare. But understanding what’s going on in your toddler’s mind – in addition to what you may bring to these interactions from your own personal experience – can be a really helpful starting point in honing survival strategies.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, our co-director Ellen Braaten is joined by special guest Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, PhD, author of the...2019-02-1332 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleIntimacy and the Teenage Brain, with Ellen Braaten, Ph.D.Intimacy. Is there anything else in the teenage brain? It’s a wonder they make it through school after adolescence hits! We’ll be honest, we didn’t know what direction this conversation would take, but it turned out a great example of how talking helps us to process some of the trickier issues in life.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Ellen Braaten joins Gene and Steve to pick apart what goes on inside the adolescent mind, developmentally, when it comes to attraction, relationships, and delayed gratification. Don’t forget to check out our media list...2019-02-0735 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleNew Year's EvolutionWhat’s the difference between a “resolution” and an “evolution”? In the context of New Year’s, even though they begin with the best intentions, resolutions often come with a lot of pressure to follow through. But an evolution allows you to grow and adapt within your personal environment – including the various people in your life, as well as non-negotiable life demands that may come from home or from work. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Steve try to move beyond resolutions to something that will have a more meaningful impact in our lives. That, and—have you watched...2019-01-0924 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleHome for the HolidaysHere we are, in the peak of the holiday season. Do you feel joyful? Do you feel down? Are you simply overwhelmed? Whatever it is you’re feeling, it’s okay, and we guarantee you’re not alone. The holidays mean different things for different folks and families. But if you want to make the most of this season, let Gene and Steve talk you through a few strategies to mix in some moderation and self-care. What do you love or hate about the holidays? We'd love to hear from you. Write to us!Media...2018-12-1825 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleCoping with the Wintertime BlahsIt’s cold. It’s gray. It’s dark. This time of year, a lot of folks feel pretty blah. And not just those with depression or other mental health disorders. It can affect anyone. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing. But if you don’t like the way it makes you feel, there are real things you can do about it.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Steve talk about the signs and symptoms of SAD, and ways to help you and your family cope.Have a question...2018-12-0522 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleGaming Disorder“I couldn’t get off the computer ‘cause I was about to kill that final thing in ‘Call of Duty’ and if I didn’t kill it I’d have to fight it all over again and it just isn’t worth my time!”Who doesn’t love a good video game? Whether it’s Fortnite or Candy Crush Saga, it’s pretty easy to get sucked in, sometimes for hours. But is there such a thing as Gaming Disorder? The World Health Organization says yes, but the American Psychiatric Association is still considering. Regardless of if it technically qualifies...2018-11-0823 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleOur Greatest Strengths, Part 2At the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, we think a lot about helping kids as they’re growing up with all sorts of challenges. Most families will experience some kind of challenge along the road of life, whether behavioral, psychiatric, chronic, or living with a disability. Dr. Ellen Braaten's family is no different, and in this episode of Shrinking It Down she joins. Dr. Steve Schlozman as a co-host to welcome a very special guest: her brother, Robert.Robert, who has Down Syndrome, joins today's conversation to help other families and children understand: "Don't worry about an...2018-10-2514 min
Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleThe Death of a PetLast season, we talked about the benefits of pets for our kids' mental health. That unconditional love helps our children build skills and navigate important life lessons. What we don't tend to think about, though, is that one day our pets will be gone. When that happens, do we try to shield our kids from the pain? Would it have been better not to have a pet at all? In this episode of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple, co-hosts Gene and Steve kick off our new season in celebration of our furry (and non-furry!) friends...2018-10-1019 min
Pilot Co-Pilots!7. Bobcat Goldthwait / "Dice" with Drew KordikIn our seventh episode we discuss Showtime's new Andrew Dice Clay-based comedy "Dice" with Drew Kordik (Editor, "Comedy Bang Bang" on IFC) and talk to Bobcat Goldthwait about his standup, movies, directing for television and his documentary "Call Me Lucky."2016-04-281h 03Pilot Co-Pilots!7. Bobcat Goldthwait / "Dice" with Drew KordikIn our seventh episode we discuss Showtime's new Andrew Dice Clay-based comedy "Dice" with Drew Kordik (Editor, "Comedy Bang Bang" on IFC) and talk to Bobcat Goldthwait about his standup, movies, directing for television and his documentary "Call Me Lucky."2016-04-2800 min