Dr. Nicole Beurkens - Podcast Details

Shows

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensTeach Your Child Self-Awareness And How To Be Conscious Of the World Around ThemMy guest this week is Ellen Gottlieb In this episode, Ellen and I discuss what it means to be a conscious parent and self-aware person. This is an episode for everyone, not just those with atypical neurodevelopmental children. We talk about bringing a level of awareness to our relationships with our kids, to the approaches that we take with them that allow us to have a deeper, respectful, connected relationship so they can grow into the people they are meant to be in this world. You will find that this actually involves us as adults doing a l...2021-12-2247 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow to Handle Tantrums: Strategies for Parents and ChildrenThis weeks question is from Nicole, “I have an almost-four-year-old daughter who has started having major tantrums. She hasn't had behavior issues like this previously, or at least outbursts to this level in frequency. I understand this can be a part of her age, but it feels out of hand and I'm at a loss. It seems like any little thing can set her off, and it can be up to 1-2 hours of rage and screaming. There seems to be nothing that can get her to move through it until she just comes down by herself. We...2021-09-2730 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Sort Through The Right Autism Treatment And Support For Your ChildMy guest this week is Sue Simmons. Sue is on a mission to change the way our society views and addresses Autism. For decades, frazzled parents of autistic children have waited anxiously for treatment, feeling helpless and dependent. Sue proposes a new paradigm armed with training and knowledge: Not only are parents able to make dramatic changes in their children's lives, but they are ideally suited to do so. Her refreshing approach puts parents back in the driver's seatwith a focus on building safe emotional relationships rather than only seeking compliance. In this episode, you'll be hearing...2021-08-1152 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensUnderstanding The Stigma And Struggles Of Parenting A Black Child With AutismMy guest this week is Maria Davis-Pierre, the founder and CEO of Autism in Black Inc. This organization aims to bring awareness to autism and reduce the stigma associated with the diagnosis in the Black community. Her unique approach exemplifies her drive and motivation toward greater acceptance and overcoming the barriers and personal struggles associated with raising a Black autistic child. Maria has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, she's collaborated with Microsoft, and personally has a wealth of experience on this topic. In this episode, Maria and I discuss the unique stigma and struggles i...2021-08-0441 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensUnderstand Your Child's Eating Style To Resolve Picky EatingMy guest this week is Mary Voogt, she is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, feeding expert, wife, and a homeschooling mom to four who used to be selective eaters. She is the founder of Just Take a Bite and creator of The Mouth Mind Movement Minerals Method to get kids to say “Mmm!” to nourishing food every day. She uses a combination of nutritional therapy, eating styles profiling, EFT, and hair tissue mineral analysis to assess kids and get to the root cause of feeding challenges and create a personalized plan to overcome them. She blogs about her passion for nour...2021-07-2842 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensWhat To Do When Your Child Gets Highly Distressed After Making MistakesThis weeks question is from Elizabeth, “My son, who is 7 is still bursting into tears, yelling, stomping, and throwing things when he makes a mistake or doesn't get his way. It’s hard for him to self-regulate when he has reached his red zone.” In today's Q&A, I'll be talking about strategies that can help your child learn to regulate their emotions as they go through developmental phases that can be overwhelming and challenging. We are going to cover a lot of ground; some specific parenting strategies you can try in the moment, some longer...2021-07-2625 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensWhat an Autistic Adult Wants Parents to Know About the Growing Up YearsMy guest this week is Sarah Frisch, an independent, agender autistic adult. Since their diagnosis in adulthood, they have earned a BA in psychology and pursued a career in autism consulting. They work with parents and other autistic people as well as organizations like Autism Support of Kent County and the Department of Defense's Autism Research Program. When not expanding their understanding of the many and varied experiences in the autism spectrum, they enjoy gardening and foraging for wild food as well as spending time with their spouse. In this episode, Sarah and I discuss their experience...2021-07-2159 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensWhat To Do When Kids Scream Mean ThingsThis weeks question is from Shante, “My 7-year-old son stomps, screams, yells and constantly says, ‘I hate you mom, you’re so mean.’ I tell him to use other words to express what about me is mean. Should I tell him to go to his room? How do I get him to stop doing this all the time, even when he’s slightly upset or frustrated? I also have a 3-year-old, and I don’t like that she’s learning and watching her brother respond to me and yell at me that way, because now she’s calling me mean...2021-07-1924 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Overcome The Challenges Of Parenting Children With ADHDMy guest this week is Brendan Mahan. He is an internationally recognized ADHD and Executive Function expert, a highly engaging, sought-after speaker, and the host of the “ADHD Essentials” podcast. A former teacher, mental health counselor, and principal, Brendan helps individuals, families, schools, and businesses manage the challenges of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and neurodiversity through an approach that blends education, collaborative problem solving, and accountability with compassion, humor, a focus on strengths and growth, and his trademark Wall of Awful model. In this episode, Brendan and I discuss some of the major challenges parents and families face...2021-07-1449 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Embrace The Joys And Challenges Of Raising Neurodiverse KidsMy guest this week is Penny Williams. Penny helps parents of challenging kids feel less alone and break down the barriers to success and joy for their families and for themselves. Through her podcast, award-winning books, online parent training programs and conferences, parent coaching, and mom retreats, she has helped thousands of neurodiverse families survive and thrive in the face of ADHD and/or Autism. In this episode, we get to hear all about Penny’s experience as a mom of a neurodiverse child and how she rose to the challenge and became an expert in helping pa...2021-07-0747 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Get Hyperactive Kids To Focus BetterThis weeks question is from Heather, “Hi Dr. Nicole, my four-and-a-half-year-old son is a good kid, but we can’t get him to focus on learning. All he wants to do is run and play. When they have circle time at school, he’ll only sit for four minutes, then he’s up and looking for something else. I am trying so hard to teach him his ABC’s, and he just says “Nope, let’s play.” or “Not now, mom”, but yet if I give him my cell phone, he can be on it for an hour watching shows...2021-07-0522 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Celebrate Your Child’s Intense Behavior Instead Of Criticizing ItMy guest this week is Tammi Van Hollander, a licensed clinical social worker and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. She spent over 20 years working with children, families and individuals. Her work and creative interventions in the field of play therapy have been published and internationally recognized. Tammi is the author of a multi-sensory, attachment-based children’s book titled, Casey’s Greatness Wings: Teaching Mindfulness, Connection, and Courage to Children. The success of the book inspired her to create Casey’s Greatness Sticks & Greatness Cards to be used in schools, counseling and in the home. She specializes in attachment, sand tray play t...2021-06-3048 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow Can My Child Play Independently Without Screen Time?This weeks question is from Alexandra, “How do I guide my 9-year-old, only child, to play independently with something other than his iPad?” In this episode I will address the dreaded, “I’m bored!” complaint parents hear so often outside of screen-time. I will share creative ideas for non-device activities that your child can do independently, why boredom is actually healthy for development, and how to properly react to a child when they are upset with the boundaries and expectations that are set for them. You can submit a question by emailing us at support@drbeurk...2021-06-2821 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Introduce New Foods To A Picky EaterMy guest this week is Jenny Friedman and I discuss How to manage picky eating issues with your kids. She is a registered dietitian who specializes in pediatric extreme picky eating. Known for her playful and approachable style, Jennifer is a leading resource for parents and professionals working with children who struggle at mealtimes. She is the author of Stories of Extreme Picky Eating and shares her insight on her website and her blog and on social media Learn more about Jenny Friedman here. In this episode, Jenny and I discuss one of the most popular questions...2021-06-2345 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensWhy Most Kids Should NOT Do Academic Summer School This YearThis weeks question is from Nida, “One of the things I'm struggling with right now is whether to focus on academics with my daughters this summer. Both of them are in elementary school and have some learning challenges. It has been a real struggle to help them focus and benefit from the virtual learning situations this past year. I'm feeling a lot of pressure from the school and my family to try to catch up with academics before the next school year, but I really feel like we all need a break from it. I am conflicted an...2021-06-2118 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Help Young Adults Transition To Adulthood SuccessfullyMy guest this week is Alisa Foreman. She has a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. She has a strong passion for the field of psychology and supporting others on their life path through the power of therapy. She began her work at the California Counseling Center providing therapy to children, adolescents, couples, and families. She has also served as a child therapist for the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she has conducted individual and group therapy at the elementary through high school level. Alisa is the clinical director at Optimum Performance In...2021-06-1644 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Manage Behavior Challenges In Children With ADHDThis weeks question is from Audrey, “My son is six and has been diagnosed with ADHD. We struggle with managing his impulsive and disrespectful behavior sometimes at home. His pediatrician says we should use more rewards and punishments and specifically told me to use exercise as a consequence or punishment when he does inappropriate things, like make him do push-ups, run up and down the stairs, jumping jacks, those kinds of things. Something about that just seems off to me, but maybe it is the best thing to do. What do you think?” In this episode, I will address how to manage...2021-06-1420 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole Beurkens1000 Hours Outside - How Time In Nature Sets Kids Up for Lifelong SuccessMy guest this week is Ginny Yurich, a Michigan mom of 5 who committed several years ago to having her kids spend 1000 hours a year outdoors. She is the founder of 1000 Hours Outside. She is a thought-leader in the world of nature-based play and its benefits for children. One of her top priorities is to inspire parents to invest in spending time in nature with their children. Her 1000 Hours Outside Challenge spans the globe and has been featured on The Today Show, Weather Channel, Better Homes and Gardens and so many more. Many from all walks of life...2021-06-0944 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensMy Child Has Severe Anxiety, Are There Effective Alternatives To Anxiety Medication?This weeks question is from Rebecca, “ My 9-year-old daughter has always been what I would describe as a worried or more anxious child. But in the past year, with COVID, it has really ramped up. She has developed fears around doing things that didn’t use to be a problem for her, including going to school. She is more clingy to me and concerned when I leave the house, and bedtime has become more frustrating because she doesn't want to sleep alone. I raised these concerns with her pediatrician, who said she has an anxiety diso...2021-06-0725 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensBreaking the Cycle of How We Think About and Respond to Child BehaviorMy guest this week is Mr. Chazz. His mission in life is to enjoy the process of becoming the best version of himself and help others do the same. He helps adults see, guide, and trust children. Mr. Chazz is an Educational Specialist who, “teaches teachers to teach” in a chain of Child Development Centers. He works closely with 8 different schools, 100s of teachers, and 1,000s of children. He has trained thousands of teachers in person and virtually, and earned his Master’s in Executive Leadership at American University. He is in the process of writing a book and has hi...2021-06-0250 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensMy 7 Yr. Old Is Constantly Being Sent Home From School For His Behavior. What Can We Do?This weeks question is from Gina and Matt, “Our 7-year-old son doesn't have a diagnosed condition but has always struggled with his attention and focus, is very active, and sometimes has trouble managing his behaviors. He struggles with his behavior at school and sometimes gets angry and lashes out when he feels frustrated and overwhelmed. It could be pushing or hitting another child, tearing up his papers, or running and hiding in the bathroom. This year, we’ve had an issue with the school calling us when these things happen and insisting that we come to p...2021-05-3120 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow the world we live in is rewiring our brainMy guest this week is Dr. Austin Perlmutter, a board-certified internal medicine physician and New York Times bestselling author. He received his medical degree from the University of Miami and completed his internal medicine residency at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland Oregon. His focus is on helping others to improve decision-making and quality of life. He is also interested in methods of understanding and reducing burnout in the medical field, and he is the co-author of Brain Wash. He writes for Psychology Today on his blog, The Modern Brain. In this episode, Austin an...2021-05-2654 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensIs Spanking An Effective Or Beneficial Form Of Discipline?This weeks question is from Katy, “I’m wondering about your opinion on spanking a child who seems to be intentionally misbehaving and doesn't seem phased by anything else we do to stop inappropriate behavior. Spanking or a threat of spanking seems to at least get his attention and stop the behavior for a bit. I don't like doing it but I feel like for really big things, maybe it's the only way to go. Wondering about your thoughts and if there is some kind of bigger damage I am doing if I use spanking on a...2021-05-2425 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensQ&A: My 14 Yr Old Resists Going Outside Because She's Afraid Of Sweat And InsectsThis weeks question is from Elisa, “My 14-year-old daughter doesn't like to go outside. She prefers being home and gets very uncomfortable in the spring and summer because she might sweat or because there are insects and bugs outside. She avoids any outdoor time now. I know it would be good for her to spend some time outdoors, and honestly, her anxiety about this gets in the way of activities she and our family need to do. Do you have any suggestions?” In this episode, I will address several possibilities for why children may resist going...2021-05-1722 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensParenting Neurodiverse or Differently Wired ChildrenMy guest this week is Debbie Reber, a New York Times best-selling author, podcast host, and speaker who moved her career in a more personal direction in 2016 when she founded TiLT Parenting, a top resource for parents like her who are raising differently wired children. The TiLT Parenting Podcast has grown to be a top podcast in the iTunes Kids & Family category, with nearly 3 million downloads and a slate of guests that includes high-profile thought leaders across the parenting and education space. A certified Positive Discipline trainer and a regular contributor to Psychology Today and ADDitude Magazine...2021-05-1239 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensQ&A: I Noticed Sudden Behavioral and Physical Changes in My 5 Yr. Old Son. What Should I Do?This weeks question is from Rosa, "I’m very concerned about my 5-year-old son. For the past 3 weeks, he has changed his behavior to the point where he doesn't want to go to school, says he's having nightmares, doesn't want to sleep alone, has eyes ‘shaking’, a funny stomach and he's complaining that his eyes hurt. I'm worried. He has never had these issues before. He did have some kind of flu illness about 3 weeks ago, and 2 weeks ago, he started in-person school. I don't know if those things are related or not, but I ne...2021-05-1022 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow Auditory Interventions Treat Sensory Processing DysfunctionMy guest this week is Sheila Frick, an internationally esteemed clinician, lecturer, and pioneer in Occupational Therapy. Sheila has over 40 years of clinical experience, having worked in psychiatry, rehabilitation, and home health before specializing in pediatrics. Her expertise includes sensory processing dysfunction, sensory integration, and auditory interventions. Sheila is well-known for expanding sensory processing treatments to include sound interventions. She has trained over 15,000 therapists worldwide to implement Therapeutic Listening within their clinical practice. She lectures on topics like clinical neurology, respiration, the vestibular/auditory system, and various auditory interventions. She is also the creator and author of...2021-05-0557 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensQ&A: My 10-Yr-Old Daughter Makes Huge Messes and Refuses To Clean Up. What Can I Do?This week's question is from Teresa, “My 10-year-old daughter can create huge messes, not only in her room but also in every room in her house, from the living room to the kitchen to the bathroom. She moves from one thing to the next so quickly that I could spend my whole day cleaning up after her. I get that she has executive functioning problems associated with her ADHD, learning challenges, and trauma issues. However, even when reminded or when help is offered, she is extremely resistant and does everything from ignoring the request to ref...2021-05-0327 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensQ&A: Our Son Doesn’t Sleep Well, It’s Affecting His Behavior At School And At HomeThis question comes from Travis and Mandy: “Our son is 9 years old and has never slept well, even since he was a baby. He has always been very active, tends to overreact to even small things and is irritable most days. Since he has been in school, we’ve had concerns raised by his teachers every year about his difficulty with staying still, focusing, being impulsive and getting his work done. We definitely see these things at home when we try to get him to do homework or focus on things he doesn’t want to do...2021-04-2624 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow Nutrition Affects Mental Health And Brain Function In ChildrenMy guest this week is Dr. Julia Rucklidge, a Professor of Clinical Psychology in the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing at the University of Canterbury, the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health, and Nutrition Research Lab, and co-author of The Better Brain. Julia completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Calgary, in 2000, she immigrated to New Zealand. Over the last twenty years, Professor Rucklidge has become well known for her research investigating the interface between nutrition and mental health and has published over 140 scientific papers. Julia is also the recipient...2021-04-2150 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensWhat To Do When Parents Aren’t On The Same Page With Child NutritionThis weeks question is from Marisol, “I have felt for a while that my boys seem easier to manage when they haven't been eating a lot of sweets and junk food. One of my sons seems especially sensitive to food. He gets really hyper with sugar, and yet he really craves it. So it's hard to balance sometimes. He throws a lot of temper tantrums and gets upset really easily. His preschool teachers have noted he seems more irritable and acts out more than the other kids. A big challenge is that my husband doesn't thi...2021-04-1926 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Incorporate More High-Quality Meat, Fat and Greens Into Your Child's DietMy guest this week is Autumn Smith, the co-founder of Paleovalley and Wild Pastures. Autumn holds a Masters in Holistic Nutrition, she's a Certified Eating Psychology Coach and a Certified FDN Practitioner. Her passion for health began with her own struggles with IBS and anxiety: despite a career as a professional dancer and celebrity fitness trainer, Autumn’s own health was in shambles. Desperate for a cure, she and her husband Chas stumbled upon the paleo diet in 2011 and within a month of beginning it, her health was completely transformed. Autumn then made it her mission to share the inf...2021-04-1448 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensQ&A: My 7 yr old boy won’t sit still at school or during homeworkThis week's question is from Jessica, “My son struggles with sitting still at school and while doing homework. He is medicated (for ADHD) but his teacher and others at his school are recommending I increase his medication but I don’t know if I want to do that. What should I do?” In this episode, I will address a number of things that I think will be helpful for all parents. Not just kids who have been diagnosed with ADHD. The number one takeaway here is that movement while learning is not only normal for all ki...2021-04-1226 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensQ&A: My 13 Yr Old Daughter Is Struggling With Anxiety and Mood Issues, What Can I Do?Welcome to the first of many Q & A episodes where I answer your questions! You can submit a question by emailing us at support@drbeurkens.com with the subject line "Podcast Question." Our first question is from Gina, "My 13-year-old daughter is struggling with anxiety and mood issues. It seems to be worse the past year and a half. She seems to be anxious about school work, her relationship with her friend, and bad things happening to us (her parents). She's spending a lot of time in her room, has decided not to eat meat, a...2021-04-0525 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensEating These Foods Can Decrease Symptoms of Depression and AnxietyMy guest this week is Dr. Drew Ramsey, a psychiatrist, author, farmer, teacher, and advocate who is a long-time proponent of the healing power of food, understanding dietary change to help balance moods, sharpen brain function and improve mental health. He is a leading innovator in mental health, combining clinical excellence, nutritional interventions, and creative media. He is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and in active clinical practice in New York City. His work and writing have been featured by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington P...2021-03-3139 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensThe Brain Can Change and Grow Even With A Diagnosis like Autism, Anxiety, or DepressionMy guest this week is Dr. Caroline Leaf, a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist with a Masters and Ph.D. in Communication Pathology. Since the early 1980s, Dr. Leaf has researched the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health, and the formation of memory. During her years in clinical practice and work with thousands of underprivileged teachers and students in her home country of South Africa and in the US, she developed her theory of how we think, build memory, and learn, into tools and processes that have transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals with Traumatic...2021-03-2445 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow to Communicate Effectively with your Tweens and TeensMy guest this week is Michelle Icard, an author, speaker and educator who helps kids, parents, and teachers navigate the complicated social world of early adolescence. Her latest book is Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen, which guides readers through the fourteen essential conversations parents need to have with their kids before they begin high school. Michelle is a member of the TODAY Show parenting team, NBC News Learn, and her work has been featured in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, The Christian Science Monitor, Redbook, Time, and People. Her leadership curriculum for middle schoolers, Athena's Path, and Hero's Pursuit...2021-03-1742 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow to Identify and Treat Your Child’s Constipation NaturallyMy guest this week is Dr. Asia Muhammad, a naturopathic doctor who values the power of lifestyle modifications to achieve optimal health. Asia uses evidence-based medicine to provide individualized care to each patient. As a naturopathic doctor, she is able to provide care in the realm of nutrition, exercise recommendations, supplementation, botanical medicine, and mind-body therapies such as hypnosis. Asia has a special interest in gastroenterology, mind-body medicine, and stress management, as increasing research demonstrates the role of stress in disease. She has received additional training in mind-body therapies, including hypnosis, guided imagery, biofeedback, autogenic training, and progressive muscle...2021-03-1040 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensSeven Teachable Traits Essential To Help Children ThriveMy guest this week is Dr. Michele Borba, an internationally renowned educational psychologist and expert in parenting, bullying, and character development. She is an award-winning author of 22 books that have been translated into 14 languages. As one of the foremost authorities on childhood development, she is an NBC contributor who appears regularly on Today and has been featured as an expert on Dateline, The View, Dr. Phil, NBC Nightly News, Fox & Friends, The Dr. Oz Show, and The Early Show and more. Dr. Borba blends 40 years of teaching and consulting experience with the latest science to offer sound, realistic advice...2021-03-0341 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensKey Strategies for Picky Eaters: Will They Grow Out of It?My guest this week is Melanie Potock, an international speaker on the topic of feeding babies, toddlers, and school-age kids. She is the co-author of the award-winning Raising a Healthy Happy Eater: A Stage-by-Stage Guide to Setting Your Child on the Path to Adventurous Eating. The tips in her parent and child cookbook, Adventures in Veggieland: Help Your Kids Learn to Love Vegetables with 100 Easy Activities and Recipes, are based on the latest research and Melanie’s 20 years of success as a pediatric feeding therapist. Melanie’s children’s book You are Not an Otter takes preschoolers on a food a...2021-02-2442 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Make Pill Swallowing Easier For Children and AdultsMy guest this week is Dr. Bonnie Kaplan, a research psychologist and semi-retired Professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. Dr. Bonnie has published widely on the biological basis of developmental disorders and mental health – particularly, the contribution of nutrition to brain development and brain function. Her efforts to include nutrition knowledge in the care of people with mental health challenges have earned her a variety of awards, including the Dr. Rogers Prize and in 2017 she was selected as one of 150 Canadian Difference Makers in Mental Health.In this episode, Dr. Kaplan and I di...2021-02-1044 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensFive Key Takeaways from the First One Hundred EpisodesThis week we are celebrating the 100th episode of the Better Behavior Show! Within this episode, I will cover five key takeaways themes that have stood out to me as overarching lessons learned throughout the course of the show's history. Over the past two years, I’ve interviewed some of the most incredible leaders in the fields of education, psychology, developmental health, integrative and functional health, mental health, and more. It has been an unforgettable experience and I am so grateful to all of our listeners and guests that have supported us on this journey. Here is to the ne...2021-02-0337 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensAn Effective At-Home Approach to Treating Your Child’s Anxiety and OCDMy guest this week is Dr. Eli Lebowitz, a professor at the Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center who directs the Program for Anxiety Disorders while studying and treating childhood and adolescent anxiety. Dr. Lebowitz’s research focuses on the development, neurobiology, and treatment of anxiety and related disorders, with special emphasis on family dynamics and the role of parents in these disorders. He is the lead investigator on multiple funded research projects and is the author of research papers, books, and chapters on childhood and adolescent anxiety. Dr. Lebowitz’s work has been recognized by private and publ...2021-01-2743 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensEffective Strategies To Help Children With ADHD ThriveMy guest this week is Dr. John Ratey, an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an internationally recognized expert in Neuropsychiatry. Dr. Ratey has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles, and 11 books including the groundbreaking ADD-ADHD “Driven to Distraction” series with Ned Hallowell, MD. With the publication of "Spark-The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain," Dr. Ratey established himself as one of the world's foremost authorities on the brain-fitness connection. His new book, “ADHD 2.0” delves into new science around ADHD and essential strategies for thriving with distraction from childhood through adulthood. Recognized by his peers as one o...2021-01-2040 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensSurprising Ways To Support Your Children’s Oral HealthMy guest this week is Dr. Danenberg, known as“Dr. Al”, a periodontist treating oral health in integrative and innovative ways with over 44 years of private practice experience. Dr. Al has incorporated ancestral nutrition and lifestyle with his leading-edge laser protocol to treat periodontal disease. Since retiring, Dr. Al continues to consult with patients virtually worldwide regarding nutrition, lifestyle, oral and overall health, and the importance of a healthy gut and immune system. Dr. Al is a certified functional medicine practitioner, published author, scientific advisor, and cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with incurable bone marrow cancer in September 2018 and was...2021-01-1349 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensEpisode 96: How To Choose The Right Doctor and Advocate For Your ChildMy guest this week is Dr. Joel “Gator” Warsh, a board-certified Pediatrician in Los Angeles, California who specializes in Integrative Medicine. Dr. Gator grew up in Toronto, Canada, and completed a Master’s Degree in Epidemiology and Community Health before earning his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical College. He completed his Pediatric Residency at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) and has worked in private practice in Beverly Hills before founding his current practice, Integrative Pediatrics and Medicine, in 2018. Dr. Gator has published research in peer-reviewed journals on topics including childhood injuries, obesity, and physical activity. He has been...2021-01-0642 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensForest Bathing Benefits For The Whole FamilyMy guest this week is Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller, an OB-Gyn and Integrative Medicine physician. Dr. Hackenmiller completed OB-Gyn residency at Western Pennsylvania-Temple University in Pittsburgh and is a fellowship graduate of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. She is board certified by both the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Hackenmiller holds additional certifications in herbal medicine and is a certified forest therapy guide. She has served as medical director for the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and currently is medical advisor for AllTrails. She is the...2020-12-3042 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensSelf-Care Micro Actions for Parents to Avoid Burnout and Boost ResilienceMy guest this week is Kendra Wilde, the founder of Wild Peace for Parents, an online resource to bolster parent resilience. Kendra knows that when kids struggle, parents do too. After burning out from chronic stress, she dedicated herself to discovering simple strategies to manage stress and restore wellbeing in the midst of it all. Kendra is on a mission to lift and inspire parents through workshops, digital art, and writing, to take care of themselves so their children can thrive, too. Kendra has a BA in economics from Colorado College and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business...2020-12-1643 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Calmly and Confidently Parent Your Child Through RIE PrinciplesMy guest this week is Janet Lansbury, creator, and host of one of the most downloaded parenting podcasts, “Unruffled” and author of two bestselling books, Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting and No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame. Inspired by the pioneering philosophy of her friend and mentor, Magda Gerber, Janet encourages parents and child care professionals to perceive babies as unique, capable human beings with natural abilities to learn. Janet enjoys teaching weekly classes on RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) and spending time with her three children. In this episode, Janet and I discu...2020-12-091h 03

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensThe Connection Between Digestion, Mental Health and Development in KidsMy guest this week is Dr. Liz Lipski, owner of the Innovative Healing Academy, professor and Director of the Academic Development for the graduate programs in Clinical Nutrition at Maryland University of Integrative Health. Dr. Lipski is on faculty for The Institute for Functional Medicine, and the Metabolic Medicine Institute fellowship program. She serves on the board for the American Nutrition Association, and advisory boards for the Certified International Health Coaches, and the Autism Hope Alliance. Dr. Lipski has been a co-author in peer-reviewed papers and is the author of several books: Digestive Wellness, Digestive Wellness for Children, and...2020-12-0251 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensMaintain Your Energy and Productivity As A Special Needs ParentMy guest this week is Faith Clarke, a business strategist and inclusion specialist with a background in computer engineering and education. Faith is a current doctoral student in the psychology of new venture teams and works full-time to help socially conscious businesses level up their productivity through their people and processes. She especially loves to do this with special needs family-run businesses who create space for people with all abilities. Her book, Parenting Like a Ninja, an autism mom’s guide to professional productivity, is an Amazon bestseller and reflects her own journey with the crazy chaos of special ne...2020-11-2542 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Cultivate Digital Wellbeing For Children and AdultsMy guest this week is Georgie Powell, a former Google executive turned entrepreneur and now founder of Sentient Digital. Georgie is a recognized expert & and speaker on Digital Wellbeing, committed to helping millions of people consciously connect with technology. Her company, Sentient Digital, is Responsible Technology & Digital Wellbeing Consultancy that works with organizations to build strategies and products which have a positive impact on their teams and the world. Georgie works with researchers around the world to better understand the relationship between technology and humans. Georgie has worked with start-ups building Digital Wellbeing and Responsible Technology products and is...2020-11-1836 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensMindset Tools To Help Parents Grow Forward with Their Exceptional ChildMy guest this week is Dr. Stacy Thomas, a Clinical Psychologist, CEO, and Clinical Director of The Design Your Life Centre, a psychology practice in Toronto. With about 20 years of experience helping people navigate some of life’s most difficult journeys such as chronic pain, serious chronic illness, infertility, pregnancy loss, and sudden traumatic events, Dr. Stacy’s strength is in her ability to recognize resilience and teach people how to apply proven psychological strategies in order to move past mere survival and thrive in the face of adversity. Her work with clients seamlessly interweaves Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness Prac...2020-11-0443 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Support Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Caused By Chronic InfectionMy guest this week is Dr. Tom Moorcroft, a board-certified Osteopathic physician who is a global leader in solving complex medical mysteries. Dr. Tom is an expert in the treatment of chronic infectious and autoimmune diseases, including viral illnesses, Lyme disease, Mold illness, and Pediatric Acute Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (often referred to as PANS). He has over 2 decades of experience in the hospital and private practice helping his patients regain their health. Dr. Tom’s personal and professional medical philosophy focuses on optimizing the body's self-healing systems in order to achieve optimal health with simple, natural interventions. In...2020-10-2848 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensBreaking Down The Cycle of Overparenting and Raising Capable AdultsMy guest this week is Julie Lythcott-Haims the New York Times bestselling author of the anti-helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult. Julie believes in humans and is deeply interested in what gets in our way. Her TED Talk on the subject has more than 5 million views, and in 2020 she became a regular contributor with CBS This Morning on parenting. Her second book is the critically-acclaimed and award-winning prose poetry memoir Real American, which illustrates her experience as a Black and biracial person in white spaces. Her third book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, will be...2020-10-2152 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Address Sugar In Your Child’s Diet and Avoid Chronic Health IssuesMy guests this week are Dr. Michael Warren and Dr. Emily Ventura, the authors of the brand new book ‘Sugarproof’. Dr. Goran is one of the world’s most widely-recognized experts in childhood nutrition and obesity research, with more than 30 years of experience as a researcher, mentor, and educator. He is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, co-director of the USC Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute, and leads the Program in Diabetes and Obesity at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, he’s also the father of two daughters. Dr. Emily Ventura is an expe...2020-10-1446 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensAddressing Specific Emotional Needs For Boys At Home and In SchoolMy guest this week is Janet Allison the Founder of Boys Alive! and the Co-Host of the ON BOYS Parenting Podcast. With more than 20 years of experience coaching parents, mentoring teachers, and being the featured parenting expert on both radio and TV, Janet loves empowering parents and teachers with proven tools and strategies to raise boys to be confident, caring, and capable adults. In this episode, Janet and I discuss ways parents and teachers can address specific emotional needs for boys at home and in school. Janet shares how the difference in boys' development is often disregarded...2020-10-0741 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensBook GIVEAWAY Special!This week I have a brief and unique episode to share with you all to say Thank You! Within this episode, you will find the details to a special giveaway of my book LIFE WILL GET BETTER for the first 50 listeners who complete their entries. For detailed instructions visit: CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY NOW! If you have questions about this special giveaway, please reach out to my team at support@drbeurkens.com. Thank you so much for being a dedicated listener to the show! I look forward to continuing to engage with you...2020-09-3011 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensReducing Chemical Exposure in Children to Support Their HealthMy guest this week is Dr. Aly Cohen, a board-certified rheumatologist, integrative medicine specialist, and environmental health expert in Princeton, New Jersey. In 2015, Dr. Cohen created TheSmartHuman.com and has collaborated with the Environmental Working Group, Cancer Shmancer, TEDx, and other organizations and programs to share environmental health, disease prevention, and wellness information with the public. She is the co-editor of the textbook, “Integrative Environmental Medicine”, part of the Oxford University Press/Weil Integrative Medicine Library. Dr. Cohen lives on a farm in New Jersey with her husband, two sons, and lots of furry friends, and has recently published a new...2020-09-2346 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow Parents Can Prepare Their Kids For Socially Distant FitnessMy guest this week is Cami Hawkins, a healthcare professional, philanthropist, fitness enthusiast, volunteer, mom, and Chief Executive Officer of Marathon Kids. A proven leader, Cami joined Marathon Kids with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. During this transformational period in healthcare, Cami assisted a wide range of organizations addressing issues impacting their overall performance and competitive positioning with a keen ability to solve problems and create solutions. She is a proud Texas Longhorn with a BA in economics from the University of Texas, Austin, and a Masters in Health Administration from Trinity University in San...2020-09-1641 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensAutism Spectrum Disorders and Interaction with Law EnforcementMy guest this week is Dennis Debbaudt, a trainer, presenter, and public speaker with over 25 years of experience in autism and law enforcement curriculum development and training for both children and adults. Dennis has created numerous trainings for law-enforcement departments and agencies throughout the country to support law enforcement officers in handling the highest risk scenarios and encounters they may have with people on the autism spectrum and related impairments. He works with police officers and first responders alike to recognize these symptoms in people they encounter in order to lower the likelihood of escalation. In this e...2020-09-0946 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensTeaching Meditation To Children As A Tool For Their HealthMy guest this week is Emily Fletcher, the founder of Ziva Meditation and the leading expert in meditation for extraordinary performance. The New York Times, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Vogue, and ABC News have all featured Emily’s work including her bestselling book Stress Less, Accomplish More. She’s been named one of the top 100 women in wellness to watch, has taught more than 20,000 students around the world, and has spoken on meditation for performance at Apple, Google, Harvard Business School, and Barclays Bank. Ziva Meditation graduates include Oscar, Grammy, Tony & Emmy award winners, NBA players, Navy SEAL...2020-09-0242 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensThe SPACE Program for Childhood AnxietyMy guest this week is Dr. Yaara Shimshoni, an associate research scientist at Yale School of Medicine specializing in research on anxiety disorders in children and new treatment approaches involving parents. Dr. Shimshoni collaborates with Dr. Eli Lebowitz, at the Yale Child Study Center, on developing and researching the SPACE Program for improving childhood anxiety. In this episode, Dr. Shimshoni and I discuss the SPACE program, a new treatment approach for childhood anxiety. SPACE works closely with parents by targeting and slowly eliminating family accommodations that have been made specifically to help alleviate their child’s anxiety. Rese...2020-08-2637 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensSticking To Your Parenting Choices with ConfidenceMy guest this week is Jess Sherman, a former teacher turned Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Family Health Expert specializing in nutrition for brain health and resilience for kids. For over 10 years Jess has worked alongside Naturopathic and Medical Doctors, Family Counsellors and Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, teachers, and parents to bring an understanding of the power of good nutrition, simplicity, and connection into mainstream conversation about children’s mental health, learning, and resilience. Her book, Raising Resilience, and her online resources have helped families all over the world improve the lives of their children with learning differences, anxiety, ADHD, autism an...2020-08-1947 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensUnderstanding Behavioral Problems as NeuroMovement DisordersMy guest this week is Anat Baniel, a trained clinical psychologist and founder of the Anat Baniel Method®NeuroMovement®. Anat’s work is at the forefront of the emerging brain plasticity field and the understanding of the role of movement in child development, health, and vitality. Anat has worked with athletes, musicians, and 1000s of children with special needs diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, genetic disorders, and more. She is the author of the highly acclaimed book Kids Beyond Limits and the bestselling Move Into Life: NeuroMovement for Lifelong Vitality. Anat was trained as a clinical psyc...2020-08-1249 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow Genes Impact Children’s Health and DevelopmentMy guest this week is Dr. Ben Lynch, the best-selling author of Dirty Genes and a leader in the field of nutrigenomics. Dr. Lynch is president of Seeking Health, an innovative company providing supplements, courses, and tools designed to help people overcome genetic dysfunction and optimize health. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Washington, Dr. Lynch obtained a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University where he now serves on the Board of Trustees. Dr. Lynch lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and three sons. In this ep...2020-08-0549 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow Auditory Deficits Affect Children’s Academic and Social SkillsMy guest this week is Lois Kam Heymann, MA, CCC-SLP, a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 30 years in the field specializing in diagnosing and treating children with auditory-language deficits; auditory processing disorder, language processing disorder, hearing loss, and listening challenges. To meet the needs of parents, teachers, as well as the students Lois does trainings nationally and internationally. Lois is the founder and director of ListenLoveLearn, a private practice for evaluation and treatment of children with auditory-language issues in Chestnut Ridge, New York, and author of The Sound of Hope: Recognizing, Coping with and Treating Your Child’s Auditory Processing Di...2020-07-2943 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensProactive Problem Solving For Your Child’s Behavior ChallengesMy guest this week is Dr. Ross Greene, a clinical psychologist, and New York Times bestselling author of the influential books The Explosive Child, Lost At School and Raising Human Beings. He is the originator of the model of care called Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS). Dr. Greene served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School for over 20 years and is now founding director of the nonprofit Lives in The Balance which provides a vast array of web-based resources on the CPS model. He has appeared in a wide range of media including the Oprah Show, Good Morning America...2020-07-1540 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensWhy Chronic Illness Is Increasing in Kids and What We Can DoMy guest this week is Dr. Michelle Perro, a veteran pediatrician with nearly four decades of experience in acute and integrative medicine. Over fifteen years ago, Dr. Perro transformed her clinical practice to include pesticide and health advocacy. She has both directed and worked as an attending physician at New York’s Metropolitan Hospital to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. Currently, Dr. Perro lectures and consults for Gordon Medical Associates, an integrative health center in Northern California. She has been a sought-after speaker nationally and internationally and co-author of the highly acclaimed book, “What’s Making Our Children Sick” as...2020-07-0851 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensBrain Rules and Tools For Raising Happy and Healthy ChildrenMy guest this week is Dr. John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist with a lifelong fascination with how the mind reacts to and organizes information. Dr. Medina is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School" -- a provocative book that takes on the way our schools and work environments are designed. Medina's book on brain development is a must-read for parents and early-childhood educators: "Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five." His latest book in the series...2020-07-0148 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow Adversity Can Be A Catalyst To Discover Your StrengthsMy guest this week is Sylvia Farbstein, whose path as a mother led her to leap out of private banking and into a professional role of awareness building and advocating for children and families experiencing adversity. Sylvia’s 20-year-old son, Brandon, was diagnosed at the age of 2 with a rare form of dwarfism, metatropic dysplasia. Their experiences navigating a world not designed for his stature has forced her to seek out ways to innovate, adapt, advocate and embrace a mindset that has led to the discovery of incredible life lessons and an entrepreneurial career path. After severe cyberbullying by Br...2020-06-2443 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensThe Problem With Kid Food In and Out of The LunchroomMy guest this week is Bettina Elias Siegel, a nationally recognized writer, and advocate on issues relating to children and food policy. Bettina’s reporting and opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Houston Chronicle, and Civil Eats, as well as her own widely read blog, The Lunch Tray. She frequently appears or is quoted in national media, including Today, ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, NPR, The Doctors, the Washington Post, The New Yorker, and Parents. In 2015, Family Circle named Siegel one of the country's "20 Most Influential Moms," and she is one of...2020-06-1735 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow Breakdowns Can Lead to Relationship Repair and Growth In Your FamilyMy guest this week is Claudia M. Gold MD, a pediatrician, and writer who has practiced general and behavioral pediatrics for 25 years and currently specializes in early childhood mental health. Dr. Gold is on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts, Boston Infant-Parent Mental Health program, the Brazelton Institute, and the Berkshire Psychoanalytic Institute. Her new book The Power of Discord: Why the Ups and Downs of Relationships are the Secret to Building Intimacy, Resilience, and Trust co-authored with developmental psychologist Ed Tronick, released this month. She is also the author of The Silenced Child: From Labels, Medications, and...2020-06-1039 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensEpisode 65: What You Need To Know About Psychiatric Medication For ChildrenMy guest this week is Robert Whitaker, an award-winning American journalist, and author of four books, three of which tell of the history of psychiatry. In 2010, his Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness won the U.S. Investigative Reporters and Editors book award for best investigative journalism. Prior to writing books, he worked as a science reporter at the Albany Times Union newspaper in New York for a number of years. He is the founder of madinamerica.com, a website that features research news and blogs by an international group...2020-06-0353 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensOptimistic Parenting Strategies for Challenging ChildrenMy guest this week is Dr. Mark Durand, a professor of psychology at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and author. Dr. Durand has received over $4 million in federal funding to study the nature, assessment, and treatment of behavior problems in children with disabilities. Before moving to Florida he served in a variety of leadership positions at the University at Albany, where he established the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University at Albany, SUNY. He serves on a number of editorial boards, reviews for dozens of journals, and has over 100 publications on functional communication, educational...2020-05-2743 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensTiny Habits for Creating Lasting Change In Children and AdultsMy guest this week is, Dr. BJ Fogg, founder of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University and researcher who teaches industry innovators how human behavior really works. BJ leads a Behavior Design Boot Camp and has authored a New York Times bestseller, Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything. In this episode, BJ and I discuss how his ‘Tiny Habits’ method can help children and adults implement small habits in order to create lasting change. The Tiny Habits method is simple and powerful having helped many make positive transformations in fitness, health, work, and family rela...2020-05-2048 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensEpisode 62: How To Relieve Stress and Anxiety With Tapping For Parents and KidsMy guest this week is Alex Ortner, the Chief Marketing Officer, and co-owner, along with his brother Nick and sister Jessica, of The Tapping Solution, a company on a mission to bring into the mainstream a simple, life-changing, technique known as EFT or Tapping. Alex is a speaker, author, entrepreneur, and marketing expert who has produced first-of-their-kind online programs such as The Tapping World Summit, the longest-running online summit which has been attended by over 3 million people over the last 12 years and The Tapping Solution App, which features easy to follow Tapping Meditations and has over 130,000 active monthly users...2020-05-1350 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHelping Teens Make Space for Painful Thoughts and Emotions with A.C.TMy guest this week is Ben Sedley, a clinical psychologist based in Wellington, New Zealand. As a Peer-Reviewed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Trainer, Ben runs ACT workshops in New Zealand and Australia. He is currently in part-time private practice working with adults and adolescents struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, and life changes. He is the author of two books, ‘Stuff that Sucks: A Teen's Guide to Accepting to what you can't change and committing to what you can’ and the newly released, 'Stuff that's Loud: A Teen's Guide to unspiraling when OCD gets noisy' co-authored with the super brai...2020-05-0642 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensEncouraging Movement and Exercise For Children With Special NeedsMy guest this week is Daniel Stein, whose passion for health and fitness lead him to own and operate his private training business and to get certified through NASM, NFPT, and ACSM. Daniel holds a specialty certification as a Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer (CIFT) and as a Certified Autism Trainer, which allows him to train individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. In 2013, Daniel married his beautiful wife, Trinity. A few years later, they prayerfully started Special Strong to pursue their calling of working with the special needs population. In this episode, Daniel and I discuss how and w...2020-04-2941 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensThe Chronic Effects of Gluten On Children’s Health and BehaviorMy guest this week is Dr. Tom O’Bryan, an internationally recognized, admired and compassionate speaker focusing on food sensitivities, environmental toxins, and the development of autoimmune diseases. In November 2016, Dr. O’Bryan released Betrayal: The Autoimmune Disease Solution They’re Not Telling You, an investigation into why our immune system, designed to protect us, begins attacking our own tissue (autoimmunity). He holds teaching Faculty positions with the Institute for Functional Medicine and the National University of Health Sciences. He has trained and certified tens of thousands of practitioners around the world in advanced understanding of the impact of wheat...2020-04-2257 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Be A Catalyst For Changing Your Child's BehaviorMy guest this week is Jonah Berger, a Marketing Professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an internationally bestselling author, and a world‐renowned expert on change, word of mouth, social influence, consumer behavior, and how products, ideas, and behaviors catch on. He has published over 50 articles in top-tier academic journals, teaches Wharton’s highest rated online course, and popular accounts of his work often appear in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. Over a million copies of his books, Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind a...2020-04-0126 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensAddressing Weight and Body Image Struggles With Your ChildrenMy guest this week is Eliza Kingsford, a licensed psychotherapist who helps clients and families struggling with food addiction, body image, and emotional eating. Eliza is the author of the best-selling book Brain-Powered Weight Loss and her work has been featured on Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, NBC Health, CNN Health, Health Magazine, MindBodyGreen and many more. Eliza has run two different companies focused on finding solutions for adolescents struggling with overweight and obesity, and she has trained hundreds of clinicians to work with food and body image issues. She is turning the diet industry on its head by combining...2020-03-1838 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensPreventing Tech Fatigue and Digital Dementia In Your FamilyMy guest this week Dr. Krista Burns is the founder of the American Posture Institute, author of the textbook The Posture Principles and TEDx speaker. Dr. Krista is leading the charge against Digital Dementia and has been featured on media including Fox News and Global Woman Magazine. In this episode, Dr. Krista and I discuss the challenges of raising children within the digital age and how parents can act now to prevent tech fatigue and digital dementia in their family’s. Dr. Krista guides parents on warning signs of tech fatigue and practical ways they can instill he...2020-02-2638 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Prevent Chronic Illness In Your HouseholdMy guest this week is Dr. Marvin Singh, an Integrative Gastroenterologist in San Diego, California and a Member of the Board and Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Singh is trained and board-certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/Hepatology. He was later trained by Andrew Weil, M.D., a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Currently, Dr. Singh is a voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSD in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health. He is an editor of the textbook of Integrative Gastroenterology, 2nd edition...2020-02-1242 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensAssessing and Treating Children With Feeding ProblemsMy guest this week is Dr. Kay A. Toomey, a Pediatric Psychologist who has worked with children who struggle to eat for almost 30 years. She has developed the SOS Approach to Feeding as a family-centered program for assessing and treating children with feeding problems. Dr. Toomey speaks nationally and internationally about her approach and also acts as a consultant to Gerber Products. Dr. Toomey helped form The Children’s Hospital – Denver’s Pediatric Oral Feeding Clinic, as well as, the Rose Medical Center’s Pediatric Feeding Center. She previously co-chaired the Pediatric Therapy Services Department at Rose Medical Center prior to...2020-02-0553 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHealing Children with Challenging Neurodevelopmental and Infectious IssuesMy guest this week is Stephanie Belseth, a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years of experience in inpatient and outpatient primary care, pulmonology, asthma, early childhood screening, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Stephanie has a special interest in holistic wellness care, Gastrointestinal disorders, Autism, ADHD, Asthma, mental health disorders, PANS/PANDAS, Autoimmune disease, Pediatric Lyme and conditions that mimic it, and other complex chronic pediatric conditions. In this episode, Stephanie and I discuss the various infections that we see in children who are struggling with neurodevelopmental issues. We also highlight some of the environmental dangers (right in your own home...2020-01-2241 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensWhat Parents Need to Know About OCDMy guest this week is Dr. Tamar Chansky, a licensed psychologist and founder of the Children's and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety in Plymouth Meeting, PA. She is the author of numerous books on the treatment of anxiety, including the popular Freeing Yourself from Anxiety Series: Freeing Your Child From Anxiety, Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking, and Freeing Your Child From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Dr. Chansky is the creator of the educational website: worrywisekids.org. Her most recent book, Freeing Yourself from Anxiety: 4 Simple Steps to Overcome Worry and Create the Life You Want is for anyone...2020-01-1539 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Develop Your Child's Independent Executive Function SkillsMy guest this week is Sarah Ward, who holds over 25 years of experience in diagnostic evaluations and treatment of executive dysfunction. She holds a faculty appointment at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions and is an internationally recognized expert on executive function. She presents seminars and workshops on the programs and strategies she has developed with her Co-Director, Kristen Jacobsen. Their 360 Thinking Executive Function Program received the Innovative Promising Practices Award from the National Organization CHADD. Sarah has presented to and consulted with over 1200 public and private schools in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In this...2020-01-0840 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensThe Impact of Developmentally Appropriate Practice on Child OutcomesMy guest this week is Amanda Morgan, who holds a BA in both elementary and early childhood education and an MS in family and human development. Her past experience includes teaching in public, private, and migrant school settings as well as teaching preschoolers, grade-schoolers, college students, teachers, and parents. She writes, speaks, and trains on the topic of intentional, whole child development and is the creator of the blog, Not Just Cute. In her free time, she can usually be found exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four boys or procuring copious amounts of chocolate. In...2020-01-0141 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensUnderstanding and Balancing Bacteria and Fungi For Children’s Gut HealthMy guest this week is Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum, a world-renowned microbiome researcher who named the mycobiome and founder of the leading antifungal clinical testing company, Next Trillion Sciences. Dr. Ghannoum lectures extensively across the world on the microbiome from the Pasteur Institute in France to the National Institute of Health (NIH). His work has been published in over 450 peer-reviewed papers and cited over 21,000 times. Dr. Ghannoum has been actively funded by the NIH continuously since 1991 for his work studying the fungal and bacterial communities in our body and has been involved in the development of 95% of the antifungals that...2019-12-2532 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow To Use Fermented Foods to Support Your Child’s HealthMy guest this week is Summer Bock, a trained herbalist certified in integrative nutrition through Columbia University. A raver in her early twenties, devastating allergies emerged that left her exhausted, hive-ridden, and only able to consume 30 foods without a reaction - an outlook that stumped the medical community. Leveraging her background in microbiology and fascination with gut health, Summer healed herself through research and formulation of various digestive bitters, which she now produces for her Guts & Glory Apothecary online. Summer Bock coined the phrase “Gut Rebuilding”, which is now cornerstone terminology in the integrative health conversation. She is the foun...2019-12-0444 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensWhat To Know and How To Advocate For Your Child’s School Food ProgramMy guest this week is Mara Fleishman who turned her passion for healthy and sustainable food into a career by taking a position leading the marketing efforts for Whole Foods Market on the East Coast and in Europe. For nearly six years, she worked to raise awareness of the importance of eating fresh, healthy food. After a move to Boulder, Colorado, Fleishman decided to join her kindergartener for lunch at school one day. Shocked by the highly processed, high-sugar lunch that she and her daughter were served, she began her crusade to reform school food. In 2013, Fleishman le...2019-11-2737 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensHow Diet Impacts Sensory Processing Issues in ChildrenMy guest this week is Dr. Kendra Becker, a board-certified integrated physician who specializes in MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase), fertility and treatment of “the 4As” (asthma, autism, allergies, atopy/eczema). Dr. Becker is adjunct Faculty at 2 prominent universities, where she teaches to physicians, medical students, precepts students, doctors and nurse practitioners. She lectures nationwide on topics such as autism, the immune system, MTHFR and genetic mutations that have health implications. Dr. Becker is the author of “A Delicious Way to Heal the Gut”, “All you CAN Eat” and was chosen as one of Connecticut’s “Top Naturopathic Doctors” and 10 Best APRNs. In t...2019-11-2031 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensThe Brain Science Behind Children’s Behavioral ChallengesMy guest this week is Dr. Mona Delahooke, a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience caring for children and their families. Dr. Delahooke is a senior faculty member of the Profectum Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting families of neurodiverse children, adolescents, and adults. She holds the highest level of endorsement in the field of infant and toddler mental health in California, as a Reflective Practice Mentor (RPM). She is a frequent speaker, trainer, and consultant to parents, organizations, schools, and public agencies. Dr. Delahooke has dedicated her career to promoting compassionate, relationship-based neurodevelopmental i...2019-11-1340 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensEMF Exposure Health Effects and Simple Solutions For Your FamilyMy guest this week is Peter Sullivan, the founder, and CEO of Clear Light Ventures, Inc. and environmental health funder who focuses on toxins and wireless safety. Peter has spent the last 15 years successfully recovering his two sons from autism and sensory issues and recovered from his own environmental health issues. Peter’s work on detoxification and EMF (electromagnetic fields) has been featured in the book Toxin Toxout, the book The Out of Sync Child Grows Up, Mother Jones magazine, Paleo Magazine, and CNN’s Morgan Spurlock: Inside Man. Peter serves as a board advisor to Pure Earth...2019-10-0949 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensGlyphosate Exposure Affects Your Family’s Health and BehaviorMy guest this week is Dr. Stephanie Seneff, a Senior Research Scientist at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. She has a BS degree from MIT in biology and a Ph.D. from MIT in electrical engineering and computer science. Her recent interests have focused on the role of toxic chemicals and micronutrient deficiencies in health and disease, with a special emphasis on the pervasive herbicide, Roundup, and the mineral, sulfur. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed journal papers over the past few years on these topics. In this episode, Dr. Seneff and...2019-10-0243 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole Beurkens6 Key Questions To Lead A Successful IEP MeetingMy guest this week is Dr. Vaughn Lauer, an educator with over thirty years of experience in the field of special education. Working as a teacher, a university instructor, and a building, district and state administrator in the field of public education, Dr. Lauer’s experience spans all levels of education from preschool to university. He has presented at the state, national and international levels and authored a book on collaborative IEP development called ‘When the School Says No: How To Get the Yes’. In this episode, Dr. Lauer and I discuss how parents can better facilitate their I...2019-09-1839 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensEpisode 27: Microbiota Transplant Therapy: What Is It and How Can It Help Autism?My guest this week is Dr. James Adams, the director of the Autism/Asperger’s research program at Arizona State University. As the father of an adult daughter with autism, Dr. Adams’ research shifted to focus on the medical causes of autism and how to treat and prevent it. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific articles, including over 40 related to autism. Dr. Adams is the president of the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix, the president of the Autism Nutrition Research Center, the co-leader of the scientific advisory committee of the Autism Research Institute and chair of the Scientific Advisory Boar...2019-09-1125 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensFunctional Medicine For Mental Health and Wellbeing In Children and AdultsMy guest this week is Dr. Josh Friedman, a Licensed Psychologist, Holistic Health Counselor, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, and yoga teacher. Early in his career as a psychologist, Dr. Friedman quickly discovered something was missing from traditional mental health treatment. Curiosity and a chance meeting led him to discover nutritional psychology, which resulted in extensively furthering his studies to help patients grow and heal their psychological issues by addressing underlying biochemical and nutritional deficiencies. For the last 15 years, he has run a private practice in Omaha, Nebraska called Integrative Psychotherapy of Omaha, combining psychotherapy with nutritional guidance, t...2019-08-2139 min

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole BeurkensThe Benefits of Neurodevelopmental Movement Training For KidsMy guest this week is Sonia Story, developer, and teacher of the Brain and Sensory Foundations curriculum that shares powerful movements for transforming brain, body, and sensory challenges. Sonia Story has studied with many of the world's finest experts in Neurodevelopmental Movement programs, completing training in Rhythmic Movement Training, Brain Gym, Neuro-Sensory-Motor & Reflex Integration, and more. She teaches live and online courses for parents, OTs, PTs, SLPs, VTs, educators, counselors, health practitioners, and caregivers, and continues to learn from her clients of all ages. In this episode, Sonia and I discuss what neurodevelopmental movements are and how...2019-05-0132 min