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MA And Khadijah Booth Watkins

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Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleChasing Sunshine: Teen Loneliness & Tips for Beating the Summer BluesWhile the summer is usually painted as time of fun, freedom, and relaxation, for many teens it can feel like the exact opposite — disconnected, isolating, and emotionally heavy. Without the daily structure of school or regular peer interaction, teens can find themselves feeling invisible, left out, or unsure of where they belong. In the season 8 finale, Gene and Khadijah dive into the impact summer can have on teen loneliness. Tune in for practical tips for parents on how to help their teens stay connected, the power of self-care and creative expression, and ways to keep your teen busy this su...2025-06-1833 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleThe Vital Role and Methods of Mental Health AdvocacyWhy are our young people struggling so much? In this special episode for Mental Health Awareness Month, Gene and Khadijah dive into the growing youth mental health epidemic. They explore the sharp rise in anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges among children and teens since the 1980s—fueled by factors like social media, shifting family dynamics, economic inequality, and systemic discrimination. With only about 11,400 child and adolescent psychiatrists in the U.S. for the 14–20 million young people who need care, the workforce shortage is dire. Gene and Khadijah call for urgent advocacy—encouraging listeners to supp...2025-05-2231 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleMore Than Just a Picky Eater - ARFIDAlmost everyone knows a picky eater, either from their own childhood or from their child's experiences. But sometimes picky eating goes beyond a simple preference for plain pasta. In this episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah sit down with Dr. Kamryn Eddy to unpack the complexities of ARFID —Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. More than just picky eating, ARFID can significantly impact a person's physical health and social life, leading to growth issues, nutritional deficiencies, and emotional struggles. Tune in to hear more about ARFID, its treatments, and its pro...2025-04-1744 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleTeen Nicotine UseIn 2024, the CDC reported that 1 in 29 middle school and 1 in 13 high school students vaped in the past month. This statistic is especially troubling, given that 9 in 10 adults who smoke daily first tried smoking by the age of 18.In this episode of Shrinking it Down, Dr. Randi Schuster, Director of school-based research and program development at the MGH Center for Addiction Medicine joined Gene and Khadijah to help educate parents and caregivers to best recognize the signs and symptoms of teen nicotine use and restorative strategies being used in schools. Media...2025-02-2746 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleNavigating Special Education in Schools Part 2: Working with the Team and Your ChildThe Special Education system in school can be confusing, especially if you haven’t been through the process with a child before.In part 2 of this series, Gene and Khadijah continue their discussion with Ellen Braaten, PhD, and Eileen Hagerty, Esq, who specialize in learning disabilities and special education law. They discuss evaluation results, advocacy, and the importance of destigmatizing special ed. Media ListLearning & Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) (MGH) Ellen Braaten, PhD (MGH) Eileen M. Hagerty, Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP (KCS Legal) Massachusetts Advocates for Children (Mass Advocates) Navigating Special Education in Scho...2024-09-1944 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleStories for Children's Mental HealthStories matter, especially when it comes to children's mental health and wellbeing.For our season finale, Gene and Khadijah are joined by two special guests from Barefoot Books – book editor Lisa Rosinsky and children’s author Joelle Retener. They explore how stories help kids to make sense of the world in all of its confusion and beauty by taking a closer look at Marley’s Pride, a new children’s book about overcoming big anxieties and realizing the power of community. Plus, stay tuned to the end to hear everyone’s favorite children’s book!Media List2024-06-2034 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleBoys, Body Image + Eating Disorders, feat. Jason Nagata, MD, MScWhen you hear the term “eating disorders” what do you think of? Probably not boys and men. Yet, adolescent boys struggle with body image and disordered eating behaviors nearly just as much as girls. On today’s show, eating disorder specialist Jason Nagata, MD joins Gene and Khadijah to unpack what every parent should know about disordered eating in boys. They discuss the pressures boys face when it comes to body ideals, the impact of sports culture, and how to recognize signs of an eating disorder in your child.Media List Jason Nagata, MD (Universi...2024-05-1640 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleEquine Therapy. How Does It Work?Many of us have heard of dog therapy and pet therapy. But what exactly is equine therapy?Special guest Janice Gilman of BINA Farm Center joins Gene and Khadijah to help us learn about the many different kinds of equine therapy for kids. What make horses so unique when it comes to therapeutic treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and more? Plus, tune in until the end to hear everyone's favorite horse films and TV shows!Media ListFollow along with the conversation.Who We Are (BINA Farm Ce...2024-02-1528 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleNext Week: Senator John Velis of MassachusettsVery special guest Senator John C. Velis of Massachusetts joins Gene and Khadijah to discuss legislative opportunities to address the youth mental health crisis. He says a big focus needs to be on schools, for both intervention and prevention.Be sure to tune in next week on the THIRD Thursday of the month! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-01-1100 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleCoping With Gun Violence, Together - feat. Gretchen Felopulos, PhDWith increasing gun violence and constant media coverage, many kids are scared to go to concerts, to malls, to school. Many adults are feeling the same. Today, special guest Gretchen Felopulos, PhD, the education and training lead for the Center for Gun Violence Prevention at MGH, joins Gene and Khadijah to help us learn more about gun safety, youth suicide, best practices for lockdown drills, talking about guns to those with opposing views, and so much more. Be sure to see the resources, below.Media ListFollow along with the conversation.Gretchen Felopulos...2023-06-1541 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleASD: Making the Transition to College, feat. Chris Keary, MDThe transition to college can be huge for all kids, but for young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) there's even more to consider in making it a smooth transition. As parents, how do we best support them? How involved should we be? Special guest Dr. Chris Keary of the MGH Lurie Center for Autism Center joins Gene and Khadijah with helpful advice and answers to these questions and more. Media ListFollow along with the conversation.Christopher Keary, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)MGH Fellowship Program in Autism Spectrum...2023-05-1840 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleDigital Vigilance and Our KidsWe’ve reached a point in time where most of our kids have grown up with digital media as a way of life. Social media, instant viral news, e-learning, digital surveillance – it’s all here to stay. And it’s not all bad. But there are some legitimate concerns about how it’s impacting the mental health and safety of young people.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, we revisit some of the most helpful conversations we’ve had about digital media’s impact on our kids and teens. From issues related to body image and gaming disorder, to...2023-04-2038 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 Hingham \'CastThe Hingham 'CastBack-to-School Mental Health TipsAlly Donnelly  Hi and welcome to the Hingham ‘Cast. I'm your host Ally Donnelly. This episode is brought to you by Derby Street Shops. The Hingham ‘Cast is hyper local, we look at the world through the lens of one small town. My town here on Boston’s, South Shore, but the issues we explore are unfolding in communities across the country. Like Back to School. It’s an exciting time of hope and promise, but for some kids it can also be a time riddled with anxiety.According to the Centers for Disease Co...2022-09-0628 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleThese Are a Few of Our Favorite ThingsMindfully enjoying the things we look forward to during the holidays is a great way for families to lessen stress and support well-being. What are Gene and Khadijah's favorite things about the holiday season? Tune in!From all of us at the MGH Clay Center, we wish you a wonderful holiday season. May your minds be merry and bright. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-12-1802 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minNCIA\'s Cannabis Minority ReportNCIA's Cannabis Minority ReportTiffany Watkins | Vanguard Media OnlineEach week Khadijah Adams hosts cannabis industry operators, advocates, and allies to discuss issues related to social equity and highlight their experiences, challenges and success stories as people of color in the cannabis industry. This episode, Khadijah is joined by Tiffany Watkins, a thirty-year cannabis advocate and founder of Vanguard Media Online. We're also joined by co-hosts Alexis Olive and Margeaux Bruner. Tiffany Watkins is known in the community as LadyCanna. She's a former IT Professional, working many years as a Network Systems Engineer.  She holds degrees in Computer Sciences and Network Infrastructure, as w...2021-06-0241 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleMedicating with Meditation? featuring Darshan Mehta, MD, MPHOn today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Khadijah welcome special guest Dr. Darshan Mehta, Medical Director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine of Massachusetts General Hospital, to talk about something we could all use more of: Meditation. This past year has brought on new stressors and anxieties for families, on top of those they were already managing. So, what about treating this stress with a healthy dose of meditation?Meditation is a practice that can help to decrease stress levels, increase calmness and clarity, and improve our physical health. Whether you’ve trie...2021-03-1741 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleTeen Breakup Violence, Part 2Content Warning: Today’s episode is the second in a two-part series on teen relationship violence. It may be difficult for some of our listeners.  When we look underneath a young person’s anger, or shame, or grief, there is often a hidden need that’s not being met. Learning how to identify and address these hidden needs is a skill we can all build over time. And doing this is a critical part of fostering healthier relationships and preventing tremendous pain to ourselves and to others. Last week on our podcast, we began a difficult, but important...2021-02-1031 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleThe Power of Community Health During COVID-19, featuring Mary Lyons-Hunter, PsyDSince the pandemic, mental health concerns have risen across the country. But in communities that were already underserved, the burden is even greater, as hardships build one on top of the other: risk for illness, food insecurity, being an essential worker, being unemployed, kids not able to go to school, fear of housing evictions, resurfacing of trauma. Chelsea, Massachusetts is one such community where family stress is at near-crisis levels.Today, on “Shrinking It Down,” Gene and Khadijah welcome special guest Mary Lyons-Hunter, PsyD, Unit Chief of Behavioral Health at the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center. For over 22 year...2020-11-2535 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleMoving Towards Anti-Racism for Our Future Generations, featuring O'Neil Britton, MDIf you’re Black or Brown and growing up in America, it's noticeable from a very young age that something feels off. That’s because, no matter where you go, there is a layered, structural unfairness that plays out. The harmful impact of this unfairness begins to take its toll on even the youngest developing minds.On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, special guest O’Neil Britton, MD, chief medical officer and senior vice president of Massachusetts General Hospital, joins Gene Beresin for a conversation about continued racial inequities in our society, social justice, and our duty...2020-07-2945 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleSpecial guest next week!We've wrapped up Season 3, but we have a summer episode coming up.Next week, we welcome very special guest O'Neil Britton, MD, chief medical officer and senior vice president of Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Britton joins Gene to discuss racism's continued impact on community health and well-being, and to think critically about ways that each individuals, communities, and healthcare systems can do more and do better in moving towards an anti-racist Boston, and an anti-racist America.Stay tuned! We'll see you next week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-07-2200 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleClimate Anxiety and Kids, featuring Elizabeth G. Pinsky, MDMany kids and teens are growing more worried about climate change. Scary predictions about the future and lack of government action can make them feel the crisis is out of their control. How can parents help their kids cope with climate anxiety?On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Elizabeth Pinsky, a pediatrician and child psychiatrist at Mass General Hospital for Children, and mom of two young kids, joins Gene to discuss how parents can talk about climate change to kids of different ages, and ways to empower them to take action in their daily liv...2020-05-1343 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleWe'll be back March 25!We're taking a short break, but we've got a great line up of topics and guests for the spring. A sample of what's to come:Surviving a Screw UpGrowing Up With a Parent With AutismClimate Change AnxietyAdvocating for Your Child With Learning Differences In School (a follow up to our first Facebook Live Q+A, featuring Dr. Ellen Braaten)Going Off MedicationsAll this and more. We'll see you back March 25! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-03-0402 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleWe'll Miss You, Steve!Seasons change, and so do podcast co-hosts. Since the beginning, Shrinking It Down has been co-hosted by child psychiatrists Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steven Schlozman. But alas, Steve is moving on to the next creative chapter in his life. It's been a long run, Steve, and a great one. Thank you for everything. We'll miss you so!Media ListIt's Time for Saying Goodbye - Muppets Take Manhattan (YouTube)The Importance of Stories for Child Mental Health (MGH Clay Center)Nature Versus Nurture (Steve's last podcast episode) (Acast)Follow Steve @zombieautopsies (Twitter)Read stuff by...2020-02-1902 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleKids Under Surveillance!Today’s kids and teens are increasingly under surveillance, including by their own schools and parents. In some ways this is nothing new. Adults have always monitored kids for risk. But in today’s digital age, there are so many more ways to watch our kids’ every move – social media, cell phones, e-mail, even school apps intended for learning.  A lot of kids and even parents don’t know what kinds of surveillance schools are conducting on students, and many kids may not be aware of how their own parents are keeping tabs. While the aim is to keep kids sa...2020-01-1533 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleWe''ll be back January 15!We'll be back January 15 with new episodes, including conversations about digital and social media surveillance of kids and teens, and genetics and mental health. Hope you have a peaceful holiday season. See you in a couple of weeks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-12-3100 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleMoney + Mental Health: Supporting Young Adult Children, With Limits, featuring Rand Spero, CFPIf you’re a parent, you’ve likely spent time thinking about your child’s future after age 18. Whether it’s going to college, finding a job, finding an apartment – taking that first step towards independence is ultimately tied to…money! Where that money should come from is a complicated issue, and it’s not the same issue it was 20 or 30 years ago. What does this mean for both parent and child mental health? Special guest Rand Spero, CFP, MBA, EdM joins our co-director Dr. Ellen Braaten to talk about the economic realities of young adulthood today, including strategies for families t...2019-10-0931 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleTune in next week!Gene and Steve will be back next week with our last episode of the season. And we have a community challenge for you all - be sure to tune in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-05-3100 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleWe'll be back next week!We'll be back next week with new episodes! Dr. Gene Beresin shares a glimpse of the topics to come, including ADHD, self-care, and more. Stay tuned... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-04-1201 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleAdmissions Scandal, College Pressure, and Mental HealthOn today’s show, Dr. Ellen Braaten joins Gene and Steve to think deeper about our American culture that’s contributed to issues like the recent college admissions scandal, and also less extreme (and less fraudulent) measures we take to ensure our kids succeed at a level that’s well above-average. What message does it send to young people when we have expectations of true perfection and even take actions that suggest they’re not good enough to succeed on their own?We’ll discuss this and more. Write to us with your thoughts at mghclaycenter@partners.org.2019-03-2037 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleOscars Special!* Want the visuals to go with the talk? Watch this special episode on YouTube *Why on earth are two child psychiatrists talking about the 2019 Academy Awards? It’s not just for fun, even though it’s fun, too. But, rather, because there is so much in this year’s nominated films – from Black Panther to Bohemian Rhapsody – that relates to coming of age in today’s America. We live in a time of cultural turmoil and a search to rediscover identity as a country and as individuals. Many of these films are opportunities to help us reflect on these iss...2019-02-2218 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking 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 SimpleShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleCognitive Behavioral Therapy, featuring Susan Sprich, Ph.D.Did you know that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most evidence-based psychosocial treatments we have for mental health issues? Today, its use goes beyond treatment for anxiety disorders and depression to application for a wide range of challenges including psychosis, body dysmorphic disorder, ADHD, and even for coping with aspects of medical illnesses.Simply put, CBT is about giving people skills or tools to cope with challenges they’re having in their lives. And if you’re willing to put in the time, it can be incredibly effective. In this episode of Shrinking It D...2019-01-2330 minShrinking It Down: Mental Health Made SimpleShrinking 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