Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

Talking with Your Kids about the War in Iran

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:35:53 GMT

When the world feels uncertain and headlines hit close to home, how can parents help their children feel safe?

In this episode, of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah explore how families can support children during times of political conflict, such as the current War in Iran. They break down how children and teens at different developmental stages process stress, from preschoolers who may regress to teens grappling with more complex emotions and questions. Tune in for advice and real-life strategies for supporting kids through uncertainty.

Media List

Helping Kids of All Ages in the Face of Terrorism or War (MGH Clay Center)
Expert tips on how to talk to teens about war in Iran (WCVB)
Breaking News and Kids (MGH Clay Center)
Self-Care Resources - Videos, Toolkit, More (MGH Clay Center)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teen Romance in the Digital Era

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:00:00 GMT

In this Valetine's Day special of Shrinking it Down, Gene and Khadijah explore how teen romance is being reshaped in the digital age. From texting and social media to AI chatbots, they unpack the ways technology is transforming how teens connect, communicate, and even break up. While some online spaces can create a sense of closeness and constant connection, they also bring new challenges such as comparison culture, ghosting, and difficulty navigating face-to-face relationships.

Tune in for practical guidance on the importance of modeling healthy relationships, staying informed about their children's digital worlds, and when to worry about a breakup.

Media List

Exploring the World of AI Therapy (MGH Clay Center)
How Teens Incorporate Online Platforms and Digital Devices Into Their Romantic Relationships (Pew Research Center)
Hit Send, No Wait: The Dangers Of A Hyper-Personal Online Life (MGH Clay Center)
Social Media & Body Image (Shrinking it Down)
Teens, Technology and Romantic Relationship (Pew Research Center)
The Power of Peer Support (Shrinking it Down)
Conflict Resolution Course (MGH Clay Center)
Ways to Help Your Lonely Teenager (MGH Clay Center)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anxiety in the Family: Helping One Child Without Leaving Others Behind

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In this special episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah explore how parents can talk openly with children about a sibling’s anxiety. Joined by co-founder of InStride Health, Dr. Kat Boger, they discuss age-appropriate explanations, reducing stigma, supporting siblings’ emotional needs, and avoiding unhelpful family accommodations. They offer practical, compassionate guidance for helping the whole family build resilience together. Tune in for important and practical advice on supporting your child with anxiety!

Media List

About (InStride Health)
Anxiety Disorders (MGH Clay Center)
Talking to Kids About a Sibling's Mental Illness (MGH Clay Center)
Growing Up With a Sibling With a Disability (MGH Clay Center)
No Kings

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Finding Gratitude in a Time of Fear, Anger, and Uncertainty

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Thanksgiving is approaching fast; a time of gratitude, reflection, and gathering. But this year feels different. With fear, anger, and uncertainty dominating our world, it’s hard to ask: How are we supposed to give thanks right now?

In this holiday episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah discuss the importance of staying grateful when the world feels chaotic. They talk about the benefits of gratitude on well-being and resilience and the importance of community, learning from the past, and respecting different viewpoints. Tune in for strategies to help your family build gratitude this holiday season through open conversations, stories, and creative expression!

Media List

Illuminated Collage (MGH Clay Center)
Conflict Resolution Course (MGH Clay Center)
The Art of Civil Conversations: 9 Parent Strategies (MGH Clay Center)
Five Parenting Tips for Civility and Coping With the Political Climate (MGH Clay Center)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploring the World of AI Therapy

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Artificial intelligence (AI) is slowly becoming a major part of our society. Everday more and more people begin to rely on AI for a variety of tasks in their daily routines. While most people use AI for innocuous reasons such as answering basic questions like a search engine would, today we’re here to discuss one of the more harmful uses of AI: AI therapy chatbots aimed at our youths. In this episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah are joined by forensic psychiatrist Dr. Andy Clark to discuss the growing role of AI chatbots in mental health support. From lacking empathy and clinical judgement to dangerously endorsing harmful behaviors, we explore the promises and pitfalls of AI Therapy for our young people. Tune in to learn more!

Media List:

Andrew Clark, M.D.
The Risks of Kids Getting AI Therapy from a Chatbot (TIME)
Adventures in AI Therapy: A Child Psychiatrist Goes Undercover (MGH Clay Center)
The Ability of AI Therapy Bots to Set Limits With Distressed Adolescents: Simulation-Based Comparison Study (PubMed)
Harry Harlow Monkey Experiments (Simply Psychology)
Illinois Bans AI Therapy (National Law Review)
The Rithm Project

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Facing the Loss of a Child to Suicide - A Father's Account

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day: a time to bring global attention to the urgent public health crisis of suicide and to reaffirm our collective commitment to prevention through compassion, connection, and community.

In this special episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah are joined by Dr. Tony Rostain for a deeply moving conversation about love, loss and healing. Dr. Rostain shares the story of the tragic loss of his son, Julian to suicide - a bright, talented young man who battled anxiety and depression, which were greatly intensified by the isolation he experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through his story, Dr. Rostain helps Gene and Khadijah explore the healing power of community, love and remembrance while also reflecting on what helped him process the grief and continue his work in mental health.

Media List

World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 (World Health Organization)
Anthony L. Rostain, MD, MA (Cooper University)
Sara Rian Books
Julian Memorial – Remembering Julian Rostain
Pack Up Your Sorrows - Richard & Mimi Farina (YouTube)
I Love You Dad: Words A Father Will Never Hear Again (MGH Clay Center)
Loving the Gone (Amazon)
Home | AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
The Jed Foundation (JED)
Resources for People who Think About Suicide (National Institute on Mental Illness)
Preventing Suicide (CDC)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADHD: The Transition to Adulthood

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:04:00 GMT

Welcome back to a new season of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple!

For our back-to-school season opener, we are joined by Dr. Tony Rostain for a deep dive on how ADHD changes from teen to adulthood. They break down the importance of early intervention, the benefits of school accommodations, and why anxiety and other co-occurring conditions can be common in children and teens with ADHD. If you want to understand ADHD better and hear what actually helps, this episode’s for you.

Media List

Anthony L. Rostain, MD, MA (Cooper University)
The Adult ADHD Tool Kit (Taylor Francis)
CHADD - Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder
ADDA - Attention Deficit Disorder Association
Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) (Department of Health and Human Services)
Including Disability and Belonging in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (MGH Clay Center)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chasing Sunshine: Teen Loneliness & Tips for Beating the Summer Blues

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:30:00 GMT

While 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 summer!

We wish you a connected and relaxing summer! We’ll see you back here in August to discuss the transition from childhood to adult ADHD with special guest Tony Rostain, MD, MA.

Media List

Summertime: Making The Livin’ Easy With Kids (MGH Clay Center)
Over-Scheduled, Stressed-Out Families (MGH Clay Center)
11 Self-Care Tips for Teens and Young Adults (MGH Clay Center)
Homepage (4-H)
Why Activism Is Good For Teens — And The Country (MGH Clay Center)
The Vital Role and Methods of Mental Health Advocacy (Shrinking it Down)

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The Vital Role and Methods of Mental Health Advocacy

Thu, 22 May 2025 13:31:29 GMT

Why 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 support change through actions like contacting lawmakers, engaging with local communities, joining peer support efforts, and promoting mental health education. Tune in for a candid, compassionate conversation about how we can all help make mental health care more accessible and equitable for our youth.

Media List

Addressing the Youth Mental Health Epidemic (Springer)
Severe Shortage of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (AACAP)
Varying Estimates of Social Workers in the United States: Which Data Source to Use? (NIH)
Ways to Help Your Lonely Teen Online Course (MGH Clay Center)
Conflict Resolution Course (MGH Clay Center)
Active Minds
The Power of Peer Support (Shrinking it Down)
Why Activism Is Good For Teens — And The Country (MGH Clay Center)
If It's Okay To Not Be Okay (See Me Scotland)
What’s Up With Everyone? A Youth Mental Health Campaign With Academy-Award Winning Aardman (MGH Clay Center)

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More Than Just a Picky Eater - ARFID

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:30:00 GMT

Almost 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 promising recovery outcomes.

Media List

Kamryn Eddy, Ph.D. (MGH)
ARFID (DSM-5)
ARFID (National Eating Disorders Association)
Eating Disorders Screening Tool (National Eating Disorders Assocation)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teen Nicotine Use

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 19:30:00 GMT

In 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 List

Randi Schuster, Ph.D. (Center for Addiction Medicine)
Center for Addiction Medicine (MGH)
iDECIDE
Truth Initiative: freedom from nicotine addiction
Smoking and Tobacco Use | Smoking and Tobacco Use (CDC)
Tobacco/Nicotine and Vaping | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Highlights for the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (SAMSA)
My Life My Quit

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Addressing Your Family's Anxieties about California Wildfires

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 18:52:03 GMT

The 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 List

Palisades 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 (MGH Clay Center)
10 Self-Care Tips for Parents (MGH Clay Center)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shrinking it Down will return in January

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:00:10 GMT

Shrinking it Down will return on January 23rd for a special episode on teen nicotine misuse.

Happy Holidays and we hope you have a great New Year!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parents Under Pressure

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:00:00 GMT

In 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 List

Parents Under Pressure (U.S. Surgeon General Advisory)
Protecting Youth Mental Health (U.S. Surgeon General Advisory)
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (U.S. Surgeon General Advisory)
Self-Care for Parents (MGH Clay Center)
NAMI | National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Myths About the 12-Step Program (MGH Clay Center)
Parental Stress: Practical Tips in Response to the Surgeon General (Clay Center)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Supporting Youth in a World Riddled by Conflict

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Let'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 List

Political Polarization in the American Public (Pew Research Center)
Conflict Resolution - 10 Tips for Families (Clay Center)
Parents Under Pressure (U.S Surgeon General)
Parental Stress: Practical Tips in Response to the Surgeon General (Clay Center)

Episode music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Spenser Egnatz

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Navigating Special Education in Schools Part 2: Working with the Team and Your Child

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:30:00 GMT

The 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 List

Learning & 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 Schools Part 1: Legal and Practical Tips (Shrinking it Down)
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy (Wrights Law)
From Emotions to Advocacy by Pamela Darr Wright and Peter W.D. Wright (Wrights Law)
Parents Have the Power to Make Special Education Work (Amazon)

Episode music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Spenser Egnatz

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Navigating Special Education in Schools Part 1: Legal and Practical Tips

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 19:53:41 GMT

Welcome 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 evaluations

Media List

Learning & Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) (MGH)
Ellen Braaten, PhD (MGH)
Eileen M. Hagerty, Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP (KCS Legal)
Massachusetts Advocates for Children (Mass Advocates)
Coping With ADHD: How A Young Man And His Mom Are Managing The Path To Success (MGH Clay Center)
Our Greatest Strengths, Part 2 (Shrinking it Down)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (US Department of Education)
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) (US Department of Education)
Intro to Processing Speed (MGH Clay Center)
What are the Best Treatments for ADHD (MGH Clay Center)
Dyslexia 101 (MGH Clay Center)
What is Autism (MGH Clay Center)
Massachusetts Advocates for Children Helpline (Mass Advocates)

Episode music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Spenser Egnatz

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stories for Children's Mental Health

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Stories 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 List

The Importance of Stories for Child Health (MGH Clay Center)
Barefoot Books - About Us
Joelle Retener
Marley’s Pride (Goodreads)
Mindful Kids Card Deck (Barefoot Books)
Berry Song, by Michaela Goade (Goodreads)
Little Witch Hazel, by Phoebe Wall (Goodreads)
The Snowy Day, by Jack Keats (Goodreads)
The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams Bianco (Goodreads)

We wish you a story-filled summer! We’ll see you back here in October on the Third Thursday of every month. Until then, be well.

Episode music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Spenser Egnatz and Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boys, Body Image + Eating Disorders, feat. Jason Nagata, MD, MSc

Thu, 16 May 2024 09:00:46 GMT

When 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 (University of California, San Francisco)
Why eating disorders are affecting more adolescent boys (PBS News Hour)
Parents’ perception of their child’s body image (Mott Poll Report)
Boys, Bulk, and Body Ideals: Sex Differences in Weight Gain Attempts Among Adolescents in the United States (Journal of Adolescent Health)
The real cost of a “Marvel body”: How the pressure to look like Thor and Captain America is hurting men (Salon)
Muscle Dysmorphia (National Eating Disorders Association)
Research suggests student athletes face body image concerns, develop rigid eating habits (Clemsen News)
Disordered eating and considerations for the transgender community (Journal of Eating Disorders)
What Are the Treatments for Eating Disorders? (MGH Clay Center)
Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys (Charlotte Markey, Daniel Hart, Douglas N. Zacher)
Resource Center (National Eating Disorders Association)
19 of Your Favorite Superheroes: Then and Now (RVCJ)

Special thanks to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) for connecting us with special guest Jason Nagata, MD.

Podcast theme music by Gene Beresin, MD, MA

Episode research by Spenser Egnatz

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Role of Roleplay in Therapy

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:00:04 GMT

If 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 support our kids’ mental health. Stay tuned to the end to hear everyone’s favorite games!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

John Corbett, MD (Harvard Catalyst Profiles)
Terrance Dolan, MD (Harvard Catalyst Profiles)
The Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residence of MGH/McLean (YouTube - Mass General Brigham)
Role-playing (Wikipedia)
The use of clinical role-play and reflection in learning therapeutic communication skills in mental health education: an integrative review (Advances in Medical Education and Practices)
What Is Family Therapy? (MGH Clay Center)
The Positive Value of Conflict Resolution (MGH Clay Center)
The Psychology of Video Game Avatars (The Psychology of Video Games)
Why do kids love Roblox? (LinkedIn - Education Next)
Helping Kids With Challenging Behavior, feat. Stuart Ablon, PhD (YouTube - MGH Clay Center)
The Incredible Hulk, TV series (IMDB)

Thanks for joining in this conversation. We’ll see you back on the THIRD Thursday of next month!

Podcast music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alcohol & Drugs - Why Do Teens Use?

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 09:00:45 GMT

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 to have yours.

Media List

When to Worry, What to Do PDF Library (MGH Clay Center)
CDC Report Indicates Teens are Seeking to Escape Worries and Stress Through Drug Use (HuffPost)
Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health (US Dept of Health & Human Services)
Alcohol & Adolescents, featuring John F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP (Podcast)
Alcohol - Conversation Starters with Dr. Gene Beresin (YouTube)
Asking Adolescents About Alcohol with Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins (YouTube)
Cannabis and the Teen Brain, featuring Jodi Gilman, PhD (Podcast)
Once You Have Discovered Your Teen Is Using Pot, What’s the Next Step? (MGH Clay Center)
Commonly Abused Prescription and OTC Drugs (WebMD)
NARCAN’s Available Over the Counter, Should I Carry It? (MGH, Psychiatry)
Addiction Recovery Management Services (MGH, ARMS)
When to Worry, What to Do PDF Library (MGH Clay Center)
Myths About the 12-Step Program (MGH Clay Center)
Find a Treatment Facility (SAMHSA)

If you have a question that we didn’t cover, please get in touch. Write to Gene or Khadijah at mghclaycenter@mgb.org.

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan and Spenser Egnatz

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Equine Therapy. How Does It Work?

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:00:00 GMT

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 List

Follow along with the conversation.

Who We Are (BINA Farm Center)
How Much Does a Horse Weigh? (PetMD)
Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy: Facing Trauma With a horse by Their Side (McLean Hospital)
Very fashionable Angel! (BINA Farm, Instagram)
Hippotherapy (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)
Effect of animal assisted interactions on activity and stress response in children in acute care settings (Comprehensive Psychoneuroendicrinology)
How Horses Read Human Emotions (EQUUS)
Therapeutic horseback riding for at-risk adolescents in residential care (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health)
Effects of Therapeutic Hoseback-Riding Program on Social and Communication Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Int’l Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)
Buck (IMDB)
The Incredible Dr. Pol (National Geographic)
The Black Stallion (1979) ORIGINAL TRAILER (YouTube)
Find a Program – Equine Assisted Services (PATH International)

New episodes on the THIRD Thursday of every month. Subscribe wherever you stream!

Music by Gene Beresin

Research by Spenser Egnatz

Produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Can States Do to Support Youth Mental Health? feat. Senator John C. Velis

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:15:17 GMT

To 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 List

Follow along with the conversation.

Senator John C. Velis (malegislature.gov)
A Good Day on Beacon Hill (Instagram, MGH Clay Center)
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery (malegislature.gov)
Sen. John Velis faces alcoholism one day at a time (CommonWealth Beacon)
Could your Honor Student Have an Addiction? feat. Marty Walsh (YouTube, MGH Clay Center)
Regional roadmap seeks to address youth mental health ‘crisis’ (Daily Hampshire Gazette)
D.A.R.E didn’t work. How can school programs actually keep kids off drugs? (Yahoo! News)
MCPAP (MA Child Psychiatry Access Program)
Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (The University of Texas System)
When to Worry, What to Do – PDF Library (MGH Clay Center)
State commission releases recommendations to bolster behavioral health (East Boston Times)
Peer Programs Helping Schools Tackle Student Depression, Anxiety (National Education Association)
Happy Birthday, Carson! (Instagram, State Senator John Velis)

We’ll see you back the THIRD Thursday of every month. Subscribe wherever you stream.

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Week: Senator John Velis of Massachusetts

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:00:24 GMT

Very 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.

Stimulants! feat. Anthony Rostain, MD, MA

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 10:00:55 GMT

What 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.

Media List

Follow along with the conversation

Anthony Rostain, MD, MA (Cooper University Health Care)
What’s behind the ADHD drug shortage? (WBUR On Point)
Stimulant Abuse: Pharmacology, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Treatment, Attempts at Pharmacotherapy (Primary Care via PubMed Central)
Ask Ellen: How to Help Your Child Develop Executive Function Skills (MGH Clay Center on YouTube)
Is It Safe to Use Stimulants to Treat ADHD? (MGH Clay Center)
Understanding the Effects of Stimulant Medications on Cognition in Individuals with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Decade of Progress – Figure 4 (Nature)
Adverse Effects of Stimulant Interventions for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Comprehensive Systematic Review (Cureus via PubMed Central)
ADHD Medications for Children: 8 Questions from Parents (ADDitude)
How stimulant treatment prevents serious outcomes of ADHD (Science Daily)
Review: ADHD Stigma Is Prevalent Globally (ADDitude)
What’s causing the unusually high number of drug shortages in the U.S. (PBS News Weekend)
AACAP Comments on DEA Production Quota Notice for 2024 (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)

Thanks for joining in this conversation. We’ll see you back here the THIRD Thursday of every month. Subscribe wherever you stream.

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode research by Spenser Egnatz

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tune in Dec. 21! Ritalin, Adderall & ADHD

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 10:00:50 GMT

Special guest Anthony Rostain, MD, MA joins us this month to discuss all things stimulants - myths, misconceptions, and managing the shortage. If you have a young person in your life with ADHD, or have ADHD yourself, you don't want to miss this episode!

See you back here on December 21st - the THIRD Thursday of the month.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lonely College Students

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:00:17 GMT

Recent 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 List

Follow along with the conversation.

New Surgeon General Raises Alarm About the Devastating Impact of the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in the United States (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Our Epidemic of Loneliness: Implementing the Surgeon General’s recommendations for parents and caregivers (Psychology Today)
’22-’23 Student Lifestyle Survey (Sodexo)
Publications and Reports: ACHA-NCHA III (Spring 2023) (American College Health Association)
Why Is College So Lonely? (The Sophian)
The Challenges of First-Generation College Students (MGH Clay Center)
Social Media is Killing Your Friendships (Healthline)
Your College Student – Conversation Starters (YouTube)
Peer Programs in College Student Mental Health (The Mary Christie Institute & The Ruderman Foundation)
Roy Orbison – Only the Lonely (YouTube)

Thanks for joining in this conversation. We'll see you back the Third Thursday of every month. Subscribe wherever you stream & leave us a review!

Music credit: ‘Only the Lonely’ by Roy Orbison; Publication date, 1961; Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International

Original music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fears and Phobias in Kids and Teens, feat. Susan Sprich, PhD

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:00:49 GMT

All of us have fears – kids and adults alike. Many of us even enjoy a good scare now and again (there’s a reason why horror movies do so well). Most fears – real or imagined – eventually respond to reassurance, emotional calming, or distraction. But when a fear persists, resisting rational or emotional soothing and creating obstacles in daily life, it becomes a phobia.

Just in time for Halloween, we’re kicking off our new season with a look at specific phobias in kids. We’re joined by special guest Susan Sprich, PhD of Massachusetts General Hospital to learn more about fears and phobias, and to discuss what treatments work best and what parents can do to help.

Media List

Susan Sprich, PhD (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Cognitive Behavior Therapy, featuring Susan Sprich, PhD (Spotify)
Could You Have Samhainophobia or the Fear of Halloween? (VeryWell)
Types of Specific Phobia (Perlman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania)
Fear of the Dark? 16 Ways to Help Your Child (MGH Clay Center)
Nature Vs. Nurture, featuring Jordan Smoller, MD, ScD (Acast)
Treatment – Phobias (NHS)
How Do You Treat Specific Phobias in Kids? (MGH Clay Center)
Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale – Revised (CTRS-R) (Beck Institute)
Involving family members in exposure therapy for children and adolescents (American Psychological Association)

Thanks for joining in this conversation. We hope to see you back the Third Thursday of every month! Subscribe wherever you stream.

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shrinking It Down returns on October 19!

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 19:47:40 GMT

Transcript:

Hi, this is Gene Beresin, co-host of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple.

We’ll have all new episodes for you beginning next month – on the THIRD THURSDAY of every month.

We’ve got some great topics lined up for this season: the stimulant shortage, phobias in kids and teens, the benefits on animal therapy, and so much more.

Do stay tuned, and we'll see you soon.

Subscribe wherever you stream - new episodes every THIRD THURSDAY of the month. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coping With Gun Violence, Together - feat. Gretchen Felopulos, PhD

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:00:43 GMT

With 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 List

Follow along with the conversation.

Gretchen Felopulos, PhD (LinkedIn)

Center for Gun Violence Prevention (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Twitter, TikTok, and Siloization (The Medium)

Firearm suicide among America’s youth has hit its highest rate in 20 years, report finds (CBS News)

Talking to Kids About Fear and Violence (Mental Health America)

Can Community Programs Help Slow the Rise in Violence? (ProPublica)

Are active shooter drills worth it? (Vox)

Active Shooter Situations: Threat Assessment Teams (TAT) (REMS TA Center)

School shooting false alarms, swatting calls put teachers, students and parents on edge (PBS News Hour)

Nine Ways to Help Students Discuss Gun Violence (Greater Good Magazine)

How to Have a Productive Conversation About Guns with Someone Who Holds Different Views? (The Trace)

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) or “Red Flag” Laws (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Activism Is Good for Our Teens (MGH Clay Center)

Keep the Peace Contract (Boys Town)

About Wear Orange (wearorange.org)

Thanks for tuning in. We hope our conversation will help you to have yours. If you like what you hear, please leave us a review!

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ASD: Making the Transition to College, feat. Chris Keary, MD

Thu, 18 May 2023 09:00:01 GMT

The 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 List

Follow along with the conversation.

Christopher Keary, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)

MGH Fellowship Program in Autism Spectrum Disorder (Lurie Center for Autism)

What is Autism Spectrum? (MGH Clay Center)

Transition Planning Requirements of IDEA 2004 (Learning Disabilities Association of America)

Autism Resource Central (HMEA)**

What are a public or private college-university’s responsibilities to students with disabilities? (ADA National Network)

First-of-its-kind law improves college access for students with autism, intellectual disabilities (The Boston Globe)

Autism Disclosure and College (Asperger/Autism Network)

Not Every Autistic Person is a ‘Savant.’ (The Swaddle)

Autism goes to College: Understanding the Needs of a Student Population on the Rise (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders)

Anxiety and Depression in Autistic College Students (Cureus)

Autism Goes to College, The Podcast Series

The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Official Trailer (YouTube)

**similar services may be available in other states

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital Vigilance and Our Kids

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 09:00:05 GMT

We’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 ways we can help our young digital natives become more digitally vigilant, Gene, Khadijah, and other experts share practical advice for every caring adult.

To hear to any of the previous episodes in full or see the resources shared in their write ups, check out our media list, below.

Media List

Thanks for joining in this conversation. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! And be sure to subscribe for new episodes every Third Thursday of the month.

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Should We Respond to Anxiety in Our Kids? feat. Kevin Simon, MD

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 09:00:11 GMT

Anxiety. 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 mental health education in supporting families?

Tune in and share with a friend. And be sure to check out the additional resources below.

Media List

Kevin M. Simon, MD, LLC
Dr. Kevin Simon Appointed First Chief Behavioral Health Officer (City of Boston)
St. Peter Claver RC Church (Place Matters)
YRBS Data Summary & Trends Report, 2011-2021 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
What If My Child Has Anxiety? (PDF – MGH Clay Center)
Anxiety to Agency: Empowering Kids to Address Climate Change (MGH Clay Center)
Building Mental Wellness in Children: What Parents Can Do (MGH Clay Center)
School Refusal: When Back to School Is a Nightmare (MGH Clay Center)
Collaborative Problem Solving for Parents (Think:Kids)
Anxiety: Support Your Child at Home (PDF – MGH Clay Center)
What is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (MGH Clay Center)
Disparities in Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions (Pediatrics)
Child Psychiatrist on How to Address Suicide Among Black Youth (NowThis News)
Calling 988 Can Get You Help During a Mental Health or Substance Abuse Emergency (NECN)

Tune in Third Thursdays for new episodes. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Understanding Obesity Stigma, feat. Angela Fitch, MD, FACP, FOMA

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:00:42 GMT

We often hear about how stigma can prevent treatment for mental disorders and promote feelings of shame or low self-worth among those struggling. Did you know the same is true for obesity? Obesity is a complex disease, and stigma stems from a misunderstanding of what it is, what contributes, and how it can be treated.

Today, we're joined by Angela Fitch, MD, a leader in the field of obesity medicine, to help us learn more about what we can all do to support kids who are struggling with obesity and shift the culture around weight bias. We discuss personal biases, effective treatment, and the mental health toll obesity stigma can take on our kids who need us to step up on this issue.

Tune in & share with someone you know.

Media List

Angela Fitch, MD, FACP, FOMA (Obesity Medicine Association)
More About Knownwell (Knownwell.co)
Consensus Statement on Obesity (The Obesity Society)
What Is Body Composition? (WebMD)
BMI ≠ Obesity = Excess Adiposity (ConscienHealth)
Adipose Tissue (Body Fat) (Cleveland Clinic)
Study: BMI Measurements Should Be Tailored to Race and Ethnicity (Verywell Health)
Most Food in America is Hyper-Palatable and ‘Difficult to Stop Eating,’ Scientists Say (Newsweek)
CBT Is Effective for Childhood Obesity (Beck Institute)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, featuring Susan Sprich, PhD (MGH Clay Center)
Is Your ADHD Brain Hard-Wired for Weight Gain? (ADDitude Magazine)
Headless, Hungry, and Unhealthy: A Video Content Analysis of [Persons With Obesity] Portrayed in Online News (Journal of Health Communication)
New guidelines for treating childhood obesity include medications and surgery for first time (NBC News)
Weight Bias: People-First Language (Obesity Action Coalition)
Digital Media and Body Image (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Gene and Dr. Khadijah Answer Your Questions

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:00:20 GMT

From 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 future episode. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Media List

Dr. J. Stuart Ablon: Kids Lack Skills, Not Will to Do Well (YouTube-AccuTrain)

Question #1: How to Help With Hair Pulling (01:40)

Hair Pulling (Trichotillomania) (AACAP)

What If My Child Has Obsessive Compuslive Disorder (OCD)? (MGH Clay Center)

Cognitive Behavior Therapy: A Closer Look (MGH Clay Center)

What If My Child Is Prescribed an SSRI? (MGH Clay Center)

Question #2: How to Help My Teenager with Avoidance Behaviors at Home and at School (06:15)

Anxiety in Our Children: The Role of Avoidance Behavior (National Association for Child Development)

School Refusal: When Back-to-School Is a Struggle (MGH Clay Center)

CBT Snapshot: Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Phobias (MGH Clay Center)

Question #3: Child Can’t Stop Touching Things When They Walk Around the House (13:05)

Overview: Tics (National Health Service)

What If My Child Has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? (MGH Clay Center)

Question #4: How to Help 5-Year-Old with Potty Training Regression (18:05)

Potty Training Regression: What To Do About It (Cleveland Clinic)

What Is Collaborative Problem Solving? (Think:Kids)

Tips for Dealing with Potty Training Regression (Healthline)

Welcome Back (Theme from Welcome Back, Kotter) (YouTube-John Sebastian)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our next special guest is... YOU.

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 21:35:53 GMT

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.org

Message 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 Thursday of every month: Be There, or Be Square (TikTok).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS: How Do Social Justice and Youth Sports Intersect?

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 09:00:39 GMT

How do social issues intersect with youth sports? Tune in to this bonus episode of Shrinking It Down, featuring Dr. Jonathan Jenkins of the Sport Psychology Program at Mass General, for a thoughtful conversation on how societal concerns, including systemic racism, continue to impact our all of our young athletes.

Media List

Jonathan Jenkins, Psy.D, CMPC (LinkedIn)
The NBA took a stand against police violence. But a second message quickly became clear (CNN)
Our Definition of Social Justice (John Lewis Institute for Social Justice)
Dr. Chester Pierce (MGH Global Psychiatry)
10 Important Steps for Parenting Young Athletes (MGH Clay Center)
Inside the lack of racial diversity in lacrosse (The Daily Orange)
Title IX 50 year later: Why female athletes are still fighting for equality (On Point, WBUR)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Young People, Sports, and Mental Health ft. Dr. Jonathan Jenkins, Psy.D, CMPC

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 09:00:26 GMT

Sports 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 healthy mindset around sports and physical activity.

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Dr. Jonathan Jenkins, Psy.D CMPC (Ruderman Foundation)
Ted Lasso (YouTube)
MGH Sport Psychology (Mass General Hospital)
Getting to the Finish Line: Will You Choose Endurance or Resilience? (MGH Clay Center)
Unorganized Youth Sports Is Missing From Society (T-Ball America)
How to Support Youth Athletes When a Sports Injury Derails Their Season (MGH Clay Center)
10 Important Steps for Parenting Young Athletes (MGH Clay Center)
Massachusetts Role in Making Golf More Inclusive (WCVB)

Subscribe and tune in the 3rd Thursday of every month for new episodes. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Episode produced by Bianca Dempsey

Edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-Harm In Teens ft. Dr. Blaise Aguirre, MD

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 09:00:33 GMT

*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 what parents can do at home to manage if their child is self-harming.

View the episode transcript here.

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Blaise Aguirre, MD (McLean Hospital)
3East Continuum of Care (McLean Hospital)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy – DBT (Cleveland Clinic)
'DBT For Dummies' Offers Insights On Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (MSNBC)
Brain Changes Found in Self-Injuring Teen Girls (Ohio State University News)
Children Who Cut Themselves (MGH Clay Center)
Borderline Personality Disorder: A Case of Suffering, Drama and Hope (MGH Clay Center)
What If My Child Has OCD? (MGH Clay Center)
Low Self-Esteem: Where Does It Come From and What Can Adults Do to Help? (MGH Clay Center)
Being an Emotional Sponge (MGH Clay Center)
200 Dad Jokes (Men’s Health)

Episode produced by Bianca Dempsey

Edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Benefits of Music Therapy ft. Marisabelle Díaz-Falcón, MT-BC

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 08:00:00 GMT

As 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 List

Follow along with the conversation.

"Better When I’m Dancin'" by Meghan Trainor (YouTube)
Music (Arts for Health) (Amazon)
Marisabelle Díaz-Falcón, MT-BC (MGH)
End of Summer Playlist 2022 (MGH Clay Center)
Music Therapy (Mass General for Children)
Community Music Center of Boston (CMCB.org)
Center for Music Therapy (Berklee College of Music)
Trauma: What Parents Should Know (MGH Clay Center)
Gate Control Theory of Pain (YouTube)
Just for fun: Gene’s Mug (Google)

Like what you hear? Leave us a review and subscribe wherever you stream!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get Ready for a New Season

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:00:10 GMT

It'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.

How do I talk to my kids about gender and sexuality? Ft. Dr. Marshall Forstein, MD, DLFAPA

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 10:00:58 GMT

*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 all of these topics. Tune in for one of our favorite episodes yet!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

June is LGBT Pride Month (youth.gov)

Reflections on Becoming a Father as a Gay Man (MGH Clay Center)

How and why to discuss Juneteenth with your children (The Washington Post)

LGBTQ+ Glossary (It Gets Better Project)

How To Talk To Your Kids About Internet Pornography (MGH Clay Center)

The Impact of Reality TV On Our Teens: What Can Parents Do? (MGH Clay Center)

Getting to the Finish Line: Will You Choose Endurance or Resilience? (MGH Clay Center)

Supporting Your Child in the Face of Trauma (MGH Clay Center)

What is Family Therapy? (MGH Clay Center)

Pink Freud & The Transitional Objects - 2020 AACAP Virtual Meeting - YouTube (YouTube)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Does Schizophrenia Affect a Young Person and Their Caregivers?

Tue, 24 May 2022 10:00:11 GMT

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 List

Abigail Donovan, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)
First-Episode and Early Psychosis Program (Massachusetts General Hospital)
What Is Family Therapy? (MGH Clay Center)
Psychosis in Children and Teens (MGH Clay Center)
What Is the Schizophrenia Spectrum? (VeryWell Health)

Tune in to "You Ask, Our Docs Answer!" each Tuesday in May for a short episode. 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 minds in your life. It really makes a difference.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Do You Find Out If Your Teen Has Undiagnosed ASD?

Tue, 17 May 2022 10:00:15 GMT

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 List

Gagan Joshi, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Alan & Lorraine Bressler Clinical Research Program (Facebook)
A Closer Look at High-Functioning Autism, featuring Robyn Thom, MD – Shrinking It Down (MGH Clay Center)
Webinar: “Autistic Burnout,” featuring Sue Ann Pien (MGH Aspire on Facebook)
Request an Appointment (Bressler Clinical and Research Program)
Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (CAR Autism Roadmap)

Tune in to "You Ask, Our Docs Answer!" each Tuesday in May for a short episode. 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 minds in your life. It really makes a difference.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Power of Peer Support ft. Valerie Grison-Alsop & Julia Esposito

Thu, 12 May 2022 10:00:40 GMT

We 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.

This week, Gene and Khadijah are very pleased to welcome Valerie as a special guest, as well as Julia Esposito, a Junior Adult Advisor and former participant of Give Us the Floor. They talk about the benefits of peer-to-peer support and why their app has been so successful in helping teens improve their mental health and overall well-being.

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Give Us the Floor (Give Us the Floor)
Being an Emotional Sponge: Supporting Young People Who Are Supporting Friends (MGH Clay Center)
Give Us the Floor FAQs (Give Us the Floor)
Helping Others Shows Differential Benefits on Health and Well-being for Male and Female Teens (Springer)
There Are All Sorts of Ways of Making Things Better (MGH Clay Center)
Massachusetts Actually Has 12 Seasons (americasbestpics.com)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Do You Find a Therapist for School-Age Kids?

Tue, 10 May 2022 10:00:09 GMT

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 minds in your life. It really makes a difference.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Do I Fall Asleep When I'm Anxious?

Tue, 03 May 2022 10:00:44 GMT

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 on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Teen's Take On the Pandemic

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:00:23 GMT

The 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 and mental health. Tune in for a great conversation and to hear a perspective we don’t often get but have a lot to learn from.

While Annabel’s experience is just that of one teen, we believe she discusses some universal truths from her story that highlight issues of mental health for many teens out there.

Media List

Birdcage Memoirs: A Teen's Reflections on Living Through the Pandemic (MGH Clay Center)

7 Ways to Support Kids and Teens Through the Coronavirus Pandemic (MGH Clay Center)

Pink Freud & The Transitional Objects - 2020 AACAP Virtual Meeting (YouTube)

Woodchuck (imgflip.com)

The Problem of Social Anxiety Disorder (MGH Clay Center)

What Is ADHD? (MGH Clay Center)

What Is Resilience? (MGH Clay Center)

Clay Center Conversation Starters (YouTube)

Why we're all getting to know ourselves a little better in quarantine (LA Times)

How to Play the Ukulele (YouTube)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Young Athlete Mental Health, featuring Mai Uchida, MD

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:00:00 GMT

At 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 Osaka, Simone Biles, and interviewed Mirai Nagasu. This week, she shares her perspective and ideas of how to move the athletic world in a healthier direction for our young people.

Media List:

Figure Skating's Identity Crisis: Supporting Our Young Athletes (MGH Clay Center)

Naomi Osaka - Shining Light on Athlete Mental Health (MGH Clay Center)

Simone Biles - Choosing Mental Health Over Defending Olympic Gold (MGH Clay Center)

Chapter 1: Teen Champion (A Mental Health Conversation With Mirai Nagasu) (Youtube)

What If My Child Is Prescribed an SSRI? (MGH Clay Center)

Is age 27 the new 18? - Shrinking It Down (MGH Clay Center)

Stop Asking Why America Doesn't Win Olympic Medals in Women's-Singles Skating (The Cut)

How victims like the US gymnasts move forward after years of sexual abuse (ABC News)

10 Important Steps for Parenting Young Athletes (MGH Clay Center)

Ted Lasso Season 1 Trailer (Youtube)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-Esteem: How do we build our kids up?

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 10:00:11 GMT

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 this is something you think your child might be struggling with, tune in below.

Media List

‘Snow potentially in April’: Massachusetts spring forecast predicts winter setbacks (Boston Herald)

‘They draw bombs, tanks and wishes for peach’: Ukraine’s child mental health crisis (The Guardian)

Low Self-Esteem: Where does it come from and what can adults do to help? (MGH Clay Center)

Trauma: What Parents Should Know (MGH Clay Center)

Ways to emotionally support your teen in responding to racism (MGH Clay Center)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (CDC)

Digital Media and Body Image (MGH Clay Center)

R *** REFRAME (Instagram – MGH Clay Center)

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (MGH Clay Center)

Learning + Attention Issues (MGH Clay Center)

Random Acts of Kindness (Instagram – MGH Clay Center)

Why gardening is good for your mental wellbeing (Thrive)

How long do betta fish live as pets? (Pets WebMD)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukraine: What Do We Tell Our Kids?

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 10:00:20 GMT

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 witnessing in the media, and hearing about at school and at home. Whether you have friends and family in Ukraine, know someone who does, or are simply a concerned global citizen, this week’s episode covers how to help kids of all ages manage the devastation, while taking care of yourself, too.

Tune in for this pressing episode. We hope that our conversation will help you to have yours.

Have more questions about how to handle your young people and military conflict? Write to us!

Media List

How to talk to kids about Ukraine (AP News)

CODA - Trailer (Youtube)

The Power of the Dog - Trailer (Youtube)

DOG - Trailer (Youtube)

Prioritizing Parent Mental Health (MGH Clay Center – YouTube)

Helping Your Kids in the Face of Terrorism or War (MGH Clay Center)

Should the TV Be On or Off During Times of Breaking News? (MGH Clay Center)

Media exposure and sympathetic nervous system reactivity predict PTSD symptoms after the Boston Marathon bombings (Depression and Anxiety)

Self-Care for Resilience – Resources (MGH Clay Center)

Turning to Gratitude – Conversation Starters (MGH Clay Center – YouTube)

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? (MGH Clay Center)

Should kids get a snow day? (The Weather Channel – YouTube)

The Art of Civil Conversations: 9 Parent Strategies (MGH Clay Center)

‘I have family there’: What Americans with loved ones in Ukraine want you to know (Today)

Episode Produced by Bianca Dempsey

Edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Body Image and Young People, featuring Holly Peek, MD, MPH

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 11:00:01 GMT

Turning 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 Disorders Center at McLean Hospital, and former Miss New Orleans, to talk about body image and the ways in which it can affect self-esteem. They also touch on how boys are often left out of this conversation, how media and Hollywood impacts body image, the importance of nutrition, and how parents can help young people cultivate a positive body image for themselves.

Tune in for this timely episode. We hope that our conversation will help you to have yours.

Media List:

· Dr. Holly Peek, MD, MPH (McLean Hospital)

· Paw House Inn (Paw House Inn)

· National Love Your Pet Day (Instagram)

· How To Talk To Children About the Russian Invasion of Ukraine (AP News)

· Digital Media and Body Image (MGH Clay Center)

· Relationship Woes: Helping Your Child Break Up With Junk Food Without Harming Their Mental Health (MGH Clay Center)

· The Impact of Reality TV On Our Teens: What Can Parents Do? (MGH Clay Center)

· Super Bowl Halftime Show 2022 (YouTube)

· Media and Eating Disorders in Fiji: Interview with Anne E. Becker, MD (WebsEdgeMedicine – YouTube) (MGH Clay Center) - https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/digital-media-eating-disorders/

· How to Make a Vision Board That Works in 9 Simple Steps (Artful Parent)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: Alcohol Conversation Starters

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 21:50:13 GMT

Our recent conversation with Dr. John Kelly of the MGH Recovery Research Institute reinforced even more how important it is to start talking with young people about about alcohol use and it's possible problems, early on. Let us help you get started! From child & adolescent psychiatrist Gene Beresin, MD, MA, here are a few ways to open to door to this ongoing conversation with your grade-school child or middle schooler.

If you missed our last episode on alcohol and adolescents, tune in here!

We hope that our conversation helps you to have yours.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alcohol & Adolescents, featuring John F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 11:00:18 GMT

Did 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 are joined by very special guest, Dr. John Kelly, program director for Mass General’s Recovery Research Institute. Dr. Kelly walks us through how alcohol exposure affects the developing teen brain, how it can lead to other negative health outcomes, including cancer, substance use trends during Covid, and signs to look for you in your child if you’re concerned.

Please tune in for this special episode. We hope that our conversation will help you to have yours.

Have a question about alcohol and adolescents? Write to us!

Media List

John Kelly, PhD, ABPP (Recovery Research Institute)
Tell Me No Lies (Anything But The Truth)
In The News (MGH Clay Center)
Impact: What is the impact of Addiction? (Recovery Research Institute)
Five things you may not know about alcohol, the most commonly used drug in the world (Recovery Research Institute)
Cannabis and the Teen Brain, featuring Jodi Gilman, PhD (MGH Clay Center)
Percentage of adolescents reporting drug use decreased significantly in 2021 as Covid pandemic endured (Mirage.News)
Alcohol use by college students falls during pandemic, but marijuana use increases (The Nation’s Health)
Media Literacy and Mental Health, featuring Common Sense Media (MGH Clay Center)
Another COVID-19 Fallout: Teens’ Happy Hour With Parents (Journal of the American Medical Association)
There is life after addiction. Most people recover (NPR)
Should My Child See a Therapist? (YouTube – MGH Clay Center)
Pathways to Recovery (Recovery Research Institute)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COVID-19 Risk, Fear, and Anger

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:41:00 GMT

COVID-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 responding to the COVID-19 challenges families are facing – including ever-changing news and protocols, and internal family conflict.

Thanks for tuning in! We hope our conversation will help you to have yours.

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Prioritizing Parent Mental Health (JED Foundation / MGH Clay Center)
Yes, All this COVID-Related News Is Incredibly Exhausting—25 Therapists Explain How They're Coping (Parade)
The Power of Music: To Feel, Heal, and Connect (MGH Clay Center)
COVID Parenting Has Passed the Point of Absurdity (The Atlantic)
7 Ways to Support Kids and Teens Through the Coronavirus Pandemic (MGH Clay Center)
The science of anger. (How It Works)
Is Age 27 the New 18? – Shrinking It Down (MGH Clay Center)
Anger Management: How to Help You and Your Kids Stay in Control (MGH Clay Center)
Belushi Demands Cold Open – (YouTube – Saturday Night Live)
Teens, on how they use humor (BeMe on Twitter)
The Positive Value of Conflict: There’s Great Power in Resolution (MGH Clay Center)
Happy Birthday, Gene! (Instagram – MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: School Refusal Conversation Starters

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 16:51:22 GMT

If 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.

Is Your Child Struggling With School Refusal?

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 12:00:28 GMT

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 your child, and how to help. School refusal is very treatable! But getting to the root cause and responding quickly is key. Tune in for more!

Plus, Gene shares the Clay Center’s 2022 word of the year…

We hope that our conversation will help you to have yours. Have a question or comment? Write to us!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

School Refusal: When Back-to-School Is a Struggle (MGH Clay Center)
Our Word of the Year (Instagram - MGH Clay Center)
Building Mental Wellness in Children: What Parents Can Do (MGH Clay Center)
What to say when your child doesn’t want to go to school (Understood.org)
What If My Child Has an Anxiety Disorder? (MGH Clay Center)
How to Understand Your Child’s “Anxiety Monster” (MGH Clay Center)
Helping Kids Through New School Transitions (MGH Clay Center)
How to Help Young People Cope With Grief and Loss During COVID-19 (MGH Clay Center)
Learning + Attention Issues, Topic Page (MGH Clay Center)
The Impact of Divorce (MGH Clay Center)
Creating Meaningful Conversation (The Family Dinner Project)
Your Child’s Mental Health: What to Discuss During a Doctor Visit (Project TEACH)

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Take a Cup of Kindness (musical interlude)

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 12:00:16 GMT

As we lead into a New Year, we wish you and your loved ones physical and mental wellness. It has been a challenging two years, with more challenges to come. But together, we can manage this. So for tonight, unwind a bit if you can, draw strength from memories past, and look forward to a new year with new beginnings.

Thank you for all you do to support the young people in your life. It really makes a difference.

Auld Lang Syne (traditional Scottish folk song)

Musicians Gene Beresin and Jim Mayer

Arranged by Gene Beresin

Poem by Robert Burns, 1788

English Lyrics:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!

And surely I’ll buy mine!

And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,

And picked the daisies fine;

But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,

Since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!

And give me a hand o’ thine!

And we’ll take a right good-will draught,

For auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 13:00:43 GMT

Mindfully 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.

Strategies for Managing Holiday Stress

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 11:00:26 GMT

Families 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 the emotional break and fun they need, but it’s hard when you can’t unwind yourself.

Today, Gene and Khadijah share strategies to help you feel less overwhelmed this season, and wind down a bit leading up to the new year. Plus, they share favorite songs they’ve been sharing with each other.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. If you have questions or comments, please write to us!

Media List

(follow along with the conversation)

Coping With Holiday Stress: 11 Parenting Tips (MGH Clay Center)
AAP, AACAP, CHA declare national emergency in children’s mental health (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Surgeon General Advisory Raises Alarm on Youth Mental Health (U.S. News)
Getting to the Finish Line: Will You Choose Endurance or Resilience? (MGH Clay Center)
12 Responsibilities For Kids That Make Them Feel Special, According to Experts (Romper)
4 ways to create and share music playlists with friends and family (Kim Komando)
How to Preserve and Share Grandma’s Recipes (WIRED)
Turning to Gratitude: Conversation Starters – “What song…?” clip (YouTube – MGH Clay Center)
Supporting Your Child In the Face of Trauma (Project TEACH)
What we know about the victims of the Michigan school shooting (CBS News)
Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
A Parent & Caregiver Resource – Shining Light on Mental Health Through Education (YouTube – MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quick Tip: Can Kids Make Up Lost Sleep?

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 18:32:08 GMT

As we "fall back" this weekend, hold onto to some clinical wisdom from Bernard Kinane, MD, Director of the Pediatric Sleep Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. He joins Dr. Gene Beresin in this clip from a recent episode to answer the question: "If a child or young adult is sleep deprived, can they make up for it on the weekend or at other times?"

Want more on sleep, kids, and mental health? Tune in to the full episode here: https://bitly.com/SID-SLEEP

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: ADHD Conversation Starters

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 18:37:03 GMT

If 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.

All About ADHD

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 10:00:36 GMT

In today's episode of Shrinking It Down, we revisit some of the most helpful conversations we've had with clinical experts about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in kids and teens. First, we talk through what ADHD really is with Dr. Ellen Braaten (01:10), including the three types of ADHD and how the behavioral signs can be different in different children. Then, we take a closer look at the use of medication for ADHD with Dr. Timothy Wilens (15:55), including when medication can be most useful as a treatment for your child, and when it probably isn't needed. Finally, we learn more about Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) from Dr. Susan Sprich (19:25), and how it can be a helpful part of a child's, or an adult's, ADHD treatment plan.

Please tune in! We hope that our conversation helps you to have yours.

Media List

Ellen Braaten, PhD, Executive Director, MGH Learning & Emotional Assessment Program
Timothy Wilens, MD, Chief, MGH Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Susan Sprich, PhD, Director, MGH Psychology Training, Co-Clinical Director of Psychology
Does My Child Have ADHD? Things to Consider (Clay Center TV, YouTube)
Q+A: Is ADHD Overdiagnosed? (MGH Clay Center)
Understanding ADHD full episode, with Dr. Braaten (MGH Clay Center)
Medications: For Better or Worse? full episode, featuring Dr. Wilens (MGH Clay Center)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy full episode, featuring Dr. Sprich (MGH Clay Center)
More ADHD Resources for Families (MGH Clay Center)
ADDA Virtual Support Groups (Attention Deficit Disorder Association)

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: Asking About Social Media

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 14:00:33 GMT

If 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 you to have yours.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unsettled About Instagram?

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 10:00:23 GMT

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 protect our children and teens. A lot of this starts with casual but sincere conversations with our kids to learn more about what media they use, how they use it, why they use it – to be more informed and guide them in thinking more critically about it. Plus, Gene and Khadijah concrete conversation starters and approaches to begin these important conversations and keep them going.

Thank you for tuning in. We hope that our conversation will help you to have yours. Questions or comments? Write to us!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Facebook Whistleblower Frances Haugen: The 60 Minutes Interview (60 Minutes)
Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls, Company Documents Show (The Wall Street Journal)
8 facts about Americans and Instagram (Pew Research Center)
The Immediacy of Digital Media: For Better or Worse? (MGH Clay Center)
Digital Media and Body Image (MGH Clay Center)
Body Image, Media, and Eating Disorders—a 10-Year Update (Academic Psychiatry)
The Developmental Challenges of Middle School: It’s Not So Much Who You Are, But Whom You’re With (MGH Clay Center)
Instagram promoted pages glorifying eating disorders to teen accounts (CNN)
Media Literacy and Mental Health, featuring Common Sense Media (MGH Clay Center)
Factors Correlated with Violent Video Game use by Adolescent Boys and Girls (Journal of Adolescent Health)
Internet meme (Wikipedia)
50 must-do fall activities for families (Today’s Parent)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mental Health Myths - BUSTED

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:45:39 GMT

Welcome 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 List

Gene Beresin, MD, MA
Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH
Mental Health Myths: BUSTED (MGH Clay Center)
Myth Busters (Discovery+)
3-2-1 Contact (IMDB)
When Teens Talk of Suicide: What You Need to Know (MGH Clay Center)
Bipolar Disorder and the Arts: Mark Vonnegut’s Story (MGH Clay Center)
What If My Child Has Depression? (MGH Clay Center)
Game Reviews (Common Sense Media)
What If My Child Has an Anxiety Disorder? (MGH Clay Center)
Social-Emotionally Supporting Your Child In a Pandemic School Year (Canada Talks, Sirius XM)
Exercise for Stress and Anxiety (Anxiety & Depression Association of America)
Nutrition and Mental Health: It’s More Complicated Than You Think (MGH Clay Center)
Anxiety to Agency: Empowering Kids to Address Climate Change (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Midsummer Meditation with Dr. Darshan Mehta

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 11:00:55 GMT

Can six minutes of meditation really make a difference? Try it for yourself!

In this excerpt from our March 17 episode, "Medicating with Meditation?" Dr. Darshan Mehta leads us in a 6-minute meditation - right in the middle of our workday. Follow along to take a break in your own day, and share with someone else in your life.

Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH, is Medical Director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine and Director of the Office for Well-Being at Massachusetts General Hospital. For more on the power of meditation to support mental health, physical health, and overall well-being, tune in to the full episode here:

Medicating With Meditation? The Power of Mind Body Medicine, featuring Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything You've Wanted to Know About Sleep, featuring Bernard Kinane, MD

Fri, 28 May 2021 21:11:37 GMT

It’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 schedule? What’s the most common sleep challenge for kids with mental health disorders, and how do help them? How does iron deficiency affect your baby’s sleep (and yours)? Can you make up for lost sleep? (The answer might surprise you!) And if your teen has gotten in the habit of staying up until 3am, what’s a realistic approach to get back to normal? Plus, tips to manage vacation/back-to-school sleep transitions. Dr. Kinane answers all this, and more. Don't skip this episode!

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Enjoy an emotionally healthy summer, and sleep well!

Media List (follow along with the conversation)

Bernard Kinane, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Pediatric Sleep Disorders Program (Massachusetts General Hospital)
The Importance of Sleep for Kids’ Emotional Well-being (MGH Clay Center)
Changes in sleep patterns and disturbances in children and adolescents in Italy during the Covid-19 outbreak (Sleep Medicine)
How Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome Affects Teenagers (verywell health)
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (Brigham and Women’s Hospital)
ADHD, Sleep, and Me: It’s Complicated (ADDitude Magazine)
Autism linked to sleep problems and brain changes in infancy (SPECTRUM)
Sleep: Let’s Talk About Older Kids and Teens (MGH Clay Center)
Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children (Pediatrics in Review)
Video games, social media tied to shorter sleep for teens (Reuters)
The Pandemic Is Still Here. That’s Bad for Coke and Pepsi Stock. (Barron’s)
All That Blue Light Exposure Might Not Be Keeping You Awake After All (Men’s Journal)
Can You Make up for Lost Sleep? (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences)
9 Tips to Help Toddlers to Sleep On Their Own (MGH Clay Center)
Iron deficiency and sleep – A scoping review (Sleep Medicine Reviews)
Parents Flocked to Vaccine Trials, Now Wait for Teen Jab Options (Bloomberg Law)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We'll be back in 2 weeks!

Thu, 13 May 2021 18:10:03 GMT

We'll be back in two weeks for our season finale and we'll be talking about SLEEP, kids and teens, and mental health. Stay tuned.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mental Health Challenges and Latinx Children & Teens, featuring Angel Caraballo, MD

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 10:00:05 GMT

Over 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 adolescent psychiatrist and also as a parent, Dr. Carraballo help us to think more about ways to address stigma and other barriers to accessing mental health care within Latinx communities.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have a question or comment about supporting the mental health of Latinx children and teens? We’d love to know. Write to us!

Media List

Angel Caraballo, MD
‘This is trauma’: Latino children face mental health struggles during pandemic (KOLD News 13)
Self-care for psychologists during the COVID-19 outbreak (American Psychological Association)
10 Consejos de Cuidado Personal para Padres (MGH Clay Center)
10 Self-Care Tips for Parents (MGH Clay Center)
Migrant children are often their parents’ translators – and it can lead to ill health (The Conversation)
The Power of Community Health During COVID-19: A Look at Chelsea, Massachusetts, featuring Mary Lyons-Hunter, PsyD – Shrinking It Down (MGH Clay Center)
Conciencia del Estrés: Cómo Pueden Los Padres Ayudar A Sus Hijos Con El Estrés (MGH Clay Center)
Stress Awareness: How Parents Can Help Their Children With Stress (English)
La salud mental de su hijo: bienestar mental en ninos en edad escolar (NY Project TEACH)
La salud mental de su hijo: bienestar mental en la adolescencia (NY Project TEACH)
What Their Writing Told Me: The Taboo of Mental Illness In the Hispanic Community (MGH Clay Center)
Desarrollar el bienestar mental en los niños: lo que los padres pueden hacer (MGH Clay Center)
Building Mental Wellness in Children: What Parents Can Do (MGH Clay Center)
Understanding Mental Illness in the Latinx Community (Al Día News)
Tackling Racism Internally to Better Serve Our Communities – A Closer Look at Mass General’s 10-Point Plan, featuring Joseph Betancourt, MD, MPH (MGH Clay Center)
It's More Important Than Ever To Remove the Stigma Around Latinx Mental Health (Oprah Daily)
Amid rise in hate attacks against Asian Americans, mental health expert provides advice on how to cope (ABC7 Eyewitness News)
UMass Hockey Wins National Championship (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
J&J Vaccine and Blood Clots: The Risks, if Any, Are Very Low (The New York Times)
Clay Center En Español (MGH Clay Center)

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode edited by Joshua Eng

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Closer Look at High-Functioning Autism, featuring Robyn Thom, MD

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 10:00:23 GMT

Coming into April, Autism Awareness Month, we’ve noticed more families coming to our website with questions about high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some are seeking guidance on challenges families face, some wanting to learn more about behaviors stereotypically associated with ASD, and others wondering what happened to the Asperger’s diagnosis.

On today’s episode of “Shrinking It Down,” we welcome special guest Dr. Robyn Thom, a psychiatrist at the Lurie Center for Autism at the Massachusetts General Hospital, for a conversation about challenges for kids and teens with ASD, including with social relationships and repetitive behaviors. She also shares guidance on seeking evaluation and treatment for kids with ASD, as well as the importance of early disclosure about their diagnosis.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have a question or comment about high-functioning ASD? We’d love to know. Write to us!

Media List

Robyn Thom, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Lurie Center for Autism (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (Official Trailer) (YouTube)
Vancouver, Canada (City of Vancouver)
What Is Autism Spectrum? (MGH Clay Center)
DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder (DSM-5)
DSM-5: What Happened to Asperger’s? (MGH Clay Center)
The Enduring Power of Asperger's, Even as a Non-Diagnosis (Wired)
Blunt and Nuanced: The Pain of High Functioning Autism (MGH Clay Center)
Boston Legal (IMDB)
Atypical (IMDB)
The Good Doctor (IMDB)
What Are the Different Types of Evaluations? (MGH Clay Center)
Genetic Testing for Autism (Autism Speaks)
A medical condition or just a difference? The question roils autism community (Washington Post)
Welcome to Holland (National Down Syndrome Society)
Medical Conditions Associated with Autism (Autism Speaks)
Guide for Parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents (MGH Center for Cross-Cultural Student Emotional Wellness)

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode edited by Joshua Eng

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One Year Later – Young Adults and COVID-19

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 10:00:02 GMT

Everyone 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 challenges, including ways to help young adults maintain their sense of purpose despite everything else they can’t control.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you a question or comment about supporting young adults during Covid? We'd love to know. Write to us!

Media List (Follow along with the conversation)

Here’s How the COVID Lockdown Impacted College Students’ Mental Health (NBC 10 Boston – excerpt in audio)
Pandemic’s mental health burden heaviest among young adults (ABC News)
5 Tips for Parents Who Have Their Young Adults Back Home (Moms)
Managing Family Conflict During Covid – Shrinking It Down (MGH Clay Center)
The Challenges of First-Generation College Students (MGH Clay Center)
How to Help Young People Cope With Grief and Loss During COVID-19 (MGH Clay Center)
How NCAA March Madness will look contained in Indianapolis (USA Today Sports)
Miami’s South Beach confronts disastrous spring break (Associated Press)
College Students of Color: Overcoming Racial Disparities and Discrimination (MGH Clay Center)
International College Students: Challenges and Solutions (MGH Clay Center)
COVID-19 related job insecurity linked to young adult mental health burden (Healio)
Self-Care In College (YouTube – MGH Clay Center)
'No one is sure what to expect': Schools, colleges add more counseling services to address student mental health (EdSource)
Educators are key in protecting student mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic (Brookings)
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): A Closer Look (MGH Clay Center)
Where to Turn (MGH Clay Center)
#wecanmanagethis (Twitter)
Atlanta shooting and the legacy of misogyny and racism against Asian women (ABC News)
Guide for Parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents (William James College)
Another Shooting – An Important Moment to Comfort and Talk With Our Kids (MGH Clay Center)
How Do We Heal From Here? A Guide for Families and Our Nation (MGH Clay Center)

If you or someone you know is in distress and needs support, connect with a crisis counselor 24/7:

Call 1-800-273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
Text “HOME” to 741741 (US/Canada). UK: text 85258. Ireland: text 50808. (Crisis Text Line)

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicating with Meditation? featuring Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 10:00:25 GMT

On 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 tried meditation before and are interested in the science behind how it works, or you’re looking for tips on how to start, Dr. Mehta walks through it all. Plus, he guides Gene and Khadijah through a “mini” meditation to demonstrate how even just a few minutes of focus can make a big difference.

Thank you for joining in this meditation! Do you have a question about mind body practices, or something you’d like to share? We’d love to know. Write to us!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Office for Well-Being (Massachusetts General Hospital)
I Am Not Your Negro (IMDB)
Meditation and a relaxation technique to lower blood pressure (Harvard Health Publishing)
Using the relaxation response to reduce stress (Harvard Health Publishing)
Mindfulness: A Practical Guide Toward Personal Peace and Resilience (MGH Clay Center)
Mind and Body Practices (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
What Mindfulness Does to Your Brain: The Science of Neuroplasticity (Real Simple)
Can Meditation Change Your Genes? (Mindful)
How Meditation Can Make You a Better Athlete (SHAPE)
Mental Imaging (The Musicians Way)
Your Smartwatch Is About to Become Your New Therapist (Best Health)
Guided Relaxation Exercises (Benson-Henry Institute)
Four Mini Relaxation Exercises (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Psychosocial Vulnerabilities to Upper Respiratory Infectious Illness: Implications for Susceptibility to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Perspectives on Psychological Science)
Psychological and Behavioral Predictors of Vaccine Efficacy: Considerations for COVID-19 (Perspectives on Psychological Science)
CDC guidelines update: Face masks and fully-vaccinated people (NBC News)
Missed Meghan and Harry’s Oprah interview? How to rewatch the whole thing (CNET)
H.R.7120 – George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 (Congress.gov)
The Positive Value of Conflict: There’s Great Power in Resolution (MGH Clay Center)

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One Year Later – Back-to-School Anxiety During Covid

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 11:00:34 GMT

During 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 the mental health of your family with some of these mid-year “back-to-school” challenges.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have anxieties or concerns about sending your kids back to school during Covid? We'd love to know. Write to us!

Media List (follow along with the conversation)

More Schools Are Returning To In-Person Learning. How Do You Decide To Send Your Child Back? (Wisconsin Public Radio)
K-12 School Operational Strategy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Coronavirus: Teens’ anxiety levels dropped during pandemic, study finds (BBC News)
Going Back to School During COVID-19 Is a Struggle for Students, Teachers, and Parents (Teen Vogue)
7 Ways to Support Kids and Teens Through the Coronavirus Pandemic (MGH Clay Center)
Should kids get a snow day? (The Weather Channel)
Harvard EdCast: College Admissions During COVID (Harvard Graduate School of Education)
Mental Wellness in School-Age Children (Project TEACH)
Mental Wellness in the Teen Years (Project TEACH)
How to Help Young People Cope With Grief and Loss During COVID-19 (MGH Clay Center)
Is Remote Learning Causing A Mental Health Crisis Among Teens And Children? (WBEZ Chicago)
What Families should Know About Suicide (MGH Clay Center)
Supporting Your Family’s Emotional Health During COVID-19 (MGH Clay Center)
The Nuts and Bolts of Telepsychiatry, featuring Janet Wozniak, MD (MGH Clay Center)
Where To Turn (MGH Clay Center)
How Do We Heal From Here? A Guide for Families and Our Nation (MGH Clay Center)

If you or someone you know is in distress and needs support, connect with a crisis counselor 24/7:

Call 1-800-273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
Text “HOME” to 741741 (US/Canada). UK: text 85258. Ireland: text 50808. (Crisis Text Line)

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teen Breakup Violence, Part 2

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 11:00:34 GMT

Content 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 conversation about teen breakup violence through the lens of Lauren Dunne Astley’s story, an 18-year-old young woman who died at the hands of her former boyfriend. This week, Gene and Khadijah welcome a very special guest to continue the conversation – Malcolm Astley, Lauren’s father.

Based on much research over the years and his efforts through the Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund to develop violence prevention programming in schools, Malcolm helps us take a closer look at the concept of “at-risk emotions” in young people. What they are, the process it takes to recognize and unpack them, and how caring adults can help teens build the skills to respond to these emotions in a healthy way.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. If you have a question or something you would like to share related to healthy teen relationships or teen relationship violence, please write to us.

Media List

Included below are more resources on relationship violence and today’s conversation.

Teen Breakup Violence, Part I (MGH Clay Center)
Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund (LDAMF Official website)
Escaping Breakup and Relationship Violence (LDAMF Foundation, YouTube)
Sudbury – Wayland – Lincoln – Domestic Violence Roundtable
Unexpected Childhood Death: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Surviving Siblings and Parents (Journal of Clinical Child Psychology)
Why Shame Sucks (Especially for Kids) and How You Can Stop It (HuffPost)
Shame in psychotherapy with adolescents (Journal of Child Psychotherapy)
Negative Emotions as Risk Factors for Self-Directed Violence and Intimate Partner Violence in Chinese College Students (Journal of Interpersonal Violence)
How to Respond to Teens’ ‘Emotional Eruptions’ (The Atlantic)
Discovering Who I Am: The Critical Role of Identity (MGH Clay Center)
10 Tips On Helping Teen Boys Express Their Feelings (HuffPost)
The Trauma Felt In Teenage Breakups (MGH Clay Center)
“How Can I Help You Say Goodbye” (Patty Loveless, YouTube)
10 Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship (One Love Foundation)
Lean On Me (Bill Withers, YouTube)
Cain and Abel: Violence, Shame and Jealousy (Pastoral Psychology)
"The Hill We Climb” (ABC News, YouTube)

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teen Breakup Violence, Part 1

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Content 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 can follow a breakup. But violence needs to be part of the conversation, too.

Today, Gene and Khadijah welcome a very special guest, Mary Dunne, to help us start this difficult conversation. Mary’s daughter, Lauren Dunne Astley, an 18-year-old young woman who had just graduated high school, died on July 3, 2011 at the hands of her former boyfriend. She was a victim of breakup violence. Since then, through the Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund, Mary has worked to promote dynamic educational programs, particularly those in the areas of the development of healthy teen relationships, the arts, and community service.

In today’s episode, Mary helps us to better understand the complexities of breakup violence, and what we can all be doing – parents, teachers, peers – to be “upstanders” in our communities to help prevent it.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. If you have a question or something you would like to share related to healthy teen relationships or teen relationship violence, please write to us.

Media List

The list below includes resources on understanding and preventing teen relationship violence.

Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund (LDAMF Official website)
The time is always right to do what is right (LDA Memorial Fund, Instagram)
Escaping Breakup and Relationship Violence (LDAMF Foundation, YouTube)
Breakup Violence: Resources for Teens and Parents (48 Hours)
State-by-State Statistics on Domestic Violence (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
Teen Dating Violence Can Lead To Homicide – And Girls Are The Most Common Victims (NPR)
“You would do it if you loved me.” Teens, Coercive Relationships, and Digital Media (MGH Clay Center)
Kids at Risk for Violence: Warning Signs of Aggression (MGH Clay Center)
Should we break up? (love is respect)
The Trauma Felt In Teenage Breakups (MGH Clay Center)
One Love Relationship Education (One Love Foundation)
Be An Upstander – What Can You Do? (i am courageous)

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Nuts and Bolts of Telepsychiatry, featuring Janet Wozniak, MD

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 11:00:04 GMT

Did you know the first telepsychiatry visits at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), conducted back in 2014, weren’t for adults, but for children? Flash forward, we never imagined how critical teletherapy and telemedicine would become – in such a short period of time – as a part of routine healthcare for all age groups and populations, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, we welcome special guest Dr. Janet Wozniak, Associate Chief of Quality and Safety for Department of Psychiatry at MGH, for a conversation about telepsychiatry. What is it? How has it been helping kids and teens? What barriers still exist for some families, and what are we doing to address them?

While virtual visits will never be the same as in-person, Dr. Wozniak talks about the gains for clinicians working with kids, like meeting other members of the family (including pets!) and getting a better sense of the home environment, which influences their day-to-day life. Plus, she shares concrete tips for making the most of your child or teen’s teletherapy visit.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. If you have a question about telepsychiatry, we’d love to hear from you. Write to us!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Janet Wozniak, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Janet Wozniak, MD: Bipolar Disorder and the Paradigm Shift in Pediatric Psychiatry (Massachusetts General Hospital – Charged Podcast)
Support Kids and Teens Following the Riot In Our Nation’s Capitol (MGH Clay Center)
What Is Telepsychiatry? (American Psychiatric Association)
The Child Psychiatrist is In Your Living Room (MGH Clay Center)
Emerging Technologies and the Frontiers of Autism Research (MGH Clay Center)
Preparing For Your Child’s First Appointment With A Mental Health Clinician (MGH Clay Center)
Make Telehealth for Behavioral Health Permanent (GBH News)
VIRUS TODAY: Coronavirus deaths hit another daily high in US (The Associated Press)
Hospitals vaccine rollout starts out rough, but picks up steam (Boston 25 News)
Injections Of Second Coronavirus Vaccine Doses Have Begun (NPR)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Episode edited by Joshua Eng

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Media Literacy and Mental Health, featuring Michael Robb, PhD

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 11:00:00 GMT

Today’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 they use, and make healthier choices about it. Plus, why the quality of screen content matters more than the amount of screen time. Tune in for more!

Thank you for joining in this conversation. If you have a question about helping kids build media literacy skills, we’d love to hear from you. Write to us!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Michael Robb, PhD (Common Sense Media)
Home Alone (YouTube)
The Beatles - Ticket To Ride (YouTube)
Ticket to Ride (Days of Wonder)
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Education
Common Sense Kids Action
What is media literacy, and why is it important? (Common Sense Media)
Common Sense Media Reviews
Chasing Coral (Common Sense Media)
3 Things Parents Should Do If a Child Is Being Cyberbullied (MGH Clay Center)
Screen time and kids: Parents need to worry less about hours logged (CNN)
Could Screen-Free Week Backfire? Finding The Middle Ground (MGH Clay Center)
Gaming Disorder: Is It a Real Illness? (MGH Clay Center)
How to Talk to Teens About Dealing with Online Predators (Common Sense Media)
Digital Parenting 101 — Screen Time to Social Media (Verywell Family)
eParenting: Setting Limits Even If Your Kids Know More Than You Do (MGH Clay Center)
The Immediacy of Digital Media: For Better or Worse? (MGH Clay Center)
Stressed about your kid’s screen time? Don’t be (The Boston Globe)
Why Are Teens So Lonely and What Can They Do to Combat Loneliness? (MGH Clay Center)
Data Show No Evidence That Teens’ Social Media Use Predicts Depression Over Time (Association for Psychological Science)
Teens Did Surprisingly Well In Quarantine (The Atlantic)
Fauci Says End to Pandemic Is in Sight, Thanks to Vaccines (Bloomberg News)
How Do We Heal From Here? – Shrinking It Down (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Joshua Eng

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boosting Our Brains Over the Break

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 11:00:21 GMT

Today is the shortest day of the year! That means the daylight only increases from here, a great boost for our brains as many kids and families move into winter break. We'll be taking a break, too, but not until after a very special episode this Wednesday.

During school break, kids and teens may be turning to more digital media to fill the time - at least different forms of media than they've been using for remote learning. TV, smartphones, social media, video games, and more. So we have a very special guest to help families understand more about media literacy and mental health. Dr. Michael Robb, Senior Director of Research at Common Sense Media, joins us for a conversation on how to help even the youngest kids better understand the media they consume, and make healthier choices about it.

Tune in Wednesday!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tackling Racism Internally to Better Serve Our Communities, featuring Joseph Betancourt, MD, MPH

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 11:00:41 GMT

When 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 healthcare. In this episode, he talks through some of the things MGH is doing to improve hospital culture. Included in this is training to help hospital leaders, clinicians, and staff make progress in tackling implicit bias, and the need to measure and demonstrate this progress, so that training doesn’t become just another ‘check-the-box’ tool.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have a comment or question about MGH’s efforts to address and eliminate racism, and achieve equity and social justice? Write to us!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Joseph Betancourt, MD, MPH (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Mongan Institute for Health Policy Center (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Quality Interactions
Home for the Holidays During COVID-19: Facing Empty Chairs at the Table (MGH Clay Center)
Puppies are Harder to Raise than Babies (Fatherly)
In The News (MGH Clay Center)
How Mass General Brigham Plans to Dismantle Racism In And Outside Hospital Walls (WBUR)
Mass General Brigham President and CEO’s Update to Employees On Racial Injustice (Mass General Brigham)
Mass General Structural Equity 10-Point Plan (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Moving Toward Anti-Racism for Our Future Generations, featuring O’Neil Britton, MD (MGH Clay Center)
Not me! Doctors, Decisions, and Disparities in Health Care (Cardiovascular Reviews & Reports)
Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care (National Academies Press)
New Art Exhibit Shines Light on Mental Illness in Unique Way (McLean Hospital)
It’s not up to black people to cure white racism (The Boston Globe)
Peak 2020: Early Christmas cheer hilariously crushed by ‘saddest’ Rockefeller Center tree (USA Today)
Biden on nominating diverse Cabinet: ‘I’m going to keep my commitment’ (Channel 3000)
Mending a House Divided: Bringing Peace and Good Will to the Holidays (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Power of Community Health During COVID-19, featuring Mary Lyons-Hunter, PsyD

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 11:00:51 GMT

Since 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 years, Dr. Lyons-Hunter has had passion and boots on the ground in Chelsea, engaging with and learning from residents in order to best serve this richly diverse community.

No time has proven more challenging than COVID-19 in responding to the community’s needs, but MGH Chelsea has made huge strides. Tune in for more on how MGH Chelsea has adapted its practices in public health outreach and clinical service to support the wide range of stressors families are facing. Plus, among the Center’s many efforts is a new pilot program to support children struggling with anxiety.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. If you have a story about the work being done in your community to support family mental health, we’d love to hear. Write to us!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Mary Lyons Hunter, PsyD
MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center
Oxytocin: Chemistry Between People and Dogs Is Real (BARk)
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Chelsea city, Massachusetts (U.S. Department of Commerce)
Why the city of Chelsea has been so hard hit by coronavirus (Boston.com)
Chelsea is about to become the country’s biggest experiment in giving out no-strings-attached checks (The Boston Globe)
MBTA’s Silver Line Expands to Chelsea (WBUR)
Improving Access to Care—Community Health Workers and Patient Navigators (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Police Action Counseling Team (PACT)
Geocode Maps Spotlight Disparities in Telehealth Utilization During the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City (Telemedicine and e-Health)
Community Engagement, Module B5 (World Health Organization)
Mass General Hospital Community Health Videos (YouTube)
Treating the Poor: A Personal Sojourn Through the Rise and Fall Of Community Mental Health (Matthew P. Dumont)
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
The #YouCanBeABCs with Sam (Facebook – Bobby White)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Do We Heal From Here?

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 11:00:00 GMT

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 lives. A fundamental place to start is with our relationships – those in our families, in our communities, and with ourselves. They share ideas to mentally prepare for being mindful of judgement, managing our expectations, focusing on the positive, and fostering kindness. Plus, we have two special guests coming up this podcast season. Tune in for more.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. What’s helped you to begin the healing process during the pandemic? We’d love to know. Write to us!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Star Wars: Teaser Trailer (Star Wars)
This Supercute Kid Costume Compilation Has Us Totally Melting (POPSUGAR)
High Levels of Stress Due to the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic among Parents of Children with and without Chronic Conditions across the USA (Children)
The Pandemic Parenting Guide: How to Improve Your Child/Teen’s (and Your Own) Emotional Well-Being in Times of COVID-19 (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
Managing Family Conflict During Covid (MGH Clay Center)
Evidence That Conservative Students Really Do Self-Censor (The Atlantic)
Tips for Practicing Active Listening (Verywell Mind)
General Mental Health & Coping (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Parents have never had more reason to drink – or more reasons to avoid it (The Boston Globe)
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): A Closer Look (MGH Clay Center)
The Flaw In Our New Year’s Resolutions: A Few Tips for Focusing on the Positive (MGH Clay Center)
Creativity Gives Our Brains a Boost (MGH Clay Center)
The Illuminated Collage (MGH Clay Center)
Bipolar Disorder and the Arts: Mark Vonnegut’s Story (MGH Clay Center)
When Doing Good Boosts Health, Well-Being (American Psychological Association)
Why Parents Need Self-Compassion During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
“Sage advice from an expert…” (Elizabeth Pinsky, MD on Twitter)
Photos of Massachusetts’ first major snowfall of the season (The Boston Globe)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Managing Family Conflict During Covid

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 10:00:44 GMT

Since 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 Booth Watkins, put their shrink caps on to delve into family conflict. They talk about how conflict manifests, strategies to prevent conflict, and ways to diffuse conflict and move towards resolution. Plus, Gene and Khadijah react to a high school student’s comment about conflict during quarantine. Tune in!

We hope that our conversation helps you to have yours. Do you have your own story about family conflict during COVID-19, or tips that have helped you to manage it? Write to us!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH (MGH Clay Center)
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residency of Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital (Massachusetts General Hospital)
When Your Dog Dies: Reflections on Losing Your Best Friend (MGH Clay Center)
Fiddler on the Roof (8/10) Movie CLIP – Miracle of Miracles (1971) HD (Movieclips)
2020 Compare Cities Climate: New York, NY vs Boston, MA (BestPlaces)
COVID-19 and College Students (MGH Clay Center)
There’s been a lot of talk about protecting our kids. But parents, you need support, too. (The Boston Globe)
Managing Challenging Behavior in Kids During Stressful Times, featuring J. Stuart Ablon, PhD (MGH Clay Center)
Is Your Family Experiencing Greater Conflict During a Time of Self-Quarantine? (The New York Times)
What Students Are Saying About Family Conflict In Quarantine (The New York Times)
Pandemic 2020 Resources (The Family Dinner Project)
You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Live) - OFFICIAL (The Rolling Stones)
Pittsburgh Steelers defeat Cleveland Browns, move to 5-0 for just second time (ESPN)
Five Parenting Tips for Civility and Coping With the Political Climate (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moving Towards Anti-Racism for Our Future Generations, featuring O'Neil Britton, MD

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 10:00:42 GMT

If 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 to do better for future generations. They discuss how structural racism built in to education and healthcare systems affects kids and families, and think critically about steps we must take – individually and institutionally – to do more in moving towards an anti-racist Boston, and an anti-racist America.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have a question or comment about racism and families? Write to us!

Media List

Follow along with the conversation.

O’Neil Britton, MD (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
K-12 Commissioner Says Some Schools May Continue To Use Distance Learning In The Fall (WGBH, Boston Public Radio)
Communities of color continue to be hit hardest in most populated cities (ABC News)
COVID-19 in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
11 ways race isn’t real (Vox)
More than Tuskegee: Understanding Mistrust about Research Participation (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved)
How we fail black patients in pain (American Academy of Medical Colleges)
Metro Areas With Largest African American Population (Black Demographics)
New York City Subway Map (Metropolitan Transit Authority)
Rapid Transit/Key Bus Routes Map (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)
Color Line Persists, In Sickness as In Health (The Boston Globe)
The Binary Code of Racism | Tracey Benson | TEDxUNCCharlotte (TEDx Talks – YouTube)
A Sociologist Examines the “White Fragility” That Prevents White Americans From Confronting Racism (The New Yorker)
MGH Structural Equity 10-Point Plan (MGH Center for Diversity and Inclusion)
The legacy of trauma (American Psychological Association)
Do Kids Have a Fundamental Sense of Fairness? (Scientific American)
How We Talked About Racism With Our Very young Kids: A Child Psychiatrist Mom’s Conversation With Her 5- and 3-Year-Old Sons (MGH Clay Center)
Teaching Black History Beyond Slavery and Black History Month (PBS)
Teaching for the Test or Teaching for Real Life? (MGH Clay Center)
Ibram X. Kendi – Books
The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription (The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Five Parenting Rules for Coping With the Current Political Climate (MGH Clay Center)
Remembering Civil Rights Icon John Lewis (WBUR, Here & Now)
Coronavirus and Family Mental Health (MGH Clay Center)
The racial wealth gap (Economic Policy Institute)
Black Homeowners Pay More Than ‘Fair Share’ in Property Taxes (PEW)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special guest next week!

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 10:00:25 GMT

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.

Medications: For Better or Worse? featuring Tim Wilens, MD

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 10:00:15 GMT

Many 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 you for joining in this conversation. Have a question or comment about medications and mental health? Write to us!

Media List

Tim Wilens, MD, Chief, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Massachusetts General Hospital)
George Floyd: protests take place around the world (The Guardian)
Today, Explained - “The Talk” (Vox)
COVID-19 and College Students, featuring Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD
(MGH Clay Center)
When Medicines Affect a Child’s Mind and Behavior (The New York Times)
Listen to “ADHD and Substance Use Disorders: How to Recongize and Manage Addiction” with Timothy Wilens, M.D. (ADDitude)
A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effects of ADHD Medications on Functional Outcomes (Journal of Psychiatric Research)
The Complicated Relationship Between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Substance Use Disorders (Current Psychiatry Reports)
Further Evidence for Smoking and Substance Use Disorders in Youth with Bipolar Disorder (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry)
Familial Influences on Adolescent Substance Use (Psychiatric Times)
Q+A: Once You Have Discovered Your Teen is Using Pot, What’s the Next Step? (MGH Clay Center)
Recommended Alcohol Guidelines – Moderate (Social) Drinking Plan (Addictions and Recovery)
Drug Prevention Tips for Every Age (Partnership for Drug-Free Kids)
Dr. John A. Renner Jr. honored by MMS with Special Award for Excellence in Medical Service (Massachusetts Medical Society)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Managing Challenging Behavior in Kids During Stressful Times, featuring J. Stuart Ablon, PhD – Shrinking It Down

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 10:00:53 GMT

These 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 will – none of us act out on purpose. Kids behave well if they can, and so do parents. Tune in for ways to focus your energy on building new coping skills for the whole family.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have questions or comments about addressing kids' climate anxiety? Write to us!

Media List

THINK:Kids (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Helping Kids with Challenging Behavior, featuring Stuart Ablon, PhD – Shrinking It Down (MGH Clay Center)
Guide to Mental Health Resources for COVID-19 (Massachusetts General Hospital)
George Floyd: What happened in the final moments of his life (BBC News)
Calling out racism isn't political. It's our moral imperative. (The Week)
The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health (American Academy of Pediatrics)
How Racism Harms Children (Harvard Health Blog)
Rethinking Challenging Kids - Where There's A Skill, There's A Way (TEDx Talks)
Getting It Right: Collaborative Problem Solving for Criminal Justice (National Institute of Corrections)
Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators Toolkit: Reducing the Use of Isolation (National Institute of Corrections)
The Importance of Sleep for Kids' Emotional Well-being (MGH Clay Center)
Calming Your Anxious Mind Through Rhythmic Movement (ACES Connection)
Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (Wikipedia)
Collaborative Problem Solving Trainings (Think:Kids)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Episode edited by Joshua Eng

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Climate Anxiety and Kids, featuring Elizabeth G. Pinsky, MD

Wed, 13 May 2020 10:00:34 GMT

Many 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 lives. Tune in for more!

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have questions or comments about helping kids with climate anxiety? Write to us!

Media List

Elizabeth Pinsky, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital for Children)
Working from home with kids feels unsustainable. Here’s how to ease the burden. (Vox)
How One Boston Doctor And Her Family Confront Climate Change (WBUR)
Mass General Remains Safe, Ready for Expectant Families During COVID-19 (MGH Obstetrics & Gynecology)
How does climate change affect disease? (Stanford University)
Carbon Emissions Are Falling, But Still Not Enough, Scientists Say (NPR)
Anxiety to Agency: Empowering Kids to Address Climate Change (MGH Clay Center)
Exclusive Poll: 80% of Young Voters Think 'Global Warming is a Major Threat to Life as We Know It' (VICE)
Climate Change Is Scaring Kids. Here’s How to Talk to Them (The New York Times)
NASA Climate Kids (NASA)
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (YouTube)
Children, Climate Change, and Mental Health (The Family Dinner Project)
Climate Change: A Call to Action for the Psychiatric Profession (Academic Psychiatry)
PAW Patrol Theme Song | Nick Jr. | Music (YouTube)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Episode edited by Joshua Eng

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COVID-19 and College Students, featuring Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 10:00:22 GMT

When 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 discuss what this transition means for college students, and how parents can help them process their feelings and concerns. Tune in for more!

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have questions or comments about supporting college students during this pandemic? Write to us!

Media List

Khadijah Watkins, MD, MPH (MGH Psychiatry Academy)
When Kids Leave Home: Part 1 (MGH Clay Center)
Tips to Help College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic (McLean’s College Mental Health Program)
Supporting College Students During the Covid-19 Crisis (MGH Psychiatry Academy)
How To Help Kids Cope With Situational Anxiety (MGH Clay Center)
Why Are Teens So Lonely and What Can They Do to Combat Loneliness? (MGH Clay Center)
Self-Care in College (MGH Clay Center)
I’m concerned about someone who may have an alcohol or substance use problem (JED Foundation)
Q+A: Once You Have Discovered Your Teen is Using Pot, What’s the Next Step? (MGH Clay Center)
That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief (Harvard Business Review)
I Gotta Wash My Hands! (YouTube)
Coronavirus and Family Mental Health (MGH Clay Center)
Boston University Coronavirus Plan Includes Possible January 2021 Reopening (WBUR)
Where To Turn (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing Up With a Parent on the Autism Spectrum, featuring Hillary Hurst Bush, PhD

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 10:00:07 GMT

If 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 Hospital. Even with challenges along the way, Hillary’s dad offered unique parenting strengths that stemmed from his differences, including dependability, reliability, and loyalty. Tune in for more.

Have a question for Dr. Bush, or want to share your own story about growing up with a parent on the autism spectrum? Write to us!

Media List

Hillary Hurst Bush, PhD (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (Massachusetts General Hospital)
AsperDad: Growing Up With a Parent on the Autism Spectrum (Maybe) (MGH Clay Center)
What Is Autism Spectrum? (MGH Clay Center)
The Stone Poneys – Different Drum (YouTube)
A comparative study of autistic and non-autistic women’s experience of motherhood (Molecular Autism)
Greatest Strength: Challenges Met With Courage (YouTube)
A Parent’s Journey Through Autism: “I have to admit it’s getting better, a little better all the time…” (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COVID-19: Mental Health Check-In

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 10:00:05 GMT

Life 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 with each other, and to brainstorm ways for us all to seek out positive aspects of the challenges we're facing, and to take things one day at a time. We’re in this together. In fact, the whole world. And we can manage this.

Also, it gives us such hope to hear your stories! Please write to us at contact@mghclaycenter.org about how you’ve been managing during this time with your family.

Media List

7 Ways to Support Kids and Teens Through the Coronavirus Pandemic (MGH Clay Center)
7 MANERAS DE APOYAR A NIÑOS Y ADOLESCENTES DURANTE LA PANDEMIA DEL CORONAVIRUS (MGH Clay Center)
帮助儿童和青少年过渡冠状病毒流行病的 7 种方法 (MGH Clay Center)
How to Help Kids Cope With Situational Anxiety (MGH Clay Center)
At Schools Closed for Coronavirus, Online Work Won’t Count (Wall Street Journal)
Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource (National Association of School Psychologists)
Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Self-Care for Resilience – Resources for the Whole Family (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We'll be back March 25!

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 11:00:43 GMT

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 Up
Growing Up With a Parent With Autism
Climate Change Anxiety
Advocating for Your Child With Learning Differences In School (a follow up to our first Facebook Live Q+A, featuring Dr. Ellen Braaten)
Going Off Medications

All this and more. We'll see you back March 25!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Your Teen an Emotional Sponge?

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 11:00:17 GMT

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 emotional sponge, ways for teens to set boundaries around what they can do on their own, and strategies to bring in others to help a friend in need, when it needs to be part of a team effort.

Thanks for joining in this conversation. If you have a comment or question about being an emotional sponge, write to us!

Media List

Steve Martin and Chris Rock Welcome Everyone to Oscars 2020 (YouTube)
Movie Review: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Common Sense Media)
Being an Emotional Sponge: Supporting Young People Who Are Supporting Friends (MGH Clay Center)
Navigating A Mental Health Crisis (NAMI)
Self-Care for Resilience – Resources (MGH Clay Center)
Building Mental Wellness in Children – What Parents Can Do (MGH Clay Center)
Five Parenting Rules for Coping With the Current Political Climate (MGH Clay Center)
Tweet to us @mghclaycenter (Twitter)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We'll Miss You, Steve!

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 19:37:25 GMT

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 List

It'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 Steve (Amazon)
Read more stuff by Steve (Psychology Today)
Watch stuff with Steve (IMDB)

Produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nature vs. Nurture, featuring Jordan Smoller, MD, ScD

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 11:00:58 GMT

Many 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 with our genes? What are the biggest protective factors against mental health issues, regardless of what we’re born with? Plus, how Sesame Street helps to support kids and families, everywhere. Tune in for more.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have questions or comments about genes and mental health? Write to us!

Media List

Jordan W. Smoller, MD, ScD (Center for Genomic Medicine)
Kansas City Fans Celebrate Chief’s Super Bowl Victory (NPR)
Echo In the Canyon | Official Trailer (YouTube)
Vinyl Is Bigger Than We Thought. Much Bigger. (Forbes)
Q+A: I Struggle with Anxiety and See It in My 7-Year Old. I’m Worried – What Should I Do? (MGH Clay Center)
Largest study of its kind reveals that many psychiatric disorders arise from common genes (Science Daily)
There Are Sorts of Ways of Making Things Better (MGH Clay Center)
To be good enough (Canadian Family Physician)
Development and vulnerability in close relationships (Gil Noam, Kurt Fischer)
The Rise of Oxygen Bars (WebMD)
Prospective study of polygenic risk, protective factors, and incident depression following combat deployment in US Army soldiers. (Psychological Medicine)
Lower risk of depression with elevated exercise (The Harvard Gazette)
Led Zeppelin - What Is and What Should Never Be (Official Music Video) (YouTube)
A new effort to help the youngest refugees (CBS News)
Sesame Street: Happy Furry Monsters Song with R.E.M (YouTube)
Mean Girls (On Broadway)
Bonus: Mary Tyler Moore Theme Song (YouTube)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Extra Time on Tests - Does It Work?

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 11:00:54 GMT

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 extra time on tests, and the types of struggles and disorders for which extra time won’t help a child (even if they can get it). Plus, tips to support kids in test taking, no matter what their challenges, including how to manage anxiety and organizational skills.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have questions or comments about extra time on tests or learning and attention issues? Write to us!

Media List

· Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Walt Disney World)

· Linda Rondstadt: The Sound of My Voice | Official Trailer (Greenwich Entertainment)

· Timed Versus Untimed Testing Conditions and Student Performance (Pearson Education)

· Abuse of ‘extended time’ on SAT and ACT outrages learning disability community (Washington Post)

· Dyslexia 101 (MGH Clay Center)

· What Is Disorder of Written Expression? (MGH Clay Center)

· What Is a Math Disorder? (MGH Clay Center)

· Academic Testing Accommodations for ADHD: Do They Help? (Learning Disabilities Association of America)

· Video: Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up (MGH Clay Center)

· What Are the Different Types of Evaluations? (MGH Clay Center)

· Teaching for the Test or for Real Life? (MGH Clay Center)

· How Do You Measure Executive Function Skills in Kids? (MGH Clay Center)

· What Is Executive Function Coaching? (MGH Clay Center)

· Conquering Test Anxiety (MGH Clay Center)

· Playing the Insurance Game: When Is Testing Covered? (MGH Clay Center)

· 2020 Best Test Optional Colleges in America (Niche)

· Do You Really ‘See’ Your Child? (NYT Parenting)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kids Under Surveillance!

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 11:00:10 GMT

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 safe, we don’t yet have enough data to show how it’s working. Do these efforts actually keep kids safer, or do the consequences outweigh the benefits? On today’s episode, Gene and Steve discuss the challenges parents and schools face, and why it’s important to balance oversight with maintaining trust between adults and kids.

Thanks for joining in this conversation. Do you have questions or comments about the digital surveillance of young people? E-mail us!

Media List

Under digital surveillance: how American schools spy on millions of kids (The Guardian)
When Schools Use Tech To Monitor Students Online, Class Is Always In Session (NPR, On Point)
‘It’s up to us as parents’: Protecting your children from online exploitation (NBC15, Madison)
Why Parents Should Never Cyber-Snoop or Monitor Their Kids Online, According to a Tech Expert (Fatherly)
‘Don’t leave campus’: Parents are now using tracking apps to watch their kids at college (Washington Post)
Black Mirror – Arkangel | Official Trailer (YouTube)
Civil rights, disabilities groups urge Florida to stop building student database they call ‘massive surveillance effort’ (Washington Post)
As Bushfires Rage, Australia Faces Another Challenge: Protecting National Mental Health (TIME)
Is The News Too Scary for Kids? (New York Times Parenting)

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 11:00:22 GMT

Data 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 help parents and other adults brainstorm why this might be, and what we can do to support the young people in our lives.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have ideas about why teens today are so lonely? We’d love to know. Please write to us!

Media List

Solipsism (Philosophy Terms)
Blue Pill or Red Pill (The Matrix)

The Death of a Pet (MGH Clay Center)
New Cigna Study Reveals Loneliness at Epidemic Levels in America (PR Newswire)
Why Are Teens So Lonely and What Can They Do to Combat Loneliness? (MGH Clay Center)
Why are Gen Z and millennials calling out boomers on TikTok? ‘OK, boomer,’ explained (USA Today)
Why Activism Is Good For Teens – And The Country (WBUR Commonhealth)
Kids, Marches, and the Media (MGH Clay Center)
Teaching for the Test or Teaching for Real Life? (MGH Clay Center)
New backup QB plucked from high school (KCTV News)
Nats make road-win history, capture 1st WS title (MLB News)

Episode research by Joshua Eng

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stay In Shape: Kids' Bodies Feed Their Minds, featuring Ming Sun, MCHES

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 10:00:13 GMT

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 benefit their bodies and minds.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have a program like this in your community? We’d love to hear about it. Write to us!

Media List

Nutrition and Mental Health: It’s More Complicated Than You Think (MGH Clay Center)
MGH Community Health Associates
MGH Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI)
STAY IN SHAPE Program Curriculum (MGH Community Health Associates)
Rise of the Takis (Houston Press)
Study: College Students Can Improve Depression Symptoms By Eating Healthy (WBZ / CBS Boston News)
Being Young, Active, and Physically Fit May Be Very Good for Your Brain (New York Times)
The Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine
Self-Care in Middle School (Video – MGH Clay Center)
The Importance of Sleep for Kids’ Emotional Well-Being (MGH Clay Center)

Episode research by Matt Carron

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music By Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Money + Mental Health: Supporting Young Adult Children, With Limits, featuring Rand Spero, CFP

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 10:00:37 GMT

If 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 to embrace.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have a question or comment about financially supporting the young adults in your life? Write to us at contact@mghclaycenter.org.

Media List

Adult children are costing many parents their retirement savings (CBS News)
Price Of College Increasing Almost 8 Times Faster Than Wages (Forbes)
Life Support (Rand Spero, Humble Dollar)
Student Debt is Transforming the American Family (The New Yorker)
Adult Children Moving Back Home: The Boomerang Generation and the New Normal (MGH Clay Center)
Enrollment booming as VoTech education gains new reputation (The Patriot Ledger)
How to Talk to Your Middle Schooler About College and Money (HerMoney)
How to Talk to Your High School Student About College and Money (HerMoney)

Episode guest hosted by Ellen Braaten

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Kids Talk of Suicide

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 10:00:43 GMT

As 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 neighbor who has been impacted, or simply trying to be aware of the supports out there, please tune in.

A special thanks to those of you who sent in your thoughts; they were helpful in planning this episode. Thank you all for joining in this conversation. If you have comments or questions, please e-mail us at contact@mghclaycenter.org.

Media List

NCHS data brief: Increase in Suicide in the United States, 1999-2014 (National Center for Health Statistics)
Suicide Rates Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States, 2000-2017 (Journal of the American Medical Association)
Why Are Teens So Lonely and What Can They Do to Combat Loneliness (MGH Clay Center)
What if My Child Has Depression (MGH Clay Center)
Does asking about suicide and related behaviours induce suicidal ideation? What’s the evidence? (Psychological Medicine)
When Teens Talk of Suicide: What You Need to Know (MGH Clay Center)
reportingonsuicide.org (Reporting on Suicide)
Summer Challenge: Come Together for Mental Health (MGH Clay Center)

Resources

TEXT “HOME” to 741-741
CALL 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Suicide Prevention (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Suicide Resource Center (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
Find Support (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Mental Health Resource Center (The JED Foundation)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summer Challenge: Come Together for Mental Wellness

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 10:00:13 GMT

We 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 joining us in this conversation. Please write to us over the summer!

Media List

Get Together (Video – The Youngbloods)
The Benefits of Gardening for Children Will Make You Want to Start a Flower Plot With Them Right Now (Romper)
Rohina Hoffman: Hair Stories
PorchFest.org
Creativity Gives Our Brains a Boost (MGH Clay Center)
Prosocial Behavior Mitigates the Negative Effects of Stress in Everyday Life (Clinical Psychological Science)
Affiliative and prosocial motives and emotions in mental health (Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience)
Could ‘mirror neurons’ explain brain mechanisms of empathy? (Medical News Today)
The Anatomy of Empathy (Vice)
Kansas City-Area Tornadoes Add to 12 Straight Days of Destruction (New York Times)
Talking to Kids About Disasters (The Weather Channel)
There Are All Sorts of Ways of Making Things Better (MGH Clay Center)

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...

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Discipline and Punishment

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 10:00:15 GMT

It’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 sense for children and teens.

Have questions or comments about this episode or another child mental health topic? Write to us at mghclaycenter@partners.org.

Media List

· Happy Spring! (MGH Clay Center)

· Discipline Shouldn’t Lead to Tears (Fatherly)

· Giving a 2-Year-Olda 15-Minute Time-Out (MGH Clay Center)

· A 9-Year-Old Has No Remorse for Stealing But Always Lets Himself Get Caught: What Should Parents Do? (MGH Clay Center)

· Spanking and child outcomes: Old controversies and new meta-analyses (Journal of Family Psychology)

· How Inuit Parents Teach Kids To Control Their Anger (NPR)

· New Zealand Bans ‘Every Semi-Automatic Assault Weapon Used in the Terrorist Attack,’ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Says (Newsweek)

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Admissions Scandal, College Pressure, and Mental Health

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:15:41 GMT

On 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.

Media List

CVS pharmacy plans to change music played when your call is put on hold (Good Morning America)
30 Fast Facts About The College Admissions Scandal (Forbes)
Academic Testing Accommodations for ADHD: Do They Help? (Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal)
IDEA Act (US Department of Education)
Use of ‘smart drugs’ on the rise (Nature)
We Can’t Talk About The College Admissions Scandal Without Discussing Mental Health (Huffington Post)
High School Junior Stresses (MGH Clay Center)
From the ashes, the dark phoenix rises again! (imgur)
David Bowie – Space Oddity (Official Video, YouTube)

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Technical direction provided by Andrew Bergner

Music by Gene Beresin

Special vocal solo by Ellen Braaten

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cannabis and the Teen Brain, featuring Jodi Gilman, Ph.D.

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 21:42:32 GMT

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 we know about weed and its effects on the teen brain? Gene and Steve welcome special guest Jodi Gilman, PhD, a neuroscientist at The Center for Addiction Medicine at Mass General Hospital, to discuss. Her research focuses on the effects of alcohol and cannabis on the brains of adolescents and young adults – be sure to check out her most recent study at the top of today's media list.

Media List

One Month of Cannabis Abstinence in Adolescents is Associated With Improved Memory (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry)
When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves (NPR)
Marijuana and the Young Brain (VIDEO – MGH Advances in Motion)
Wondering What the Law Is Your State? (DISA Global Solutions)
Teen and Parent Misconceptions About Driving and Marijuana (MGH Clay Center)
Q+A: Once You’ve Discovered Your Teen is Using Pot, What’s the Next Step? (MGH Clay Center)
April 20 is Upon Us: Making Sense of Marijuana (MGH Clay Center)
Ray Charles – Georgia on My Mind (YouTube)

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oscars Special!

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 18:13:11 GMT

* 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 issues, in addition to enjoying the actors, action, and great entertainment.

Tune in to this special episode of Shrinking It Down as Gene and Steve discuss the Oscar-nominated films and how movies can help us to feel connected and make sense of the world.

Media List

Episode filmed and edited by Michael Dillon, PILOT FIELD

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Surviving Tantrums with Toddlers, featuring Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, Ph.D.

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:00:53 GMT

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 new book The Tantrum Survival Guide. Tune into the show for some great advice on “tuning into your child’s mind to calm the craziness and make family fun again.”

Media List

· The Tantrum Survival Guide (Rebecca Schrag Hershberg | The Guildford Press)

· Tantrums: Parenting Reset (Good Day New York, Fox5)

· How to Survive Your Child’s Epic Tantrum (Greater Good Magazine)

· What if My Child Has Tantrums? (MGH Clay Center)

· The Crying Toddler (MGH Clay Center)

· What is Separation Anxiety? (MGH Clay Center)

Episode hosted by Ellen Braaten

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Intimacy and the Teenage Brain, with Ellen Braaten, Ph.D.

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 11:00:35 GMT

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 for this one!

Media List

· Woman’s hair freezes in Iowa (YouTube)

· The Intense Power of Love on Our Kids (MGH Clay Center)

· 8 Tips for Parents on the Modern Tween and Teen’s Culture of Hooking Up and Hanging Out (MGH Clay Center)

· Cognitive and attentional mechanisms in delay of gratification. (Mischel, Ebbesen, Raskoff Zeiss, 1972)

· Marshmallow Test (Flood San Diego, YouTube)

· Rotary Dial (Wikipedia)

· “Telephone Hour” Bye Bye Birdie (YouTube)

· Rules for Dating in a Non-Dating World (MGH Clay Center)

· Sexual Consent: Teaching Our Teens About the Gray Areas (MGH Clay Center)

· Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Adolescents and Young Adults (CDC)

· Baker Unveils $42.7B Budget With Education Funding Overhaul (US News & World Report)

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, featuring Susan Sprich, Ph.D.

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 12:00:34 GMT

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 Down, Gene and Steve are joined by special guest Susan Sprich, Ph.D., Director of the CBT Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Tune in to learn more about CBT as they discuss how it works, and what practice actually looks like, in clinical sessions and on your own.

Media List

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? (MGH Clay Center)
Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program (Massachusetts General Hospital | vidscrip)
Mastering Your Adult ADHD: A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Program, Client Workbook (Oxford University Press)
Pink Freud & the Transitional Objects – The Weight (YouTube)

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New Year's Evolution

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 11:00:59 GMT

What’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 the new interactive episode of Black Mirror??

Do you have any new year's evolutions you'd like to share? Send us your thoughts and questions! We may read them on the air.

Media List:

Growing Together in the New Year (MGH Clay Center)
January Newsletter: New Year’s Evolutions (MGH Clay Center)
JOMO: Joy Of Missing Out (@christinaelmoussa via @scarymommy)

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Special music by Gene Beresin and Jim Mayer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Home for the Holidays

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 15:40:07 GMT

Here we are, in the peak of the holiday season. Do you feel joyful? Do you feel down? Are you simply overwhelmed? Whatever it is you’re feeling, it’s okay, and we guarantee you’re not alone. The holidays mean different things for different folks and families. But if you want to make the most of this season, let Gene and Steve talk you through a few strategies to mix in some moderation and self-care.

What do you love or hate about the holidays? We'd love to hear from you. Write to us!

Media List

How to Survive the Holidays With Teens (MGH Clay Center)
Mending a House Divided: Bringing Peace and Good Will to the Holidays (MGH Clay Center)
What if My Family Doesn't Celebrate the Holidays? (MGH Clay Center)
22 Simple Habits That Relieve Holiday Stress and Anxiety (Reader's Digest)
10 Tips for Dealing With Family Estrangement During the Holidays (SELF Magazine)
8 Holiday Survival Tips for Adults With Divorced Parents (BuzzFeed)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coping with the Wintertime Blahs

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 19:10:06 GMT

It’s cold. It’s gray. It’s dark. This time of year, a lot of folks feel pretty blah. And not just those with depression or other mental health disorders. It can affect anyone. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing. But if you don’t like the way it makes you feel, there are real things you can do about it.

In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Steve talk about the signs and symptoms of SAD, and ways to help you and your family cope.

Have a question about SAD that we didn’t cover? Write to us!

Media List

· Baby, It’s Gray Outside: Coping With Seasonal Affective Disorder (MGH Clay Center)

· Spring Suicide: An (Un)Likely Combination? (MGH Clay Center)

· Somewhere over the Rainbow – Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole (Mountain Apple Company Inc.)

· Resources – American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

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Changeable, featuring J. Stuart Ablon, Ph.D.

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 11:00:29 GMT

Rewards. Punishments. Incentives. What parent hasn’t used one or all of these when trying to navigate challenging behavior in their kids? These might be great strategies when the root of the problem is a lack of motivation. But in reality, that’s not often the case. The truth is, for most kids – and even adults – “bad behavior” isn’t about a lack of will, but rather a lack of skills like flexibility, tolerance, and problem solving.

The great thing about skills is that we can practice and acquire new ones! In this episode of Shrinking It Down, co-hosts Gene and Steve welcome Dr. Stuart Ablon of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital to talk about his new book, Changeable, and how parents can help their kids to overcome challenging behavior.

Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about this episode, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us here.

Media List

· Changeable (J. Stuart Ablon, Ph.D.)

· Think: Kids, Collaborative Problem Solving (Massachusetts General Hospital)

· Justin Trudeau’s son throws hilarious tantrums on state visit (Yahoo! Lifestyle) -

· Help Anyone Change Their Behavior – Even Yourself! (Psychology Today)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gaming Disorder

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 12:00:50 GMT

“I couldn’t get off the computer ‘cause I was about to kill that final thing in ‘Call of Duty’ and if I didn’t kill it I’d have to fight it all over again and it just isn’t worth my time!”

Who doesn’t love a good video game? Whether it’s Fortnite or Candy Crush Saga, it’s pretty easy to get sucked in, sometimes for hours. But is there such a thing as Gaming Disorder? The World Health Organization says yes, but the American Psychiatric Association is still considering. Regardless of if it technically qualifies as a mental health disorder, what parents really want to know for their kids is: When does it cross the line from casual pastime to problem territory? In this episode of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Steve tackle the issue of gaming disorder, including how much is too much – of anything.

Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about gaming that we didn’t cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us here.

Media List

· Gaming Disorder (World Health Organization)

· Internet Gaming (American Psychiatric Association)

· Gaming Disorder: Is It a Real Illness? (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)

***

The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to helping parents and other caregivers support the mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children, teens, and young adults.

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Our Greatest Strengths, Part 2

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 21:14:06 GMT

At the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, we think a lot about helping kids as they’re growing up with all sorts of challenges. Most families will experience some kind of challenge along the road of life, whether behavioral, psychiatric, chronic, or living with a disability. Dr. Ellen Braaten's family is no different, and in this episode of Shrinking It Down she joins. Dr. Steve Schlozman as a co-host to welcome a very special guest: her brother, Robert.

Robert, who has Down Syndrome, joins today's conversation to help other families and children understand: "Don't worry about anything." With family and community support, we all can thrive. Tune in as Steve, Ellen, and Robert talk about life. They look back to what it was like for him as a child facing bullies and learning in school, then focus on all he's doing today, from playing sports to working and living on his own.

Thank you for joining in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about growing up with a disability that we didn't cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us.

View the transcript for this episode.

Media List

Shrinking It Down, Season Finale: Our Greatest Strengths (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
Greatest Strength: Challenges Met With Courage (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
Growing Up With a Sibling With a Disability (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
DSWORKS Success Stories (National Down Syndrome Society)

***

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The Death of a Pet

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 11:00:19 GMT

Last season, we talked about the benefits of pets for our kids' mental health. That unconditional love helps our children build skills and navigate important life lessons. What we don't tend to think about, though, is that one day our pets will be gone. When that happens, do we try to shield our kids from the pain? Would it have been better not to have a pet at all?

In this episode of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple, co-hosts Gene and Steve kick off our new season in celebration of our furry (and non-furry!) friends. They point out that while losing a pet is really, really sad, it doesn't have to be grim. And even after they're gone, our pets can help to guide our children through one of the biggest challenges we all face at some point in our lives: the loss of a loved one.

Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about pets that we didn't cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us.

Media List

Shrinking It Down, The Importance of Pets (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
How to Manage, and Help Your Kids Cope, When the Family Dog Dies (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
When Your Dog Dies: Reflections on Losing a Best Friend (Psychology Today)
The Pain of Losing a Pet (Psychology Today)

***

The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Nightmares Become Reality in the U.S. (Special Episode)

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 21:25:46 GMT

In research that's been done about kids' fears, one of the most frightening things is losing or being left without a parent.

Through the events at the U.S. southern border over the past weeks, we have watched migrant children live out their worst nightmares in the most deliberately traumatic way. There are millions of other children who are also watching these events and experiencing their worst fears played out, day after day, through news media and adult conversations. The rest of us have been left feeling emotionally and conscionably horrified, and helpless about what to do next.

It is important to be aware of and to discuss how these events have affected, and will continue to affect, the children and families who have been separated from each other. We must also address how it is affecting us as a nation. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Drs. Gene Beresin, Steve Schlozman, and Ellen Braaten process all of this, including what we -- individuals, communities, a nation -- can do to get back some of the moral high ground we've lost.

Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment that we didn't address, we’d love to hear from you. Write to us at: contact @ mghclaycenter.org

Additional reading:

A Psychiatrist's National Prescription for Fixing What We've Done at the Border (WBUR's CommonHealth: https://wbur.fm/2luSiPM Photo by: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

*** The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

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Season Finale: Our Greatest Strengths (S1, Ep 16)

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 13:25:13 GMT

Did you know that Dr. Ellen Braaten has a mild form of dyslexia and had to work really hard at reading when she was a child? Did you know that Dr. Gene Beresin has always struggled with math?We all have challenges. We all have differences. But some of us have greater challenges than others, and this can be difficult at times for both kids and their families.In the Season 1 finale of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Dr. Beresin, Dr. Schlozman, and Dr. Braaten share a conversation sparked by our short documentary, Greatest Strength: Challenges Met with Courage. The film features the stories of five incredible young people with various differences and disabilities as they showcase their greatest skills and talents.Through both personal reflections and professional experience, the docs talk about ways for families to embrace challenges as both weaknesses and strengths, rather than problems, to help build resilience in kids. They also discuss how learning to accept ourselves for who we are – whether a parent or child – is a challenge that we all face.There is so much we can learn from the young people in our film about self-acceptance, self-esteem, and thriving with what we’re given. Visit our website to watch the film and read reflections from the parents of the young people featured:http://bit.ly/GreatestStrengthThank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about meeting challenges with strength that we didn't cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: contact @ mghclaycenter.org***The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

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Beyond High School (S1, Ep 15)

Wed, 30 May 2018 14:54:01 GMT

Did you know that many young people forego college and go into the workforce after high school? In fact, going to college right away has declined to 66% of high school grads, in recent years, and only 46% of those under age 30 complete an associates degree or higher.There are many different paths to take after high school, but the social pressures that adolescents face during this time can be stressful no matter which road they take.Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steven Schlozman break down the myths associated with attending college or working after high school. They also touch upon changes in relationships with peers and parents as teens grow older. Fortunately, parents can encourage healthy decision-making to make the transition a little easier.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question about the period after high school for teens and families that we didn't answer, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: contact @ mghclaycenter.orgReading list:-- Where Are All the High-School Grads Going? https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/01/where-are-all-the-high-school-grads-going/423285/-- Percentage of persons 25 to 29 years old with selected levels of educational attainment https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d16/tables/dt16_104.20.asp-- Educational Attainment in the United States: 2015 - Current Population Reporthttps://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2016/demo/p20-578.pdf ***The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

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Kids, Marches, and the Media (S1 Ep 14)

Wed, 16 May 2018 10:00:02 GMT

Recently, youth-driven marches such as 'March for Our Lives' have received extensive media coverage. While many kids and teens are participating in these marches, what happens to those who want a different outlet? Have adults pressured youth into marching?On this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman are joined by Dr. Ellen Braaten to discuss the effects of activism on adolescence, particularly in a world of media mania. Tune in as they advocate for more student narratives, and highlight ways for kids and teens to be heard beyond marching.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question about youth activism that we didn't answer, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: contact @ mghclaycenter.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Navigating the System (S1 Ep13)

Wed, 02 May 2018 10:00:07 GMT

We're not going to pretend it isn't so. If you're seeking mental or behavioral health services for your child, it can be tricky and frustrating trying to navigate the system. But resources are available.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Ellen Braaten joins Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman to offer advice on things parents can do to get the appropriate mental health help for kids who are struggling. Some of this includes is broadening your network "treaters," educating yourself while waiting for an appointment, and advocating for a better system.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question about navigating the system that we didn't answer, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: contact @ mghclaycenter.org

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Creativity Gives Our Brains a Boost

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 10:00:14 GMT

Is creativity important for human relationships? We don't just think so, we know it! Think about it, yourself: What does it mean when you watch a movie with family or create music with friends?On this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman delve into all things creative, including the biological and social impacts of creativity on individuals, kids, and communities. Join the conversation as they weigh in on why humans desire to make things, and how family bonds are strengthened when we spend time being creative together.Want more? Read Dr. Beresin's blog on the benefits of music in, "The Power of Music: To Feel, Heal, and Connect."Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question about creativity that we didn't answer, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: contact@mghclaycenter.orgSubscribe to our channel and connect with us online:*http://www.mghclaycenter.org*https://www.facebook.com/massgeneralclaycenter*https://twitter.com/mghclaycenter***The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (S1 Ep 11)

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 12:48:29 GMT

A lot has changed over the years in the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including that we’re getting better at understanding how to recognize it early in kids. And the earlier treatment starts, the more beneficial and effective it will be for children with ASD.But what is ASD, and why do we now consider it a spectrum disorder instead of multiple, separate diagnoses, like Asperger’s and Pervasive Developmental Disorder? What services exist to help children living with autism at all ends of the spectrum?In today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin, Dr. Steve Schlozman, and Dr. Ellen Braaten take a deep dive into all of these details and more, including how parents can get access to different services – like occupational therapy, speech therapy, or school accommodations – and specific examples of early developmental signs of ASD of which parents and pediatricians can be aware.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question about ASD that we didn't cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: contact@mghclaycenter.org

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Is Age 27 the New 18? (S1 Ep 10)

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 12:40:56 GMT

Does turning 18 mark the start of adulthood, or is this milestone simply a cultural construct? These days, researchers say that legal adolescence should continue into the mid-20s.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman break down this phenomenon, its origins and cultural contexts, and how adolescent development and behavior definitely persists beyond the age of 18.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. We’d love to hear from you! Send your questions to: contact@mghclaycenter.org.

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Hope Beyond Anorexia (S1 Ep9)

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 11:52:44 GMT

At 14 years old, in the 1980s, Kathleen began seeing Dr. Beresin, an experienced clinician with expertise in eating disorders. Though eating disorders can be potentially deadly, over many years of working on it, Kathleen conquered her anorexia nervosa.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Kathleen joins Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman to share her story of finding herself, including what gave her hope through many horrible years and a lot of sad stuff. Kathleen talks about the importance of her connections to others struggling with anorexia, her journey with treatment, and how theater helped her along the way. *** Note: This person’s account of his/her personal experience has been published with his/her consent to support the mission of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and let others in similar situations not feel so alone.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. We’d love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: contact@mghclaycenter.org.

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Emotional Eating (S1 Ep8)

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 11:20:33 GMT

Emotional eating occurs when we use food as a coping mechanism to deal with the stresses in life. Oftentimes, feelings of shame and regret follow patterns of emotional eating.Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman break down what emotional eating is, where it comes from, and how parents can help their children learn how to use healthy coping mechanisms when faced with stress.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. We’d love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: contact@mghclaycenter.org.

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Loving Relationships (S1 Ep7)

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:28:30 GMT

While relationships with family, friends, and even pets can be challenging, learning how to balance our needs with the needs of others can lead to meaningful, loving relationships.Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman are joined by Dr. Ellen Braaten to celebrate the joys of love, and to discuss how raising independent, caring children can help our kids have loving relationships in the future.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: contact@mghclaycenter.org.

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Political Angst In America? (S1 Ep6)

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 11:33:34 GMT

According to a 2017 report by the American Psychological Association, 2/3 of Americans feel stressed about the future of our nation, including a majority of each Democrats and Republicans. But who needs a survey to point that out – even our kids can tell how tense we are. So, what gives?Dr. Ellen Braaten joins co-hosts Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman to explore what the heck is going on in our world to cause so much anxiety in everyone, and to contemplate solutions for alleviating our stress and minimizing the negative effects on our children. This episode of Shrinking It Down was recorded April 27, 2017. We are releasing it now, as the conversation is still relevant today.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: contact@mghclaycenter.org.

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Films That Heal, featuring Eric I. Lu (S1 Ep5)

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 11:52:51 GMT

Films foster empathy and can even promote social action. Sharing stories of mental health through video allows viewers to deeply connect with storytellers. When we watch and listen to stories, we begin to expand our own perspectives and understand the lived experiences of others. Filmmaker Eric Lu (Looking For Luke, Can Kids Get Mental Illness?) joins co-hosts Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman to emphasize the importance and healing power of storytelling through film. Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: contact@mghclaycenter.org.

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The Importance of Pets for Mental Health (S1 Ep4)

Wed, 27 Dec 2017 12:50:49 GMT

Whether they have fur, scales, tail or no tail, pets can improve the mental and emotional health of children, teens, and our entire families. They love us unconditionally through hard life lessons. It's no wonder we love them, too!Today, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman discuss the importance of pets through the lens of both child psychiatrists and proud animal parents who've experienced the benefits first hand.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: contact@mghclaycenter.org.

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Divisiveness During the Holidays in Front of Our Kids (S1 Ep3)

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 15:51:34 GMT

Differing viewpoints, feelings of frustration. We're all constantly on edge today, and families can be home to a wide range of beliefs, which only adds stress to "together" time. But who has the energy for negativity? And what message are we sending to our kids when we don't even try to be civil? Dr. Ellen Braaten, who's family is the perfect melting pot when it comes to different POVs, joins co-hosts Beresin and Schlozman to help listeners try and shift to a more positive attitude when it comes to surviving the holiday season.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. Send your thoughts to: contact@mghclaycenter.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Does My Child Need to See a Therapist? (S1 Ep2)

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 17:23:49 GMT

In today's episode, Dr. Ellen Braaten, psychologist and associate director of the Clay Center, joins co-hosts Beresin and Schlozman to address common questions parents have when they notice changes or differences in their kids' behavior: Is this typical? Does my child need to see a professional?In this discussion, we navigate these questions together - how to assess and make decisions about what's ordinary and not, and when to intervene - through a composite look at the many families the team has worked with over the years.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

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A New Season & New Conversations: Can Kids Get Mental Illness? (S1 Ep1)

Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:51:08 GMT

Mental health made simple? Who are we kidding? It can be really complicated. Just take a look at our short film, "Can Kids Get Mental Illness?'': https://youtu.be/halx1H-mvnw But openly talking about the challenges we face -- from mental, to behavioral, to emotional health -- is a great place to start in better understanding ourselves and those we care for, so we know what steps to take next.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation as we launch a brand new season!

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Processing the Manchester Terror Attack

Fri, 26 May 2017 15:01:45 GMT

Dr. Ellen Braaten joins Gene and Steve today to process the recent terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert, as both shrinks and parents. This attack felt different from others because it targeted kids. Join as they share different points of view on how our kids might be feeling, and how to move forward in our lives in a healthy way.

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Teen Suicide in the United States

Fri, 17 Mar 2017 12:57:43 GMT

Today, Gene and Steve talk about a really difficult and in many ways scary topic: Teen suicide. Suicide rates are on the rise for the entire US population. It's currently the 2nd leading cause of death among 18-26 year olds & 3rd leading cause for 15-18 year olds. All during a time in which we've become more aware of mental illness and have more services available. So why is this happening? We owe it to ourselves to try to understand.

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Addiction Free Futures Project - Conversations With Youth

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:39:25 GMT

Gene welcomes members from Addiction Free Futures Project to discuss some of their latest initiatives related to Screening, Brief intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), tools for prevention of substance use by youth and for identifying substance use early if experimentation has already begun.

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The College Mental Health Crisis

Wed, 08 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Drs. Gene Beresin and Steve Schlozman discuss the growing concerns around the mental health of our teens and young adults in college today.Read the accompanying blog post here:http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/6752/

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The Importance Of Civility In Today's Political Climate

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 17:23:23 GMT

Gene and Steve discuss the seeming decrease in civility that has characterized our political discourses over the past months and has also become pervasive throughout our entire culture – not just in politics.Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/families/talking-kids-2016-politics-parents-duty-volatile-political-climate/

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Raising Moral Children

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:30:55 GMT

Gene and Steve get more abstract in today’s topic as they discuss ethics and morality and how we get kids to think in ways that we’ll be proud of, and ways that they’ll be proud of later on in life.Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/families/raising-moral-children-parental-strategies-that-last-a-lifetime/

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Grace's Story: Living With A Chronic Medical Illness

Thu, 25 Feb 2016 01:08:34 GMT

Gene and Steve welcome a special guest,Grace, to talk about a really complicated topic: When you have a chronic medical illness on top of the already challenging experience that is life as a teenager. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/living-with-a-chronic-medical-illness/

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Leaving Home - A Student's Perspective

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 17:35:57 GMT

Gene and Steve welcome special guests Ellen Braaten, PhD and her son, to talk about what is it like for kids and young adults to go off to college or work. What are the stresses and struggles, along with the joys and positive things that happen?Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/when-kids-leave-home-part-2/

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The Psychological Gift Of Giving A Gift

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 18:01:17 GMT

Gene and Steve focus in on the roles of giving and receiving. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/families/the-psychological-gift-of-giving-a-gift/

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Home Is Where The Heart Is: Thinking About Homeless Children In The Classroom

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 22:15:50 GMT

In this third podcast on the Lesley University Child Homelessness Initiative, Gene and Steve welcome a Massachusetts teacher and the mother of one of her students who had a period of homelessness, to discuss the ins and outs of homelessness, its impact on kids, and how teachers can help.

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Are You Afraid Of The Dark? A Look At Specific Phobias

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 23:04:22 GMT

We all have fears – some hardwired in survival, some based on traumatic events, and some a little less rational – that is, phobias. Phobias tend to be persistent, resistant to reassurance, last from 6 months to 20 years. Gene and Steve delve in and take a closer look.Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/grade-school/specific-phobias/

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Leaving Home: The Transition To College Or Work

Fri, 04 Sep 2015 21:44:15 GMT

Dr. Schlozman looks to colleagues Drs. Beresin and Braaten on the daunting, terrifying unknown of how to help your kids transition to life after high school - work, college, trade school or whatever they may have in store. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/when-kids-leave-home/

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Bad to the Bone: Juveniles in Jail

Thu, 20 Aug 2015 14:49:39 GMT

Guests Judith Edersheim, J.D., M.D. and Robert Kinscherff, Ph.D., J.D. join Drs. Beresin & Schlozman to discuss the unique qualities of the adolescent brain, treatment of juveniles in the justice system, and how these factors relate.

Check out the accompanying blog on our website: https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/families/bad-to-the-bone-seven-myths-about-juveniles-in-jail/

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The Impact of Divorce: All Children Only Get One Childhood

Tue, 11 Aug 2015 15:07:44 GMT

40-50% of marriages end in divorce, but what about the kids? Guest Heidi Webb Ed.M, J.D., who's law firm takes a holistic approach to guiding families through this difficult transition, discusses the impact of divorce on children and how to ACTCIVIL.

Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/grade-school/the-impact-of-divorce-all-children-only-get-one-childhood/

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Substance Use - How The Addiction Free Futures Project Can Make A Difference

Tue, 14 Jul 2015 20:15:58 GMT

Kristen Chello from the Massachusetts Children's Mental Health Campaign and John Kelly, Ph.D. sit down to talk about the Addiction Free Futures campaign and how to prevent adolescent substance misuse and abuse misuse before it begins. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/adolescent-substance-use-how-the-addiction-free-futures-project-plans-to-make-a-difference/

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Jade’s Journey From Homeless Child To Lesley University Student

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:40:32 GMT

Our second podcast with the Lesley University Child Homelessness Initiative with program director Lisa B. Fiore and Lesley University student Jade. Learn about CHI from both the teaching and learning sides.

Check out the accompanying blog on our website: https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/young-adults/jades-journey-from-homeless-child-to-lesley-university-student-a-story-of-resilience/

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PTSD In Our Young Soldiers: A Vietnam Veteran's Perspective

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 15:13:39 GMT

Arthur Segaloff, Purple Heart veteran of the Vietnam War, discusses his personal experience with PTSD, and the effects of PTSD for soldiers returning home from wars Iraq and Afghanistan.

Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/hot-topics/military-sexual-trauma-challenges-to-our-female-soldiers-and-veterans/

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Creativity And Mental Illness

Thu, 21 May 2015 19:40:28 GMT

Is there a connection between creativity and mental illness? Dr. Mark Vonnegut joins to discuss.Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/creativity-mental-illness/

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What Is Separation Anxiety?

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 15:23:49 GMT

Separation anxiety can create chaotic, emotional, vexing moments for parents, children and teachers. What is it, and what can you do?

Check out the accompanying blog on our website: https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/infants-toddlers/what-is-separation-anxiety/

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Music For Autism Is Music For All: Reshaping And Expanding A Disability-Friendly Space

Wed, 01 Apr 2015 19:58:07 GMT

Dr. Robert Accordino, founder of Music for Autism, discusses the organization and its mission to make music concerts accessible to individuals with autism and their families. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/grade-school/music-for-autism-is-music-for-all-reshaping-and-expanding-a-disability-friendly-space/

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The Plight Of Homeless Children In The United States

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 22:15:46 GMT

Child homelessness is a national crisis. The first in a series of podcasts in collaboration with Lesley University Child Homelessness Initiative. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/infants-toddlers/plight-homeless-children-united-states/

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Nicole's Story: Recovery From Anorexia Nervosa

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 13:20:02 GMT

"Your heart cannot beat unless you feed it". Anorexia nervosa is a deadly and very complex disease. Nicole shares her story of recovery along with Dr. Emily Gray. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/anorexia-nervosa-access-care/

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Ali's Story: The Effects Of Sexual Assault On Mental Health

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:56:35 GMT

Sexual assault is a disturbing, distressing, but important and relevant topic. Sexual assault survivor and UN Global Hero Ali Safran shares her story and how she's worked to support other survivors and end sexual violence. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/alis-story/

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Why Watch Holiday Classics This Season?

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:56:57 GMT

Why are we drawn, year after year, to classic holiday movies? Drs. Beresin & Schlozman discuss the nostalgic draw of holiday films. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/hot-topics/watch-holiday-classics-season/

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'Tis The Season: Tips For Coping With Holiday Stress

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:47:21 GMT

We're supposed to make merry and be joyous during the holidays, so why are we so stressed? Listen here for tips on how to cope with holiday stress.

Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about holiday stress that we didn't cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us here.

Media List

Coping With Holiday Stress (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)

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Putting A Little Thanksgiving Into Your Nightly Family Dinners

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 19:24:23 GMT

Family dinners can make for happier families and healthier kids. Anne K. Fishel from The Family Dinner Project chimes in! Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/families/putting-little-thanksgiving-nightly-family-dinners/

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Emotional Turmoil And The Overwhelmed High School Student

Mon, 03 Nov 2014 19:13:11 GMT

Pressure and stress has increased for high school students applying to college. When do these pressures begin, and should parents be worried for their kids? Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/the-stressed-junior/

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How Scary Is Too Scary During Halloween?

Mon, 27 Oct 2014 16:45:48 GMT

Halloween can be fun and whimsical, but there's another, more scary side to the holiday. What is it that makes us enjoy being scared? Drs. Beresin and "Zombie Doctor of the Living Dead" Schlozman discuss. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/infants-toddlers/scary-scary-halloween/

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Developmental Challenges Of Middle School: It’s Not So Much Who You Are, But Whom You’re With

Wed, 24 Sep 2014 20:01:41 GMT

Middle school is a difficult experience for many kids - but why? Gil Noam, Ed.D, Ph.D discusses this infamously treacherous time - and why it doesn't have to be so traumatic - with Drs. Beresin and Schlozman. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/developmental-challenges-middle-school-much-youre/

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Kids Are Not Born Blank Slates

Fri, 05 Sep 2014 17:24:34 GMT

Every kid has a unique temperament and personality from the moment they are born. How can we understand and make sense of that in a clinical setting? Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/infants-toddlers/role-temperament/

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Pete's Story: Living With ADHD

Thu, 14 Aug 2014 21:01:15 GMT

What's it like to live with ADHD? Peter Braaten, his mother Ellen Braaten & Dr. Schlozman share 3 perspectives. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/coping-adhd-young-man-mom-managing-path-success/

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Nate's Story: Recovery From Substance Addiction

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 15:12:39 GMT

Alcohol and drug addiction is a persistent, troubling problem in our society. Nate shares his story of long-term recovery and Dr. John Kelly weighs in.Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/hot-topics/suffering-addiction-recovery-likely-outcome-get/

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The Fault in Our Stars: Proof Of What Teens Can Handle

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 17:42:44 GMT

The Fault In Our Stars, the novel turned movie by John Green – crushed its opening week competition, The Edge of Tomorrow (a scifi blockbuster featuring Tom Cruise!). That teenagers across the country were drawn to this film about two kids with cancer falling in love, it struck us that maybe Hollywood and media have been pitching below what the kids want to hear about. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/rise-ya-novel/

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Did The Black Box Warning For Antidepressants Risk Greater Depression & Suicidal Behavior In Youth?

Mon, 30 Jun 2014 17:53:56 GMT

Black box warning: both patient and doctor should exercise caution in prescribing a drug. How does a black box warning for prescribing antidepressants to adolescents and young adults correlate with suicide and suicide attempts in this population?Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/hot-topics/black-box-warning-antidepressants-risk-greater-depression-suicidal-behavior-youth/

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Dad's New Shoes: The Evolving Roles Of Fathers

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:33:23 GMT

Dr. Ray Levy, founder and director of The Fatherhood Project at MGH, talks fatherhood and Father's Day with Drs. Beresin and Schlozman. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/families/dads-new-shoes-evolving-roles-fathers/

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Concerts: How To Stay Tuned In When Your Kids Are Unplugged

Tue, 20 May 2014 20:14:38 GMT

Our music-loving doctors discuss concerts and provide a concert-survival guide for parents.Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/concerts-survival-guide/

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The Senior Prom: A Joyous Rite Of Passage Or Nightmare For Parents?

Tue, 20 May 2014 19:31:53 GMT

The senior prom is a ritual for parents and students. How parents can talk to their kids about this right of passage, and the sometimes even more dreaded after-prom.Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/senior-prom-joyous-rite-passage-nightmare-parents/

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Patriots' Day Project: The Importance Of Community

Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:08:34 GMT

In this second podcast in a special two-part series with the Marjorie E. Korff Parenting At a Challenging Time (PACT) Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, we explore the importance of community and connections in challenging situations.Check it out on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/patriots-day-project/importance-community-connection/

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Patriots' Day Project: Purpose And Lessons Learned

Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:05:49 GMT

In this first podcast in a special two-part series with the Marjorie E. Korff Parenting At a Challenging Time (PACT) Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, we talk about the purpose of the Patriots' Day Project, as well as the lessons learned that are advising its educational resources.Check it out on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/patriots-day-project/patriots-day-project-purpose-lessons-learned/

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Horror Movies & Videogames

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 20:32:30 GMT

Are horror movies and video games getting increasingly graphic and realistic? Have they changed over the years? What's healthy and OK for kids to see, and what isn't? Drs. Beresin & Schlozman discuss. Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/grade-school/horror-movies-can-watch-11-year-old/

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Kids Moving Home

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 20:32:29 GMT

More college graduates are returning home than ever before, but what happens to parent-child relationships when adult children move home? Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/young-adults/adult-children-moving-back-home-boomerang-generation-new-normal/

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Over-Scheduled, Stressed Out Kids And Families

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 20:32:28 GMT

In the last 10-15 years, we have been increasingly stressing out our kids with zillions of activities and commitments. Are kids getting lost in the haze of over-achievement and over-scheduling? Check out the accompanying blog on our website: http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/families/scheduled-stressed-families/

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Contact Sports: Yes or No?

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 15:30:33 GMT

How can we protect our kids from contact sports - and not just from the usual suspects (hockey and football)but soccer and other sports too? Drs. Beresin & Schlozman discuss the concern about contact sports & what it means for parents and kids.

Check out the accompanying blog on our website: https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/should-my-child-play-contact-sports/

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