Hello Reader,

I was away at a conference last week and did not get the chance to send last week's episodes, so this is a bit longer of an email than usual, but I will try to keep the recaps shorter!

On Overpowering emotions last week, I jumped into Part 2 of anxiety and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and the best way to support these kiddos. I discussed the importance of understanding the child or teen’s unique profile, including their sensory needs and communication style in creating the most effective support.

Given that PDA is relatively new, this is an important episode for anyone working with neurodivergent kiddos who have trouble managing the demands of everyday life. Especially since the typical strategies we would use to support anxious kiddos don't necessarily work.

You can WATCH or LISTEN IN!

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This week I explored the relationship between depression and anxiety. These diagnoses are often talked about separately, but they often coexist. In fact, more than half of the people experiencing depression also have anxiety.

This is an important topic because, when they co-occur, they can reinforce each other and even make each other worse. I discuss the key pathways to depression and anxiety and what we need to prioritize to help children and teens manage these effectively. Especially since treatment can look very different from treating one alone. And focusing on the wrong thing can actually make things worse.

You can WATCH or LISTEN IN!

On Parents of the Year last week, Andrew and I talk about whether we should teach their kids parenting skills.
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When we have kids, there is no manual to help us and it's easy to fall into unhelpful patterns of parenting that can be passed through the generations.

There is no black-or-white approach to parenting, each person does the best they can with what they have, but should we as parents do more to provide our kids with the tools they'll need long before it's their turn? And help establish the foundation of habits and values they can use now and in the future?

​LISTEN IN and READ MORE from my blog if you'd like to learn more.

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This week, Andrew and I talked about how to keep our kids from being invisible. I always talk about the socially accepted, socially rejected, and the wallflowers - the socially neglected. Well-liked, but quiet, shy, and often forgotten.
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Everyone at some point in their life feels like they're ignored or not seen, but being invisible tends to happen a lot more frequently for some kids than they'd like.

​LISTEN IN as Andrew and I dive into what makes some kids more invisible and how we as parents can help them to be seen when they want to be.