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.

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 ListFollow 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 BeresinEpisode produced by Sara Rattigan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ListFollow 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 statesMusic by Gene BeresinEpisode produced by Sara Rattigan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ListUnsettled About Instagram?Body Image and Young People, feat. Holly Peek, MD, MPHGaming Disorder, with Steven Schlozman, MDMedia Literacy and Mental Health, feat. Michael Robb, PhDKids Under Surveillance! with Steve Schlozman, MDBONUS: Asking About Social MediaThanks 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 BeresinEpisode produced by Sara Rattigan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, LLCDr. 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 RattiganMusic by Gene Beresin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ListAngela 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 RattiganMusic by Gene Beresin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ListDr. 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.

We're kicking off 2023 with a special episode of Shrinking It Down featuring *you* our listeners. What questions do you have about the mental health of a child or teen in your life?Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins will answer them on January 19!E-mail your questions: gene@mghclaycenter.orgMessage us your questions: Instagram (instagram.com/mghclaycenter) or Facebook (facebook.com/massgeneralclaycenter)Leave a voice mail with your questions: (617) 643-1590 (press # to skip the message)We'll see you back here on January 19, and the Third Thursday of every month: Be There, or Be Square (TikTok). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ListJonathan 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.

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 ListFollow 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 DempseyEdited by Sara RattiganMusic by Gene Beresin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*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 ListFollow 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 DempseyEdited by Sara RattiganMusic by Gene Beresin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ListFollow 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.

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.

*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 ListFollow 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.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Leading up to this month, we received questions from our Instagram followers. In this podcast miniseries, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer them. Today's question: How does Schizophrenia affect a young person and their caregivers? Dr. Abigail Donovan of the Mass General First Episode and Early Psychosis Program joins to help answer. Media ListAbigail Donovan, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)First-Episode and Early Psychosis Program (Massachusetts General Hospital)What Is Family Therapy? (MGH Clay Center)Psychosis in 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.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Leading up to this month, we received questions from our Instagram followers. In this podcast miniseries, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer them. Today's question: How do you find out if your teenager has undiagnosed ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)?Dr. Gagan Joshi of the Mass General Bressler Cetner for Autism joins to help answer.Media ListGagan Joshi, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)Alan & Lorraine Bressler Clinical Research Program (Facebook)A Closer Look at High-Functioning Autism, featuring Robyn Thom, MD – 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.

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 ListFollow 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.

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.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Leading up to this month, we received several mental health questions from our Instagram followers. In this podcast miniseries, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer them.Tune in to "You Ask, Our Docs Answer!" each Tuesday in May for a short episode answering one of your questions.Have a question for our docs? E-mail us or tag us on Instagram!And thank you for all you do to support the young developing minds in your life. It really makes a difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ListBirdcage 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.