Catch-Up on Kids Mental Health

This episode is the second in a special three-part podcast series based on Janet Morrison's upcoming book, Relationships Matter: Building Children's Resilience Within the Family, School and Community. In this conversation, Janet sits down with special guest host Sandy Poulsen to explore the powerful role schools play in shaping children's mental health, resilience, and sense of belongi...

This episode marks the beginning of a special three-part podcast series based on Janet Morrison's upcoming book, Relationships Matter: Building Children's Resilience Within the Family, School and Community. In this first conversation, Janet sits down with special guest host Sandy Poulson to explore the foundational role family relationships play in children's mental health and resilien...

In this episode, Janet sits down with social work clinician, researcher, and author Will Dobud to explore a different way of thinking about youth mental health, one that challenges some of our most common assumptions. Janet and Will talk about how well-meaning efforts to protect children may actually be limiting their growth. They explore the idea that young people need more opportunities to take...

In this episode, Janet sits down with therapist, author, and teen anxiety specialist Sophia Vale Galano to explore how anxiety shows up during the teenage years and why it can be so hard to recognize. Janet and Sophia talk about how to distinguish between typical teenage behaviour and when anxiety may be interfering with a teen’s ability to function. They explore what actually helps, emphasizing t...

In this episode, Janet speaks with Dr. William Ketterer about anger and violence in the classroom and what may be driving aggressive behaviour in children and adolescents. Dr. Ketterer shares his research on self-esteem and explains how a child’s early relationships shape their sense of self. He suggests that aggression is not simply defiance, lack of impulse control, or learned behaviour, but can...

In this episode, Janet speaks with Dr. Ryan Sultan, a child psychiatrist and researcher specializing in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dr. Sultan helps unpack what it really means to understand ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition, and why symptoms can emerge as early as preschool. He explains how differences in brain development affect attention, regulation, behaviour, and sel...

In this episode, Janet speaks with Dr. Robert C. Smith, professor emeritus at Michigan State University and author of Has Medicine Lost Its Mind?. Drawing on decades of clinical practice, research, and teaching, Dr. Smith explains how modern medicine came to separate mental and physical health, and why that split still shapes how doctors are trained today. The conversation explores how this gap in...

In this episode, Janet speaks with Breana Frazier, a doctoral student at Florida International University whose research explores the foster care to juvenile delinquency pipeline. Breana shares what we know about who enters the foster care system, why those numbers spiked in 2020, and how a lack of stability and trauma-informed support affects children long after they’re placed in care. Together,...

In this episode, Janet welcomes back Dr. John Stewart to explore how the principles of attachment theory extend beyond the home and into the classroom. Dr. Stewart is a clinical psychologist specializing in attachment-focused treatment with children, adolescents, and families. He’s an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Tufts University School of Medicine and author...

In this episode, Janet sits down for a second time with Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts, to explore how parents, teachers, and young people can build stronger digital literacy skills and avoid harmful or unwanted online content. Matthew is the author of many of MediaSmarts’ lessons, parent materials, and interactive resources. He has also served on expert panels for the Canad...

In this episode, Janet sits down with Dr. Natasha Demidenko to explore the topic of eating disorders in young people including what they are, how they develop, and why they’re often misunderstood. Dr. Demidenko is a clinical health and rehabilitation psychologist who works in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of...

In this episode, Janet sits down with Matthew Johnson to explore how and why young people encounter pornography and what parents need to know. Matthew is the Director of Education for MediaSmarts, Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy. He’s the author of numerous educational resources and the architect of MediaSmarts’ Use, Understand, Engage digital literacy framework used in schools acro...

In this episode, Janet sits down with Dr. Ruwa Sabbagh, Ph. D., C.Psych., to explore how parent-child therapy can support emotional development and strengthen relationships from the earliest years of life. Dr. Sabbagh is a clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. She has trained extensively in the Watch, Wait and Wonder model, a play-ba...

In this episode, Janet sits down with Dr. John Stewart to explore how attachment-focused family therapy can help families work together to address mental health concerns.  Dr. Stewart is a clinical psychologist, assistant clinical professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, and the author of several books including his most recent: What Helps When Children and Families Struggle.  In this epi...

In this episode, Janet sits down with Dr. Teresa (Terry) Bennett to learn about The Family Check-Up program and how a family-centered approach to children’s mental health can lead to better outcomes for kids and their families.  Dr. Bennett is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and Associate Professor at McMaster University where she is leading research on The Family Check-Up program and explorin...

In this episode, Janet speaks with Dr. Marlene Taube-Schiff about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in young people. Dr. Taube-Schiff is a registered psychologist with nearly 20 years of experience working with adolescents and adults. She is the founder and director of Forward Thinking Psychological Services, a multidisciplinary practice serving clients in Ontario and British Columbia. A leading...

In this episode, Janet speaks with Dr. Barbara Perry about the rise of hate crimes and online hate communities, particularly how they impact children and youth.  Dr. Perry is a professor at Ontario Tech University and the director of the Center on Hate, Bias, and Extremism. She holds a UNESCO Chair in Hate Studies and was recently named to the Order of Canada. As one of Canada’s leading experts on...

In this episode, Janet speaks with Paula ​Rosen about the challenges some children face with speech and language development and how early intervention can make a lasting impact. Paula is ​a ​licensed ​Speech Language ​Pathologist ​who ​has ​over 30 ​years ​of ​experience ​as both ​a ​school ​clinician ​and private ​practitioner ​treating children of all ages. She ​currently ​is part of the multi-...

In this episode, Janet speaks with Dr. Jonathan Singer, PhD, LCSW. Dr. Singer is a professor at Loyola University in Chicago's School of Social Work and the Founder and host of The Social Work Podcast. Dr. Singer is the author of two editions of Suicide in Schools and an award-winning researcher specializing in family-based interventions for suicidal and cyberbullied youth, service access, school-...

In this episode, Janet Morrison talks with Cassandra Moore, the Assistant Director of The CBT Institute of Southern California.  Cassandra specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention of Tics (CBIT). Through her practice, she provides individual, family and group therapy to treat a variety of disorders includin...

In this episode, Janet Morrison speaks with Cathy Maser (she/her) about gender dysphoria and ways to support trans children and youth.  For the past 18 years, Cathy’s clinical practice has been focused on youth with chronic illness, substance misuse, sexual health, gender identity and mood disorders. Through her practice, she has provided gender-affirming care to youth and was also a lecturer at t...

In this episode, Janet Morrison talks with Dr. Katreena Scott about the severe consequences for children growing up in violent households including developmental trauma disorder.  Dr. Scott is a Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Western Ontario. She is the Academic Director of the Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children. Her research includes...

In this episode, Janet Morrison talks with Dr. Ramona Alaggia about intimate partner violence and its impact on the mental health of women and children.  Dr. Ramona Alaggia is a professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto with expertise in trauma, resilience, and gender-based violence. Her research focuses on the mental health impacts of intimate partner violenc...

In this episode, Janet Morrison speaks with Dr. Elaine Levy about how access to quality child care impacts the mental health and well-being of children and families.  Dr. Levy is VP of Child Care & Family Services at WoodGreen Community Services in Toronto, which operates eight licensed childcare sites and provides additional family support services. Janet and Dr Levy discuss the rigorous stan...

This month, Janet Morrison talks with Dr. Vladimir Barayev MD FAAP, a Board Certified Pediatrician, Lactation Counselor, and father of two, who believes passionately in high-quality and personal care for children. Janet and Dr. Vlad discuss the relationship between physical and mental health and the six pillars of health he uses when working with families. Dr. Vlad believes acting as a whole famil...