Get on Their Turf with Dr. Suzanne Simpson

In this episode, Dr. Cohen teaches me about panic attacks and disorder. He differentiates between the two and explains why they are, diagnostically, considered a form of anxiety disorder. Dr. Cohen explains how they happen and what occurs in the mind and body. He discusses therapy and, as usual, ways to support loved ones who endure panic attacks and disorders. Find my interview playlist on YouTub...

In this episode, Elder Ruth and I sit, in gratitude, on the traditional lands of  the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She teaches me about Indigenous ways of knowing in relation to mental health and wellness. Elder Ruth talks about her upbringing and her work as a Knowledge Keeper in our health authority and on the Downtown Eastside. She explains her time supporti...

This episode is all about panic attacks and panic disorder. I speak with a former student who walks me through her experience with panic attacks and shares her best strategies and mindfulness practices to help offset the debilitating effects of this disorder.  Find my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne Simpson, at Get On Their Turf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC8JprFdrPA&list=PLi7xF...

This episode is intended for parents who have children (of any age) either increasingly using drugs recreationally, or with a diagnosed substance use disorder. Dr. Cohen explains when substance use becomes a "disorder," as well as general concepts of use. We explore harm-reduction and abstinence based approaches, as well as what parents can do to support.  Find my interview playlist on Y...

Cherokee Feather Bent explains how her substance use began and escalated. She is candid about her own trauma and mental health challenges and offers her Indigenous perspective of healing. Please note that this episode contains dialogue about trauma, miscarriage,  suicide attempts, violence, and sexual abuse. Find my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne Simpson, at Get On Their Turf: https://ww...

This episode is about healing. Cea Person, author of North of Normal and Nearly Normal , shares her best and worst childhood stories, describing how they affect her today. We discuss the impact of an apology and forgiveness. Cea explains what she needed from others during her tumultuous upbringing, and defines what she needs today. We end our time by exploring the sense of safety and security. Fin...

This episode is about dealing with the loss of a child. Marlene Penner shares, over three decades later, her journey through the death of her daughter. Please note this is a faith-based dialogue, as Marlene’s Christian beliefs have been foundational to healing. We discuss what helped her endure such grief, and ways to support friends, colleagues, and family members who have lost a child. Find my i...

Liz Kay is a registered clinical counselor who specializes in providing therapy for self-harm and suicidal ideation. This episode is intended to assist parents whose children may be unsafe. Liz explains Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and its use as a tool for mental health support. She describes how parents can access public and private care, as well as home strategies for a child living wit...

This episode is about the death of Felicity Donovan. Please note a content warning: we discuss events leading up to, during, and after her death. David and Laura Donovan offer what parents, educators, and our community can learn from the loss of their daughter. The intention of this episode is to explore what we can, collectively, do better to combat the increasing loss of loved ones due to suicid...

This episode explores gender diversity and the LGBTQIA+ community. Olli explains his process of questioning gender, as well as his arrival to transitioning. We discuss the challenges of gender diversity, and ways our community can better support. Please note that parental permission has been given for this episode. Find my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne Simpson, at Get On Their Turf: htt...

This episode is about what it’s like to live with depression as a successful, outgoing, university graduate. Darian gets candid to help us understand better the lived experience of depression. We discuss how it can fester and affect life. Darian describes how he overcame his diagnosed mental health disorder and gives ways for us to support others who endure this often-hidden challenge.  Find my in...

In this episode, Dr. Cohen explains Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). He outlines diagnostic criteria, warning signs for developing depression, and various treatment options to manage MDD. Episode notes: Depression , by Kelty Mental Health: https://keltymentalhealth.ca/depression#:~:text=Call%201%2D800%2DSUICIDE%20(,Suicide%20Prevention%20and%20Intervention%20Line. Helping Your Child or Youth with...

This episode is for parents navigating their child’s mental health challenges. Ruth Kelly talks about her journey, the scrutiny she faced from health care and educational professionals, and where she found support. Parent Support Resources from Ruth: Parent Support Resources from Ruth: Family Smart – offers BC Parent peer Support, events, workshops and education resources. The Help for the Hard Ti...

In this episode, Sophie and I explore Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Sophie shares her story from emerging OCD to a several-week stay at a hospital. She describes what OCD is and how it “worked” for her, as well as her best tools to not only overcome, but to live with joy in what she describes as a rat-infested, germ-laden New York City. Episode Notes: Sophie’s Instagram: @sophiecummingss Find my...

Dr. Cohen and I explore Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I learn about how it is diagnosed, as well as therapeutic practices that are used to manage this mental health challenge. Dr. Cohen explains effective strategies such as exposure therapy, as well as ways that we can support loved ones faced with OCD. Find my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne Simpson, at Get On Their Turf: https://www.yo...

This podcast is a candid conversation between mother and daughter. Ianna Simpson tells me what she needed as her anxiety developed from early childhood. We discuss her experience with anxiety, as well as the do’s and don'ts  for parents navigating this mental health challenge with their children. Anxiety Canada https://www.anxietycanada.com/ BC Children’s Hospital/Kelty Mental Health https://...

This episode discusses Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Dr. Cohen explains what specifically constitutes GAD, how it appears in others, and gives specific DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. We explore various tools to recovery, including talk therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, and medications with “black box labels.” We end with his advice about tangible ways to support those who endure GAD. Find my inter...

I speak to a youth who has extensive lived experience with anxiety disorders. She gives me a lens of what it is like to live with social anxiety, as well as how it led to depression and substance use. This interview is anonymous, and please note that parental permission has been given. Find my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne Simpson, at Get On Their Turf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H...

Social anxiety is rampant and arguably the most challenging anxiety disorder within the school setting. Some research suggests that it is also the most difficult to overcome, and it can be debilitating. Today, Dr. Jordan Cohen and I discuss social anxiety, and the specific aspects that make this disorder “social.” We talk about what it is like to enter schools and busy spaces with social anxiety,...

In this episode, we explore the concept of anxiety. Dr. Cohen and I discuss the broader implications and debilitating nature of anxiety. Dr. Cohen explains how it is diagnosed, and describes various treatments and strategies to overcome anxiety. Find my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne Simpson, at Get On Their Turf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC8JprFdrPA&list=PLi7xFsX7h7tdxBsVx38U...

This episode is all about the T word. Trauma is a growing dialogue in our world, and we have an evolving understanding of its effects. In this episode, Dr. Cohen and I discuss what trauma is, its impact, as well as ways to support others who have endured trauma.  Find my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne Simpson, at Get On Their Turf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC8JprFdrPA&list=PLi...

Do you have questions about the field of psychiatry? In this episode, I interview adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Jordan Cohen as we explore the field of psychiatry in layperson's terms. We discuss how psychiatrists make accurate diagnoses, the challenges within this practice, medication use, and when it is appropriate to access psychiatric care.  Find my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne...

Have you ever wondered how to make a real difference in someone's life? In this episode, Dr. Suzanne Simpson shares powerful insights on the transformative power of human connection and emotional intelligence. Learn how to support your own mental health and the well-being of others through empathy, compassion, and practical strategies. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or simply seeking...