Help! I Have Kids!

Send us Fan Mail Play therapy gets thrown around a lot — but most moms have no idea what it actually looks like, or whether it's even an option for their neurodivergent child. In this episode, Pam sits down with Allison, a marriage and family therapist working toward her Registered Play Therapist credential, who's also certified in AutPlay Therapy — a neurodiversity-affirming approach de...

Send us Fan Mail Don't skip this episode because you hear "break in therapy" and think… "not for us." Stay with us for a minute. We see you. You're the nurse, the therapist, the caregiver, and the mom — all before lunchtime, most days. You've been white-knuckling it through every session for months, maybe years, and quietly wondering if you have anything left to...

Send us Fan Mail Is your child's behavior actually sensory? Pam sits down with Kelly, OTD from Marshall Pediatric Therapy to break down sensory seeking vs. sensory avoiding, the real link between picky eating and sensory processing, why "shy" kids may actually be overwhelmed, and why summer makes it all worse. You'll get simple, no-equipment sensory strategies that help your ch...

Send us Fan Mail New Mamas! Before you spend thousands on beautiful nurseries and plastic baby gear, listen to this episode! Pediatric Occupational Therapists Pam and Kelly discuss how modern "baby containers" might be contributing to tight neck muscles and flat heads in newborns. Learn how to trust your mom gut, get easy home exercise tips (HEPs), and find out why a simple laundry baske...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever wondered, "Can my child with autism actually do virtual therapy?" you are not alone. It’s one of the biggest questions parents ask when considering telehealth. In this episode of Help! I Have Kids , guest host and speech-language pathologist Beth Blankenship teams up with special guest Liz, a mom to two sons with autism, to look at virtual therapy from bot...

Send us Fan Mail Does opening a medical bill give you an immediate pit in your stomach? 💸 It shouldn’t have to. For many parents, navigating health insurance feels like a second full-time job—one that's confusing, stressful, and full of hidden rules. But here is the secret: Knowledge is your best defense. When you understand how your plan works, you can stop worrying about "surprise bil...

Send us Fan Mail “Mommy, it feels like I have bumblebees in my head.” 🐝 In this powerful and moving episode, host Pam Marshall (Pediatric OT) sits down with Sarah and Carolyn, two moms who are navigating the beautiful, "spicy," and often complex world of parenting neurodivergent children while being neurodivergent themselves. We’re diving deep into the advocacy it takes to trust your &q...

Send us Fan Mail In this important episode, licensed therapist Heather Whitis returns to help us navigate one of the most difficult topics a parent can face—teen depression and suicidal thoughts. If your teen seems withdrawn, hopeless, unusually quiet, or like they've just lost interest in things they used to love, this episode will help you recognize and respond appropriately.  Heather bring...

Send us Fan Mail In this encouraging episode, licensed therapist Heather Whitis joins us to talk about teen anxiety and what it can really look like in everyday life. If your teen seems overwhelmed, easily frustrated, avoidant, or constantly worried, this episode will help you better understand what may be going on beneath the surface. Heather shares her perspective as both a therapist and a mom,...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, licensed therapist Heather Whitis joins us to talk about teen mental health and how parents can recognize early warning signs that something might be off. If you’ve ever felt caught off guard by your teen’s mood swings, withdrawal, or changes in sleep, appetite, or school performance, this episode is for you. Heather shares her experience as both a thera...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, Emily Hinkle shares her personal journey as a medical mom raising her daughter, Caroline, a toddler with Cerebral Palsy. She opens up about the challenges of NICU life, G-tubes, therapies, and managing appointments, while also celebrating the small victories that make motherhood so special. Emily gives her heartfelt advice on advocating for your child, t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sarah Schuetz and Dr. Katherine Dotson—both moms and lifestyle medicine physicians—for an honest and empowering conversation about what it really means to take care of your health. We’re breaking down the 6 pillars of health and how small, realistic changes can make a big impact—not just for you, but for your entire family. Because the truth is...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re talking about something every parent deals with at some point but no one really wants to talk about… poop and pee. Ashley Leach M.S., OTR/L, lead clinician and occupational therapist at Marshall Pediatric Therapy’s Richmond location, joins us to break down pediatric pelvic floor therapy and how it helps with things like constipation, bedwetting, and accident...

Send us Fan Mail Maddi Niebanck was 22 years old when a scheduled brain surgery turned into an emergency stroke. What followed was a journey most people couldn't imagine — waking up completely paralyzed on her dominant side, unable to speak, swallow, or see out of the left half of both eyes. Now nearly nine years later, she's living independently, traveling the world, and still making re...

Send us Fan Mail ABA therapy has evolved — and so has the conversation around it. In this episode, we break down:  ✔ Where ABA started  ✔ How it’s changed over time  ✔ Common misconceptions  ✔ What collaborative, child-centered ABA looks like today  ✔ How our program integrates ABA with OT, Speech & PT Modern ABA isn’t about compliance or changing a child’s personality. It’s about building com...

Send us Fan Mail We talk about Susan’s path into autism advocacy and the passion behind her award-winning DinoSprout Educational Book Series —stories that use lovable dinosaur characters to teach empathy, inclusion, self-awareness, and acceptance. These books are designed to help kids, parents, and educators start healthy conversations around differences and emotions. Explore Susan’s books and lea...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, Kelsey Brooks shares her personal journey from a high-risk pregnancy and a CP diagnosis to celebrating her son’s first steps. She gives her testimony on what it truly means to be the head of your child’s medical team and advocate for the best care. Kelsey opens up about navigating therapies, celebrating small victories, and finding the strength to keep g...

Send us Fan Mail AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) can be the next step in helping your child find their voice and deepen connection with your family. Pediatric speech therapist Taylor Denney breaks down how AAC devices work, busts common myths, and shares real stories of children and families whose worlds opened up through communication. You will hear practical tips for getting sta...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Help! I Have Kids , host Pam Marshall sits down with Dr. Erin Cooper and Dr. Geoff Cooper , primary care physicians and co-owners of Olive Health Direct Primary Care , for an honest, behind-the-exam-room conversation about what parents really need to know. As both doctors and parents, Dr. Erin and Dr. Geoff share what they see every day in primary care—and what...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Pam sits down with Morgan Minter , Program Director for Erin’s Hope for Friends (E’s Club) —a nonprofit creating safe, judgment-free spaces where autistic teens and young adults can build real friendships and experience true belonging.  Morgan shares how her own brother’s journey with autism led her into occupational therapy and eventually to E’s Club. She explain...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, Pam sits down with Tyler Dorsey , Founder & Executive Director of Focus Forward ADHD , to talk about one of the most common struggles families face—ADHD in kids, teens, and even in parents themselves. Tyler brings her personal story, clinical insight, and mom-of-four perspective to one of the most hope-filled and practical conversations we’ve ever recorded....

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, Meredith Proctor, MSOT, OTR/L, CIMC and Chloe Isaacs, PT, DPT, CIMI-2 break down one of the most exciting services we offer at Marshall Pediatric Therapy — Intensive Therapy . If you’ve ever wondered what intensives are, who they’re for, and why they lead to such fast, meaningful progress, this conversation is full of hope, science, and so many heartwarming sto...

Send us Fan Mail If your child has ever felt scared at the doctor’s office, nervous before a procedure, or overwhelmed by medical experiences — this episode is a breath of fresh air. 💜 Today, Meredith sits down with Mary Jenner , nurse, mom, and founder of The Butterfly Pig , an organization transforming how kids experience healthcare through play and emotional safety . Mary has trained over 100...

Send us Fan Mail 🎒 When your child holds it together all day at school… and then falls apart at home — you’re not alone. In this Snack Break, Occupational Therapist and mom Caitlin Brown shares practical ways to help your child decompress after school, build calming routines, and set up a smoother morning rhythm. From sensory-friendly transitions to visual schedules, these simple tools can make a...

Send us Fan Mail In this Snack Break replay, we revisit one of our most talked-about conversations on tongue and lip ties, featuring real insight from a lactation consultant and provider who’s walked both sides of the journey—as a mom and as a professional. You’ll hear: 💬 The emotional and practical realities of navigating a tongue-tie diagnosis 👶 Why function matters more than how a tie “looks”...