Overpowering Emotions: Tools for Child & Teen Anxiety and Resilience

Today I talk about how we can make the brain more resistant to anxiety through fear extinction. I talk about fear learning and how easily generalized that fear learning is and the new learning we need to make sure happens to manage anxiety effectively. Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caroline...

Today I talk about how we can make the brain more resistant to anxiety through mindfulness. Anxiety likes to trick us and suck us into autopilot, which is where we get lost in worry.  Mindfulness helps us wake up and get out of the vortex of rumination. Download this resource to build daily mindful practices. Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get acces...

I have talked a lot about anxiety and the brain and wanted to look at how we can make the brain more resistant to anxiety and stop being so trigger-happy to anxiety. First, we need awareness. And while there are several components to awareness that I will be talking about in coming episodes, today I lay the foundation for building this awareness in the first place and the five elements of emotion...

In today's episode I talk all about the relationship between anxiety and sleep. And how we need to address sleep to be effective in any anxiety management we do! Check out this SLEEP RESOURCE to help set up the right sleeping environment for your children. Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caro...

There is so much to learn about how to help anxious children and teens but today I start to address some of the things we can do depending on whether anxiety is cortex-based or amygdala-based. (And we need to know the difference to respond in helpful ways!) Check out today's episode to learn more. You can also WACTH HERE!  Interested in deep diving even further with me? CONTACT ME for more in...

What is the difference between the amygdala and the cortex in anxiety? It is actually important to know the differences to ensure that our strategies are targeting the right part of the brain (at the right time!). It’s ineffective, for example, to use cortex-based strategies when the amygdala is activated. Check out today's episode to learn more. You can also WATCH HERE ! Interested in deep diving...

I had lots of questions about whether anxiety damages the brain. Check out today's episode to learn more. You can also WATCH HERE Interested in deep diving even further with me? CONTACT ME for more information! Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caroline YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.caro...

While I typically focus on the things in our environment that maintain anxiety, understanding what happens in the brain is important to know as well. In today's episode, I talk all about the different parts of the brain that influences anxiety, as well as the neurotransmitters and hormones that are involved. You can also WATCH HERE . Interested in deep diving even further with me? CONTACT ME for m...

Have you heard of relaxation-induced anxiety? It's not a new phenomenon yet many people aren't aware of it - but we definitely need to be! Find out more in today's episode. You can also watch here: https://youtu.be/6NE0cHxDq4w Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caroline YouTube: https://www.yout...

Today I talk about why TRYING to make an anxious child relax only makes their anxiety worse. While relaxation is important, the problem is when we focus on relaxation as the outcome. Find out why in today's episode.  Prefer to watch? https://youtu.be/96Bdcl_DsPs *IMPORTANT! Sometimes people have a hard time listening to this message. It's crucial to understand that a strong, securely attached...

I had loads of questions about conditioned safety learning and whether this is a good thing or not. No! Conditioned safety learning can also make anxiety worse. Listen in on today's episode to learn more about conditioned safety learning and how to avoid it. You can also watch here ! Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! appl...

In today's episode we look at safety behaviours and how they make anxiety worse. Essentially, safety behaviours are things children and teens do to feel a little safer and/or less anxious. The problem is, these behaviours reinforce the anxiety story that they can't handle the situation or the discomfort anxiety brings. Therefore, in any work we do, we must ensure there aren't safety behaviours imp...

From last time, talking about how we can hinder brain development so easily, I thought I'd shed some light on the myth of happiness. It is easy for anxious kids and teens to think there is something wrong with them when they can't be happy, though that is the furthest thing from the truth. They are human! Anxiety is part of being human. Understanding the myth of happiness can help them normalize t...

Last week I said that whatever we do to make anxious kids feel better actually makes their anxiety worse. I had lots of questions on this one. So, today, I go into WHY that is the case.... We'll explore the psychology behind this phenomenon, uncovering how well-intentioned actions can hinder a child's brain development and ability to cope with anxiety. I'll highlight the unintended consequences of...

I am excited to chat with Joe Sanock from The Practice of the Practice about the Imposter Phenomenon (IP). In this episode, I discuss various factors that contribute to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, even in highly successful individuals. Together, we explore strategies and techniques to overcome IP, helping you build confidence and recognize your true worth. We also touch on practical too...

As parents, educators, and mental health professionals, we all want to be helpful to the children and teens in our life. And we all want to help them manage their anxiety effectively. However, in us wanting them to feel better, sometimes our actions can unintentionally make their anxiety worse. In today's episode, I discuss the common traps that caregivers (and all adults, really) fall into that c...

After talking about why our children and teens are not getting the support they need to manage anxiety last week, I received a lot of questions about what might be causing their anxiety. Today, I delve deeper into this topic and try to understand some of the most important factors that contribute to our kids' anxiety. First of all, it's important to remember that anxiety is a part of our evolution...

In today's episode, I discuss why our anxious children and teens are not getting the help they need. Anxiety is the most common mental health concern affecting children and teens. Despite all the books, training, and knowledge out there, anxiety has continued to rise even before COVID and has grown exponentially around the world since. Despite this prevalence, many children are not getting the sup...

In today’s episode of Overpowering Emotions, I address the questions:  What is the difference between normal worry and anxiety? and When should kids get help? Anxiety and worry are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. While both can be unpleasant and unwanted emotions, understanding the differences between normal worry and anxiety is essential for...

This podcast first appeared on The Testing Psychologist with Dr. Jeremy Sharp. This is the second episode in a two-part series I did  on the parent experience of the assessment process! In part two today, we continue talking about empowering parents and discuss several concrete changes you can make to your testing approach. Here are a few other topics to look out for across the two episodes:...

Very excited to share this week's episode of Deep Dive into Practice, which was first seen on The Testing Psychologist, in which I did an interview with Dr. Jeremy Sharp about parents' experiences of their child's assessment process. This is Part 1 where we go through everything you need to know about testing with kids. Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get...

Welcome to Deep Dive into Practice - our very first podcast! As mental health professionals, we all have incredible potential to create meaningful change in our client's life. But, this work isn't easy; if it were, everyone would be doing it. At the end of the day, clients are only as good as the professionals they work with. Mastering your skills and transforming your practice begins with a conve...