Real Life with RDU Therapy

Today’s conversation goes beyond the therapy room and into the decisions shaping mental health at a community level. I’m joined by Dr. Cheryl Stallings, Wake County Commissioner and licensed psychologist, along with psychologist Emily King, to unpack what is actually happening behind the scenes when it comes to mental health, schools, and family support systems. We talk about the realities familie...

If your child is an athlete, this is information you cannot afford to miss. Concussion treatment has changed significantly over the last decade, yet many parents, coaches, and even athletes are still following outdated advice that can delay recovery. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Paul Cohen to talk specifically about concussions in youth athletes. From soccer to football to cheer to lacross...

What does ADHD actually look like in women and why are so many high functioning, successful women just now getting diagnosed? In this episode, I sit down with Peyton Gemmell, founder of Lightminded, to talk about ADHD in women, late diagnoses, and what it really takes to thrive as a neurodivergent woman in a neurotypical world. We break down the subtle ways ADHD shows up differently in women, espe...

What happens when the messages you learned about sex, gender, and relationships long before adulthood still shape the way you connect today? In this episode of Real Life with RDU Therapy , I sit down with Jeremiah Gibson and Julia Postema of Let’s Heal Together to talk about purity culture, high control religious environments, attachment, communication, intimacy, grief, and healing in relationship...

What if your “gifted” child is not just advanced, but overwhelmed, misunderstood, or struggling in ways no one is talking about? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Matt Zaretsky, clinical psychologist and expert in gifted and neurodivergent kids, to unpack what giftedness really looks like and why so many of these children are missed, mislabeled, or expected to just “be fine.” We talk about emot...

We all need to be paying attention to what WCPSS (the largest school district in NC and 15th largest in the US) does in this moment. Today, Dr Emily King talks with myself and Dr. Matt Zakreski, all 3 psychologists who know schools and neurodivergent kids well. The impact of these proposed cuts goes beyond students receiving special education services and their teachers. It's going to affect...

In this episode of Real Life with RDU, I sit down with Amber Lynn Richardson, author, life coach, and speaker, for a thoughtful conversation about motherhood, burnout, women’s mental health, and what it means to reconnect with yourself when life has pulled you in too many directions. Amber shares the personal story that shaped her work, including motherhood, caregiving, grief, chronic overwhelm, a...

Moms are expected to emotionally regulate everyone in the house. But what happens when her own mental health is struggling? In this episode of Real Life with RDU, I sit down with Dr. Priscilla Hidalgo of Lux Psychiatry, PLLC to talk about maternal mental health, anxiety, depression, postpartum changes, and the role medication can play in emotional regulation and family stability. We talk about: •...

In this episode of Real Life with RDU Therapy Dr Melanie McCabe sits down with Brittni Winslow owner and executive director of Emerge Pediatric Therapy to talk about what occupational therapy actually looks like in real family life. Together they unpack how kids build confidence regulation and independence and how parents can support those skills without turning every moment at home into a therapy...

What does it look like when an elected leader puts community voice at the center of every decision In this episode Dr Melanie McCabe sits down with Raleigh City Council member Christina Jones a leader known for transparency compassion and bringing real families teachers and neighborhoods into the policy making process. We talk about how everyday residents can shape city decisions why listening is...

What happens when a culture obsessed with body size and control meets a kid who is wired for perfectionism and anxiety. In this powerful conversation Dr Melanie McCabe sits down with Marybeth Sullivan, Carolyn Costin Institute certified eating disorder recovery coach, and marketing and outreach coordinator for Nutritious Thoughts to talk about what really drives disordered eating and what genuine...

In this episode, Dr. Melanie McCabe sits down with Dr. Kat Bracken to explore what really happens inside us when we experience grief and trauma. Together, they talk about how loss shows up in the body, why certain reactions are completely normal, and what it means to move through pain instead of getting stuck in it. This conversation blends humanity, humor, and truly tangible tips—offering languag...

What does “designing your life” actually look like when you’re balancing work, parenting, soccer practice, and sanity? Dr. Mel shares her personal take-aways from her conversation with Sabrina — how pneumonia changed her perspective, why flexibility is a form of strength, and what it really means to build a life that fits you. It’s practical, funny, and deeply real — a behind-the-scenes reflection...

In this episode of Real Life with RDU Therapy, Dr. Melanie McCabe sits down with psychologist Dr. Jessica Hayden to unpack one of the most misunderstood dynamics in relationships: control disguised as care. We explore how love can start to look like possession, why “checking in” can turn into “checking up,” and what real emotional freedom looks like between partners, parents, and even friends. Dr....

How lessons from summer camp shape emotional growth, belonging, and resilience — in therapy and in life. In this episode, Dr. Melanie McCabe sits down with Kelly Rusher Sanderford, licensed mental health counselor, mom, and former camp counselor, to explore how lessons from the cabin translate into lifelong emotional skills. From helping homesick teens find their footing to guiding young adults th...

In this episode, I sit down with Sabrina, a human-centered design leader and mom of three, to explore how the principles of design thinking can be applied far beyond products and workflows — all the way into how we live, parent, and build families. We talk about what it means to move from reactive to intentional, how to simplify the complexity of everyday life, and why clarity is such a powerful t...

In this first episode of Real Life with RDU Therapy , Dr. Melanie McCabe invites you into the messy, hilarious, and hopeful reality of modern family life. From cereal spills to burnout, she shares why this podcast exists, what you can expect each week, and how even the chaos in your home can hold clues to breaking old cycles and building a better future.