Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

Rewards. Punishments. Incentives. What parent hasn’t used one or all of these when trying to navigate challenging behavior in their kids? These might be great strategies when the root of the problem is a lack of motivation. But in reality, that’s not often the case. The truth is, for most kids – and even adults – “bad behavior” isn’t about a lack of will, but rather a lack of skills like flexibili...

“I couldn’t get off the computer ‘cause I was about to kill that final thing in ‘Call of Duty’ and if I didn’t kill it I’d have to fight it all over again and it just isn’t worth my time!” Who doesn’t love a good video game? Whether it’s Fortnite or Candy Crush Saga, it’s pretty easy to get sucked in, sometimes for hours. But is there such a thing as Gaming Disorder? The World Health Organization...

At the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, we think a lot about helping kids as they’re growing up with all sorts of challenges. Most families will experience some kind of challenge along the road of life, whether behavioral, psychiatric, chronic, or living with a disability. Dr. Ellen Braaten's family is no different, and in this episode of Shrinking It Down she joins. Dr. Steve Schlozman as a c...

Last season, we talked about the benefits of pets for our kids' mental health. That unconditional love helps our children build skills and navigate important life lessons. What we don't tend to think about, though, is that one day our pets will be gone. When that happens, do we try to shield our kids from the pain? Would it have been better not to have a pet at all? In this episode of Shrinking It...

In research that's been done about kids' fears, one of the most frightening things is losing or being left without a parent. Through the events at the U.S. southern border over the past weeks, we have watched migrant children live out their worst nightmares in the most deliberately traumatic way. There are millions of other children who are also watching these events and experiencing the...

Did you know that Dr. Ellen Braaten has a mild form of dyslexia and had to work really hard at reading when she was a child? Did you know that Dr. Gene Beresin has always struggled with math? We all have challenges. We all have differences. But some of us have greater challenges than others, and this can be difficult at times for both kids and their families. In the Season 1 finale of Shrinking It...

Did you know that many young people forego college and go into the workforce after high school? In fact, going to college right away has declined to 66% of high school grads, in recent years, and only 46% of those under age 30 complete an associates degree or higher. There are many different paths to take after high school, but the social pressures that adolescents face during this time can be str...

Recently, youth-driven marches such as 'March for Our Lives' have received extensive media coverage. While many kids and teens are participating in these marches, what happens to those who want a different outlet? Have adults pressured youth into marching? On this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman are joined by Dr. Ellen Braaten to discuss the effects of activi...

We're not going to pretend it isn't so. If you're seeking mental or behavioral health services for your child, it can be tricky and frustrating trying to navigate the system. But resources are available. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Ellen Braaten joins Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman to offer advice on things parents can do to get the appropriate mental health help for kids w...

Is creativity important for human relationships? We don't just think so, we know it! Think about it, yourself: What does it mean when you watch a movie with family or create music with friends? On this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman delve into all things creative, including the biological and social impacts of creativity on individuals, kids, and communities...

A lot has changed over the years in the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including that we’re getting better at understanding how to recognize it early in kids. And the earlier treatment starts, the more beneficial and effective it will be for children with ASD.But what is ASD, and why do we now consider it a spectrum disorder instead of multiple, separate diagnoses, like...

Does turning 18 mark the start of adulthood, or is this milestone simply a cultural construct? These days, researchers say that legal adolescence should continue into the mid-20s. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman break down this phenomenon, its origins and cultural contexts, and how adolescent development and behavior definitely persists beyond the age...

At 14 years old, in the 1980s, Kathleen began seeing Dr. Beresin, an experienced clinician with expertise in eating disorders. Though eating disorders can be potentially deadly, over many years of working on it, Kathleen conquered her anorexia nervosa. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Kathleen joins Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman to share her story of finding herself, including what...

Emotional eating occurs when we use food as a coping mechanism to deal with the stresses in life. Oftentimes, feelings of shame and regret follow patterns of emotional eating. Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman break down what emotional eating is, where it comes from, and how parents can help their children learn how to use healthy coping mechanisms when faced with stress. Thank you for join...

While relationships with family, friends, and even pets can be challenging, learning how to balance our needs with the needs of others can lead to meaningful, loving relationships. Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman are joined by Dr. Ellen Braaten to celebrate the joys of love, and to discuss how raising independent, caring children can help our kids have loving relationships in the future....

According to a 2017 report by the American Psychological Association, 2/3 of Americans feel stressed about the future of our nation, including a majority of each Democrats and Republicans. But who needs a survey to point that out – even our kids can tell how tense we are. So, what gives? Dr. Ellen Braaten joins co-hosts Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman to explore what the heck is going on...

Films foster empathy and can even promote social action. Sharing stories of mental health through video allows viewers to deeply connect with storytellers. When we watch and listen to stories, we begin to expand our own perspectives and understand the lived experiences of others. Filmmaker Eric Lu (Looking For Luke, Can Kids Get Mental Illness?) joins co-hosts Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schloz...

Whether they have fur, scales, tail or no tail, pets can improve the mental and emotional health of children, teens, and our entire families. They love us unconditionally through hard life lessons. It's no wonder we love them, too! Today, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman discuss the importance of pets through the lens of both child psychiatrists and proud animal parents who've experienced...

Differing viewpoints, feelings of frustration. We're all constantly on edge today, and families can be home to a wide range of beliefs, which only adds stress to "together" time. But who has the energy for negativity? And what message are we sending to our kids when we don't even try to be civil? Dr. Ellen Braaten, who's family is the perfect melting pot when it comes to different POVs,  joins co-...

In today's episode, Dr. Ellen Braaten, psychologist and associate director of the Clay Center, joins co-hosts Beresin and Schlozman to address common questions parents have when they notice changes or differences in their kids' behavior: Is this typical? Does my child need to see a professional? In this discussion, we navigate these questions together - how to assess and make decisions about what'...

Mental health made simple? Who are we kidding? It can be really complicated. Just take a look at our short film, "Can Kids Get Mental Illness?'': https://youtu.be/halx1H-mvnw But openly talking about the challenges we face -- from mental, to behavioral, to emotional health -- is a great place to start in better understanding ourselves and those we care for, so we know what steps to take next. Than...

Dr. Ellen Braaten joins Gene and Steve today to process the recent terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert, as both shrinks and parents. This attack felt different from others because it targeted kids. Join as they share different points of view on how our kids might be feeling, and how to move forward in our lives in a healthy way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Gene and Steve talk about a really difficult and in many ways scary topic: Teen suicide. Suicide rates are on the rise for the entire US population. It's currently the 2nd leading cause of death among 18-26 year olds & 3rd leading cause for 15-18 year olds. All during a time in which we've become more aware of mental illness and have more services available. So why is this happening? We owe...

Gene welcomes members from Addiction Free Futures Project to discuss some of their latest initiatives related to Screening, Brief intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), tools for prevention of substance use by youth and for identifying substance use early if experimentation has already begun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drs. Gene Beresin and Steve Schlozman discuss the growing concerns around the mental health of our teens and young adults in college today. Read the accompanying blog post here:http://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/6752/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.