The Individual Matters Podcast

There are many different types of testing available for learning-related issues. Where and why you seek testing for your child will determine who evaluates your child, which tests are administered, how results are interpreted and communicated to you, what findings and recommendations follow, and the total amount of time and costs involved in the process. In this episode, we discuss a few different...

Eric Gil of Strong Branch Learning describes an important resource available to Colorado K-12 students, Parents Challenge is a nonprofit organization that disrupts the legacy of educational failure by empowering parents of K-12 students with scholarships, information, training, mentoring, tools, and other resources so they can choose the education they think is best for their children. Learn more...

The autonomic nervous system, why we get stuck in “fight or flight” mode, and easy-to-do exercises for calming your mind and body. Dr. Andrea Jordheim is a practicing upper cervical specialist and certified functional medicine practitioner who strives to identify the cause of her patient’s disease/condition by uncovering any underlying biochemical and physiological dysfunction. She honors each pat...

Whether you're a parent, teacher, clinician, or medical provider, this episode is for you – especially if you know of or work with children who have (or might have) a developmental disability. Sabrina Bussard (Respite Essentials, LLC) talks about Colorado's Child Extensive Support (CES) waiver, criteria for eligibility, how to apply, the eligibility determination process, and what specific support...

What does ADHD look like in the classroom? What strategies and mindsets are most important for working with students with ADHD? What should parents keep in mind at home? Josh Guddat is a middle school teacher with twenty years’ experience in the classroom. He and his wife own and operate Essentials in Learning, a tutoring and ADHD coaching business in Grand Junction, Colorado. Learn more about the...

The extinction burst is important to understand and recognize when attempting to set new boundaries or limits in your life. Every interpersonal relationship follows rules that have been modeled and learned over time. When you set a new boundary, and the rules suddenly change, what follows is an extinction burst - a temporary increase in the frequency and/or intensity of the old behavior. Eventuall...

A presentation for caretakers: how compassion fatigue differs from burnout, the signs and risk factors, and preventions and solutions. This presentation was originally delivered at Colorado Mesa University on November 6, 2023. Presenters and Copyright 2023 Owners: Tycee Belcastro, M.A., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Counseling With Tycee, counselingwithtycee.com Dr. Katrina Katen, Psy. D...

To kick off the school year, Eric Gil explains the value of attending back-to-school night and connecting early on with school counselors. Then he lays out the rationale and process for establishing a consistent study/homework routine. Eric Gil is founder, “nerd,” and CEO of Strong Branch Learning, a tutoring and educational services provider in Grand Junction, Colorado. He is a former middle scho...

Learn the first steps you should take if you suspect your child has a learning struggle. What to do when contacted by your child’s school, what mindset you need to adopt, who’s in charge of this process, how to work with the school’s educational team, basic options available to you and your student, as well as their associated pros and cons, costs, and much more. Kim Maurin (academic language ther...

A mother shares her uplifting and inspiring story about what it's like to have dyslexia, and its superpowers. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on July 2, 2023.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopmental evaluations. Dr. Katrina Katen, Psy. D., is a licensed psychologist, speaker and educator, and author o...

Visual functioning affects all aspects of child development: play, learning, and socializing. It involves much more than just reading letters on an eye chart. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Fortuna describes how and why visual development matters, symptoms that parents and teachers should look for, and how dysfunction is assessed and treated by occupational therapists. Dr. Jennifer Fortuna, PhD, is...

Kathy Den, occupational therapist, explains how behavior, learning, and development is affected by a sensory component called "vestibular processing." What is vestibular processing, and why does it matter? What are the symptoms of vestibular delays in children? When should parents be concerned? How are vestibular problems assessed and treated? What can parents and teachers do today to support vest...

Matt Price is CEO of Priceless Coaching, specializing in comprehensive life assessment and personalized executive coaching services, based in Grand Junction, Colorado. Matt starts this episode by asking some hard-hitting questions that will get you thinking deeply about why you may not be reaching your potential in life. We’ll get into the meat and potatoes of fear and success, and then Matt will...

There are ten fundamentals to establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries in the classroom. Dress codes are discussed to provide context and examples for implementing these fundamentals. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on October 6, 2021.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopmental evaluations. Dr. Ka...

Join us to explore The 5 Fundamentals to Behavior Management in the Classroom. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on August 9, 2021.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopmental evaluations. Dr. Katrina Katen, Psy. D., is a licensed psychologist, speaker and educator, and author of "The Ownership Yard." Andre...

School is almost out and summer is on it's way! In this segment, we share five fun ideas for remembering the past year and celebrating the time off. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on May 17, 2021.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopmental evaluations. Dr. Katrina Katen, Psy. D., is a licensed psycholog...

Setting and achieving a goal can be a powerful and life changing experience for people of all ages. In this episode, we discuss why and how to set and achieve SMART goals with your student. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on May 11, 2021.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopmental evaluations. Dr. Katrin...

Fear often manifests as anger. This segment offers perspectives for recognizing why children or students may become angry, as well as strategies for helping them work through these issues. Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopmental evaluations. Dr. Katrina Katen, Psy. D., is a licensed psychologist, speaker and educator, a...

Setting boundaries is fundamental to building healthy relationships. What are boundaries, who sets them, and how? This segment offers clear explanations and easy-to-follow tips for parents, educators, clinicians... and touches on some of the important concepts in Dr. Katen's book, "The Ownership Yard." (This episode was originally published on YouTube on April 13, 2021.) Individual Matters is a bo...

Ever ask your child, ”How was school?” and all you get is “I dunno” or “fine”? Parents and kids/teens both crave more meaningful discussion but are not always sure how to make it happen. In this episode, we share 5 ways to connect with your student of any age. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on March 30, 2021.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes...

How do we help students develop effective skills and strategies for self advocating? In this video, we discuss six fundamentals to this process. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on March 16, 2021.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopmental evaluations. Dr. Katrina Katen, Psy. D., is a licensed psychologis...

This is the final segment in a series about executive functioning (EF): our "5 R Solutions for Everyday Living." In this episode, we discuss how and why "Review and Recharge" helps build skills and strategies for EF. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on March 1, 2021.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopme...

This is the fifth segment in a series about executive functioning (EF): our "5 R Solutions for Everyday Living." In this episode, we discuss how and why "Rewards and Reinforcers" helps alleviate problems with EF. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on February 16, 2021.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopme...

This is the fourth segment in a series about executive functioning (EF): our "5 R Solutions for Everyday Living." In this episode, we discuss how and why "Rhythm and Routine" helps alleviate problems with EF. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on February 9, 2021.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopmental...

This is the third segment in a series about executive functioning (EF): our "5 R Solutions for Everyday Living." In this episode, we discuss how and why "Reduce" helps alleviate problems with EF. (This episode was originally published on YouTube on February 2, 2021.) Individual Matters is a boutique psychology practice that specializes in comprehensive learning and neurodevelopmental evaluations....