Voices of Compassion

What does it feel like to be a teenager today? In this special Voices of Compassion episode, CHC's Teen Leadership Collaborative takes the mic to share an honest, unfiltered look at the challenges young people are navigating right now. From academic pressure and social media to friendships, anxiety, and the struggle to ask for help, these student leaders offer powerful insights into what it's real...

Content Note: This episode includes discussion of transgender identity, mental health, depression, self-harm, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling or experiencing thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) in the United States for free, confidential support 24/7. What does it actually feel like to watch your child become m...

What if the most powerful thing an educator can do has nothing to do with curriculum? Search Institute has spent over 60 years studying what helps youth thrive – and the answer keeps coming back to one thing: relationships. In this conversation with President & CEO of Search Institute, Ben Houltberg, PhD, LMFT, we unpack the science of developmental relationships – a specific, research-backed...

Today we’re talking about something that can be really confusing for parents: what it looks like when a child has both ADHD and autism. A lot of families notice that something is going on, but it’s not just one thing. Maybe their child is constantly in motion, struggles with focus, has big emotional reactions, or seems overwhelmed by things other kids handle more easily. Maybe social situations ar...

Today's classrooms look nothing like they did a generation ago. Teachers are showing up every day to reach students who are anxious, exhausted, withdrawn, and sometimes in crisis — and they're doing it without the resources, time and support they need. In this episode, we talk with Amanda Morin , neurodiversity expert and nationally known speaker and author. Our conversation takes an honest look a...

In this candid and thoughtful episode, two teen leaders from the CHC Teen Collaborative share what it’s like to manage mental health in a world shaped by academic competition, social comparison, and constant pressure to perform. Cailey, from My Digital TAT2 , and Brian, from allcove , talk openly about burnout, therapy, family communication, identity, and the emotional weight many teens carry whil...

What happens when screens become the go-to tool for calming big emotions? In this episode of Voices of Compassion , CHC post doctoral fellows, Sydney Hernandez, PhD , and Elsa Cincione, PsyD , explore how technology impacts emotional regulation in young children. They explain what the research says about the latest screen time guidelines and what it means for families. Listen in to hear about the...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere – from homework tools to social media algorithms. But what does all of this mean for your child? In this episode of Voices of Compassion , we sit down with renowned computer scientist and AI expert, Kerrie Holley , to break down what AI is (and isn’t), how it’s shaping our daily lives, and how parents can set healthy guardrails without fear or panic. Listen in...

Wondering what a neuropsychological evaluation actually tells you – and what to do with the results? In this episode, CHC experts, Joaquin Burciaga , PhD, and Whitney Geller , PhD, break down how neuropsych testing helps clarify a child's learning, attention, memory, language, and emotional regulation – so families can move from questions to a clear plan. You'll discover what a neuropsych evaluati...

What if hope isn't just a feeling – but a teachable skill that can transform learning? In this episode, we explore the powerful intersection of hope science and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with Brenda Green , a former math teacher turned educational leader from CAST . Learn how the UDL framework creates the conditions for hope to flourish by honoring learner variability, removing barriers...

What does it take for students with learning differences to find their voice and advocate for their own needs? In this episode, we explore self advocacy with CHC experts, Emily Hsu, PhD and Yi-Hua Lin, PsyD as a learnable skill that's critical for academic success and beyond. We'll discuss when students can start developing this ability, how it evolves from elementary through high school, and the...

Join us for an important conversation about the mental health challenges facing young people in our community where academic pressure, perfectionism, and social media create unique stressors for students and families. We talk with CHC’s CEO, Ryan Eisenberg, EdD, about how CHC can come alongside families in their toughest moments with compassionate care – through clinical services, school partnersh...

Executive function is the brain's management system – helping us plan, organize, manage emotions, and adapt to change. But for neurodivergent youth, these skills develop differently. In this episode, psychologist Dr. Mayra Quezada, PsyD and Rosinel Ermio, MS   break down what executive function really means. Learn to recognize the difference between defiance and genuine executive function str...

What does it really mean to trust your child—and how is that different from being permissive or naive? In this episode, we talk with CHC experts, Marjan Ebadi, PhD and Dylan Stewart, PsyD , about the psychology of trust, from early independence to adolescence, understanding what is realistic throughout a child’s development. We’ll talk about how parents can tell the difference between productive s...

Grief is a rollercoaster—and for children, the ride can be unpredictable. In this heartfelt episode, CHC experts,  Karly Crockett, LCSW , and  Rachel O’Harra, LMFT explore how kids experience loss within the family system and why grief should be shared, not silent. They unpack how grief shows up at different developmental stages—from toddlers to teens—and share real examples of what to s...

What does it really mean to raise strong girls — and how has our understanding of their needs evolved? In this heartfelt conversation, we talk with CHC experts, Marjan Ebadi, PhD and Emily Hsu, PhD , about the unique challenges girls face growing up today. From the moment a young girl says, “I can’t do it,” to the pressures of body image, perfectionism, and social media, we explore how confidence...

How do you know if your child is making progress in therapy? What if therapy came with a GPS that showed you exactly where your child is on their mental health journey and the best route to reach their goals? In this episode, we explore measurement-based care (MBC) with CHC experts Pardis Khosravi, PsyD and Emily Hsu, PhD – about this approach that's transforming mental health treatment by making...

When your young child with ADHD has an explosive meltdown over something seemingly small, it's not manipulation—it's neurobiology. In this Voices of Compassion podcast episode, we talk with CHC experts, Neilson Chan, PhD , and Marjan Ebadi, PhD , about emotional dysregulation in young children with ADHD, exploring why their emotions feel bigger, last longer, and come on more rapidly than their neu...

Content trigger warning. Please be advised that today's episode discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you are having thoughts of suicide, feeling suicidal, or have concerns that someone you know may be at risk of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text HOME to 741741 to reach a crisis counselor. You are not alone. Teen suicide is one of the most challe...

Parenting a child with unique needs can feel isolating. In this episode, we talk with our own CHC Parent Support Group facilitators and psychologists, Olivia McDonald, PsyD , Emily Cree, PsyD , and Emily Hsu, PhD , about how parent support groups create vital connections for families facing unique challenges that go far beyond typical parenting experiences. Our experts share insights on why peer s...

Today's teens face unprecedented pressure to excel academically, socially, and in extracurricular activities, contributing to rising rates of stress and mental health challenges among young people. This pressure stems from competitive college admissions, social media comparison culture, peers and unrealistic expectations to name a few. While healthy motivation encourages growth and learning from m...

Join us for this podcast episode as we explore the experience of neurodivergent individuals navigating a world designed for neurotypical minds. In this conversation with CHC experts, Melanie Hsu, PhD , Clinical Director and licensed psychologist and Marjan Ebadi, PhD , licensed psychologist, we talk about challenging the traditional deficit model that focuses on "fixing" neurodivergent traits, ins...

In this Voices of Compassion episode, we talk with CHC experts, Ramsey Khasho, PsyD , Chief Clinical Officer and licensed psychologist, and Pardis Khosravi, PsyD , Clinical Director and licensed psychologist to take a clear-eyed look at the real state of teen mental health in 2025. Moving beyond sensationalized headlines, we’ll discuss recent data showing promising developments as well as still co...

In this episode, we explore the complex relationship between digital devices and family well-being. We examine how screen time affects developing brains and physical health, from sleep disruption to attention impacts. Our CHC experts, Vidya Krishnan, MD  and Olivia McDonald, PsyD , share practical strategies for establishing healthy boundaries around technology use, emphasizing the importance...

Autism diagnoses have increased in the last several years. Why is that? Join us as we explore the nuanced world of neurodevelopmental disorders and how several conditions can present with symptoms that mimic autism spectrum disorder. Our CHC expert licensed psychologists, Whitney Geller, PhD and Neilson Chan, PhD , discuss the core features of autism—social communication challenges, restricted int...