Voices of Compassion

Feeling anxious about coming out from behind your computer screen? You are not alone. According to the APA, nearly 50% of Americans say they feel anxious about getting back to ‘normal’ post-pandemic, enough for psychologists to coin the phrase "re-entry anxiety." Given that we haven’t interacted in-person without some degree of fear or uncertainty in over a year, the feeling is understandable. So...

Last March, we thought we'd be sheltering in place, wearing masks and social distancing for a few weeks. Yet here we are over a year later, tired and stressed, stretched beyond what we thought we could endure. We're experiencing what mental health experts call a “collective trauma” – overwhelm, isolation and the loss of what life used to be. Some have flourished during shelter-in-place and are anx...

The share of Americans reporting symptoms of anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, or both roughly quadrupled from June 2019 to December 2020, according to a Census Bureau study released late last year. Anxiety can be sneaky, popping up in a variety of cognitive, behavioral and physical ways. Because it affects everyone, anxiety is an opportunity for us to share our own emotional experiences with...

Working remotely while the kids distance learn from the dining room table and the dishwasher’s full and the couch covered in laundry and the dog needs a walk and it’s already snack time even though you just cleaned up breakfast...The past year has been a time of distraction and overwhelm for all of us, especially those with learning and attention differences. ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental co...

When COVID closed schools, Dr. Joaquin Burciaga and his wife, both neuropsychologists, transformed their living room into a preschool for their daughter with special needs. Over the past year, they’ve learned a thing or two about resilience, patience and the importance of flexibility. Dr. Burciaga is amazed that kids were ever expected to sit still at a desk all day, and has come to peace with the...

As the mom of a daughter with dyslexia, Dewey Rosetti knows first-hand that having a child with a learning difference can take as big a toll on their confidence as their report card. But as an LD advocate and author, she also knows that normal doesn’t exist and neurodiversity can lead to brilliance. In today’s podcast episode, we sat down with Dewey to glean her best advice for parents to support...

In a year where every one of us has experienced the loss of normalcy, safety and independence, we are feeling the effects of psychological and physiological fatigue. Stress can manifest itself in a variety of physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms, which can make it harder for kids to learn and contribute to risk of developing mental health difficulties. Tune in as Patrice Crisostomo, PhD , C...

How do you support your young child’s development in a pandemic, when so much of it depends on play, exploration and social interaction? Tune in as our guest, Shirit Megiddo, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL , Speech-Language Pathologist at CHC and mom of a two-year-old son, shares typical developmental milestones and ideas for keeping young children engaged both on-and offline as the pandemic wears on. It’s h...

From following your instincts and asking for help to taking your family’s temperature and practicing “Wise Mind,” today’s podcast episode offers a heartfelt and authentic glimpse into one family’s journey with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT is an intensive therapeutic approach teaching social emotional and resilience skills that can help adolescents struggling with emotion regulation, exc...

Teachers are usually on the front lines of our child’s well-being, noticing learning, behavioral or attention challenges, supporting them in the classroom and relaying them to us as parents. With our kids learning from home, it’s much harder for teachers to identify and defuse potential causes for concern. While many parents are busy with their own work and responsibilities, there are some red fla...

Life has perhaps never felt more out of our control than it has over the past year. But refusing to accept our reality doesn’t change its outcome. Rather it increases the suffering that comes from the futility of fighting against it. Enter Radical Acceptance: the practice of letting go of the illusion of control and being willing to accept things as they are right now. In this episode, Patrice Cri...

With distance and hybrid learning, parents have front row seats like never before to their children’s strengths and challenges. Has your child memorized elaborate sequences of historical events but can’t remember to turn in homework? Are they doing advanced math for fun but won’t fill out a simple worksheet for school? Does your child talk about complex topics but struggle to read at grade level?...

College is a big decision, especially for those with mental health challenges and even more so during a pandemic. Thankfully, our guest on today’s podcast is an expert at getting adolescents to open up, let their guards down and feel heard. Hear from Katie Reeves , Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at CHC, talk about strategies to foster healthy conversations on even the toughest topics...

Mental health is one of the biggest issues our world is collectively facing, creating a “shadow pandemic” as widespread as the virus itself. Today’s guest, CHC Licensed Psychologist Pardis Khosravi , shares strategies for us to be more understanding and accepting of our own humanness, thus improving our ability to cope with adversity, make changes that lead to personal growth and model self-compas...

From creating a schedule and routine to providing ample opportunity for exercise and play, Jody Miller, MEd, BCBA shares her best advice for at-home learning success. As Head of Esther B. Clark Schools , Jody’s experience with kids who struggle in a typical classroom environment have prepared her to creatively address problem behavior and positively reinforce those behaviors we’d like to see more...

From parenting, mindfulness, raising compassionate kids, self-compassion, empathy, ADHD, distance learning, positive feedback, mental health and family dynamics, we’ve covered a lot of territory since our podcast launched in October. Today we take a brief jaunt down memory lane and revisit some of our favorite takeaways from past episodes. Join us for this short-and-sweet listen, and be sure to vi...

From creating snow creatures out of marshmallows and (melting them in a cup of cocoa) to hosting a “quarantine potluck,” CHC clinicians compiled a list of ways to safely find and share cheer this holiday season. In today’s episode, CHC’s Director of Community Connections and podcast host, Cindy Lopez talks with Marketing Associate, Mike Navarrete and Associate Director of Marketing and Communicati...

Sheltering in place has created some new family dynamics. Emotions and anxiety are heightened as we deal with COVID-19, distance learning and more. What can you as a parent do to support a healthy family environment in your home? Tune into this podcast to hear about some strategies you can use now. Guest: Jennifer Leydecker , LMFT, Clinical Program Manager at CHC Visit Voices of Compassion online...

In today’s episode, Tony Cepeda, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Program Manager at CHC , shares sobering statistics on the current state of youth mental health along with simple strategies on how best to help manage your child’s emotional well-being. With empathy for the myriad demands on parents right now, Tony offers creative ways to foster openness, start conversations, stay conne...

In today’s episode, ADHD expert Dr. Glen Elliott , Chief Psychiatrist and Medical Director at CHC, shares his wisdom on how ADHD might present itself during distance learning; how to mitigate distractions and maximize learning; to medicate or not to medicate; finding compassion for yourself and your child; and the importance of positive reinforcement.  Resources: Raising Human Beings  by...

Distance learning is a challenge at best. Add ADHD to the mix and you get a whole new kind of challenge. Tune into this episode to hear from ADHD expert, Dr. Glen Elliott , Chief Psychiatrist and Medical Director at CHC, about how you can best support your child with ADHD while learning remotely. Resources: Raising Human Beings  by Ross Greene Visit Voices of Compassion online and see full ep...

Host Cindy Lopez interviews Dr. Joan Baran , Clinical Director at CHC , as they unpack Dr. Baran’s well known C.A.L.M. parenting technique. This memorable acronym provides a roadmap for working with your child - at every age - to overcome opposing viewpoints and create a path forward marked with unity and respect.  Read Dr. Baran’s blog post here . Visit Voices of Compassion online and see fu...

Join host Cindy Lopez and her guests as they discuss how a family culture of compassion can really open hearts and minds. Therapist Kendra Fraka and Occupational Therapist, Vibha Pathak draw from their professional experiences working with kids of all ages and raising their own children - to help us cultivate a compassionate and unjudging community, starting at home. No surprise here: compassion s...

Living in this uncertain and changing environment can lead to stress responses in all of us. All children respond to stress in different ways – some responses are more productive than others. Listen in to this podcast to hear about 3 valuable mindfulness strategies you can use today with your kids to help alleviate stress. Featured guest: Jennifer Salomon , OTD, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist at CH...

Last week on Voices of Compassion , Guest Liza Bennigson candidly shared how her family of four is adjusting to a new normal and the social emotional impacts from this year. On part two of "I Will Get By," Liza talks about what she's learned about self-care, how to start difficult conversations with your kids and tips she's learned from CHC clinicians for hanging on during hopeless moments. Sign u...