Did you know that sensory integration problems may manifest as distraction, impulsivity, lashing out or melting down? It can also manifest through hyperactivity, resisting hugs and putting things in their mouth. There are many theories to the cause of this behavior: it can be sensory processing disorder, ADHD or autism. One popular approach to treatment is called Sensory Integration therapy (SI). SI uses fun activities in a controlled, stimulating environment. This way, kids experiencing sen...

In this week's episode, we explore ENERGY HEALING as an alternative treatment that can be used to relieve anxiety among kids with ADHD. It is more popular for dealing with health issues, but is gaining traction in mental health. This is because energy healing is intended to induce relaxation and disconnection from many sources of fears. You can learn more about energy healing and find a practitioner here. We invited an advocate and expert on this subject, Dr. Cynthia Higgins, who will ...

This is the 2nd part of the 2-part series of our talk with Dr. Lisa Rapp-McCall about human trafficking. This episode focuses on the internet as the primary means for human traffickers to target unsuspecting and vulnerable youths for their own personal gains. Dr. Lisa Rapp-McCall provided valuable insights on how parents can protect kids against online predators without overstepping private boundaries. Dr. Lisa Rapp-McCall received her MSW degree in Social Work from the University of B...

Human trafficking is a 150 billion dollar industry and the third-largest crime industry in the world. The idea of human trafficking is so disturbing that many parents can’t imagine having a conversation with their children about it. In this episode, we talked to Dr. Lisa Rapp-McCall about the subject. Dr. Rapp-McCall explains the different types of human trafficking and the dynamics of the relationship between the trafficker and the victim. She also tells us what we need to know about how vic...

People with ADHD break the law four to seven times more than individuals without ADHD. This explains why many parents we talk to worry about their child getting into legal trouble. In this episode, Attorney Kevin Astl explains how parents can talk to their children about law enforcement. We also discuss the legal rights parents have when making treatment decisions for their children if both parents are not in agreement. Kevin Astl is a Family Law Attorney in the Tampa...

Attention dog lovers! We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Dr. Sabrina Schuck about the research she has led on canine-assisted therapy. In this episode, you will learn the difference between a service animal, a therapy animal, and an emotional support pet. But most exciting are the findings of current research investigating the effectiveness of therapy animals working with kids with ADHD. *Spoiler Alert* The findings are promising but we suggest you listen for yourself. ...

With the COVID pandemic seemingly never-ending, many families find themselves making unhealthy meal choices while limiting their physical activity. We are guilty of this ourselves and coined the weight we gained “the Covid-19 lbs.” This is why we were very excited to speak to Nutrition Coach, Isa Griffin to learn the basics of healthy eating to boost immunity, maintain a healthy weight, and have optimal brain function. She shares tips and tricks to simplify the process of making healthy food ...

If your child continues to struggle academically academic coaching could be the answer. Students with ADHD and anxiety are more likely to experience problems with homework, GPA, and attendance. Oftentimes therapy and medication aren’t enough. We interviewed Dr. Norrine Russell, owner, and founder of Russell Coaching, to learn the difference between tutoring and academic coaching as well as the difference between traditional therapy and ADHD coaching. She covers information like what to look f...

Did you know that there are eye disorders that share the same symptoms like ADHD and Anxiety? Can you believe that as many as 1 in 20 school-age kids are affected by a vision difference called Convergence Insufficiency (CI), yet routine eye exams and school-based vision screenings don’t routinely look for it? Kids who have ADHD are three times more likely to have CI which causes difficulty reading and concentrating. Two core symptoms that are often quickly attributed to learning disabil...

If you want more than a subjective questionnaire completed by the teacher to verify your child’s diagnosis of ADHD then you don’t want to miss our interview with April Green, APRN. April is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and the owner and founder of Focus of Tampa Bay. She uses a super-cool computerized assessment tool to measure 3 core symptoms of ADHD and combines this objective data with subjective data such as teacher reports and parent interviews. The result is better accura...

The issue of video games is a frequent debate between many parents and their children. Video games are especially reinforcing for kids with non-neurotypical brains, as playing them allows for opportunities to hyper-focus in a relatively effortless activity (compared to what they have done at school all day, for example). These games also allow children to fail in a safe space, and then they have the opportunity to try again when the game re-starts. Kids with ADHD and anxiety can f...

Many parents of children with ADHD watch them engage in problematic behaviors and wonder if they may have Oppositional Defiant Disorder. ODD diagnoses are common among children who were first diagnosed with ADHD, and in this episode we discuss why this may be the case. Rather than looking at these two diagnoses separately, we link the symptoms of ADHD to oppositional and defiant behavior. Kids with non-neurotypical brains can become easily frustrated or dysregulated, and the...

As parents, we may wonder why our children have difficulty being calm. Like everything else, kids need us to teach them how to do it! If we don’t model our own calmness and discuss what it feels like, they won’t know how to achieve or recognize that feeling for themselves. Mindfulness is a proven and effective practice to increase the calm and decrease the overwhelm in our daily lives. We can all benefit from taking time to be in the present and focus on what we are thinkin...

It can be frustrating if traditional therapy does not appear to be working optimally for you or for your child. Teresa and Kelly discuss the self-help tool known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or “Tapping”. When we tap, the stress hormones released into our bodies reduce significantly. As they dissipate, the brain comes back online and is available for rational thought and problem-solving. Research has shown this strategy to be incredibly effective, especially fo...

Today Teresa and Kelly explain cognitive behavioral therapy also known as CBT. Here at the Parenting Balance Podcast, you'll find simple, science-based tools and tricks for parenting kids with ADHD or anxiety. Although we are both family therapists, this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not replace the guidance of a qualified professional. Join us as we debate and discuss our own experiences as parents of kids diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety and breakdown the latest resea...

Because the medication used to treat ADHD is a controlled substance, it's natural for parents to have fears about giving it to their kid. In this episode, Kelly and Teresa discuss the most common concerns they hear from parents, explain how stimulants work as a treatment option, and what the science says about the risk for addiction. For more information check out this interview with Dr. Dodson. Here at the Parenting Balance Podcast, you'll find simple, science-based tools and tricks for pare...

In this episode, Kelly shares her personal story about how she first learned that her child had ADHD and answers the question of when is the right time for parents to think about medication therapy as a treatment option. Here at the Parenting Balance Podcast, you'll find simple, science-based tools and tricks for parenting kids with ADHD or anxiety. Although we are both family therapists, this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not replace the guidance of a qualified profes...

In this episode, our daring duo explains the basics of how ADHD neurology impacts the development of executive function skills. The Episode references this book by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare. Here at the Parenting Balance Podcast, you'll find simple, science-based tools and tricks for parenting kids with ADHD or anxiety. Although we are both family therapists, this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not replace the guidance of a qualified professional. Join us as we debat...

In this episode, we're going to talk about why kids with ADHD don't want to do the things we ask them to do. Here at the Parenting Balance Podcast, you'll find simple, science-based tools and tricks for parenting kids with ADHD or anxiety. Although we are both family therapists, this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not replace the guidance of a qualified professional. Join us as we debate and discuss our own experiences as parents of kids diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety ...