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The new school year will be here before you know it and to help you prepare, Nikki and Chad will be doing a short Back to School series highlighting some of the most common challenges faced by anxious kids and their families each fall. In part 1, New Places, New Faces, your Scrambled co-hosts discuss how to help kids of all ages face anxieties about going to a new school or a new building. They walk through strategies to help kids get more comfortable and as always provide suggestions to help parents navigate their own emotions during the process. 

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Summer vacation season is in full swing so for this episode, Nikki and Chad share tips for navigating childhood anxiety while traveling. Knowing what to expect is important to worried kids but it’s also helpful for adults to stay in tune with their own emotions along the way. For more information about social stories, one idea that Nikki shares, check out www.carolgraysocialstories.com.

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Dr. Jessica Snowden-Patel, Clinical Child Psychologist, joins Chad and Nikki for episode 24 –  ‘Psychological Evaluation 101,’ for a deep dive into the process of a psychological evaluation. Dr. Patel answers questions about when and how to access a psychologist in your family’s mental health journey as well as what to expect along the way. 

Dr. Patel’s Favorite Resources:

GoZen

Understood.org

The What to Do Series of workbooks by Dawn Huebner (available on amazon.com)

The Explosive Child, by Ross Green, find it here

Triple P- Positive Parenting Program

Uniquely Human, by  Dr. Barry M. Prizant Ph.D and Tom Fields-Meyer, find it here

Parent Lab App – available for download on Android and Apple devices

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Learning that your child has a mental health condition can be extremely difficult but for many parents and caregivers, a diagnosis means ANSWERS, a direction or plan, and validation of all the struggle. In episode 23, Chad and Nikki explore the process of receiving and making sense of a mental health diagnosis along with tips for navigating the difficult emotions that often accompany this experience.

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You might think that mental health symptoms aren’t something to celebrate but in episode 22, Symptom or Superpower, Nikki and Chad describe how mental health disorders sometimes come with or lead to the development of “superpowers” for children and their families. Every challenge your child faces is an opportunity to build skills and resilience and this episode contains tips to help parents and caregivers find the bright side of their child’s emotional and behavioral struggles.

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You can find information about anything pretty much anywhere these days, but when it comes to mental health, it’s important to look for trustworthy and accurate information. In this episode, Nikki and Chad provide a list of some of their favorite mental health resources including books, TV shows, documentaries, movies, and websites.

Websites:

Helpguide.org

National Child Traumatic Stress Network 

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – 988 

Conscious Discipline

Movies:

‘Inside Out’ (Available on Disney+)

‘Turning Red’ (Available on Disney+)

Netflix Shows:

‘Anxious People’

Apple TV+:

‘The Me You Can’t See,’ by Oprah and Dr. Bruce Perry

Books:

‘What Happened to You,’ by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry

‘The Opposite of Worry,’ by Lawrence J. Cohen

‘Anxious People: A Novel,’ by Frederik Backman

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How do you know if something your child is doing is a sign of a problem, or if it’s actually a completely normal part of their development? In episode 20 of the Scrambled Podcast, Nikki and Chad share that “normal” is relative to the child and the situation, and explore the difference between so-called “normal behaviors” and those that might be signs of an underlying mental health issue. 

Having good mental health doesn’t mean you don’t have a mental illness, and Nikki referenced this article from Helpguide.org about the positive traits that make up good mental health.

Many fears are common and completely normal at various developmental stages during childhood and adolescence, and this is the article that Nikki referenced by Natasha Daniels of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast and website.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Chad and Nikki have chosen to observe this month with weekly episodes about current issues in the world of mental health. In episode 19, Nikki and Chad talk about the recent uptick in demand for mental health services facing their area and others around the country. Following, COVID many people have experienced new and worsening mental health symptoms prompting an unprecedented number of referrals to counselors, therapists, and social workers. This has led to long wait lists and wait times for many people needing help right now. This episode is a list of tips for navigating the time between asking for help and actually being able to talk to a mental health professional. NOTE: While these suggestions may bridge the gap and help you prepare for your first visit, if you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call your local mental health clinic for guidance, go to the nearest emergency room, or call 911.

Episode 19 – ’I’m on a Waiting List, Now What?’ – Scrambled: The Children‘s Mental Health Podcast

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Nikki and Chad have chosen to observe this month with weekly episodes about current issues in the world of mental health. In episode 19, Nikki and Chad talk about the recent uptick in demand for mental health services facing their area and others around the country. 

In the 18th episode of Scrambled: The Children’s Mental Health Podcast, Chad Douglas and Nikki Shields explore the challenging topic of discipline as it relates to childhood mental health. A discussion of the purpose of discipline along with some important things to consider when disciplining your anxious child are contained in this episode. Nikki also shares some practical approaches and tips to try as well. You can find the book “No Drama Discipline” by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson at our Amazon Affiliate Site. You can also check out Nikki’s article, “I Have an Anger Problem.” 

Extracurricular activities are great ways for kids to build skills and self-confidence. But for kids with anxiety, there are some important factors to consider. In episode 17, Brad Hoyt, Director of Sportsball at John Wood Community College in Quincy, IL, joins Chad and Nikki to discuss the emotional and developmental benefits of sports, music, art, and other extracurricular activities along with proven strategies for navigating the world of competition and performance with your anxious child.