The Christina Crowe Podcast: Making the invisible VISIBLE

Today I’m talking to Jessica Batres, a trilingual therapist based in Ontario, about the unique experiences of first generation Canadians, our mental health and our evolving cultural identity. Brief Summary: Many first-generation Canadians feel the invisible weight of living between two cultures — pulled between the sacrifices of the generation before them and the pressure to succeed in the one they were born into. In this episode, we explore how cultural guilt, hustle culture, and the struggle to belong can make rest feel impossible, and why this tension takes such a toll on first-generation mental health.Resources for After the Show: Latina Women, Marianismo, and the Pressure to Be Perfect by Jessica Batres, MSW, RSW Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski, Self-Care for Latinas by Raquel Reichard and My Grandmothers Hand by Resmaa MenakemAbout our Guest: Jessica Batres is a trilingual therapist based in Ontario and the founder of Raíces  Flourish Counseling. Jessica’s path into mental health is rooted in years of frontline work with people experiencing homelessness, followed by roles in social policy focusing on housing and immigration. Today, she brings all of that insight into her therapy practice, where she supports women, young adults, and the Latine community in navigating anxiety, depression, and the weight of cultural expectations. Find Jessica: Website/Blog | Instagram Find Christina (CRPO #3908):  Website | Find a Therapist | Instagram | Podcast pageA gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you would appreciate one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted above or our Resources page on our website.LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | iHeart Radio | AmazonMusic | Castbox | RSS

Today I’m joined by Permission to Be group co-creators Sabrina Belo and Connie Marasco, to talk about what it’s like to be stuck with ourselves …  knowing something in your relationships or life needs to change, but not knowing how to make it happen, or feeling discouraged after past attempts have failed.We explore how the contemplation stage of change can be a powerful place to begin when supported in the right way. You’ll hear how understanding your nervous system, learning to set healthy boundaries, and building self-trust can help you move from frustration to clarity. Together, we discuss how slowing down, getting curious, and creating safety in connection with others can help you navigate change without losing yourself.Whether you’re facing burnout, identity shifts, or ongoing relationship stress, this conversation offers a compassionate roadmap to help you go from stuck to steady, at your own pace.Resources for After the Show: Check out Permission to Be, and sign up for the next available session. Our Resources: The Dig Deeper Blog. About our Guests:  Sabrina Belo, a trauma-informed counsellor, conscious parenting coach, and somatic practitioner, helps people navigate life’s transitions with clarity and compassion. From healing generational wounds to finding presence in parenting, or processing grief and identity shifts, Sabrina creates a supportive space for deep, lasting change. With certifications in somatic therapy, grief work, and conscious parenting, she blends science and soul to guide clients back to their true selves. Find Sabrina: Website | Instagram Connie Marasco, Registered Psychotherapist,  helps individuals and couples deepen connection, navigate conflict, and build more fulfilling relationships. With training in emotionally focused therapy (EFT) and a warm, culturally informed approach, Connie supports clients in understanding how their thoughts, attachment patterns, and past experiences shape how they relate to others. Find Connie: Website | Instagram  Find Christina (CRPO #3908):  Website | Find a Therapist | Instagram | Podcast pageA gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you would appreciate one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted above or our Resources page on our website.LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | iHeart Radio | AmazonMusic | Castbox | RSS

In this heartfelt episode, psychotherapist Christina Crowe speaks with advocate and parent Liana Cancian about the emotional and practical realities of raising a medically complex child. Liana shares her journey navigating her daughter’s rare seizure disorder, the challenges of accessing care and resources, and how community support and emotional resilience have shaped their family’s story. From cannabis therapy to founding a nonprofit for supportive housing, Liana offers insight, hope, and powerful lessons for families, educators, and allies of children with special needs.Highlights: What happens after your child gets a life-changing diagnosis,What it means to live alongside your child,The impact of having a medically complex child on their siblings,Understanding the mandate of Close to Home Caledon, fundraising for new housing solutions for special needs children in Caledon,The stories we tell ourselves and leaving a meaningful legacy. Resources for After the Show: Shining Through: Finding the balance between heartache and hope while raising a child with special needs, by Liana Cancian Three Bolton Women Unite to find a Special Needs Housing Solution by Patti FoleyConnect with others! Everyday Heroes Kids | Brampton-Caledon Community Living | Cassie’s Place | ErinOak KidsRead: The Dig Deeper Blog, especially: Finding the community that heals, by Katie RichardsonFind Christina (CRPO #3908): Website |Find a Therapist |Get Assessed by an NP in Ontario | Instagram |TikTok | XA gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina nor Katie are your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted above or our  Resources page on our website.LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | iHeart Radio | AmazonMusic | Castbox | RSS

What if behaviour analysis didn’t have to be a source of trauma for Autistic people? In this episode, Christina Crowe and co-host Katie Richardson speak with Kerry-Anne Robinson, Executive Director of the Progressive Life Centre in Ajax, Ontario. Kerry-Anne shares her powerful journey from traditional behaviour therapy to building a groundbreaking neurodiversity-affirming centre designed to celebrate, not suppress, difference. With personal roots in neurodivergent family life and professional leadership in compassionate care, Kerry-Anne opens up about how therapeutic spaces — and the people who run them — can evolve.Whether you're a clinician, caregiver, or someone with lived experience, this conversation is for anyone reckoning with the past and hopeful for a better future in autism support.Highlights:A Radical Redesign: Inside the Progressive Life Centre, a therapeutic space built for and with neurodivergent individuals.Beyond Compliance: Why true neurodiversity-affirming care is a direction, not a destination.Culture Shift in Behavioural Therapy: What it takes to retrain, reframe, and reimagine ABA through a trauma-informed lens.Empowering Parents & Providers: How to ask the right questions, name your concerns, and centre informed consent and client autonomy.Resources for After the Show: The Progressive Life Centre in Ajax, Ontario, and their Program Guide | Progressive Steps Neuroinclusive Design Read: The Dig Deeper Blog, especially: Neurodivergent-Affirming Clinical Practices and Psychological Safety The OG: The ADHD Resource HubAbout our Guest: Kerry-Anne Robinson is the Executive Director of Progressive Life Centre and Owner/Clinical Director of Progressive Steps Training and Consultation Inc. Kerry-Anne is leading a crucial paradigm shift in therapeutic support, mentoring therapists to move away from harmful traditional practices toward compassionate, accepting approaches. At Progressive Life Centre, she's created an environment where neurodivergent individuals aren't just supported– they're celebrated. Her innovative approach combines evidence-based practices with deep respect for neurodivergent experiences, demonstrating how therapeutic spaces can evolve to truly honour and empower the community they serve. Find Kerry-Anne: Website | Instagram | Email Kerry-Anne Find Katie (CRPO #11244): Website | InstagramFind Christina (CRPO #3908): Website |Find a Therapist |Get Assessed by an NP in Ontario | Instagram |TikTok | XA gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina nor Katie are your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted above or our  Resources page on our website.LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | iHeart Radio | AmazonMusic | Castbox | RSS

Exploring the overlooked dynamics of ableism within loving families sheds light on how internalized beliefs affect relationships. The discussion highlights the damaging misinterpretations of ADHD traits, revealing how such views can sabotage connection. It also delves into the complexities of unaddressed neurodivergence among family members. Listeners are guided toward fostering understanding and support, urging a shift to embrace neurodiversity and enhance family bonds. Practical insights empower families to begin their journey of awareness and advocacy.

Sheena and Christina explore  the complexities of diagnosing and treating ADHD, emphasizing the critical need for thorough assessments to uncover underlying issues. Sheena shared her experience of receiving a late ADHD diagnosis as a therapist, as well as highlighted the societal pressures and ableism she sees her clients continuing to face. The importance of pacing self-discovery and the gradual process of integrating one's true self, advocating for a nuanced understanding of neurodivergence and the significance of early intervention in therapy is also addressed. We explore:Sheena’s experience as a therapist navigating her own diagnostic journey, while working with ADHD clients,How can therapists ensure their experiences do not overshadow their clients' work?How societal pressures and ableism within the mental health community contribute to misunderstandings about the condition, How clients can ask their therapists to ensure they are offering them the ADHD strategies that are recommended by global treatment guidelines. Resources for After the Show: Take the Adult ADHD Masking Measure (AAMM): Questionnaire | Background info  Read: The Dig Deeper Blog, especially: ADHD: More Than a Buzzword, by Sheena Scott, RP Qualifying The Reckoning: Reflecting on a (late) ADHD Diagnosis as an Adult, by Christina Crowe, RPThe OG: The ADHD Resource Hub. About our Guest:  Sheena Scott is a neurodivergent-affirming therapist in Ontario with a special interest in helping adults who were recently diagnosed or suspect they have ADHD symptoms. Sheena completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University, and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and has been working with Dig a Little Deeper Psychotherapy since 2023.  Work with Sheena: Website | InstagramFind Christina (CRPO #3908):  Website | Find a Therapist | Get Assessed by an NP in Ontario | Instagram | Podcast page. A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina nor Katie are your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted above or our Resources page on our website.LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | iHeart Radio | AmazonMusic | Castbox | RSS

Today I’m talking to psychotherapist Mona Virk, from Caledon, Ontario, about Brown Girl Mental Health. Mona leads us through her own experiences and why now as a psychotherapist, she is dedicated to stating conversations that matter within in the South Asian community, about mental health. We talk about:What are the cultural stigmas and barriers to seeking help in the South Asian community?What is important to discern when talking about identity development and cultural connections?What are some of the nuances of growing up in a multicultural family, or community, on one’s mental health?How can we retain our brown parts of identity to be celebrated and passed on to future generations?What should clients do if they want to break any troubling cycles of family issues?Resources for After the Show: Do I have ADHD? (South Asian Woman Edition.) by Mona Virk SOCH community events | South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario Looking for promo codes for The Dig Deeper School? Use CCPODCAST or PODSQUADVIP for 15% off any course. About our Guest: Mona Virk is a Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying in Caledon, ON at Dig a Little Deeper, Psychotherapy & Counselling.  Her experience in health care for over a decade strengthens her counselling approach grounded in creating strong alliances. Mona completed an undergraduate degree from McMaster University, had been a Chiropodist for over a decade before returning to grad school to complete her Master of Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University.   Find Mona: Website | Instagram  Find Christina (CRPO #3908): Website |Find a Therapist |Get Assessed by an NP in Ontario | Instagram | Podcast page. A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina nor Katie are not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted above or our  Resources page on our website.LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | iHeart Radio| AmazonMusic | RSS

Long wait times. Limited access. A mental health system struggling to keep up. But what if there was another way?In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of Dig A Little Deeper’s Nurse Practitioner-led mental health clinic, an innovative model that’s bridging gaps in Ontario’s healthcare system. Our lead NP joins me to share the origin story—how we built this clinic, the challenges we faced, and why Nurse Practitioners are reshaping the future of mental health care.We dive into:The flaws in Ontario’s current mental health system (and how we’re addressing them),How our NP-led model improves access, reduces wait times, and integrates care,The debate around private vs. public healthcare—and why collaboration is key,What this means for clients, clinicians, and the future of mental health care.If you’ve ever wondered what’s possible beyond the waitlist, this episode is for you.About our Guest: Carole Gionet is a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, with a Master’s Degree in Nursing.  She has over 20 years’ experience in primary health care and mental health care. Carole has worked in a variety of settings: community health centres, university health centres and various hospitals. She currently works at SickKids Hospital in psychiatry and also for Dig a Little Deeper, providing private services across Ontario. At Dig Carole offers comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and treatment for common mental health conditions to children through to adults. Find Carole: Website Resources for After the Show: Our Clinic: Integrated Mental Health and all service our FAQ’s. Check out the NPAO, and learn about NP Led Clinics The OG: The ADHD Resource Hub, learn about getting an ADHD Diagnosis in Canada. Find Christina (CRPO #3908):  Website | Find a Therapist | Get Assessed by an NP in Ontario | Instagram | Podcast page. A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina nor Katie are your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted above or our Resources page on our website.LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | iHeart Radio | AmazonMusic | Castbox | RSS

Many adults with ADHD go undiagnosed for decades, often dismissed or misdiagnosed along the way. But what happens when they finally get the right diagnosis?Today, we sit down with Dr. Betty Tang from Vancouver Coastal Health’s Remote Coastal Psychiatric Clinic to discuss the challenges of identifying ADHD in adults—especially in women—and the critical gaps in mental health training that contribute to missed diagnoses.🔍 In this episode, we explore: How Dr. Tang transitioned from child psychiatry to adult ADHD care, Strategies for supporting children with ADHD in schools and at home, The huge variance in ADHD knowledge among mental health clinicians—and how to fix it, What happens when a client’s doctor lacks ADHD expertise, How a psychiatrist’s lack of ADHD knowledge can impact psychotherapy.If you've ever struggled to get an ADHD diagnosis or wondered why so many adults fall through the cracks, this episode is a must-listen.🎧 Tune in now to hear how we can bridge the ADHD diagnosis gap!Resources for After the Show: https://adhdskillsbuilder.com/https://mind-space.ca/ The Reckoning: Reflecting on a (late) ADHD Diagnosis as an Adult by Christina CroweADHD: More than a Buzzword by Sheena ScottThe OG: The ADHD Resource Hub, Getting Assessed in OntarioAbout our Guest:  Dr. Betty Tang is an adult psychiatrist interested in shared care with primary caregivers, providing education to clinicians, patients and the public. Dr. Tang currently works in British Columbia, for Vancouver Coastal Health Authority for remote rural communities. There’s two teenagers at home who make her laugh and lovingly make fun of her on the daily.Find Katie (CRPO #11244):Website | InstagramFind Christina (CRPO #3908): Website | Find a Therapist | Get Assessed by an NP in Ontario | Instagram | Podcast page. A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina nor Katie are your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted above or our  Resources page on our website.LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | iHeart Radio | AmazonMusic | RSS

The cracks in our healthcare systems are more visible than ever—but how did we get here, and more importantly, how do we fix them?Today, your hosts, psychotherapists Christina Crowe and Katie Richardson, sit down with Dr. Robert C. Smith to tackle the big questions shaping the future of mental health care.Together, we explore: How mental health training differs between the U.S. and Canada—what’s working and what’s not, Evidence-based strategies for integrating mental health care into primary care, What needs to change in medical education to prepare future doctors for real-world mental health challenges, The role of physician leadership in creating psychologically safe healthcare environments.From systemic reform to practical solutions, this conversation sheds light on the urgent need for change—and what we can do about it.🎧 Tune in now for an insightful, solutions-driven discussion on the future of mental health care!Resources for After the Show:  Read Dr. Smith's book, Has Medicine Lost Its Mind?available March 4th.  US friends, Take Action! Dr. Smith's Template Letter. Smith's Patient Centered Interviewing: An Evidence-Based Method, Fourth Edition  Ontario therapists: Get Involved This Election! Canada wide: ADHD Advocacy - what you can do to help. Burnout in healthcare: what you can do to protect yourself, by Christina Crowe, RP About our Guest: Dr. Robert C. Smith is a nationally recognized leader in evidence-based mental health care and doctor-patient communication. A University Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Michigan State University, Dr. Smith developed the first patient-centered method to train medical professionals to build strong partnerships with their patients. Dr. Smith’s expertise and dedication to reforming mental health care make Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? essential reading for policymakers, health care professionals, and anyone concerned about the future of mental health in America. Find Dr. Smith: Website | X | LinkedInFind Katie (CRPO #11244):Website | InstagramFind Christina (CRPO #3908):  Website | Find a Therapist | Get Assessed by an NP in Ontario | Instagram | Podcast page. A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina nor Katie are your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted above or our Resources page on our website.LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | iHeart Radio | AmazonMusic | Castbox | RSS