The Christina Crowe Podcast: Making the invisible VISIBLE

Today, we are making invisible things visible for people who struggle with either behavioural or substance use disorders, and may also have ADHD. It can be hard to appreciate just how closely intertwined these conditions are, and I’m here to shine a light on them. Today I cover: Why do people with ADHD self-medicate more than others? Is ADHD the real 'gateway' risk? What if you have a history of substance use or addiction? How do you know if you actually have a substance or behavioural 'addiction'? What new data and Guidelines tell us about how to proceed. Resources: Check your use: The CRAFFT Questionnaire The ADHD Resource Hub: Screeners, Guidelines, Treatmentand more. American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) 31st Annual Meeting in 2020: ADHD Meds May Boost Treatment Retention in Comorbid Addiction From Canada’s Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: Finding Quality Addiction Care in Canada: Drug and Alcohol Treatment Guide, and Life in Recovery. Understanding the science and goals behind Harm Reduction, Knowing Your Limits with Cannabis: A Practical Guide to Assessing Your Cannabis Use Couples’ therapists! Sign up to be notified about DIY*ADHD Couples: COMING SOON. Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Find your Therapist | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | TikTok A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage. Looking for one on one support or treatment in Ontario, Alberta or PEI? Find your Therapist LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher | RSS

Today, we are making invisible things visible for people interested in psychotherapy with horses! Equine-assisted psychotherapy has been around for quite some time, and after my own personal, and now professional experiences, I can’t wait to share more about how therapy with horses might be exactly the experience your nervous system is looking for. I cover: The backstory of my interest and experiences with horses, Who we are partnering with for equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP), A brief touch on the science behind EAP, The conditions EAP can help treat, Where you can learn more. Resources: READ: How horses help us heal, on The Dig Deeper Blog, Learn about Program offerings and Sign up for our Equine Therapy newsletter, Learn about the neuroscience behind equine-assisted psychotherapy, Use the discount code ‘CCPODCAST’ at checkout, for 15% off on DIY*ADHD. Looking for one on one support or treatment in Ontario, Alberta or PEI? Meet the Team. Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Meet the Team | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage. LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher | RSS

Today, we are making invisible things visible for people recovering from problematic substance use, and we talk about what recovery is REALLY like if you are a teen/young adult, or if you are the loved one of someone who struggles with the grips of problematic substance use. I’m with everyone’s favourite psychiatrist, @TheKicksShrink, Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza. I started watching Euphoria after I read his comments about it in a Time Magazine article, and I’m so glad I did. We talk about: What we love about HBO’s Euphoria, and what we’d like to tell people about what the show doesn’t cover, What’s it like working with teens to reduce their use of substances?, What’s the Sinclair Method and how does it help people reduce problematic drinking, How long does recovery actually take? What recovery from opioid use is like, and what should we know about the treatment options. Our Guest: Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD is a triple board certified psychiatrist, in adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, as well as addiction medicine. He is based out of Northern Virginia and works primarily with children and adolescents through the major hospital system in the area, providing services as the psychiatrist for the adolescent partial hospitalization program, as well as outpatient medication management. He also has his own private practice, LouCouPsych, working with adults with a special interest in ADHD, addictions, depression and anxiety. He also works with the national basketball players association mental health and wellness program, and is available as a provider and resource for the Washington Wizards. Find Dr. Mirza: Website | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter Resources: Time Magazine: What Euphoria Gets Right—and Wrong—About Teen Drug Use and Addiction From Canada’s Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: Finding Quality Addiction Care in Canada: Drug and Alcohol Treatment Guide, and Life in Recovery. Understanding the science and goals behind Harm Reduction, Knowing Your Limits with Cannabis: A Practical Guide to Assessing Your Cannabis Use Looking for help with treatment in Ontario? Try ConnexOntario to find support near you. Check out the ADHD Resource Hub’s special subsections page for more on ADHD and Substance Use.  Use the discount code ‘CCPODCAST’ at checkout, for 15% off on DIY*ADHD. Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Find a Therapist | Instagram  

Today, we are making invisible things visible for people who love to think about our human condition, the philosophers(!), and people with ADHD who struggle with the meaning of life, our purpose and how to make sense of our experience as humans. I cover: How my pursuit of a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis revealed some interesting (and obvious) signs of ADHD, from one of my philosophy professors, What “bibliotherapy” is, and how stories that are hundreds of years old, can help us with our mental health struggles, Nietzsche and concept of the Eternal Return, The art of taking responsibility for your life. Resources: Check out our vetted and recommended BOOK LIST! Bibliotherapy for all. Specifically related to this episode, I might recommend When Nietzsche Wept: A Novel of Obsession by Irvin Yalom. Learn about evidence-based treatment for ADHD, assessment and diagnosis pathways and find supportive articles HERE. Use the discount code ‘CCPODCAST’ at checkout, for 15% off on DIY*ADHD. Looking for one on one support or treatment in Ontario, Alberta or PEI? Meet the Team. Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Meet the Team | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage. LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher | RSS

Today we are going to talk about one of the most interesting “interventions” we use as trauma therapists - EMDR Therapy.  EMDR in many ways can feel like the most direct intervention we do, almost like a psychological neurosurgery.  Luckily, we have an EMDR specialist here to talk us through it today, my great friend and colleague, Christina Janiga. We talk about: What exactly is EMDR therapy? What really happens in an EMDR session? How can EMDR deal with and heal nightmares or upsetting dreams, When is dissociation 'adaptive,' and how do you know if you dissociate? How we just named ‘precision psychotherapy’: getting creative with EMDR for neurodivergent brains. Resources mentioned in the show: EMDR Canada Dissociative Experiences Scale - II  Use the discount code ‘CCPODCAST’ at checkout, for 15% off on DIY*ADHD. SIGN UP to get notified about the launch of DIY*ADHD: Couples, an online course for Couples Therapists on ADHD in romantic relationships. About our Guest: Christina Janiga, she/her, is a Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, Certified EMDR Therapist and EMDR Consultant in Training (CIT). Christina is the director and founder of Christina Janiga Psychotherapy. Christina provides psychotherapy services and clinical supervision for the Burlington area and across Ontario. Christina has presented in schools, learning centres, shelters, and high-performance athletic facilities, and offers specialized strategies and solutions aimed at helping people cope with and manage a wide range of life transitions, anxieties, and challenges. Christina loves learning, a positive outlook in life, and a passion for sports. Find Christina Janiga: Website | Instagram | Facebook Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Meet the Team | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | TikTok A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage. LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher | RSS

In today’s episode, I am talking to Tom Ebeyer, founder of the Aphantasia Network. We love making invisible things visible, and this might truly be the most invisible thing we have ever discussed on the show! Today, we are making invisible things visible for people who don’t see visual images when they are asked to imagine things. I am talking to Tom Ebeyer, founder of the Aphantasia Network. I had LOTS of questions for him, because over the past 2 years, I have quite the cohort of clients who have aphantasia, now that I have been asking the questions no one has ever asked them before. And I have Tom and the good ole CBC for that. We talk about: What the heck is ‘Aphantasia’ and how do I know if I have it? How does aphantasia affect the way we make sense of our experiences in life? Aphantasia, grief and PTSD Why traditional therapy might not work for aphantasics, How can an invisible thing like aphantasia can make anxiety worse? How can I tell my therapist or doctor what they need to do differently to work with my brain? Resources mentioned in the show: The Aphantasia Network The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire The Imagination Spectrum test Use the discount code ‘CCPODCAST’ at checkout, for 15% off on DIY*ADHD. About our Guest: Tom Ebeyer is the founder of the Aphantasia Network, a social purpose organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with aphantasia through research, advocacy and support to unleash the power of image-free thinking. Find Tom & the Aphantasia Network: Instagram | Email | Twitter | Youtube  | Facebook Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Meet the Team | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | TikTok A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage. LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher | RSS

It’s a solo short today friends! This has been on my mind quite a lot lately, and it's something I don’t think we talk enough about - the adult bullies in our lives.  Today, I'm coming to you with some straight talk about: The different types of adult bullies we encounter in our lives, The psychological and physical impacts of adult bullying,  ADHD & 'conflict-seeking' behaviour,  The critical role bystanders play in stopping bullying, and What parents and teachers need to do. Check out the accompanying blog, When the bullies are the grown-ups, on The Dig Deeper Blog if you prefer a written version of the information presented here.  Resource mentioned: Bullying Canada - Giving Bullied Kids a Brighter Future Want to know what's illegal in Canada? Check the RCMP's Impacts and Consequences of Bullying and Cyberbullying.  Get support right now through Kids Help Phone by texting CONNECT to 686868. If you identify as Indigenous, you can ask to be connected with a First Nations, Inuk or Métis crisis responder (if one’s available) by messaging FIRST NATIONS, INUIT or METIS to 686868 or through Facebook Messenger. Resources if you are experiencing Family Violence, from the Government of Ontario.  Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Meet the Team | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | TikTok A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage. LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher | RSS

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses non-suicidal self-harm and childhood sexual abuse. This is intended to be an educational and supportive episode. In today’s episode, I am talking to multi-platform entertainer, storyteller, and the hardest working broadcaster in Canada, Roz Weston. Roz’s memoir, bestseller A Little Bit Broken, is a beautiful tribute to the relationship both with himself, and with his dad. We talk about: The intertwined experience of grief and guilt, Roz’s experience of living with Tourette Syndrome, and leads Christina through an experience of what it feels like, Roz’s experience of non-suicidal self harm, childhood sexual assault, The importance of supportive, anchoring relationships for boys and men. Resources mentioned in the show: A Little Bit Broken by Roz Weston Use the discount code ‘CCPODCAST’ at checkout, for 15% off on DIY*ADHD. About our Guest:  Roz Weston is a multi-platform entertainer and storyteller who hosts three shows a day and sleeps five hours a night. In 2013 Hello! magazine named him one of the 50 Most Beautiful Canadians. He has not made the list since. Growing up in a small town with above-average confidence but low self-esteem, Roz knew he wanted an audience, but didn’t want to be noticed. On TV and radio, as host of The Roz & Mocha Show, ET Canada Live and Entertainment Tonight Canada, Roz now entertains millions without ever having to see a single one of them. Roz, a college dropout, is a Canadian Music and Broadcast Awards winner, New York Festival of Radio winner, and Canadian Screen Awards winner. He is a former factory-line worker, Howard Stern intern and late-night TV talk-host. Roz lives in Toronto with his girlfriend, their kid and four cats. He still misses his dad. Find Roz: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | A Little Bit Broken by Roz Weston Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Meet the Team | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | TikTok A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage. LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher | RSS

In today’s episode, I am talking to certified ADHD Coach, Dusty Chipura, from Vancouver, British Columbia. We are talking about neurodivergent pregnancy and how it's a bit of a different experience from the neurotypical story we grow up with.  We talk about:  How the emotional experience of pregnancy can be very different if you have ADHD,  Practical tips for pregnancy & your postpartum days,  Why neurodivergent parents need neurodivergent parent friends,  New data to inform the discussion around ADHD medication and pregnancy.  Resources mentioned in the show:  Dusty’s ADHD and Pregnancy Journal, Changing Estrogen Levels Affect Women’s ADHD Symptoms, Essential Reads: Breastfeeding and ADHD Medications, The Course of ADHD during Pregnancy (the A. Baker paper, Journal of Attention Disorders), A new consensus statement updates what is known about ADHD in girls and women. For interest in Dusty’s ADHD certification program: ADDCA. About our Guest: Dusty Chipura, she/her, AACC MCAC ADHD Coach Dusty Chipura (she/her) is the Henry Rollins of ADHD Coaching. She is a master certified ADHD Coach who coaches people of many backgrounds, but most often finds herself coaching artists, people in tech, queer people, and pregnant people. Dusty is the co-author of the ADHD and Pregnancy Journal, and currently offers the only ADHD coaching program specifically aimed at pregnant ADHDers, combining prenatal class with survival skills for this very tumultuous time of life. When not supporting very cool ADHDers, Dusty likes to play banjo, and guitar, spend time with her daughter and her pets, or engage in one of her various other hobbies.  Find Dusty:  Twitter | TikTok | The ADHD Studio |Website  Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Meet the Team | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | TikTok A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage.  LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | iHeart Radio| AmazonMusic |RSS

In today’s episode, I am talking to my friend and colleague, psychotherapist Renee Mayotte.  Renee and I talk about why it can be so hard to parenting with ADHD, and why perfectionism and rejection sensitivity can be so present for moms with ADHD.  Renee also shares work/life balance tips helpful for neurodivergent parents. We talk about: Why can being a neurodivergent parent be harder than being a neurotypical parent? How does perfectionism creep into parenting? How can this be detrimental? How does learned helplessness show up in our parenting? Why self-compassion breaks down barriers for adults with ADHD. Resources mentioned in the show: Beaton, D. M., Sirois, F., & Milne, E. (2022). The role of self-compassion in the mental health of adults with ADHD. Journal of clinical psychology. Use the discount code ‘CCPODCAST’ at checkout, for 15% off on DIY*ADHD. Renee Mayotte is a Registered Psychotherapist at Dig a Little Deeper, serving the Northern Ontario community, and all of Ontario virtually. Renee offers services, and has experience, in children’s mental health, complex child and custody cases in Ontario, and working with the neurodivergent population through coaching and therapy within the last 2 years.  Renee herself was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, while completing her Masters’ degree, and found a passion in helping other adults through the discovery journey of ADHD through self-compassion and finding their work/life balance. Renee is a mother of two young, active children, and has been learning to navigate through parenthood, work, and education, while continuing to have fun and connect with her large extended family and friends. Find Renee: Full bio and booking links Find host, Christina Crowe (CRPO #003908): Website | Meet the Team | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | TikTok A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage. LISTEN OR SUBSCRIBE for free in your favourite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher | RSS