My guest this week is Dr. Bonnie Kaplan, a research psychologist and semi-retired Professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. Dr. Bonnie has published widely on the biological basis of developmental disorders and mental health – particularly, the contribution of nutrition to brain development and brain function. Her efforts to include nutrition knowledge in the care of people with mental health challenges have earned her a variety of awards, including the Dr. Rogers Prize and in 2017 she was selected as one of 150 Canadian Difference Makers in Mental Health.In this episode, Dr. Kaplan and I discuss how to make pill swallowing easier for children and adults. Dr. Kaplan’s evidence-based techniques have helped thousands conquer this essential life skill. Many children and adults, especially those dealing with developmental and mental health disorders, struggle daily with pill-swallowing whether it be necessary vitamins, minerals, or vital medications. Dr. Kaplan shares key tips on how to successfully implement her pill-swallowing techniques empowering its users to independently manage this daily task entirely on their own. Dr. Kaplan’s new book, ‘The Better Brain’,  co-authored with her former student Dr. Julia Rucklidge, is full of anecdotes, stories, and simplified scientific works to help readers understand the importance of nutrients for brain function. Where to learn more about Dr. Bonnie Kaplan… BonnieJKaplan.com The Better Brain Book Pill Swallowing Instructional Video + Resources  British Medical Journal Article Instagram Twitter Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally?  My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more.  Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior.  Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here. 

This week we are celebrating the 100th episode of the Better Behavior Show! Within this episode, I will cover five key takeaways themes that have stood out to me as overarching lessons learned throughout the course of the show's history. Over the past two years, I’ve interviewed some of the most incredible leaders in the fields of education, psychology, developmental health, integrative and functional health, mental health, and more. It has been an unforgettable experience and I am so grateful to all of our listeners and guests that have supported us on this journey. Here is to the next 100 episodes! Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally?  My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more.  Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior.  Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.   

My guest this week is Dr. Eli Lebowitz, a professor at the Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center who directs the Program for Anxiety Disorders while studying and treating childhood and adolescent anxiety. Dr. Lebowitz’s research focuses on the development, neurobiology, and treatment of anxiety and related disorders, with special emphasis on family dynamics and the role of parents in these disorders. He is the lead investigator on multiple funded research projects and is the author of research papers, books, and chapters on childhood and adolescent anxiety. Dr. Lebowitz’s work has been recognized by private and public organizations including the Brain and Behavior Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, and The National Center for Advancing Translational Science. He is also the father of three great boys. In this episode, Dr. Lebowitz and I discuss the steps to an effective at-home approach to treat children’s anxiety and OCD. By utilizing the scientifically proven program, SPACE, Dr. Lebowitz demonstrates how this parent-focused approach can result in improvement not only for the child suffering from anxiety or OCD but for the entire family unit. Dr. Lebowitz gives parents and caregivers the tools for empowerment and success to help their child overcome anxiety and OCD in his new step-by-step book, ‘Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD’. Where to learn more about Dr. Eli Lebowitz... SpaceTreatment.net Breaking Free of Childhood Anxiety and OCD SPACE Provider Directory SPACE Resources Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally?  My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more.  Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior.  Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here. 

My guest this week is Dr. John Ratey, an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an internationally recognized expert in Neuropsychiatry. Dr. Ratey has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles, and 11 books including the groundbreaking ADD-ADHD “Driven to Distraction” series with Ned Hallowell, MD. With the publication of "Spark-The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain," Dr. Ratey established himself as one of the world's foremost authorities on the brain-fitness connection. His new book, “ADHD 2.0” delves into new science around ADHD and essential strategies for thriving with distraction from childhood through adulthood. Recognized by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America”, Dr. Ratey has been honored by the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society as "Outstanding Psychiatrist of the Year" for advancing the field. He and his work are frequently profiled in the media, where he’s been featured in a wide variety of broadcast and print media.In this episode, Dr. Ratey and I discuss the growing diagnosis of ADHD in children and adults and effective strategies to help them thrive. Backed by research, Dr. Ratey reveals key correlations in the brain's networks and demonstrates how important human connection, daily environment, movement, meditation, and medicine can be to support its attention and focus.  Where to learn more about Dr. John Ratey... johnratey.com Dr. Ratey’s New Book Facebook Twitter YouTube   Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally?  My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more.  Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior.  Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.   

My guest this week is Dr. Danenberg, known as“Dr. Al”, a periodontist treating oral health in integrative and innovative ways with over 44 years of private practice experience. Dr. Al has incorporated ancestral nutrition and lifestyle with his leading-edge laser protocol to treat periodontal disease. Since retiring, Dr. Al continues to consult with patients virtually worldwide regarding nutrition, lifestyle, oral and overall health, and the importance of a healthy gut and immune system. Dr. Al is a certified functional medicine practitioner, published author, scientific advisor, and cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with incurable bone marrow cancer in September 2018 and was given only 3-6 months to live. Dr. Al rejected all chemotherapy and is thriving today.   Where to learn more about Dr. Al Danenberg... drdanenberg.com Instagram Twitter Facebook The Better Belly Blueprint Is Your Gut Killing You? Free Guide - 4 Steps To A Healthy Mouth   Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally?  My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more.  Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior.  Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here. 

My guest this week is Dr. Joel “Gator” Warsh, a board-certified Pediatrician in Los Angeles, California who specializes in Integrative Medicine. Dr. Gator grew up in Toronto, Canada, and completed a Master’s Degree in Epidemiology and Community Health before earning his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical College. He completed his Pediatric Residency at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) and has worked in private practice in Beverly Hills before founding his current practice, Integrative Pediatrics and Medicine, in 2018. Dr. Gator has published research in peer-reviewed journals on topics including childhood injuries, obesity, and physical activity. He has been featured in numerous documentaries, films, podcasts, and articles including Broken Brain, Dr. Nandi Show, CBS, LA Parent, and many others. He is also the owner of IntegrativePediatrics.com and the host of the Integrative Pediatrics Summit. In this episode, Dr. Gator and I discuss how to choose the right doctor and effectively advocate for your child’s specific healthcare needs. Choosing a physician or breaking up with one can be difficult no matter the stage in your child’s life, from primary care doctors to integrative medicine specialists, it is important to choose your physician based on your specific need of care and expectations. Specializing in integrative and holistic pediatrics, Dr. Gator encourages parents to do their research and look into and discuss natural medicine alternatives with their physicians before quickly resulting in pharmaceutical medications for every ailment. Dr. Gator shares ways to effectively communicate with your physician and empowers parents to get a second opinion when they feel their concerns are being overlooked and unheard.    Where to learn more about Dr. Joel Gator Warsh... IntegrativePediatrics.com Dr. Gator’s Instagram Integrative Pediatrics Instagram Facebook   Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally?  My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more.  Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior.  Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller, an OB-Gyn and Integrative Medicine physician. Dr. Hackenmiller completed OB-Gyn residency at Western Pennsylvania-Temple University in Pittsburgh and is a fellowship graduate of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. She is board certified by both the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Hackenmiller holds additional certifications in herbal medicine and is a certified forest therapy guide. She has served as medical director for the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and currently is medical advisor for AllTrails. She is the award-winning author of “The Outdoor Adventurer’s Guide to Forest Bathing” and “A Friend Like John, Understanding Autism.”  She speaks nationally and internationally about autism, integrative medicine, and nature therapy.   To learn more about forest bathing and Dr. Hackenmiller click here. Where to learn more about Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller... IntegrativeInitiative.com Instagram Facebook Twitter  Book - The Outdoor Adventurer's Guide To Forest Bathing Book - A Friend Like John Understanding Autism   Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally?  My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more.  Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior.  Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Emily Holl, the Director of The Sibling Support Project, the first national program dedicated to the life-long and ever-changing concerns of millions of brothers and sisters of people with special developmental and health concerns. Emily is a social worker, author, and trainer who has provided workshops and groups for siblings and families, presented extensively on sibling issues, and has conducted and published sibling research. A sibling, and board member of the national Sibling Leadership Network, Emily has written about her experiences in blogs, magazines, and books such as “Thicker than Water” and as co-editor of, “The Sibling Survival Guide: Indispensable Information for Adult Brothers and Sisters of People with Disabilities”. Emily earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts, a Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University, and a Master of Social Work from Hunter College at the City University of New York.  In this episode, Emily and I discuss how to support siblings of children with disabilities. Emily encourages parents to connect with these siblings to create an open, supportive dialogue to help them navigate their experience and discuss their sibling's disabilities with their peers without creating stigmas. Often these siblings seek answers to questions that lead them to false understandings of the realities around their siblings' disability. Can they catch the disability? Did they cause it themselves? Emily helps parents combat these falsehoods and provides them with countless resources to aid in the support of the family as a whole.  Where to learn more about Emily Holl ... SiblingSupport.org Instagram Facebook Twitter  The Sibling Survival Guide Book Sibling Leadership Network

My guest this week is Kendra Wilde, the founder of Wild Peace for Parents, an online resource to bolster parent resilience. Kendra knows that when kids struggle, parents do too. After burning out from chronic stress, she dedicated herself to discovering simple strategies to manage stress and restore wellbeing in the midst of it all. Kendra is on a mission to lift and inspire parents through workshops, digital art, and writing, to take care of themselves so their children can thrive, too. Kendra has a BA in economics from Colorado College and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and her three sons. In this episode, Kendra and I discuss self-care micro-actions that parents can take to avoid burnout and to boost their resilience.    Where to learn more about Kendra Wilde... wildpeace.org Instagram Facebook Free Roots of Resilience Guide   Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally?  My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more.  Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior.  Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here. 

My guest this week is Janet Lansbury, creator, and host of one of the most downloaded parenting podcasts, “Unruffled” and author of two bestselling books, Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting and No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame. Inspired by the pioneering philosophy of her friend and mentor, Magda Gerber, Janet encourages parents and child care professionals to perceive babies as unique, capable human beings with natural abilities to learn. Janet enjoys teaching weekly classes on RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) and spending time with her three children.  In this episode, Janet and I discuss how to calmly and confidently parent children through RIE principles and techniques. By approaching children as natural explorers and self-learners through RIE, parents learn to spend more time in observation of their children versus the constant need to entertain or fill any voids in their daily activities. The RIE philosophy helps parents confidently take that step back while remaining present, supportive, and engaged in their child’s growth and development.  Where to learn more about RIE and Janet Lansbury... JanetLansbury.com Instagram Facebook Twitter Unruffled Podcast  Janet Lansbury Books   Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally?  My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more.  Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior.  Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.