My guest this week is Dr. Emily King In this episode, Dr. Emily and I discuss how to navigate educational needs and school-related issues specific to children and their development. We are going to explore how parents can best advocate for their kids, while also supporting the teachers and other professionals who are often working really hard in these environments. You’ll hear about tips and tools for everyone involved–from the children to administrators.  We address the need for “mental safety”, simple talking points on how to collaborate and build trust with your children’s educators. Dr. Emily shares techniques for how teachers can implement flexibility in the classroom to better support each child’s individual learning needs while still balancing the required curriculum.     Dr. Emily King is a child psychologist in Raleigh, North Carolina, who has worked with neurodivergent children and teens for the last 20 years. She received a PhD in School Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has worked as a school psychologist in Houston, TX before starting her private practice in Raleigh. Dr. Emily is passionate about empowering parents and teachers to take care of their own mental health so they can be the best guide for their children and teens as they parent and educate. She and her husband are parents to two energetic boys ages 8 and 14. She's also the founder of Learn with Dr. Emily, where she shares online resources related to raising and educating neurodivergent youth beyond her psychology practice. She's been featured on lots of TV shows, has written for numerous publications, you can find her on social media, in addition to her email newsletter, and lots of other resources that she has available.   Connect with Dr. Emily King: Insta:@Emilywkingphd Twitter: @Emilywkingphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilywkingphd Website: www.learnwithdremily.com Other: www.dremilyking.com     Episode Takeaways:   Introduction to Dr. Emily King & Neurodivergent Kids … 00:01:43 Balancing Required Curriculum with Mental Health & Development … 00:06:45 Importance of Kids Feeling Safe & Connected from a Brain Perspective … 00:13:13 Using a Regulation Roster & Flexible Learning Approaches … 00:17:12 Digging Deeper Workshop … 00:23:30 Problems with Traditional Child Learning Approaches … 00:27:00 Mental Health of Educators & Learning Diverse Behavior Tools… 00:32:50 When Parents, Teachers, Administrators and Kids are Dysregulated … 00:38:40 Collaboration Approach to Build Trust & Understanding … 00:44:40 Resources and Episode Wrap Up … 00:47:22       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 Workshops. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here. Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Youtube

My guests this week are Meredith TerHaar and Joe Graham  In this episode, Meredith, Joe, and I discuss Enneagram, a specific personality type, which turns out to be a helpful tool in parenting. While the Enneagram is very helpful for all of us to make sense of our own personal experience and relationships, it can be especially useful in understanding ourselves more deeply as parents and how it might intersect with our children and their types. The Enneagram focuses on the why and the underlying motivations. We discuss how this personality typing helps us understand the way we experience the world, how we make sense of the things that happen to us, and how we tend to manage our emotions and responses. And to bring it full circle for the audience, we talk about what skills can be developed and what to be aware of for each type. We can use all that information in our quest to become better parents.  Joe Graham lives in Holland, Michigan with his wife Tiffany and their two children. He began his leadership career with Young Life, and also served as an executive pastor with Harbor Churches, a multisite church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2018, he formed his coaching practice, and then co-founded Growing with the Enneagram in 2019. He's trained as a professional coach, and along with that work, he's the director of people and culture at Resthaven, a nonprofit faith-based senior living community.  Meredith TerHaar is a morning news anchor in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She's an Enneagram coach and co-founder of Growing with the Enneagram, which specializes in corporate workshops and team retreats, as well as couples and one on one coaching. She's married to Eric and mom to Marin and Judah, and she and Eric have written several children's books together.    Connect with Meredith and Joe: Insta: @meredithterhaar @enneagram.grow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeredithTerHaar  https://www.facebook.com/enneagramgrow Website: www.joegraham.work, www.growingwiththeenneagram.com Other: @meredithterhaar     Episode Takeaways:   Introduction to Guests Meredith TerHaar & Joe Graham … 00:01:26 The Enneagram and 9 Types … 00:03:06 Best Way to Evaluate Your Enneagram … 00:09:10 Gut Triad Enneagram (#8) … 00:12:50 Gut Triad Enneagram (#9) … 00:18:30 Can You Type Your Kids for their Enneagram? … 00:24:15  Gut Triad Enneagram (#1) … 00:27:00 Heart Triad Enneagram (#2) … 00:34:19 Heart Triad Enneagram (#3) … 00:40:45 Heart Triad Enneagram (#4) … 00:45:12 Head Triad Enneagram (#5) … 00:48:25 Head Triad Enneagram (#6) … 00:52:10 Head Triad Enneagram (#7) … 00:55:00 Enneagram Resources ... 00:58:38  Episode Wrap up … 00:59:40       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 Workshops. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here. Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

My guest this week is Trudy Scott, a certified nutritionist on a mission to educate and empower parents and children who suffer from anxiety. She is known for her expertise in the use of targeted individual amino acids, the social anxiety condition pyroluria and the harmful effects of benzodiazepines. Trudy is the author of The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings.   In this episode, Trudy and I discuss the incredible impact that targeted amino acids can have on both children and adults with anxiety when approached with the right guidance. Trudy shares a few case studies demonstrating the use of amino acids such as Tryptophan, GABA, DPA and more. Connect with Trudy online via her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.   Episode Timeline:   Episode Intro … 00:00:30 Trudy’s Anxiety Story … 00:03:06 What Are Amino Acids … 00:10:10 Anxiety Caused By Low Serotonin … 00:12:15 Amino Acid In-Office Trial … 00:20:31 Anxiety Caused By GABA ...  00:23:55 At Home Amino Acid Trial … 00:25:20 Episode Wrap Up … 00:32:55     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 Workshops. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Stephanie Meyers.  In this episode, Stephanie and I discuss mealtime meltdowns and picky eaters. This is one of the most common topics requested simply because we are eating multiple times a day.  As parents we are inherently focused on what goes in our child’s mouth for their proper development, but what if we focus on what comes out of our mouths first?  If we want to minimize mealtime meltdowns, or the all too constant “picky eater” battles, it has to start with the adults. It’s not about shaming or blaming ourselves, feeding can be one of the toughests parts of parenting, but what we say to our kids about eating while they're eating matters.  Stephanie and I are going to share simple strategies you can use today to adjust your “table talk”. These tips are great tools for improving the dynamics during mealtimes and helping your kids (and adults too) develop the skills of healthy eating that they can use throughout their lives.   Stephanie is a dietician, nutritionist, and founder of Families Eating Well, a nutrition practice training parents to coach healthy eating habits in kids. She's also the nutrition manager in the Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and a former instructor in the graduate nutrition department at Boston University. Stephanie presents seminars worldwide on mindful eating, family nutrition, and cancer survivorship and has a new book called End the Mealtime Meltdown: Using the Table Talk Method to Free Your Family from Daily Struggles Over Food and Picky Eating.   Connect with Stephanie: Insta: @tabletalkcoach Website: https://familieseatingwell.com/   Episode Takeaways:   About Stephanie Meyers & Family Nutrition … 00:01:20 Adult Behavior Change Before A Child Can Change … 00:06:35 What Research Shows When a Child is Forced to Try a Food … 00:10:56 Learning is Anchored in Emotions and Relationships … 00:21:13 Common Types of “Table Talk” … 00:23:38 Feeding Therapy & Conditional Eating Table Talk … 00:29:58  Quick Start Today to Changing Table Talk … 00:38:55 Layering Foundational Techniques Regardless of Developmental Stage or Issues … 00:42:22 Resources and End the Mealtime Meltdown … 00:45:10 Episode Wrap Up … 00:46:07       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 Workshops. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here. Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

My guest this week is travel expert, Dawn Barclay. In this episode, Dawn and I discuss traveling with kids and especially families with special needs.  Vacations should be relaxing and rejuvenating, but often, it’s not actually what happens when we take our kids places. Traveling with kids can be tough to navigate, and even more so when you have kids with challenges. Dawn is a travel expert who wrote the book on how to make travel easier when you have a child who is anxious, on the spectrum, or with any other type of special needs considerations.  She shares so many practical tips and tools to make vacation more enjoyable for the entire family.   Dawn Barclay is an award-winning author who has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry. She started in sales, marketing and management positions with her family's firms, Barclay Travel and Barclay International Group Short Term Apartment Rentals, and then branched out into the travel trade, reporting with senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent magazine, Travel Life, Travel Insider Report, lots of others. She is a mom of two and resides in New York Scenic Hudson Valley. She also writes fiction and has leadership roles in several organizations.   Connect with Dawn Barclay: Website: www.travelingdifferent.com Twitter: @travelingdiff Facebook Instagram: @travelingdiff   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 Workshops. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here. Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com     Episode Timeline:   Introduction to Dawn Barclay & Travel Background … 00:01:40 Industries Accommodating for Special Needs & Neurodivergent Kids … 00:06:10  Travel Planning Mis-steps for Special Needs Families … 00:09:48 Planning a Child-Centric Holiday … 00:14:50 Scheduling in Parent Enjoyment … 00:17:30 Realistic Expectations for Traveling with Children … 00:19:15 Surprising Tips for Preparing for Traveling with Special Needs Children … 00:27:00 Always Have a Backup Plan … 00:31:32 Traveling Different Book & Resources … 00:32:56 Episode Wrap Up … 00:35:22  

My guest this week is Roudy Nassif.   In this episode, Roudy and I discuss light exposure. May is Mental Health Awareness and a topic very relevant for mental and physical health that many do not know or even think about is light exposure–the quality and timing is actually very critical to every aspect of our health.  Sleep issues, feeling wired at night, and then fatigued or even possibly depressed feelings in the day sound familiar? What about headaches, focus, or behavior problems? We talk a lot about the importance of food nutrition and the problem with junk food on this show, but a missing piece might just be the light your child is exposed to. We call it junk light or light “nutrition”. Roudy shares his rapid shift in health, the science behind how light affects our biology, and what we can do to support healthy light into our lives to improve our health for ourselves and our families.    For most of Roudy’s life, he spent his nights staying up late, waking up feeling exhausted, unmotivated, and unfocused. And probably many of you when you hear that, you think, “Yeah, that's my kid too.” After visiting many doctors, trying different diets, supplements, nothing seemed to work. Around seven years ago, Roudy's depression became unbearable, and he decided to leave his job as an engineer to embark on a worldwide journey of learning about himself and nature. His experience has transformed his health and life, and his quest to understand this transformation helped him to start studying light, quantum biology, and circadian rhythm. Thus, his company Viva Rays was born. He is on a mission to elevate people's light environment to a whole new level of alignment with nature.   Want to give Viva Rays a try?Click here and receive 15% off when you use code drnicole. Kids sizes coming soon!   Connect with Roudy Nassif: Instagram Facebook Website   Episode Timeline: Introduction to Roudy Nassif & Light Nutrition … 00:01:30 Kids Doing Anything to Be “Sent Outside” … 00:08:50 Science of Light: It’s Our Biology … 00:12:50 What is the Right Type of Light … 00:17:20 Problems of Constant Screens & Blue Light in Our Faces … 00:23:24 Circadian Rhythm & Parental Modeling … 00:29:00 How Quick Symptoms Can Shift When in Harmony with Light … 00:36:30 Negative Effects of Artificial Lights in Classrooms, Hospitals, etc. … 00:38:32 Tips for Living with Healthy Light … 00:44:15 Why Windows Can Be Problematic … 00:50:05 Proper Night Time Lighting … 00:51:00 What are Viva Ray Glasses? … 00:55:12 Resources & Episode Wrap Up … 00:59:10   Connect with Dr. Beurkens: Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com  

My guest this week is just me, Dr. Nicole, chatting with you about some ideas that have been deeply on my mind as I see so many of you struggling with so many things in my clinic and online communities.   In this episode I’m sharing with you the core ideas that actually make the biggest difference in our lives as parents and in our kids’ lives during their growing up years. I have come to the conclusion that we actually need way less than we think we do to help ourselves and our children thrive. In fact, we really need just one, yes one, foundational thing to focus on that allows everything else to come together, that allows us to actually do the things that will best support our children's development without losing ourselves in the process.     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 Workshops. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here. Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com       Episode Takeaways: What’s Been on My Mind … 00:00:45 Big challenges for Parents … 00:03:10 What 20+ Yrs of Clinical Practice and Parenting Taught Me … 00:06:48 What You Actually Need as a Parent … 00:07:58  Connecting Emotional and Behavioral Regulation … 00:11:52 Context is Everything … 00:17:45 Developing Regulation Capabilities is a Learned Skill … 00:18:40 How to Help Ourselves & Kids Stay Better Regulated … 00:23:50 Become a Space-Maker and Episode Wrap Up … 00:27:10

My guest this week is Dr. Dawn Huebner. In this episode, we are welcoming back Dr. Dawn Huebner, and this time, we will be discussing how to help kids overcome specific fears and phobias. Most kids develop specific fears about something over the course of their childhood, but these fears tend to go away without requiring any kind of significant intervention. However, some kids get very stuck on specific fears, which can impact all parts of a child's life, and even a parents’ and a family's life. Clinically, we have seen an increase in specific fears and phobias, especially around health-related issues since the pandemic started. Sometimes, we as parents and caregivers can unintentionally make fears worse in kids too, but the good news is, there are strategies, resources, and effective research-backed ways to help kids through this. Dr. Dawn Huebner is a psychologist, parent coach and the author of more than 10 books for children, including the perennial best sellers What to Do When You Worry Too Much, and Outsmarting Worry. Her newest series, Dr. Dawn's Mini Books About Mighty Fears, speaks with warmth and humor to children who are struggling with specific phobias, while teaching the tools needed to break free. Her books are very practical and they are relatable. They have sold well over a million copies in 23 different languages. She has been featured on many different news and information outlets, and is frequently interviewed by popular parenting magazines. Connect with Dawn: Website Facebook Books and Guides   Episode Timeline: Introduction to Dr. Dawn Huebner … 00:02:08 Criteria for When Fears and Phobias Become Problematic … 00:05:12 It’s the Process Not the Fear Itself … 00:07:35 Parental Accommodation & Unintentionally Increasing Fears … 00:09:45 Typical Behavior Signs of Fears & Reassurance Seeking … 00:12:05 Overcoming with Intentional Exposure to Fears … 00:19:30 Common Mistakes Parents Make … 00:24:15 Overcoming Fears of Animals or Insects … 00:28:00 Developing Self-Talk Helps with Bravery … 00:34:38 Using Fun Facts to Ease Fears & Phobias … 00:36:30 Educational Series for Specific Fears … 00:38:56 Books & Additional Resources … 00:41:35 Anxiety is Treatable & Wrap Up… 00:43:28   Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens: Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Youtube Workshops

My guest this week is Kelsey Torgerson Dunn  In this episode, Kelsey and I discuss how anger can be a mask for anxiety in children, teens and adults. Especially as kids get into the teen and young adult years, it can be really tough as a parent or a professional to decipher what is at the root of hostile or dismissive behavior. They may seem like they’re angry, but when we dig deeper, anxiety may be the culprit.  When we know this, it helps us to support them in a more effective way while also helping them understand what’s going on inside their bodies. Kelsey shares her clinical observations and top tips for guiding children, teens and parents through the uncomfortable emotions of when anxiety makes you angry. Kelsey Torgerson Dunn a licensed social worker and the author of When Anxiety Makes You Angry. She specializes in anxiety and anger management therapy for teens and college students, and founded her anxiety focused group practice Compassionate Counseling St. Louis in early 2017.  Where to find Kelsey: Kelseytorgersondunn.com Facebook kelseytorgersondunn Instagram @counselingwithkelsey   Subscribe: 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 Workshops. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.   Episode Takeaways: Intro to Kelsey Torgerson Dunn … 00:01:15 How Anxiety Might Show Up As Anger … 00:04:15 When Your Child Has a Disrespectful Attitude … 00:06:50 Why is Anger an Effective “Mask” for Kids & Adults? … 00:09:58 Guiding Your Child and Teen … 00:12:45  How Cognitive Behavior Therapy Can Help … 00:15:00 A Thought vs a Feeling & 3-Step Process … 00:19:13 Why Kids Go from 0 to 100 Instantly … 00:24:50 When Parents Lose Their Patience … 00:27:40 Perfectionism: Anger Can Be a Close Relative … 00:30:40  Anger is More Socially Acceptable than Anxiety … 00:33:40 Tools and Strategies for When Anxiety Makes You Angry … 00:36:36   Where to connect with Dr. Nicole: Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

My guest this week is Kristen Jenson In this episode, Kristen and I discuss a sensitive but really important topic of pornography, as it relates to our children's safety and wellness. As the amount of screentime has dramatically increased across all ages over the last few years, exposure to pornography is pretty common. Uncomfortable or difficult as it may be to talk about pornography with your children, it's our responsibility as parents to set aside our own discomfort around the topic, so that we can be an accurate and healthy source of information and be a support for them. Kristen and I discuss all aspects of the inevitable exposure to pornography, inappropriate images and videos, and digital safety. We talk about the common questions of, “How do I address this with my child?”, “When do I address it?”,  “How to keep my child as safe as possible?”, and so much more.  Kristen Jenson is the founder of Defend Young Minds, and a number one best selling author of the Good Pictures, Bad Pictures, a series of read aloud books. They've been translated into 10 languages and are now augmented by a guidebook for professionals that helps child therapists and educators. She's also the executive producer of the Brain Defense Digital Safety Curriculum, a powerful and engaging video-based course for families and educators. Kristen is a positive voice for raising empowered, resilient screen-smart kids who know how and why to reject pornography. She instills hope and confidence, and leaves her audience with pragmatic advice they can act on immediately.   Episode Takeaways: Introduction to Kristen Jenson … 00:01:35 Children Being Exposed to Pornography & Sextortion … 00:7:10 Teaching & Modeling Digital Safety … 00:10:50 What Age Do You Discuss Pornography with Children? … 00:12:25 How to Respond When Children are Exposed to Pornography … 00:18:35 Kids Will Feel Ashamed & Be Secretive if Parents Give That Impression … 00:23:00 Exposure to Pornography, Parent Control Limitations, and Development …00:27:40 Setting Kids Up for Healthy Intimate Relationships … 00:35:00 Starting Discussions About Porn vs Intimate Sex … 00:38:28 Addressing Porn Addiction … 00:41:40 Books, Website & Video Resources … 00:45:22 Episode Wrap Up … 00:47:15       Connect with Dr. Nicole:  Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com