The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast

Host: Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach Guest: Julia Ross, bestselling author of The Mood Cure, The Diet Cure, and The Craving Cure; pioneer in nutrient-based therapies; director of a global virtual clinic and professional training. Episode Overview Kate sits down with mood and cravings expert Julia Ross to explore how targeted nutrients and protein-forward eating patterns may support mood stability, cravings, sleep, and attention, especially in ADHD families. Julia shares stories from decades of clinical work, why “context drives capacity” for brains under stress, and how simple nutrition shifts can complement (not replace) therapy and medication. What We Cover From psychotherapy to nutrients: why the addiction and mood field began testing amino acids alongside counseling. Five key neurotransmitter systems and the amino acids commonly discussed to support them (education, not medical advice): Tyrosine → focus/energy support Tryptophan → serotonin/mood/sleep support GABA → calming/“reduce extra adrenaline” support Endorphin support → comfort, reduced “junk food only” pull Glutamine → hypoglycemia/cravings support Food first: why consistent animal-protein intake (plus balanced meals—“three squares”) may matter for mood and attention, and how ultra-processed foods complicate the picture. Practical tips with kids: creative ways to deliver supplements if a child won’t swallow capsules; previewing and monitoring effects; starting low and going slow. Working with meds: how some families explore nutrients hours away from stimulant dosing and then collaborate with prescribers if they see benefits. Screening tools & resources: Julia’s five-part symptom questionnaire, and an updated handbook for getting started. Key Takeaways Nutrition can be a complementary lever for improving mood, managing cravings, enhancing sleep, and improving attention, best used in conjunction with medical care, therapy, routines, and good sleep hygiene. Protein at breakfast and steady meals helps prevent the “crash → crave” loop. If you experiment with nutrients, track one change at a time, observe effects, and coordinate with your clinician, especially for kids, pregnancies, and anyone on medication. What “works” is individualized; expect small trials + careful notes rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol. Resources Mentioned Books by Julia Ross: The Mood Cure, The Diet Cure, The Craving Cure Website & questionnaire: JuliaRossCures.com (Mentioned) James Greenblatt, MD — Finally Focused (nutrient psychiatry for ADHD) Important Note This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Nutrients can interact with medications and conditions (including lithium, amino acids, melatonin, etc.). Consult your child’s clinician before starting, stopping, or combining any supplement or medication. Connect with Kate: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com | Coaching inquiries: https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/appointment/ Enjoyed this episode? Follow, rate, and share with a friend who could use practical, hopeful tools.

Host: Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach Guest: Dr. Kate Lund, clinical psychologist, peak performance coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting Episode Overview In this empowering “Kate + Kate” episode, Kate talks with Dr. Kate Lund about what resilient parenting really looks like when you’re raising kids with ADHD, big emotions, or health challenges. Drawing from her own medical journey (hydrocephalus as a child), 20+ years as a psychologist, and parenting 18-year-old twins, Dr. Lund explains resilience not as “pushing through,” but as a lifestyle: managing your stress response daily so you can ride the waves of homework battles, morning chaos, and dysregulated kids. She teaches a simple, science-backed tool, the Relaxation Response, that parents can practice for 5 minutes in the morning and at night to lower reactivity, model calmness, and create a more regulated home. Suppose your baseline feels higher than that of other parents because your child is more intense or more dysregulated. In that case, this episode will help you stop comparing, honor your unique context, and build steadiness that you can actually sustain. What We Talk About (Highlights) Resilience as a lifestyle Managing your stress response The Relaxation Response (Herbert Benson) Modeling regulation Avoiding the comparison trap “Step away” moments Ripple effect for ADHD families: Calm first, then coach skills Resources & Links Guest: Dr. Kate Lund https://www.katelundspeaks.com/ Book: Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting https://www.katelundspeaks.com/book About Your Host, Kate I’m Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach, author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD, and host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. I help parents understand ADHD through a whole-person lens—because every child is unique, and so is every family. 🌐 Find me: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast Share this with a parent who’s parenting from a high baseline and needs a 5-minute tool today 💛

Dr. Ardeshir Mehran, a renowned psychologist and author, transforms the conversation around ADHD, anxiety, and depression, viewing them as adaptive signals rather than flaws. He discusses his 'Bill of Emotional Rights,' emphasizing the importance of safety and connection in mental health. Dr. Mehran explains how addressing anxiety first can significantly enhance executive function and fulfillment. Parents learn to listen compassionately and create an emotional haven, paving the way for their children’s growth.

Episode Summary  Child & adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Blaise Aguirre (McLean Hospital) shares DBT tools that help ADHD kids and their parents build emotional regulation before a crisis. We cover modeling calm, the mantra “regulate before you can reflect,” fast resets (breathing, PMR, ice-dive), and a practical, compassionate look at ADHD medication, what to watch, and how careful prescribing reduces risk. Guest Dr. Blaise Aguirre, Mood's leading psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. With 25+ years of treating over 7,000 children and adolescents at McLean Hospital, Dr. Aguirre has extensive experience helping ADHD kids develop emotional regulation skills and coping strategies for high-stress periods. Episode Overview Many kids labeled “misbehaving” are actually missing skills. Dr. Aguirre explains how DBT-based exercises taught early, practiced often, and modeled by parents become second nature and reduce meltdowns. You’ll learn why a parent’s steady nervous system matters (mirror neurons), how to de-escalate in the moment, and how to think about ADHD meds: quick signal checks, side-effect watching, and partnering with a responsive prescriber. Goal: fewer crises, more connection, and a resilient self-story for your child. What We Talk About (Highlights) Skills > “misbehavior”: teach what’s missing—don’t shame Parents first: model regulation; your calm lowers their heat Practice before you need it (make coping automatic) Fast resets anywhere: slow breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, ice-dive Medication basics: quick feedback loop for many stimulants, dose/side-effects to watch, work with a responsive prescriber Protect the self-story: reduce invalidation (“lazy,” “stupid”) to prevent long-term harm. Mirror neurons: your agitation amplifies theirs—stay steady Resources & Links Dr. Aguirre (McLean Hospital): https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/blaise-aguirre Mood Tools App (free): https://www.mood.org/app Books by Dr. Aguirre: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JP3X2W About Your Host Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach; author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD; host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. Every child with ADHD is unique—so are their strengths and struggles. Website & coaching: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com Get the first three chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast Share with a parent who needs encouragement today. Leave a quick rating/review—it helps other ADHD families find the show.

Episode Summary ADHD young adulthood, “slow-to-launch,” and boundaries with Dr. Tamara Rosier. We unpack ages 16–26, the maturity lag, elongated adolescence, and two common patterns (holding out for the “ideal lifestyle” and withdrawal/gaming). You’ll learn how to shift from fixing to scaffolding, set clear boundaries that preserve connection, and use a simple coaching script to build agency plus realistic timelines for later coalescence in the 20s. Guest Dr. Tamara Rosier, founder of the ADHD Center of West Michigan, author of Your Brain’s Not Broken and You, Me, and Our ADHD Family. She translates ADHD science into warm, practical strategies for families, teens, and young adults navigating motivation, emotions, and executive function. Episode Overview Launching can be bumpy for ADHD teens and young adults, not from laziness, but from skill gaps and a longer developmental runway. Dr. Rosier explains how parents can move from control to calm scaffolding: co-creating structure, aligning expectations, and setting boundaries with connection. We cover language that reduces shame, a step-by-step coaching script (Name → Aim → Plan → Support → Review), and how to think about timelines so families can lower panic and raise progress. What We Talk About (Highlights) Why “launching late” is common with ADHD (maturity lag + EF gaps) Two patterns: idealized lifestyle holdout vs. withdrawal/gaming avoidance Parents first: calm reassurance + scaffolding > fixing Boundaries that preserve connection (limits, choices, natural consequences) A quick coaching script: Name → Aim → Plan → Support → Review Treatment pillars when needed (meds/therapy/coaching + structure) Realistic timelines: progress often consolidates later in the 20s Resources & Links Dr. Tamara Rosier: https://www.tamararosier.com/ Books: Your Brain’s Not Broken; You, Me, and Our ADHD Family Part 1 (previous episode): Punishment Fails ADHD Kids—The Pool Metaphor That Calms Emotional Chaos (with Dr. Tamara Rosier) About Your Host Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach; author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD; host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. Every child with ADHD is unique—so are their strengths and struggles. Website & coaching: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com Free Download Get the first three chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast Share with a parent who needs encouragement today Leave a quick rating/review—it helps other ADHD families find the show    #ADHDyoungadults #slowtolaunch #scaffolding #ADHDboundaries #executivefunction #gamingavoidance #failure to launch #Tamara Rosier #interview #ADHDparentingteens #transitiontoadulthood        

Episode Summary OCD vs. anxiety in kids, ERP treatment, and co-regulation for families. Dr. Tamar Chansky explains how to tell OCD from general anxiety, where it overlaps with ADHD, and how parents can lower fear, connect first, and coach skills that stick. We cover PANS/PANDAS (sudden-onset OCD after infections), when to seek medical evaluation, and first-line care like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) plus hopeful long-term outcomes and “tune-ups” during new life stages. Guest Dr. Tamar Chansky, founder of the Children’s and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety, author of Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking, Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Freeing Yourself from Anxiety. She’s known for translating evidence-based care into clear, compassionate strategies families can use right away. Episode Overview Parents often confuse anxiety (“what-ifs,” future worry) with OCD (intrusive thoughts + compulsions). Dr. Chansky clarifies the difference and shows how naming patterns as “OCD-normal” separates the child from the disorder and lowers shame. You’ll learn why parent nervous-system regulation is step one, how ERP works through stepwise “courage challenges,” when medication may help (especially with co-occurring depression in teens), and how to approach PANS/PANDAS: treat medical triggers first, then layer CBT/ERP as needed. Bottom line: pediatric OCD is highly treatable, and families can expect progress plus occasional “tune-ups” during transitions. What We Talk About (Highlights) Language that helps: call patterns “OCD-normal,” separate child from disorder; connect → then problem-solve Anxiety vs. OCD: anxiety = “what-ifs”; OCD = intrusive thoughts + compulsions (“superstition on steroids”) Emotional regulation: parent down-regulation enables child co-regulation PANS/PANDAS: sudden spikes after infections (e.g., strep/Lyme/post-viral); treat medical cause first; add CBT/ERP later First-line care for pediatric OCD: ERP with stepwise “courage challenges”; meds not first-line for most kids, may help some—especially teens with depression Parent power: Coaching parent responses can rival direct child therapy Outlook: highly treatable; skills + neuroplastic change; periodic “tune-ups” during new stages (“last-yearing it”) Resources & Links Dr. Tamar Chansky & books: https://tamarchansky.com/ PANDAS Physicians Network: https://www.pandasppn.org/practitioners/ About Your Host Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach; author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD; host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. Every child with ADHD is unique, so are their strengths and struggles. Website & coaching: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com Free Download Get the first 3 chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters Need Support? Schedule a free consultation: https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/appointment/ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast Share with a parent who needs encouragement today Leave a quick rating/review—it helps other ADHD families find the show

In this engaging session, Dr. Rebecca Jackson, a board-certified cognitive specialist and former chiropractor, shares her expertise on non-medication interventions for ADHD. She discusses how uneven sensory-motor development impacts attention and emotional regulation. Listeners will discover the importance of intentional movement and nutrition in enhancing cognitive function. Dr. Jackson also highlights practical activities for parents and warns about the detrimental effects of excessive screen time. Her insights pave a hopeful path for effective ADHD management!

Host: Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach Guest: Aimee Kaufman, author of No One Else I’d Rather Be: Loving a Daughter with ADHD for Who She Is Episode Overview In this profoundly moving conversation, Kate sits down with author and parent Aimee Kaufman to talk about her memoir and the 10-year journey to her daughter’s ADHD diagnosis. Aimee shares the hard moments, misunderstandings, criticism, school challenges, and the hope that carried her family forward: unconditional love, advocacy, and support that matched her daughter’s needs over time. If you’re a parent who feels overwhelmed, second-guessed, or unsure how to keep leading with love during tough seasons, Aimee’s story will encourage and steady you. What We Talk About (Highlights) A long road to clarity: Why it took 10 years to get an ADHD diagnosis—and what finally helped. When behavior says “I can’t,” not “I won’t”: How Aimee learned to interpret her daughter’s words and actions. Unconditional love in the messy middle: Loving firmly and fully when emotions run high. School Support That Actually Helps: 504 Accommodations, When They’re Ignored, and How to Advocate. Medication as one tool (not the only one): The trial-and-error reality and finding the right fit over time. Siblings & family dynamics: Moving from rivalry and rupture to healing and closeness. Parent grounding: How Aimee stayed steady—community, practical support, and protecting her own well-being. A hopeful ending: From crisis to connection—college, career, marriage, and a growing family. Resources & Links Aimee Kaufman’s Book: No One Else I’d Rather Be: Loving a Daughter with ADHD for Who She Is — https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/No-One-Else-Id-Rather-Be/Aimee-Kaufman/9781647428280 About Your Host, Kate I’m Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach, author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD, and host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. It’s honestly my pleasure to help you understand ADHD more deeply—because every child with ADHD is unique, and so are their strengths and struggles. 🌐 Find me: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com 📘 Free Download: Get the first 3 chapters of my book—free—https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters 🤝 Need support? Schedule a free consultation https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/appointment/ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast Share this episode with a parent who needs encouragement today Thank you for listening.  

Ryan Wexelblatt, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of ADHDDude.com, shares insights from his work with ADHD kids and his personal experience as a father. He emphasizes the importance of coaching over correcting to build skills and foster independence. The conversation highlights how to create calm home environments, the role of CBT at the right moments, and the need for practical social skills training. Ryan advocates for clear expectations and warm authority, aiming to reduce family friction and enhance children's self-esteem.

Learn kind and practical tips to support your ADHD child by downloading the First 3 Chapters of Kate's book for FREE here:https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters       ----------------------------------------------------------- My guest today is Kristen McNeely, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Kristen serves as a Behavior Specialist in a local school district and runs a private practice where she supports parents of children navigating behavior challenges and anxiety. I invited Kristen to the podcast to unpack a big topic: how parents can support children who have both ADHD and anxiety—a combination that often gets misunderstood or overlooked. You can learn more about Kristen and her work at 👉 www.kristenmcneely.com In this episode, we explore: What anxiety looks like in a child with ADHD Strategies to help anxious ADHD kids start and complete tasks How to support academic demands without increasing anxiety What to do when your school district isn’t offering support How to navigate social-emotional challenges in school What to do when school refusal starts showing up How to build emotional coping skills and motivation Kristen’s words of wisdom for parenting through it all This episode is brought to you by Kate at  ADHDKidsCanThrive.com 💛 Please listen, share, and let us know what resonates with you!