The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast

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.  

Episode Summary Licensed clinical social worker Ryan Wexelblatt (“ADHD Dude”) shares a practical, skills-first playbook for parents: coach over correct, step into calm parental authority, and build real-world social skills through practice, not lectures. We cover when CBT actually helps ADHD kids, why consistent home routines beat reminders, and how to create momentum without shame or power struggles. Guest Ryan Wexelblatt, LCSW, ADHD-CCSP, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified School Social Worker, and founder of ADHDDude.com. Ryan trains parents to help their children build skills, improve behavior, and feel better about themselves. He’s also a father to a son with ADHD and learning differences. Episode Overview Most families are working hard but on the wrong levers. Ryan explains how parent-led coaching, clear expectations, and warm authority transform everyday friction points (mornings, transitions, homework). We dig into timing CBT so it sticks, designing social practice that isn’t awkward or punitive, and shifting from “try harder” to “build the skill.” Goal: fewer battles, more progress, and a kid who sees themselves as capable. What We Talk About (Highlights) Coach > correct: teach the skill, don’t repeat the reminder Parental authority: firm + kind (clear expectations, consistent follow-through) CBT timing: works best after regulation and core skills are in place Social growth through reps: real contexts, short practices, no lectures Routines that reduce conflict: prompts, transitions, and predictable scaffolds Common parent pain points—and what to do instead of “try harder” Inside ADHD Dude Camp: structure, community, and practical wins Ryan’s words of wisdom for exhausted parents Resources & Links ADHDDude: https://adhddude.com/ 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

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!

Learn kind and practical tips to support your ADHD child by downloading the First 3 Chapters of my book for FREE here:https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters       ----------------------------------------------------------- Join host Kate Brownfield from ADHDKidsCanThrive.com in an enlightening conversation with Cassie Korbfort, MSEd, a Child Development Specialist and early childhood special education expert at the Center for Developing Minds (Devminds.com). This episode delves into the complexities of raising and educating neurodiverse children in preschool and elementary settings. Discover valuable insights into how parents can effectively advocate for their children, the importance of teamwork with educators, and the impact of external factors like COVID and screen time on child development. Kate and Cassie discuss common challenges parents face, such as handling behavioral issues in school, addressing the stigma attached to neurodiversity, and the significance of allowing children to overcome small challenges for long-term success. This episode serves as a helpful guide for parents aiming to support their children's unique learning needs while fostering an environment of growth and resilience both at home and in school. Thank you for listening! Connect with Cassie Korbfort: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassie-korbfort-145193203/ Connect with Kate of ADHD Kids Can Thrive:  Website: http://www.adhdkidscanthrive.com/ #adhd #adhdkid #adhdparent #adhdkidscanthrive #adhdparentsupport #adhdsupport  #specialed #parenting #ADHDkidhealth #brainhealth #anxiety #depression #learningdisabilities #dyslexia #executivefunctioning #neurodiverse #ADHDchild

Learn kind and practical tips to support your ADHD child by downloading the First 3 Chapters of my book for FREE here: here:https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters   In this episode, Kate Brownfield sits down with Greg Burnham, MS, LMFT, and clinical director at Gembaboise.com, to discuss how alternative paths like gap programs can help young adults build confidence, develop life skills, and create a future that truly fits them. Greg shares valuable knowledge on the different levels of "stuckness" young adults experience, the role parents play in this journey, and how to foster independence without forcing a rigid path. If you're a parent looking for alternative ways to support your child’s transition into adulthood, this episode is full of actionable advice. Expect to Learn:  How can you recognize when a young adult is “stuck” and what level of support they need? Traditional college paths aren’t the best fit for every neurodivergent young adult. The benefits of gap programs in building confidence, independence, and real-world skills. How parents can guide their child’s journey without unintentionally holding them back. Focusing on the process, rather than just the outcome, leads to long-term success. In Today’s Episode: [01:17] - Meet Greg Burnham [02:13] - What is a gap year? [04:56] - How parents can help (or hinder) their child’s path to independence. [07:41] - Why ADHD young adults struggle with life after high school and how to support them. [13:26] - Identifying different levels of "stuckness" and knowing when intervention is needed. [18:05] - What to do if your child fails in college and why it’s not the end of the world. [20:09] - How gap programs provide structure and support. [23:36] - Understanding the costs and insurance options. [25:36] - How Gemba Boise helps young adults build confidence, independence, and community. [28:12] - Why personalized paths lead to sustainable growth. Connect with Greg Burnham: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gburnham/ Follow your Host Kate Brownfield: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-wedlock-brownfield-b0b139 Follow the ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast on:  Website: http://www.adhdkidscanthrive.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Adhdkidscanthrive  Email: adhdkidscanthrive@yahoo.com

Dr. Tamara Rosier, an ADHD expert and author, dives into the complexities of parenting children with ADHD. She reveals why traditional punishments fail and introduces her effective 'Pool Metaphor' for managing emotional outbursts. The discussion highlights the importance of debriefing with kids post-meltdown to foster accountability and resilience. Dr. Rosier also shares strategies to prevent parent burnout and emphasizes prioritizing character development over daily struggles, transforming challenges into growth opportunities for families.