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Food allergy treatment looks very different today than it did 17 years ago.

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Hawkins joins me for a deeply personal conversation about navigating food allergy treatment as a parent long before many of today's options were readily available.

Elizabeth is a psychologist, celiac patient, and a celiac and food allergy parent. Her younger daughter has a complex history of multiple severe food allergies alongside asthma, eczema, and environmental allergies, and their family has navigated multiple forms of treatment. We talk about how her experiences shaped what she sees as a psychologist working with food allergy families. We also explore what parents facing immunotherapy decisions today can learn from those who have been navigating these choices for years.

This conversation is about more than choosing a treatment. It's about living with uncertainty, knowing your child, making decisions within the reality of your family's circumstances, and finding a way to move forward without letting fear make every decision for you.

Follow Dr. Hawkins on IG @foodallergypsychologist and dr-elizabeth.com

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

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What does it really take to support a child through oral immunotherapy?

The medical protocol is only part of the experience. For children, OIT can involve fear, uncertainty, frustration, procedures, new sensations, and a lot of big feelings—sometimes without the words or skills to communicate what's happening.

In this episode, I talk with Kelsey Mora, a dual-certified Child Life Specialist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, about the emotional and developmental side of supporting kids through food allergy treatment.

Kelsey brings nearly a decade of hospital-based child life experience together with her training as a therapist, giving her a unique perspective on helping children and families navigate medical experiences. She's also the creator of The Method Workbooks, including The Y Method, an interactive workbook designed to help children understand food allergies and immunotherapy while building communication and coping skills.

We talk about preparing children for OIT, helping kids understand what's happening in their bodies, coping with anxiety during treatment, giving children appropriate choices and control, and supporting the whole family through the process.

Follow Kelsey:
@childlifetherapist
childlifetherapist.com
The Y Method: https://a.co/d/0cYsEAPW

Find my book, From Fear to Freedom:
On Amazon - https://a.co/d/0iiOwy04
On bookshop.org - 
https://bookshop.org/p/books/from-fear-to-freedom-a-workbook-for-navigating-allergy-immunotherapy-amanda-r-desio-whitehouse/62f4d096796ed48c?ean=9798995147404&bkshp-astro=t

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

What does it look like when a family is navigating multiple complicated medical journeys?

In this episode of Don't Feed the Fear, I sit down with Natalie Grijalva to talk about her experience with her son's food allergy immunotherapy and her son's additional medical challenges related to Kawasaki disease.

Natalie started her Instagram account @createlikeamom as a space to explore and express her artistic pursuits, but motherhood led her in a different direction and she now uses the account to raise awareness about food allergies and Kawasaki. 

We discuss what it takes to make treatment possible for a child when life is already complicated. We discuss the emotional and practical realities of navigating multiple medical concerns. We also talk about Kawasaki disease awareness and the importance of learning from other chronic illness communities—even when our diagnoses and experiences look different.

Many families within the food allergy community find themselves navigating their own unique combination of medical concerns. This conversation is ultimately about hope, persistence, and finding meaningful connection even though none of our stories are exactly the same. 

Follow Natalie @createlikeamom and her artwork @dragonflycanvasco

Order From Food to Freedom
on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0bT0HjQi
or on bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/from-fear-to-freedom-a-workbook-for-navigating-allergy-immunotherapy-amanda-r-desio-whitehouse/62f4d096796ed48c?ean=9798995147404&bkshp-astro=t

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

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In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Danna, the creator behind @sarahandspices, to talk about her life with food allergies, her more recent diagnosis with MCAS, and her experience with immunotherapy through the Tolerance Induction Program (TIP) at the Food Allergy Institute.

Sarah shares the emotional and practical realities of navigating treatment while also building an online community around allergy-friendly living. We talk about the progress she has experienced through the program, some of the challenges and setbacks along the way, and how her care team is adapting treatment in the context of mast cell activation syndrome.

We also discuss what it’s like to share your health journey publicly as a content creator and how community support has shaped Sarah’s advocacy.

Thank you Sarah for sharing your honest patient perspective on navigating complex allergic disease and treatment.

Find Sarah @sarahandspices and www.sarahandspices.com

From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy: https://a.co/d/03L4ZM8g

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Dr. Inderpal Randhawa, founder of the Tolerance Induction Program (TIP) for allergies, joins the podcast to discuss his program and its approach to food allergy treatment.

As part of this season exploring emerging and evolving allergy management options, this conversation aims to provide information directly from the source. TIP has generated both interest and debate within the food allergy community.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The foundational principles of TIP
 • How the program is structured
 • Patient selection and goals
 • How TIP fits into the broader treatment landscape
 • Areas of ongoing discussion within the field

This episode does not serve as an endorsement of any specific treatment. The intention is to offer balanced access to information so families and clinicians can make informed decisions in partnership with their own medical teams.

As always, we also consider the mental health dimensions of navigating complex medical choices.

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, allergist Dr. Nikhila Schroeder, founder of Allergenity Health, joins the podcast to discuss sublingual immunotherapy as a standalone treatment for food allergies.

As the second installment in our SLIT series, this conversation moves beyond introductory discussions and into a broader vision of what SLIT can offer. Dr. Schroeder shares how sublingual immunotherapy may provide meaningful protection, improved quality of life, and a lower intensity pathway for families who may not be pursuing higher-dose oral immunotherapy.

We explore:

• How SLIT works and how it differs from OIT
• Expanding SLIT beyond its traditional framing
• Which patients may benefit most from this approach
• The importance of aligning treatment with family goals

This episode is part of a larger season exploring immunotherapy options in allergy care, highlighting both the promise and the complexity of an expanding treatment landscape.

Follow Dr. Schroeder:
https://allergenuityhealth.com/
@allergeunityhealth

Dr. Whitehouse's book:
From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy
https://a.co/d/003saZ8p

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Every family's experience with food allergy treatment is different and hearing those lived experiences can be just as valuable as knowing the research and hearing from the experts.

This week's episode welcomes back food allergy Mom and advocate Sarah Hornung, who was first featured in Episode 11. Sarah is back for this season on immunotherapy to share what it was like to guide all three of her children through oral immunotherapy for multiple foods.

Our conversation explores the realities of treatment from a parent's perspective: the challenges, the unexpected moments, the lessons learned, and how each child's journey unfolded in its own unique way.

If you're considering immunotherapy or supporting families who are, we hope this conversation offers both practical insight and reassurance that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment experience.

Follow Sarah on Instagram @theeagerteacher

Listen to her previous episode (#11) on DFF here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/16272334

Find Dr. Whitehouse's book on:
Amazon  https://a.co/d/03vDOBMy
bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/p/books/from-fear-to-freedom-a-workbook-for-navigating-allergy-immunotherapy-amanda-r-desio-whitehouse/62f4d096796ed48c?ean=9798995147404&bkshp-astro=t

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Dr. Kara Wada, known online as The Immune Confident MD, joins the podcast to discuss immune complexity from both the physician and patient perspective. Dr. Wada is a board-certified allergist, immunologist, lifestyle medicine physician, food allergy mom, and Sjogren's patient.

Living with Sjögren’s disease and dysautonomia herself, Dr. Wada shares how personal experience reshaped her approach to allergy and autoimmune care. We explore the intersection of conventional and integrative medicine, the emotional realities of navigating chronic illness, and the importance of compassionate, patient-centered care.

We also discuss intra-lymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT), a lesser-known but evidence-based allergy treatment that differs from traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy. Dr. Wada explains how ILIT works, who it may be appropriate for, and why it remains less widely available despite promising research.

This episode expands the conversation around immune health and personalized treatment pathways.

CONNECT WITH DR. KARA 

Website → https://www.drkarawada.com/  

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/karawadamd/  

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/immuneconfidentmd/ 

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/KaraWadaMD 

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@immuneconfidentmd 

Dr. Whitehouse's book:
From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy
https://a.co/d/003saZ8p

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Dr. Brian Vickery of Emory University joins the podcast to discuss biologics in food allergy treatment.

As research advances, biologics are emerging as both standalone therapies and adjuncts to other treatments such as oral immunotherapy. Dr. Vickery explains how these medications work, what they are designed to target within the immune system, and how they may shift the risk-benefit landscape for certain patients.

We also briefly discuss PEACH, a quality of life measurement tool developed to better assess the real-world impact of food allergy on families.

This episode continues our season-long exploration of evolving treatment options, with a focus on clear, balanced information to support informed decision-making.

Dr. Vickery: https://www.choa.org/doctors/brian-p-vickery

From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy
https://a.co/d/003saZ8p

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

All allergy families are familiar with strict avoidance and emergency preparedness, and some have heard of oral immunotherapy (OIT). But fewer know about sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and how it may fit into a long term treatment plan.

In this episode, I sit down with allergist Dr. Allison Freeman to explore what SLIT is, how it works, and when it may be a good option for both environmental and food allergies.

Dr. Freeman is a board certified allergist and immunologist practicing in Richmond, Virginia. She has extensive experience helping patients pursue personalized immunotherapy strategies.

This conversation is also personal for me. Dr. Freeman was one of the physicians who helped my own child reach maintenance with SLIT for multiple allergens. She also helped us transition from expensive compounded extract drops to a whole food SLIT protocol, saving our family a significant amount of money while continuing treatment safely.

In this episode we discuss:

• What SLIT is and how it works
 • How SLIT compares to OIT and other immunotherapy options
 • The potential role of SLIT for food allergies and environmental allergies
 • How SLIT can be used as a standalone treatment or in combination with other approaches

If you are curious about options beyond avoidance, this episode offers a thoughtful introduction to a treatment approach that is still underutilized but increasingly promising.

Connect with Dr. Freeman:
https://www.chrichmond.org/services/allergy-and-immunology/

From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy
https://a.co/d/003saZ8p

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]