Parent Confidence Lab

Helping children navigate big emotions is one of the greatest challenges parents face. In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina sit down with Abby Horton, Certified Child Life Specialist and founder of Little Lighthouses Child Life Services, to explore practical ways parents can teach healthy coping skills, build emotional resilience, and confidently support children through life's everyday challenges.

Drawing from more than a decade of experience helping children and families through medical procedures, trauma, and major life transitions, Abby explains why coping skills should be practiced long before stressful moments occur. She shares actionable strategies for co-regulation, creating calm-down spaces, modeling emotional expression, preparing children for transitions, and helping kids build resilience through everyday routines rather than perfection.

The conversation also tackles some of parenting's toughest moments, including navigating tantrums, choosing when to hold boundaries versus offering grace, helping children process disappointment, and understanding how parents' own emotional regulation shapes their children's ability to manage stress. Abby reminds parents that resilience isn't built by avoiding difficult emotions, but by walking through them together with compassion and consistency.

• Why coping skills should be practiced before stressful situations occur
• How parents can co-regulate their children's emotions during difficult moments
• Why crying is often a healthy form of emotional coping
• Practical ways to teach deep breathing, visualization, and sensory regulation
• How calm-down corners and coping toolkits support emotional development
• Why preparation and predictable routines reduce anxiety and tantrums
• How to balance boundaries with flexibility during emotional outbursts
• Everyday strategies for building resilience and independence
• Why modeling your own emotions helps children regulate theirs
• How being present during difficult moments strengthens long-term confidence and trust

Abby Horton is a Certified Child Life Specialist with more than a decade of experience helping children and families navigate medical experiences, trauma, life transitions, and everyday parenting challenges. She is the founder of Little Lighthouses Child Life Services, where she provides practical guidance, emotional support, and evidence-based strategies that empower parents to confidently support their children's emotional well-being and development.

• Website: https://www.littlelighthouseschildlife.com/
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/abigail-horton-27012b61
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/littlelighthouseschildlife/

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The weeks after bringing home a new baby can be some of the most joyful, and overwhelming, moments in a parent's life. In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina welcome Jennifer C. Williams, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Certified Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) professional, Certified Parent Leave Coach, and founder of Pass GO! Therapy and Coaching, to discuss why the often-overlooked "fourth trimester" deserves just as much attention as pregnancy itself.

Drawing from nearly two decades of clinical experience supporting individuals, couples, and families, Jennifer explains how postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, and other perinatal mental health conditions affect both mothers and fathers. She shares practical guidance for creating a postpartum plan, preparing couples for the emotional transition into parenthood, improving communication, setting healthy expectations with family members, and recognizing when professional support is needed.

The conversation also explores how parents can build stronger partnerships during one of life's biggest transitions, why giving yourself and your partner grace is essential, and how proactive mental health support can help families thrive long after the baby arrives. Jennifer also discusses her children's book, If My Depression Had a Name, and her mission to help children and parents better understand emotional wellness through compassionate storytelling. (Pass Go! Therapy and Coaching)

• What the "fourth trimester" is and why it matters for every family
• The difference between baby blues and postpartum mood disorders
• How postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, and psychosis can affect new parents
• Why fathers can also experience postpartum depression
• How to build a practical postpartum plan before your baby arrives
• Ways couples can communicate expectations before bringing baby home
• Why giving your partner grace strengthens your relationship during postpartum
• How grandparents and loved ones can provide meaningful support
• Warning signs that indicate it's time to seek professional mental health care
• Why early mental health support helps parents navigate major life transitions with confidence

Jennifer C. Williams, LCPC, PMH-C, is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Perinatal Mental Health specialist, Certified Parent Leave Coach, and founder of Pass GO! Therapy and Coaching. With nearly 20 years of clinical experience, she helps individuals, couples, parents, and professionals regulate stress, strengthen relationships, and navigate life's biggest transitions through her proprietary Pass Go Regulation Method™. Jennifer is also trained in trauma treatment, the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Intimacy From the Inside Out (IFIO) for couples. She is the author of the children's book If My Depression Had a Name, which helps children and families better understand depression and emotional wellness. (Pass Go! Therapy and Coaching).

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jennifercwilliamsdc
• Website: passgolife.com
• Relationship Quiz: quiz.passgolife.com

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Supporting children's mental health has never been more important, or more challenging. In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina welcome Dr. Leena Khanzode, a board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, founder of Silicon Valley Psychiatry, founder and Executive Director of the Taarika Foundation, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, to discuss how parents can recognize mental health concerns early and confidently support their children's emotional well-being.

Drawing from both her professional expertise and deeply personal experience growing up with parents affected by bipolar disorder, Dr. Khanzode shares why early identification and intervention can dramatically improve a child's quality of life. She explains how anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are affecting children at increasingly younger ages, and why education and awareness are essential for parents.

The conversation also explores practical strategies for recognizing early warning signs, reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, navigating smartphones and social media, setting healthy technology boundaries, understanding the opportunities and limitations of AI in mental healthcare, and helping children build confidence and healthy body image. Throughout the episode, Dr. Khanzode reminds parents that mental health deserves the same attention and compassion as physical health—and that informed, supportive parents are one of the greatest protective factors a child can have.

• Why early intervention can significantly improve children's mental health outcomes
• Common warning signs of anxiety, depression, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder
• How parents can recognize when behavioral changes require professional support
• Why education helps families reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness
• The lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's emotional development
• Practical ways to support children experiencing anxiety and depression
• Healthy strategies for managing smartphones, social media, and screen time
• Why creating family technology boundaries benefits children's mental health
• The benefits and limitations of AI tools for mental health support
• How parents can foster healthy body image, confidence, and emotional resilience

Dr. Leena Khanzode is a board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist and the Founder of Silicon Valley Psychiatry. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Taarika Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and providing education and early intervention resources for children, adolescents, parents, educators, and communities.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Khanzode serves as an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Child Development at Stanford University School of Medicine. Through her work in clinical care, education, nonprofit leadership, and public advocacy, she is committed to helping families build resilience and improve lifelong mental wellness.

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leena-khanzode-5249891b4
• Taarika Foundation: taarika.foundation
• Silicon Valley Psychiatry: siliconvalleypsychiatry.com
• Mindful, Beautiful & Thriving Podcast
• Stanford University Faculty Profile

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Supporting a child through a serious illness is one of the greatest challenges any parent can face. In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina welcome Melanie Reynolds, MS, APRN, NPD-BC, CPNP-AC/PC, a pediatric palliative care nurse practitioner, healthcare educator, and advanced practice leader at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, for an inspiring conversation about compassionate care, parent advocacy, and building stronger healthcare partnerships.

Drawing from her years of experience in pediatric intensive care, cardiac intensive care, pain management, and pediatric palliative care, Melanie shares the personal experience that inspired her career and explains how palliative care focuses on improving quality of life—not simply end-of-life care. Through powerful patient stories, she illustrates how thoughtful pain management, creative problem-solving, and family-centered care can help children spend meaningful time with the people they love.

The conversation also explores the emotional realities of caring for critically ill children, how becoming a mother changed Melanie's perspective as a clinician, and why supporting healthcare providers is essential to delivering better patient outcomes. Melanie discusses her work developing Children's Hospital Los Angeles' Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship, mentoring future nurse practitioners and physician associates, and creating psychologically safe environments that reduce burnout and improve patient care.

For parents, Melanie offers practical guidance on trusting their instincts, communicating openly with medical teams, advocating confidently for their children, and embracing the moments that matter most, even during life's most difficult seasons.

• What pediatric palliative care really means beyond end-of-life care
• Why effective pain management can dramatically improve a child's quality of life
• How one young patient's experience inspired Melanie's career in pediatric palliative care
• Why parents are the most valuable members of their child's healthcare team
• How sharing your observations helps providers make better clinical decisions
• The importance of trusting your instincts when something feels wrong
• How collaboration between families and healthcare providers improves patient outcomes
• What healthcare organizations can do to support providers and reduce burnout
• Why psychological safety and mentorship are essential for developing future healthcare leaders
• Simple mindfulness techniques, including the "Awe Walk," for managing stress and building resilience
• How becoming a parent transformed Melanie's approach to caring for children and families

Melanie Reynolds, MS, APRN, NPD-BC, CPNP-AC/PC, is a pediatric palliative care nurse practitioner and healthcare leader at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She serves as the APP Fellowship Director and Senior Advanced Practice Professional Development Specialist, where she leads programs that support education, professional development, and provider well-being for advanced practice clinicians. Passionate about compassionate pediatric care, mentorship, and family-centered healthcare, Melanie is dedicated to helping children, families, and healthcare providers thrive together.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melaniewreynolds

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Making informed healthcare decisions for children has never been more challenging. Between online information, changing medical recommendations, and the growing role of technology, parents often find themselves searching for trusted guidance. In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina welcome Dr. Steven Abelowitz, board-certified pediatrician, physician executive, healthcare entrepreneur, founder and Medical Director of Ocean Pediatrics, and father of three, to discuss how parents can confidently navigate today's pediatric healthcare landscape while building lifelong partnerships with their child's physician.

Drawing from nearly three decades of clinical experience, Dr. Abelowitz explains why continuity of care and strong relationships between pediatricians and families lead to better health outcomes. He shares practical advice on preparing for medical appointments, asking better questions, evaluating healthcare information online, making informed decisions about vaccinations, recognizing early signs of anxiety and depression, and balancing children's use of technology and social media.

The conversation also explores the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence brings to healthcare, why physician-led care remains essential despite technological advances, and how parents can create a positive home environment that fosters resilience, confidence, and emotional well-being. Reflecting on both his medical career and his own parenting journey, Dr. Abelowitz reminds parents that learning, adapting, and trusting the right resources are key to raising healthy, thriving children.

• Why finding a trusted pediatrician creates better long-term health outcomes
• How parents can prepare for pediatric visits and ask more meaningful questions
• Why collaboration between physicians and parents improves medical decision-making
• Practical ways to identify reliable medical information and avoid misinformation
• What parents should know about vaccines and evidence-based healthcare decisions
• Healthy approaches to managing children's screen time and social media use
• How pediatricians recognize early signs of anxiety, depression, and behavioral health concerns
• The benefits and limitations of artificial intelligence in pediatric healthcare
• Parenting strategies for handling tantrums, emotional regulation, and difficult moments
• Why creating a positive, trusting family environment helps children build lifelong confidence and resilience

Dr. Steven Abelowitz, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician, physician executive, and founder and Medical Director of Ocean Pediatrics in Orange County, California. With nearly 30 years of experience, he is passionate about providing relationship-based pediatric care and helping families make informed healthcare decisions. Dr. Abelowitz previously founded Coastal Kids Medical Group, one of Southern California's largest independent pediatric organizations, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the USC Keck School of Medicine. As a husband and father of three, he combines decades of clinical expertise with firsthand parenting experience to help children and families thrive.

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/steven-abelowitz-md-faap-a5b0b01b
• Ocean Pediatrics: ocean-pediatrics.com

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Navigating today's healthcare system can feel overwhelming for parents, especially when they're trying to make the best decisions for their children. In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina welcome Dr. Zaid Fadul, a Harvard-trained physician, healthcare innovator, CEO of Bespoke Concierge MD, and proud father of four, to discuss how parents can become stronger advocates for their children's health while embracing new technologies like artificial intelligence.

Drawing from his experience in family medicine, addiction medicine, concierge healthcare, and military service as a U.S. Air Force Reserve flight surgeon, Dr. Fadul explains why healthcare works best when physicians and parents become collaborative partners. He shares practical advice on improving health literacy, asking better questions during medical appointments, using AI responsibly to understand diagnoses, and trusting parental instincts when something feels wrong.

The conversation also dives into parenting itself—from raising emotionally resilient children and navigating technology addiction to balancing discipline with compassion. Dr. Fadul offers honest reflections on fatherhood, longevity, apologizing to your children, and why forgiving yourself as a parent is just as important as being patient with your kids.

• Why parents are their child's most important healthcare advocate
• How trusting your instincts can lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes
• The importance of health literacy in making informed medical decisions
• How AI can help parents understand medical information without replacing physicians
• Best practices for using AI safely and responsibly for healthcare questions
• Why collaboration between doctors and parents leads to better care
• How to recognize the root causes behind childhood and teenage addictions
• Practical parenting strategies for discipline, communication, and emotional resilience
• Why apologizing to your children builds trust and healthy relationships
• How self-compassion helps parents become more confident over time

Dr. Zaid Fadul is a dual board-certified physician in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine, a Harvard-trained healthcare leader, and CEO of Bespoke Concierge MD. He also serves as a Flight Surgeon with the U.S. Air Force Reserve and is passionate about simplifying healthcare through education, technology, and patient empowerment. As a husband and father of four, Dr. Fadul combines clinical expertise with real-world parenting experience to help families become more informed, confident advocates for their children's health.

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drfadul
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drzaidfadul
• Become a Patient: shop.bespokeconciergemd.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/drzaidfadul
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@drzaidfadulmd
• Bespoke Concierge MD: bespokeconciergemd.com

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Mental health challenges among young people continue to rise, leaving many parents searching for approaches that go beyond traditional treatment. In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina sit down with Dr. Nora Dennis, psychiatrist, addiction medicine physician, and founder of Jubilee Healing Farm, to explore a new model of healing rooted in nature, community, and human connection.

Drawing from her experience leading behavioral health within the healthcare system, Dr. Dennis explains why she left conventional medicine to create a healing farm where movement, sunlight, sleep, meaningful relationships, and time outdoors are integrated into mental health care. She shares how loneliness, excessive screen time, disrupted routines, and social isolation have contributed to the growing youth mental health crisis—and why rebuilding connection is essential for lasting recovery.

The conversation explores practical strategies parents can use to support their children, including creating healthy routines, encouraging outdoor play, reducing screen dependence, fostering gratitude, and finding meaningful ways to reconnect with teenagers. Dr. Dennis also discusses the science behind social connection, mirror neurons, forest bathing, and why healing happens best when people experience belonging within a supportive community.

• Why nature plays a powerful role in mental health and emotional healing
• How excessive screen time contributes to anxiety, depression, and isolation
• Why routines around sleep, meals, movement, and social connection improve mental wellness
• The importance of community and shared healing in recovery
• How loneliness impacts teenagers and emerging adults
• Why gratitude, wonder, and play strengthen emotional resilience
• How parents can reconnect with teens through shared activities instead of constant conversation
• The science behind mirror neurons and face-to-face human connection
• Why movement and exercise can be as effective as medication for some forms of depression
• How holistic care addresses the whole person—not just symptoms

Dr. Nora Dennis is a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine physician with a background in maternal and child health. She is the founder of Jubilee Healing Farm, an innovative mental health clinic in North Carolina that combines evidence-based psychiatric care with nature, community, and holistic wellness practices. Through her work, Dr. Dennis is helping young adults and families discover new pathways toward resilience, healing, and human flourishing.

• Website: https://www.jubileehealingfarm.org/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-dennis/

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Parenting often requires balancing hope, resilience, and perseverance through both everyday challenges and life’s most difficult moments. Elizabeth Wilberg joins Hans and Cristina on the Parent Confidence Lab podcast to share her journey as a mother, nonprofit leader, and advocate for children and families. As Executive Director of Episcopal Community Services in San Diego, Elizabeth oversees programs that support early childhood education, children’s mental health, homelessness prevention, substance use recovery, and family stability.

Elizabeth discusses how her own path to motherhood through adoption and IVF shaped her perspective on parenting, leadership, and community service. She explains why supporting children early in life can change the trajectory of entire families and how compassion, connection, and belonging are at the heart of effective family support programs. The conversation also explores grief, infertility, resilience, optimism, and the importance of showing up for people during life’s hardest seasons.

• Why early childhood intervention can create lifelong positive outcomes
• How strong family support helps children thrive
• The role compassion plays in effective social services
• Why optimism and an abundance mindset can strengthen resilience
• How adoption and IVF shaped Elizabeth’s parenting journey
• The importance of supporting parents alongside their children
• Why showing up matters when loved ones are experiencing grief or loss
• How Head Start programs help children develop academically and emotionally
• The value of inclusion, belonging, and community in child development
• Why trusting your instincts is one of the most important parenting skills

Elizabeth Wilberg is a nonprofit executive, writer, mother, and community advocate. She serves as Executive Director of Episcopal Community Services in San Diego, where she leads programs that support thousands of children, adults, and families each year. Through her work and writing, Elizabeth focuses on creating opportunities for families to build stability, resilience, and brighter futures.

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elizabethwilberg
• Blog: https://substack.com/@elizabethwilberg

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Rare diseases often leave families searching for answers in a system that doesn’t always recognize what’s happening. On this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina sit down with Dr. Andrea Gropman, pediatric neurologist, researcher, and leader in neurometabolic medicine, to discuss how patient stories, family advocacy, and scientific innovation are changing the future of rare disease diagnosis and treatment.

Drawing from more than two decades of research in urea cycle disorders and other rare metabolic conditions, Dr. Gropman explains how listening closely to families has led to groundbreaking discoveries, improved diagnostic approaches, and new therapies that are helping patients live not only longer, but better. She shares insights into genetic testing, personalized medicine, postpartum presentations of rare disorders, and why parents should trust their instincts when something feels wrong.

This conversation is both an educational deep dive into rare disease medicine and a powerful reminder of the role parents play in driving medical progress.

• How a single patient inspired Dr. Gropman’s career in rare disease research
• What urea cycle disorders are and how they affect the brain
• Why many rare disease symptoms are missed or misdiagnosed
• How patient advocacy groups have accelerated treatment development
• The role of MRI imaging in understanding rare neurologic disorders
• Why some women previously considered “carriers” actually experience symptoms
• How genetic testing and whole genome sequencing are transforming diagnosis
• Why parent observations are often critical diagnostic data
• The challenges families face accessing rare disease treatments and testing
• How personalized medicine and gene-editing therapies are changing the future of care
• Why parents should continue advocating when they know something isn’t right
• How family stories often reveal what medical tests cannot

Dr. Andrea Gropman is a pediatric neurologist, physician-scientist, and internationally recognized expert in neurometabolic and rare genetic disorders. She serves as Director of the Neurometabolic Translational Research Program and holds the Mark Tamer Endowed Chair for Pediatric Neurology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Her research focuses on understanding how rare metabolic diseases affect the brain and developing innovative approaches to improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for patients and families.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Gropman has worked alongside patient advocacy organizations, researchers, and clinicians to advance therapies for rare diseases, including urea cycle disorders. Her work has helped redefine disease understanding, improve patient outcomes, and support the development of emerging precision medicine approaches.

• LinkedIn: Dr. Andrea Gropman

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Episode Summary

Parenting can be overwhelming, especially when stress, anxiety, grief, and emotional challenges affect the entire family system. David Washington joins Hans and Cristina on the Parent Confidence Lab podcast to discuss how nature, connection, and nervous system regulation can support healthier relationships between parents and children. As a licensed clinical social worker and CEO and co-founder of The Planted Brain, David combines traditional mental health practices with horticultural therapy and trauma-informed care to help individuals and families heal.

From the science behind nature's impact on the nervous system to the importance of parental regulation, attachment, and fatherhood mental health, David shares practical strategies parents can use to create stronger connections with themselves, their children, and their communities. The conversation also explores postpartum depression in both mothers and fathers, the role of neuroplasticity in changing behaviors, and how simple shared experiences can strengthen family bonds.

• How nature and horticulture can support emotional regulation and mental health
• Why nervous system safety is essential for healing and connection
• The role of polyvagal theory in understanding stress, anxiety, and trauma
• How parents' emotional states influence their children's behavior
• What mirror neurons teach us about connection and co-regulation
• Why parental self-regulation is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child
• How neuroplasticity helps parents create healthier behavioral patterns
• The importance of attachment and connection in early childhood development
• Why fathers can experience postpartum depression and emotional challenges
• Practical ways parents can connect with children through shared experiences and everyday activities
• How nature-based activities can strengthen family relationships and emotional well-being
• Why prioritizing self-care helps parents better support their children

David Washington is a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and the CEO and co-founder of The Planted Brain, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mental health organization dedicated to increasing access to culturally responsive mental health services for historically marginalized and under-resourced communities. Through a unique combination of trauma-informed care, psychotherapy, horticultural therapy, and nature-based healing practices, David helps individuals and families build resilience, strengthen relationships, and improve emotional well-being.

• Headway: https://care.headway.co/providers/david-washington
• The Planted Brain: theplantedbrain.org

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