Psych In Real Life

Back to School Basics: Routines, Anxiety, and School Support Plans

Karina Guffey, a dual-certified psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner, introduces Psych in Real Life and shares practical back-to-school guidance for parents navigating routines, anxiety, and school supports. The episode focuses on making school transitions easier for kids, especially those with focus challenges, anxiety, or neurodevelopmental needs. In this episode, Karina explains why she moved from ICU nursing into pediatric and psychiatric care, and why she wanted to create a podcast to make mental health education more accessible to families. She also breaks down the difference between 504 plans and IEPs, including when each may be helpful and why documenting requests in writing matters.

Key topics

• Karina shares her path from rural Missouri, ICU nursing, and family practice into psychiatry and pediatrics, driven by limited access to care in rural communities.
• She explains why outreach matters, especially for parents and kids who cannot easily access consistent mental health support.
• She recommends building a stable routine before and during the school year, especially around sleep, bedtime, and morning structure.
• She suggests turning off electronics at least an hour before bed and using calming nighttime activities like baths, reading, or other low-stimulation routines.
• She notes that children with anxiety often do better when their days are predictable and their habits stay consistent.
• She describes how working memory issues can make tasks feel overwhelming for kids with ADHD or focus challenges, and why routines reduce that stress.
• She recommends transition support for kids starting a new school or routine, including quieter school visits, advance walkthroughs, and photos of the bus, hallway, locker, or classroom.
• She advises parents to prep children repeatedly before transitions, including revisiting school plans on weekends and using picture binders to reinforce familiarity.
• She explains what to do when a child starts struggling at school, including contacting staff early and requesting support in writing.
• She breaks down 504 plans as accommodation-based supports and IEPs as more intensive plans with measurable goals and required parent involvement.

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Welcome & Important Note
• 00:34 — Why This Show Exists
• 04:30 — Back-to-School Routines
• 07:44 — Focus & Transition Support
• 10:34 — 504 Plans & IEPs