Host: Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach

Episode Overview

In this hopeful, practical conversation, Kate talks with Dr. Ardeshir Mehran about reframing ADHD, anxiety, and depression as adaptive signals, not personal flaws. Drawing on his “Bill of Emotional Rights,” Dr. Mehran explains why addressing anxiety first often unlocks executive function, reduces ADHD symptoms, and paves the way toward genuine fulfillment (not just “feeling happy”). Parents will hear concrete ways to build connection at home, listen before fixing, and create a family culture where kids feel safe, seen, and steady.

If you’re a parent feeling overwhelmed, second-guessed, or unsure how to help, this episode offers a grounded roadmap from survival mode to connection and growth.

What We Talk About (Highlights)

Resources & Links

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 my pleasure to help you better understand ADHD because every child is unique, and so are their strengths and struggles.

🌐 Find me: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com

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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.

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.

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.

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.

Get the first three chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters

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.

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.

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.

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

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)

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.

Get the first three chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters

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

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.

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.

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.

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”)

Dr. Tamar Chansky & books: https://tamarchansky.com/

PANDAS Physicians Network: https://www.pandasppn.org/practitioners/

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.

Get the first 3 chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters

Schedule a free consultation: https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/appointment/

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

A brain-based roadmap for ADHD beyond “attention.” Dr. Rebecca Jackson explains how sensory, motor, and cognitive development shape attention, executive function, and emotional regulation, and how targeted, non-medication interventions (movement, sensory input, nutrition) can build lasting change. We cover bottom-up readiness before top-down strategies, practical daily routines, and assessments that reveal measurable gaps, enabling parents to help kids thrive at school and in life.

Dr. Rebecca Jackson, brain health expert, board-certified cognitive specialist, and former chiropractor known for her work at Brain Balance, is the author of Back on Track. She focuses on how sensory-motor development underpins attention, executive function, and emotion regulation, translating neuroscience into everyday tools for families.

ADHD often reflects uneven development across systems—not just lapses in focus. Dr. Jackson walks through a bottom-up approach: strengthen sensory pathways and motor control first, then layer academics and behavior strategies. You’ll learn why movement is medicine (heart-rate spikes, balance, coordination), how sensory inputs raise a child’s tolerance threshold, and what nutrition tweaks (protein-forward mornings, whole-food swaps, lower inflammation) can do. We also discuss screen use with intention and how to start with assessments that identify strengths and track progress.

ADHD is more than attention: sensory, motor, and cognitive systems develop unevenly

Bottom-up vs. top-down: build brain readiness before piling on strategies

Movement as medicine: heart-rate spikes, balance/coordination, frequent micro-breaks

Emotional regulation: mature sensory pathways (sight, sound, touch) to raise tolerance

Nutrition basics: reduce inflammation/“brain fog,” protein-first breakfasts, whole-food swaps

Screens with intention: entertainment time can crowd out sensory-motor input

Getting started: assessments that reveal strengths and measurable developmental gaps

Dr. Rebecca Jackson’s book, Back on Track: https://drrebeccajackson.com/

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.

Get the first 3 chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters

Schedule a free consultation: https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/appointment/

Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast

Share with a parent who needs encouragement today

Leave a quick rating/review, as it helps other ADHD families find the show

Host: Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach

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.

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.

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

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/

Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast

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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

Episode Overview

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

Free Download

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

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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 💛

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

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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 Kate of ADHD Kids Can Thrive:

#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.

[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.

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