Voices of Compassion

For any parent who lies awake at night worrying about a diagnosis, a label, or whether their child will be okay — this conversation is for you.

We sit down with Riley Mulcahy, now an accomplished adult, who shares his journey from childhood struggles to real self-acceptance — not a story of "overcoming" or "fixing" anything, but of learning to live authentically in a world that often demands conformity.

He talks openly about the adult who finally saw him clearly, the moment something shifted, and the "before and after" in how he saw his own potential. Riley’s story includes recognizing the strengths that come with his different way of thinking, how he stays true to himself without bending to outside pressure, and what skills actually matter for a neurodivergent young person stepping into adulthood.

He also opens up about how his relationship with his own learning difference has changed since childhood — and what hasn't changed at all. It’s a warm, honest reminder that different isn't less — it's just different.

Listen today!

Resources:

• CHC Online
• CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services
• CHC's Resource Library
• Learn more about Ellis

Sign up for our Virtual Village email list to receive our latest episodes and recent CHC updates. Visit Voices of Compassion online for full show notes including additional resources. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit our YouTube channel for videos. Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen! We love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].

Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

People often talk about what it means to go through a traumatic event – but what does trauma really mean? And how do we better understand the layers behind intergenerational trauma?

CHC’s Clinical Director of Medi-Cal Dana Cook, MSW, LCSW, brings both a clinical and parent perspective to this important conversation. We talk about how chronic stress and trauma can affect a child’s developing brain and nervous system, why those responses may look different for neurodivergent children, and how our own unresolved experiences can show up in the way we respond to our kids.

We also talk about something every parent needs to hear: raising resilient kids isn't about getting everything right. It's about understanding our own triggers, recognizing what our children may be communicating through their behavior, and learning how to move through challenges together.

Listen today!

Resources:

• CHC Online
• CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services
• CHC's Resource Library
• Learn more about Ellis

Sign up for our Virtual Village email list to receive our latest episodes and recent CHC updates. Visit Voices of Compassion online for full show notes including additional resources. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit our YouTube channel for videos. Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen! We love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].

Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

understand their mental health – but her perspective is also deeply personal.

In this episode of Voices of Compassion, Dr. Birkhofer draws from her personal journey, decades of clinical experience, and her new book, Beyond Quick Fixes, to explore how our own childhood experiences can show up in the way we parent. She shares why listening can sometimes be more powerful than trying to fix a problem, how moments of rupture and repair can strengthen parent-child relationships, and what parents can do to help children build resilience, confidence, and healthy coping skills.

Listen now for a compassionate conversation about raising resilient kids, growing alongside them, and pairing compassion with wise action.

Resources:

• CHC Online
• CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services
• CHC's Resource Library
• Learn more about Ellis

Sign up for our Virtual Village email list to receive our latest episodes and recent CHC updates. Visit Voices of Compassion online for full show notes including additional resources. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit our YouTube channel for videos. Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen! We love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].

Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

Listen to this heartfelt episode where a father shares his family's journey raising a neurodivergent child — navigating learning differences, sensory needs, and mental health challenges that unfolded in a learning environment that wasn't built for his son.

He opens up about the moment he knew something had to change, what it took to advocate for the right support, and the search for a school where his child could finally feel understood, supported, and accepted. When the right supports came together, the transformation was remarkable — not just academically, but in his son's confidence and sense of self.

For any parent or caregiver walking this path, this is an honest, hopeful conversation about recognizing when your child needs something different — and how finding the right fit can change everything.

Listen now for a story about advocacy, love, and the difference the right environment can make.

Resources:

• CHC Online
• CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services
• CHC's Resource Library
• Learn more about Ellis

Sign up for our Virtual Village email list to receive our latest episodes and recent CHC updates. Visit Voices of Compassion online for full show notes including additional resources. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit our YouTube channel for videos. Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen! We love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].

Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

What does it feel like to be a teenager today?

In this special Voices of Compassion episode, CHC's Teen Leadership Collaborative takes the mic to share an honest, unfiltered look at the challenges young people are navigating right now. From academic pressure and social media to friendships, anxiety, and the struggle to ask for help, these student leaders offer powerful insights into what it's really like growing up in today's world.

Representing youth organizations across the Bay Area, the panel discusses how achievement culture impacts mental health, why some students' struggles go unnoticed, how social media shapes self-worth and connection, and what schools, families, and communities can do to better support young people.

Moderated by Natalie Tamburello, Community Engagement Manager at CHC, and introduced by CHC’s CEO Dr. Ryan Eisenberg, this conversation offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from teens about what they need most from the adults in their lives.

Whether you're a parent, educator, mental health professional, or caregiver, this episode provides valuable perspective, practical insights, and a reminder that listening to youth voices is one of the most powerful ways to support their well-being.

Resources:

• CHC Online
• CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services
• CHC's Resource Library
• Learn more about Ellis

Sign up for our Virtual Village email list to receive our latest episodes and recent CHC updates. Visit Voices of Compassion online for full show notes including additional resources. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit our YouTube channel for videos. Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen! We love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].

Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

Content Note: This episode includes discussion of transgender identity, mental health, depression, self-harm, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling or experiencing thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) in the United States for free, confidential support 24/7.

What does it actually feel like to watch your child become more fully themselves – and realize that your child’s journey may ask you to grow alongside them?

We sit down with parent and REEL co-founder, Callie Turk, a mom who gets it in her bones. She's not a researcher or a clinician. She's a parent who has lived it – the sleepless nights, the fear of getting it wrong, and the profound, unexpected joy of watching her daughter thrive.

She opens up about raising her transgender daughter: what the early days really looked like, how her own assumptions were quietly dismantled, and what she wishes someone had told her when her family was just finding its footing. She talks honestly about the moments that changed her, and why creating a family atmosphere where her daughter feels completely safe and seen has become such a meaningful part of her life.

This is a conversation about love in action – messy, learning, fiercely committed love. It's also about finding your people, setting aside the noise, and trusting your kid.

If you're a parent trying to figure out how to show up for your child, or if you've ever felt alone on this road – this one's for you.

Resources:

• CHC Online
• CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services
• CHC's Resource Library
• Learn more about Ellis

Sign up for our Virtual Village email list to receive our latest episodes and recent CHC updates. Visit Voices of Compassion online for full show notes including additional resources. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit our YouTube channel for videos. Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen! We love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].

Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

What if the most powerful thing an educator can do has nothing to do with curriculum? Search Institute has spent over 60 years studying what helps youth thrive – and the answer keeps coming back to one thing: relationships.

In this conversation with President & CEO of Search Institute, Ben Houltberg, PhD, LMFT, we unpack the science of developmental relationships – a specific, research-backed framework that goes far beyond simply "being nice" to students. We explore how a single teacher relationship can reshape a young person's trajectory, and how to shift from a deficit mindset to a strengths-based one – even when you're running on empty.

Because it turns out, the small things aren't small at all.

Resources:

• CHC Online
• CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services
• CHC's Resource Library
• Learn more about Ellis

Sign up for our Virtual Village email list to receive our latest episodes and recent CHC updates. Visit Voices of Compassion online for full show notes including additional resources. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit our YouTube channel for videos. Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen! We love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].

Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

Today we’re talking about something that can be really confusing for parents: what it looks like when a child has both ADHD and autism.

A lot of families notice that something is going on, but it’s not just one thing. Maybe their child is constantly in motion, struggles with focus, has big emotional reactions, or seems overwhelmed by things other kids handle more easily. Maybe social situations are hard, routines are hard, school is hard — but not in a way that’s easy to explain.

And for many parents, that leads to a lot of second-guessing: Is this ADHD? Is it autism? Is it anxiety? Is this just a phase? Am I overthinking it?

So today, I’m joined by CHC expert, Melanie Hsu, PhD to help us better understand what happens when ADHD and autism overlap, how that can show up in everyday life, and what parents need to know if they’re trying to make sense of their child’s behavior and needs.

Resources:

• CHC Online
• CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services
• CHC's Resource Library
• Learn more about Ellis

Sign up for our Virtual Village email list to receive our latest episodes and recent CHC updates. Visit Voices of Compassion online for full show notes including additional resources. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit our YouTube channel for videos. Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen! We love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].

Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

Today's classrooms look nothing like they did a generation ago. Teachers are showing up every day to reach students who are anxious, exhausted, withdrawn, and sometimes in crisis — and they're doing it without the resources, time and support they need.

In this episode, we talk with Amanda Morin, neurodiversity expert and nationally known speaker and author. Our conversation takes an honest look at what K-12 educators are facing right now: the surge in student mental health needs, the pressure to act as teachers, counselors, and therapists all at once, and the very real toll it's taking on all of them.

We also talk about what teachers say they actually need — and where they turn when they need support. School counselors are stretched thin, mental health professionals carry overwhelming caseloads, and teachers are often left to figure it out on their own.

That's exactly why Ellis was created. Ellis is a free, trusted resource built specifically for K-12 educators – designed to help teachers confidently respond to the mental health needs and learning challenges they encounter every day with their students. Ellis was developed with direct input from teachers, ensuring it reflects the real, nuanced realities of classroom life. It's practical, it's evidence-informed, and it's available right now at askellis.org – at no cost.

If you're a teacher who's ever felt overwhelmed, underprepared, or simply alone in a hard moment with a struggling student — Ellis was made for you. Visit askellis.org today.

Resources:

• CHC Online
• CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services
• CHC's Resource Library
• Learn more about Ellis

Sign up for our Virtual Village email list to receive our latest episodes and recent CHC updates. Visit Voices of Compassion online for full show notes including additional resources. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit our YouTube channel for videos. Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen! We love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].

Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

In this candid and thoughtful episode, two teen leaders from the CHC Teen Collaborative share what it’s like to manage mental health in a world shaped by academic competition, social comparison, and constant pressure to perform. Cailey, from My Digital TAT2, and Brian, from allcove, talk openly about burnout, therapy, family communication, identity, and the emotional weight many teens carry while trying to balance school, activities, friendships, and future plans.

They also discuss how older generations often approach mental health differently, why teens need adults to listen instead of immediately trying to solve the problem, and how trusted spaces at school and in the community can make a real difference. With honesty, empathy, and practical insight, this episode speaks to both parents and teens who want stronger communication and a deeper understanding of each other’s experiences.

Launched in fall 2023, the CHC Teen Collaborative is a powerful group of high school students working together to improve mental health and learning support in their communities. Students from six youth-focused organizations – AIM Youth Mental Health, allcove, Bring Change to Mind, Challenge Success, My Digital TAT2, SafeSpace, and Taarika Foundation – joined forces to share ideas, identify needs, and lead change. Brian represents allcove, and Cailey represents My Digital TAT2.

Resources:

• CHC Online
• CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services
• CHC's Resource Library
• Learn more about Ellis

Sign up for our Virtual Village email list to receive our latest episodes and recent CHC updates. Visit Voices of Compassion online for full show notes including additional resources. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit our YouTube channel for videos. Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen! We love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].

Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/