Suicide can be one of the hardest topics for families to talk about, but avoiding it doesn't make anyone safer. That's the idea behind the newest episode of You Only Know What You Know, where hosts Beth Hope, LCSW, and Britt Teasdale continue their two-part conversation on suicide, prevention, and loss. 

In Part One, Britt opened up about losing her sister to suicide and the grief that followed. This episode widens the lens: they're joined by Tina Maltese Gio, LCSW, Senior Director of Child and Adolescent Programs at Compass Health Center, Northbrook, for a broader conversation on what suicide prevention looks like for children, teens, and families. 

In this episode, they cover: 

• How to recognize when a child or teen may be struggling 
• How to have a direct, caring conversation about suicide 
• How families can support one another through crisis and recovery 
• How to support a loved one grieving a suicide loss 

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.  

If there is an immediate danger or medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. 

Parent Resource Guide: https://hubs.ly/Q04xgXqC0

Suicide loss brings a grief that is rarely spoken about openly. It changes families, relationships, and the way we interact with the world.

This June marked ten years since host Britt Teasdale's eldest sister, Kat, died by suicide. In this episode, Britt shares a personal reflection on that loss, and sits down with co-host Beth Hope, LCSW, to talk about grief, memory, and what it means to hold space for someone's whole life, not just the way it ended.

In this episode, they discuss:

• What it's like to carry grief from suicide loss, and how that grief can shift over time
• What helped and what didn't help Britt cope after her sister's death
• How families can talk with children about suicide loss
• Ways to honor and remember someone whose life was so much more than how they died

This episode includes conversations about suicide, suicidal thoughts, and suicide loss. Please take care of yourself as you listen, and feel free to pause or step away if you need to. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

For many parents, one of the most difficult questions in their child's mental health journey is whether medication should be part of the treatment plan. It's a decision that often brings up important questions: Is medication truly necessary? Will my child need it for a long time? Will it change who they are? 

In this episode of You Only Know What You Know, hosts Beth Hope, LCSW, and Britt Teasdale are joined by Dr. Alex Timchak, Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, and Regional Medical Director, to discuss how medication decisions are made, when psychiatric care may be appropriate, and how medication can work alongside therapy and other mental health supports. They also explore common concerns about side effects, dependency, and long-term use, while explaining how progress is monitored throughout treatment. 

If you've been wondering how medication fits into your child's treatment, this episode offers an honest look at how psychiatrists approach these decisions and what families can expect along the way. 

Download the Parent Guide Here 

Change is a constant part of childhood and adolescence. Some transitions are expected, like starting school or moving up a grade, while others arrive suddenly or carry real emotional weight, like a family move, a divorce, or the loss of a loved one. In this episode, Beth, Britt, and their guest Ann Bystedt, LCSW, explore how these transitions affect children and teens emotionally, behaviorally, and developmentally, including why even "positive" changes can create stress and how kids express adjustment differently across ages.

Download the Resource Guide: https://hubs.ly/Q04nMHr40

Parenting has never been easy, but today’s parents are carrying more than ever before—and the weight is palpable. In this episode of You Only Know What You Know, hosts Beth Hope, LCSW, and Britt Teasdale sit down with Principal Family Therapist Heather Katz, LCSW, to discuss the difference between feeling overwhelmed and experiencing true parental burnout. From the invisible mental load of managing a household to the pressure of work, finances, and social expectations, they unpack why so many parents are running on empty—and why it’s not a personal failure. 

Beth, Britt, and Heather break down how parental burnout differs from anxiety or depression, including the early emotional, physical, and relational signs to watch for. They also tackle unequal household responsibilities, boundary-setting in a culture that demands more from parents than ever, and how patterns like accommodation can keep family stress cycles going—along with practical strategies to help parents protect their energy and make changes that actually stick. 

Heather is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over twenty years of experience providing therapeutic services to children, teens, and adults. She supports individuals and families facing a wide range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Heather has developed deep expertise in trauma, PTSD, and relationship-based harm — including teen dating violence and intimate partner abuse. Her work has also included facilitating support groups for both survivors and perpetrators of abuse, working with military service members and their families, and leading trainings on domestic violence and family maltreatment. 

To many people, the word "accommodation" can sound clinical, but it actually describes something deeply human—like a parent watching their child suffer and doing whatever it takes to make that pain stop. Rearranging the house, answering the same question for the fourteenth time, waiting at the door until the lock has been checked one more time:. That overarching instinct is love. But that sort of accommodation can sometimes make OCD symptoms stronger — and that's not cause for guilt. It's something crucial to your child’s health: it’s information. 

In this episode, Beth and Britt sit down with Katie Torres, LCSW, to explore what OCD looks like inside a family system — from the child experiencing it to the siblings who witness it and the parents trying to navigate it all. Katie brings sixteen years of clinical expertise and the grounded perspective of a mom of three to this essential conversation. 

When your child turns 18, the relationship changes overnight — on paper. They’re legally an adult. They can make their own decisions. And yet, the worry, responsibility, and desire to help doesn’t disappear.

In this episode, Beth and Britt sit down with Melissa Blitz, M.Ed., LCPC, Director, Center of Excellence and Greta Holt, LCSW, Principal Family Therapist, to explore what it means to parent at the edge of autonomy when a young adult is struggling with their mental health. Together, they talk about how to stay connected without overstepping, how to express concern without damaging trust, and what support looks like when you’re no longer in control of the decisions.

The conversation also addresses a growing concern many families describe as “failure to launch.” Listeners will hear why today’s path to independence often looks different than it did in previous generations.

→ Click here to download the Parent Guide

For many families, school anxiety doesn’t show up all at once. It may begin with a few difficult mornings, a stomachache before class, or a request to stay home “just this once.” Over time, those moments can grow into patterns of avoidance, anxiety, and stress that affect the entire family.

In this episode, Beth Hope and Britt Teasdale sit down with Adam Honecker, LCSW, Director of Compass Health Center’s Adolescent PHP and IOP Programs in Chicago, to explore what’s happening beneath the surface when school starts to feel impossible.

Together, they unpack the different reasons kids and teens may avoid school — including anxiety, social pressure, perfectionism, burnout, and the need for safety and connection — and how parents can begin to respond with understanding instead of fear.

Throughout the conversation, they discuss how school avoidance can show up differently across ages, why physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches are often part of the picture, and practical ways families can support their child while building resilience and maintaining their own mental health.

Screens are everywhere — in our homes, our schools, and our children’s social lives. For many parents and caregivers, the challenge isn’t whether screens should be part of daily life, but how to help kids build a healthy relationship with technology.

In this conversation, Beth Hope and Britt Teasdale sit down with Dr. Rachael Levine, Ph.D., LCP, the Director of Young Child Programs & Center of Excellence at Compass Health Center, to move the conversation away from fear and toward clarity.

Together, they explore what we know about screen use, why it’s so hard for kids (and adults) to unplug, and how families can focus less on perfect limits and more on balance, awareness, and connection.

In this introductory episode, hosts Beth Hope, LCSW, and Britt Teasdale share the heart behind You Only Know What You Know—and why this podcast exists.

Drawing from their professional backgrounds and personal experiences as parents, Beth and Britt reflect on the gap between what we know about mental health and how hard it can be to apply that knowledge in everyday family life. They explore why parents so often feel overwhelmed, why evidence-based guidance can be difficult to access, and how learning a little sooner can make a meaningful difference.

This episode sets the tone for the season: honest conversations, trusted expertise, and reassurance for parents navigating child and teen mental health without panic, perfectionism, or shame.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or someone supporting families you love, this episode is an invitation to learn, ask better questions, and remember—you’re not alone, and you’re doing better than you think.

Learn More About Compass Health Center