The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole Beurkens

My guest this week is Kendra Wilde, the founder of Wild Peace for Parents, an online resource to bolster parent resilience. Kendra knows that when kids struggle, parents do too. After burning out from chronic stress, she dedicated herself to discovering simple strategies to manage stress and restore wellbeing in the midst of it all. Kendra is on a mission to lift and inspire parents through workshops, digital art, and writing, to take care of themselves so their children can thrive, too. Kendra has a BA in economics from Colorado College and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and her three sons. In this episode, Kendra and I discuss self-care micro-actions that parents can take to avoid burnout and to boost their resilience. Where to learn more about Kendra Wilde... wildpeace.org Instagram Facebook Free Roots of Resilience Guide Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Janet Lansbury, creator, and host of one of the most downloaded parenting podcasts, "Unruffled" and author of two bestselling books, Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting and No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame. Inspired by the pioneering philosophy of her friend and mentor, Magda Gerber, Janet encourages parents and child care professionals to perceive babies as unique, capable human beings with natural abilities to learn. Janet enjoys teaching weekly classes on RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) and spending time with her three children. In this episode, Janet and I discuss how to calmly and confidently parent children through RIE principles and techniques. By approaching children as natural explorers and self-learners through RIE, parents learn to spend more time in observation of their children versus the constant need to entertain or fill any voids in their daily activities. The RIE philosophy helps parents confidently take that step back while remaining present, supportive, and engaged in their child's growth and development. Where to learn more about RIE and Janet Lansbury... JanetLansbury.com Instagram Facebook Twitter Unruffled Podcast Janet Lansbury Books Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Liz Lipski, owner of the Innovative Healing Academy, professor and Director of the Academic Development for the graduate programs in Clinical Nutrition at Maryland University of Integrative Health. Dr. Lipski is on faculty for The Institute for Functional Medicine, and the Metabolic Medicine Institute fellowship program. She serves on the board for the American Nutrition Association, and advisory boards for the Certified International Health Coaches, and the Autism Hope Alliance. Dr. Lipski has been a co-author in peer-reviewed papers and is the author of several books: Digestive Wellness, Digestive Wellness for Children, and Leaky Gut Syndrome, and a video course The Art of Digestive Wellness. After 30 years of clinical practice, she devotes her time to teaching, writing and building the field of personalized nutrition. In this episode, Dr. Lipski and I discuss the connection between digestion, mental health, and development in kids. Where to learn more about Dr. Liz Lipski... InnovativeHealing.com Innovative Healing Academy Digestive Health Appraisal Questionnaire Maryland University of Integrative Health Twitter Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Faith Clarke, a business strategist and inclusion specialist with a background in computer engineering and education. Faith is a current doctoral student in the psychology of new venture teams and works full-time to help socially conscious businesses level up their productivity through their people and processes. She especially loves to do this with special needs family-run businesses who create space for people with all abilities. Her book, Parenting Like a Ninja, an autism mom's guide to professional productivity, is an Amazon bestseller and reflects her own journey with the crazy chaos of special needs parenting, and the need to harness energy and be productive. Faith believes entrepreneurship is a perfect, mental and psychological health choice for many special needs parents. In this episode, Faith and I discuss ways to maintain energy and productivity as a special needs parent. After many years of navigating her son's non-verbal autism, Faith recognized areas of her life that needed appreciation in order for her to be her best self and parent to her children. She mindfully navigates these difficult areas and aids the audience to ask themselves tough questions that are often avoided when it comes to self-care practices. Faith provides parents tangible experiences and examples to learn from whilst providing practical and impactful strategies on how parents can take the first step towards thriving and not just surviving. Where to learn more about Faith Clarke... Parenting Like A Ninja on Amazon Facebook Email Faith Instagram Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Georgie Powell, a former Google executive turned entrepreneur and now founder of Sentient Digital. Georgie is a recognized expert & and speaker on Digital Wellbeing, committed to helping millions of people consciously connect with technology. Her company, Sentient Digital, is Responsible Technology & Digital Wellbeing Consultancy that works with organizations to build strategies and products which have a positive impact on their teams and the world. Georgie works with researchers around the world to better understand the relationship between technology and humans. Georgie has worked with start-ups building Digital Wellbeing and Responsible Technology products and is an ambassador to leading parental control app, Qustodio. In this episode, Georgie and I discuss how to cultivate digital wellbeing for children and adults. Georgie covers a range of useful tips for parents finding it difficult to manage their children's digital use habits, as well as, struggles with their own personal tech habits. Georgie shares alarming research findings around children and adolescent's use of technology and empowers parents to take action by setting attainable and appropriate boundaries for the whole family. Where to learn more about Georgie Powell... SentientDigitalConsulting.com Sentient Digital Insights Blog Qustodio App Common Sense Media Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Audrey Monke, owner and director of Gold Arrow Camp in Lakeshore, California, and one of the nation's most well-respected experts on the topics of summer camp and friendship skills. With over three decades of experience as camp director, Audrey Monke has devoted her life to helping raise happy, healthy, independent, responsible kids through the power of camping experiences. Audrey shares her wisdom and experience with parents and educators through her podcast, coaching, speaking engagements, workshops, and in her book, Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults. In this episode, Audrey and I discuss how parents can create transformational camp culture benefits for kids at home during a pandemic. Audrey encourages parents with children of all abilities and challenges to never cross camp off their list of possibilities for their child. With research-based strategies and real-life stories, Audrey shows how beneficial and transformational camp culture can be for children of all ages to learn independence and flourish into responsible young adults. To learn more about Audrey Monke click here. Where to learn more about Audrey Monke... SunshineParenting.com Happy Campers Book Sunshine Parenting Podcast Instagram Facebook Twitter

My guest this week is Dr. Stacy Thomas, a Clinical Psychologist, CEO, and Clinical Director of The Design Your Life Centre, a psychology practice in Toronto. With about 20 years of experience helping people navigate some of life's most difficult journeys such as chronic pain, serious chronic illness, infertility, pregnancy loss, and sudden traumatic events, Dr. Stacy's strength is in her ability to recognize resilience and teach people how to apply proven psychological strategies in order to move past mere survival and thrive in the face of adversity. Her work with clients seamlessly interweaves Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness Practices, Mental Skills for High Performance, and Clinical Hypnosis, with a keen understanding of the limiting life patterns that need to be broken in order for us to break free and truly show up as our authentic selves. Her mission to democratize mental health motivated her to create The Growing Forward Journal, and The Growing Forward Soul School, an online community focused on helping people grow consciously through whatever life brings. She has also been asked to host several online summits for Mindful World, including the Mindful World Parenting Summits which have reached a global audience of 200,000 households to date. Where to learn more about Dr. Stacy Thomas... GrowingForwardJournal.com DrStacyThomas.com Instagram: Dr. Stacy Instagram: Growing Forward Soul School Instagram: Design Your Life Centre Twitter Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Tom Moorcroft, a board-certified Osteopathic physician who is a global leader in solving complex medical mysteries. Dr. Tom is an expert in the treatment of chronic infectious and autoimmune diseases, including viral illnesses, Lyme disease, Mold illness, and Pediatric Acute Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (often referred to as PANS). He has over 2 decades of experience in the hospital and private practice helping his patients regain their health. Dr. Tom's personal and professional medical philosophy focuses on optimizing the body's self-healing systems in order to achieve optimal health with simple, natural interventions. In this episode, Dr. Tom and I discuss how parents can support neuropsychiatric symptoms caused by chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, and viral illnesses such as Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses, strep, mold toxicity, PANS/PANDAS, and more. Where to learn more about Dr. Tom Moorcroft ... OriginsOfHealth.com Youtube Instagram Twitter Facebook Coronavirus - Voices of Reason Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Julie Lythcott-Haims the New York Times bestselling author of the anti-helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult. Julie believes in humans and is deeply interested in what gets in our way. Her TED Talk on the subject has more than 5 million views, and in 2020 she became a regular contributor with CBS This Morning on parenting. Her second book is the critically-acclaimed and award-winning prose poetry memoir Real American, which illustrates her experience as a Black and biracial person in white spaces. Her third book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, will be out in April 2021. Julie is a former corporate lawyer and Stanford dean who holds a BA from Stanford, a JD from Harvard, and an MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts. Julie serves on several boards for organizations doing meaningful work in the world and is a mother of young adult children. In this episode, Julie and I discuss the importance of breaking down the cycle of overparenting and how to work towards raising capable and self-competent adults. Julie introduces the audience to various parental behaviors such as the overprotective parent, the fiercely directive parent, and the concierge parent. All with their own characteristics, Julie explicitly paints a picture of how each of these behaviors hinders a child's ability to learn, perform, and succeed on their own and for their betterment now and in their future. Julie strives to help parents shatter these walls and lead them towards a healthier relationship with themselves and their children for years to come. Where to learn more about Julie Lythcott-Haims... JulieLythcottHaims.com Julie's Books Pre-Order Your Turn: How To Be An Adult 4-Step Method For Teaching Your Kid A Skill Instagram Twitter Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guests this week are Dr. Michael Warren and Dr. Emily Ventura, the authors of the brand new book 'Sugarproof'. Dr. Goran is one of the world's most widely-recognized experts in childhood nutrition and obesity research, with more than 30 years of experience as a researcher, mentor, and educator. He is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, co-director of the USC Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute, and leads the Program in Diabetes and Obesity at Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, he's also the father of two daughters. Dr. Emily Ventura is an experienced nutrition educator, public health advocate, writer, and cook. She completed her master's in public health and her Ph.D. in health behavior research at The University of Southern California. She was selected as a Fulbright scholar to teach public health nutrition in Italy and now lives in California where she works as a writer, recipe developer, and as a mother to two young boys. In this episode, Dr. Goran and Dr. Ventura discuss how to address sugar in your child's diet to avoid chronic illness and support their overall health and wellness. By introducing and explaining the science behind the hidden dangers in different kinds of sugars and glucose levels in food products, Dr. Goran and Dr. Ventura empower parents with the information needed to make simple and powerful changes in their families' diets. Addressing and adjusting sugar intake can vastly improve current states of health and help avoid future chronic illnesses related to sugar such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, fatty liver disease, diabetes, and more. Where to learn more about Sugarproof Kids, Dr. Michael Goran, and Dr. Emily Ventura... SugarproofKids.com Sugarproof Book Instagram Twitter Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Janet Allison the Founder of Boys Alive! and the Co-Host of the ON BOYS Parenting Podcast. With more than 20 years of experience coaching parents, mentoring teachers, and being the featured parenting expert on both radio and TV, Janet loves empowering parents and teachers with proven tools and strategies to raise boys to be confident, caring, and capable adults. In this episode, Janet and I discuss ways parents and teachers can address specific emotional needs for boys at home and in school. Janet shares how the difference in boys' development is often disregarded in educational systems and may result in the misdiagnosis of disorders like ADHD. By empowering parents and teachers with the tools and strategies to understand and approach boys for their specific emotional needs, Janet aides a critical need both in-home and school environments. Where to learn more about Boys Alive! and Janet Allison ... boysalive.com ON BOYS Parenting Podcast 20+ Actionable Strategies During Quarantine Instagram Twitter Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

This week I have a brief and unique episode to share with you all to say Thank You! Within this episode, you will find the details to a special giveaway of my book LIFE WILL GET BETTER for the first 50 listeners who complete their entries. For detailed instructions visit: CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY NOW! If you have questions about this special giveaway, please reach out to my team at [email protected]. Thank you so much for being a dedicated listener to the show! I look forward to continuing to engage with you all in the many more episodes to come on The Better Behavior Show! Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Aly Cohen, a board-certified rheumatologist, integrative medicine specialist, and environmental health expert in Princeton, New Jersey. In 2015, Dr. Cohen created TheSmartHuman.com and has collaborated with the Environmental Working Group, Cancer Shmancer, TEDx, and other organizations and programs to share environmental health, disease prevention, and wellness information with the public. She is the co-editor of the textbook, "Integrative Environmental Medicine", part of the Oxford University Press/Weil Integrative Medicine Library. Dr. Cohen lives on a farm in New Jersey with her husband, two sons, and lots of furry friends, and has recently published a new book: Nontoxic Guide To Living Healthy In A Chemical World. In this episode, Dr. Cohen and I discuss how parents can reduce chemical exposure in their children to support overall health and wellness. Dr. Cohen provides simple steps parents can take to begin these detoxes in their family's diet and environment at home. Chemical exposures have been linked to a variety of complications and illnesses such as irregular blood pressure and metabolism, thyroid conditions, developmental disorders, fertility, and cancer. Reducing toxin exposure in children can make significant positive changes in their behavior, mood, learning ability, physical growth, and health. Where to learn more about The Smart Human and Dr. Aly Cohen... TheSmartHuman.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Disinfection Dangers Article Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Cami Hawkins, a healthcare professional, philanthropist, fitness enthusiast, volunteer, mom, and Chief Executive Officer of Marathon Kids. A proven leader, Cami joined Marathon Kids with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. During this transformational period in healthcare, Cami assisted a wide range of organizations addressing issues impacting their overall performance and competitive positioning with a keen ability to solve problems and create solutions. She is a proud Texas Longhorn with a BA in economics from the University of Texas, Austin, and a Masters in Health Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. Cami is married and has two children, former Marathon Kids, now in college. Where to learn more about Marathon Kids and Cami Hawkins... MarathonKids.org Instagram Twitter Facebook MarathonKids.org/covid-19 Free Resources for Parents We Run The World Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dennis Debbaudt, a trainer, presenter, and public speaker with over 25 years of experience in autism and law enforcement curriculum development and training for both children and adults. Dennis has created numerous trainings for law-enforcement departments and agencies throughout the country to support law enforcement officers in handling the highest risk scenarios and encounters they may have with people on the autism spectrum and related impairments. He works with police officers and first responders alike to recognize these symptoms in people they encounter in order to lower the likelihood of escalation. In this episode, Dennis and I discuss how to prepare those with autism to safely interact with law enforcement in high-risk emergency situations. Dennis helps parents and caregivers understand how to evaluate their child or young adult's independence levels in order to craft a tailored safety plan. Children and young adults on the spectrum or those with communication, cognitive, or behavioral challenges may find themselves misunderstood by others and face uncomfortable accusations and interactions. By working with your child to prepare them for possible encounters in public settings and with law enforcement officials you empower them with tools to advocate for themselves based on their specific abilities. Where to learn more about Dennis Debbaudt... Autism Risk Management Site Downloadable Resources DebbaudtLegacy.com Trainings Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Emily Fletcher, the founder of Ziva Meditation and the leading expert in meditation for extraordinary performance. The New York Times, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Vogue, and ABC News have all featured Emily's work including her bestselling book Stress Less, Accomplish More. She's been named one of the top 100 women in wellness to watch, has taught more than 20,000 students around the world, and has spoken on meditation for performance at Apple, Google, Harvard Business School, and Barclays Bank. Ziva Meditation graduates include Oscar, Grammy, Tony & Emmy award winners, NBA players, Navy SEALs, Fortune 500 CEOs, and busy parents. The Ziva Technique is a powerful trifecta of mindfulness, meditation, and manifesting designed to unlock your full potential. In this episode, Emily and I discuss how valuable teaching meditation to children is as a tool for their health and wellness. Emily shares the neuroscience behind meditation and how it can effectively activate and strengthen the vagus nerve in our brains when practiced properly. This reaction creates a wealth of health benefits for both children and adults by significantly reducing stored stress and resulting in better sleep, decreased anxiety and depression, and increased productivity. To help children integrate this into their daily lives, Emily has created ZivaKIDS, an interactive online meditation training course coming soon. Where to learn more about Ziva Meditation and Emily Fletcher ... ZivaMeditation.com Ziva Kids Stress Less, Accomplish More Book Instagram Twitter Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Yaara Shimshoni, an associate research scientist at Yale School of Medicine specializing in research on anxiety disorders in children and new treatment approaches involving parents. Dr. Shimshoni collaborates with Dr. Eli Lebowitz, at the Yale Child Study Center, on developing and researching the SPACE Program for improving childhood anxiety. In this episode, Dr. Shimshoni and I discuss the SPACE program, a new treatment approach for childhood anxiety. SPACE works closely with parents by targeting and slowly eliminating family accommodations that have been made specifically to help alleviate their child's anxiety. Research shows that parents working to eliminate these accommodations have effectively helped their children to gain independence managing their anxiety symptoms. Where to learn more about SPACE and Dr. Yaara Shimshoni ... SPACE Treatment Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD Pre-order SPACE Providers SPACE Resources Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Jess Sherman, a former teacher turned Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Family Health Expert specializing in nutrition for brain health and resilience for kids. For over 10 years Jess has worked alongside Naturopathic and Medical Doctors, Family Counsellors and Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, teachers, and parents to bring an understanding of the power of good nutrition, simplicity, and connection into mainstream conversation about children's mental health, learning, and resilience. Her book, Raising Resilience, and her online resources have helped families all over the world improve the lives of their children with learning differences, anxiety, ADHD, autism and mood disorders, by helping them use food to help kids calm down, learn better, have better sleep, have better poops, enjoy more stable moods and get over their picky eating. In this episode, Jess and I discuss how to stick with your parenting choices on nutrition with confidence and how to navigate the inevitable and difficult conversations that come with those choices. Jess relates to parent struggles and provides simple and effective conversation tips to approach spouses, caretakers, teachers, and more geared to help make the right choices and changes for your family. She shows the audience that by harnessing the power of food they can greatly improve their child's mood, behavior, learning, sleep, skin, and overall health. Where to learn more about Jess Sherman ... JessSherman.com Raising Resilience Book Raising Resilience Facebook Group Jess Sherman Facebook Page Twitter Instagram Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Anat Baniel, a trained clinical psychologist and founder of the Anat Baniel Method®NeuroMovement®. Anat's work is at the forefront of the emerging brain plasticity field and the understanding of the role of movement in child development, health, and vitality. Anat has worked with athletes, musicians, and 1000s of children with special needs diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, genetic disorders, and more. She is the author of the highly acclaimed book Kids Beyond Limits and the bestselling Move Into Life: NeuroMovement for Lifelong Vitality. Anat was trained as a clinical psychologist, dancer, and was a student and professional associate of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais. She has trained over 700 practitioners and with her team of trainers she leads workshops and runs a private practice at the Anat Baniel Method Center in San Rafael, California. In this episode, Anat and I discuss the importance of shifting parent's perspectives in understanding children's behavioral problems as possible neuromovement disorders. By introducing her NeuroMovement® Method essentials, Anat shows parents how children with special needs such as Autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy and more can thrive both physically, emotionally, and in their cognitive performance. Where to learn more about Anat Baniel ... AnatBanielMethod.com Books by Anat Baniel Facebook Twitter Youtube Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Ben Lynch, the best-selling author of Dirty Genes and a leader in the field of nutrigenomics. Dr. Lynch is president of Seeking Health, an innovative company providing supplements, courses, and tools designed to help people overcome genetic dysfunction and optimize health. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Washington, Dr. Lynch obtained a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University where he now serves on the Board of Trustees. Dr. Lynch lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and three sons. In this episode, Dr. Lynch and I discuss how genes can greatly impact children's health and development. By breaking down how genes work, Dr. Lynch gives examples of environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle factors that contribute to each unique gene's optimal function. By addressing gene function, families can tackle chronic health issues including anxiety, digestion, obesity, autoimmune disorders, and more. It is important to know that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to supporting genetic health. Dr. Lynch encourages parents to expand their knowledge of genetics before investing in genetic testing and a supplement regimen. Where to learn more about Dr. Ben Lynch ... drbenlynch.com Dirty Genes Book Facebook Twitter Instagram Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Lois Kam Heymann, MA, CCC-SLP, a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 30 years in the field specializing in diagnosing and treating children with auditory-language deficits; auditory processing disorder, language processing disorder, hearing loss, and listening challenges. To meet the needs of parents, teachers, as well as the students Lois does trainings nationally and internationally. Lois is the founder and director of ListenLoveLearn, a private practice for evaluation and treatment of children with auditory-language issues in Chestnut Ridge, New York, and author of The Sound of Hope: Recognizing, Coping with and Treating Your Child's Auditory Processing Disorder. In this episode, Lois and I discuss how auditory deficits and disorders impact children's academic and social skills both at home and in school. Lois provides parents with a clear understanding of how to recognize possible auditory deficits in their children and how to seek appropriate and effective treatment. Often an auditory processing disorder (APD) coexists with other behavioral, cognitive, or sensory issues making a proper diagnosis all the more important. Children suffering from an APD do not hear sounds in a usual way and typically struggle with reading, writing, spelling, and speech comprehension. Where to learn more about Lois Kam Heymann ... Listen Love Learn Website The Sound of Hope Book Facebook Twitter Instagram Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Hyla Cass, a physician, psychiatrist, and frequently quoted expert on natural approaches to mental and physical health. Dr. Cass helps individuals withdraw from psychiatric medications and substances of abuse, or to avoid medication altogether, through the use of targeted nutritional supplements. She has created a unique, high-quality line of supplements including CBD hemp oil extract. Dr. Cass is an advisory board member of the Journal of Cannabinoid Medicine, and the author of several popular books including 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health, Supplement Your Prescription, Natural Highs, Your Amazing Itty Bitty Guide to Cannabis, and The Addicted Brain and How to Break Free. In this episode, Dr. Cass and I discuss the integrative psychiatry approach to using nutritional supplements like CBD and the importance of a healthy gut microbiome for overall health and wellness. Dr. Cass helps parents understand that a medical diagnosis does not always have to equal prescription medication. By introducing a functional approach to discover imbalances in adults and children alike, Dr. Cass helps parents incorporate effective natural solutions to ADD, ADHD, depression, stress, anxiety, migraines, addiction, and more. Where to learn more about Dr. Hyla Cass ... Hyla Cass' Website Hyla Cass Books Facebook Twitter Instagram Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Membership- a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Ross Greene, a clinical psychologist, and New York Times bestselling author of the influential books The Explosive Child, Lost At School and Raising Human Beings. He is the originator of the model of care called Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS). Dr. Greene served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School for over 20 years and is now founding director of the nonprofit Lives in The Balance which provides a vast array of web-based resources on the CPS model. He has appeared in a wide range of media including the Oprah Show, Good Morning America, The Morning Show, National Public Radio, Mother Jones Magazine, and many more. Dr. Greene lectures and consults widely throughout the world and lives in Portland, Maine. In this episode, Dr. Greene and I discuss his method in proactive problem solving to address children's behavior challenges at home and in school environments. By introducing his Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model (CPS), Dr. Greene thoroughly walks parents through the steps needed to help uncover underlying issues before an adverse behavioral reaction occurs. This model can be applied to toddlers and beyond, including nonverbal children. Dr. Greene encourages parents to work in a partnership with their child and to shatter the belief that authority, control, rewards, and punishments are the way to influence change. Where to learn more about Dr. Ross Greene ... Lives in the Balance Website Dr. Greene's Books ALSUP Worksheet Plan B Checklist Additional Resources Facebook Twitter Youtube Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Michelle Perro, a veteran pediatrician with nearly four decades of experience in acute and integrative medicine. Over fifteen years ago, Dr. Perro transformed her clinical practice to include pesticide and health advocacy. She has both directed and worked as an attending physician at New York's Metropolitan Hospital to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. Currently, Dr. Perro lectures and consults for Gordon Medical Associates, an integrative health center in Northern California. She has been a sought-after speaker nationally and internationally and co-author of the highly acclaimed book, "What's Making Our Children Sick" as well as Executive Director of the non-profit scientific-based website, gmoscience.org. In this episode, Dr. Perro and I discuss why chronic illness is abundantly increasing in children across the U.S. and what we can do now to address this nationwide affliction in families. In this episode, Dr. Perro and I discuss why chronic illness in children is continually increasing and what we can do to address this affliction occurring in families across the U.S. Demonstrating how environmental and nutritional factors such as GMOs, water toxicity, air pollution, and electromagnetic fields have affected our children's health, Dr. Perro raises awareness and encourages parents to become educated advocates of change for their families wellbeing. Where to learn more about Dr. Michelle Perro ... GMO Science Website What's Making Our Children Sick Book Dr. Michelle Perro Website GMO Science Facebook GMO Science Twitter Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist with a lifelong fascination with how the mind reacts to and organizes information. Dr. Medina is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School" -- a provocative book that takes on the way our schools and work environments are designed. Medina's book on brain development is a must-read for parents and early-childhood educators: "Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five." His latest book in the series is "Brain Rules for Aging Well: 10 Principles for Staying Vital, Happy, and Sharp." Medina is an affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife and two boys. In this episode, Dr. Medina and I discuss brain-based rules and tools parents can use to raise happy and healthy children. Backed by evidence-based research, Dr. Medina creates an in-depth look at how children's brains are affected in their home and school environments. Using his '12 brain rules', Medina guides parents with knowledge and tangible practices they can use and address now in their families, such as exercise and sleep practices. Where to learn more about Dr. John Medina ... Brain Rules Website Brain Rules Facebook Brain Rules Book Brain Rules For Baby Book Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Sylvia Farbstein, whose path as a mother led her to leap out of private banking and into a professional role of awareness building and advocating for children and families experiencing adversity. Sylvia's 20-year-old son, Brandon, was diagnosed at the age of 2 with a rare form of dwarfism, metatropic dysplasia. Their experiences navigating a world not designed for his stature has forced her to seek out ways to innovate, adapt, advocate and embrace a mindset that has led to the discovery of incredible life lessons and an entrepreneurial career path. After severe cyberbullying by Brandon's high school peers, they both testified at the Virginia General Assembly to bring forth anti-bullying legislation. Brandon's book Ten Feet Tall shares life lessons he has learned in dealing with challenges and transforming them into opportunities. Both Sylvia and Brandon are working to elevate empathy and mindset, so that youth and adults widen the lens through which they see their own world. In this episode, Sylvia and I discuss how adversity can be a catalyst for change and a way to discover your family's strengths. Sylvia particularly aids families with children who have special medical or developmental needs through the uncharted challenges that come with their disabilities. Where to learn more about Sylvia Farbstein... Ten Feet Tall Book Farbstein Official Website Farbstein Instagram Brandon Farbstein Website Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Bettina Elias Siegel, a nationally recognized writer, and advocate on issues relating to children and food policy. Bettina's reporting and opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Houston Chronicle, and Civil Eats, as well as her own widely read blog, The Lunch Tray. She frequently appears or is quoted in national media, including Today, ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, NPR, The Doctors, the Washington Post, The New Yorker, and Parents. In 2015, Family Circle named Siegel one of the country's "20 Most Influential Moms," and she is one of the most successful petitioners in Change.org's history. A graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School, Siegel lives in Houston with her husband and two children. In this episode, Bettina and I discuss the problems and challenges that parents face with kid food in school lunchrooms, classrooms, at home, and through constant overwhelming mass media influences. Bettina presents parents the reality of 'kid food' as a multi-billion dollar targeted market within the food industry that both they and their children are susceptible to. By unveiling these truths, she empowers parents with the knowledge to equip themselves and their children to be healthy eaters aware of highly processed foods and their effects on mental health, behavior, and wellbeing. Where to learn more about Bettina Siegel... Kid Food Book The Lunch Tray Website Bettina Siegel Website The Lunch Tray Facebook Page Instagram Twitter Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Claudia M. Gold MD, a pediatrician, and writer who has practiced general and behavioral pediatrics for 25 years and currently specializes in early childhood mental health. Dr. Gold is on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts, Boston Infant-Parent Mental Health program, the Brazelton Institute, and the Berkshire Psychoanalytic Institute. Her new book The Power of Discord: Why the Ups and Downs of Relationships are the Secret to Building Intimacy, Resilience, and Trust co-authored with developmental psychologist Ed Tronick, released this month. She is also the author of The Silenced Child: From Labels, Medications, and Quick-Fix Solutions to Listening, Growth, and Lifelong Resilience and Keeping Your Child in Mind: Overcoming Defiance, Tantrums, and other Everyday Behavior Problems by Seeing the World through Your Child's Eyes. In this episode, Dr. Gold and I discuss how breakdowns and miscommunication can lead to relationship repair and growth in families. Dr. Gold challenges the pursuit of 'perfect parenting' and the ever-present 'parent guilt' experienced with raising children. She teaches parents to open up to the mishaps in parenting and to use them as learning opportunities to look within instead of succumbing to the feeling of failure or experiencing anxiety and depression. Where to learn more about Dr. Claudia Gold... The Power of Discord Book Claudia Gold's Website Claudia's Books Child In Mind Facebook Page Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Robert Whitaker, an award-winning American journalist, and author of four books, three of which tell of the history of psychiatry. In 2010, his Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness won the U.S. Investigative Reporters and Editors book award for best investigative journalism. Prior to writing books, he worked as a science reporter at the Albany Times Union newspaper in New York for a number of years. He is the founder of madinamerica.com, a website that features research news and blogs by an international group of writers interested in "rethinking psychiatry." In this episode, Robert and I discuss the history behind the psychiatric medication market, what parents need to know about psychiatric drugs, and how they can affect their children's health and future. Sharing decades of investigative research, Robert reveals the systemic market behind psychiatric medication and how it has influenced research and use in both children and adults. Evidence shows that children who are medicated at an early age have shown early signs of onset dementia. Antidepressant side effects have also shown an increase in chronification, bipolar disorder, and risks of cognitive and social problems. Where to learn more about Robert Whitaker ... Books by Robert Whitaker Mad In America Mad In America Classes International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Twitter Facebook Youtube Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Mark Durand, a professor of psychology at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and author. Dr. Durand has received over $4 million in federal funding to study the nature, assessment, and treatment of behavior problems in children with disabilities. Before moving to Florida he served in a variety of leadership positions at the University at Albany, where he established the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University at Albany, SUNY. He serves on a number of editorial boards, reviews for dozens of journals, and has over 100 publications on functional communication, educational programming, and behavior therapy. Dr. Durand has authored several books on addressing behavior challenges in children, including sleep issues. Dr. Durand developed a unique treatment for severe behavior problems that is currently mandated by states across the country and is used worldwide. In this episode, Dr. Durand and I discuss optimistic parenting strategies for parents looking for help caring for their challenging children. Dr. Durand guides the audience through research-based evidence and techniques to help parents understand how impactful their thoughts and emotions are when parenting. Using his tools, parents learn to disrupt their negative thoughts and create positive ones geared to their needs and the needs of their children. Where to learn more about Dr. Mark Durand ... Optimistic Parenting Book Sleep Better Book Positive Family Intervention Guide (For Professionals) Full List of Dr. Durand's Books On Amazon Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is, Dr. BJ Fogg, founder of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University and researcher who teaches industry innovators how human behavior really works. BJ leads a Behavior Design Boot Camp and has authored a New York Times bestseller, Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything. In this episode, BJ and I discuss how his 'Tiny Habits' method can help children and adults implement small habits in order to create lasting change. The Tiny Habits method is simple and powerful having helped many make positive transformations in fitness, health, work, and family relationships. BJ guides the audience to take their very first tiny step forward in implementing new habits into their daily routine with success. Parents struggling to help their children with behavioral issues can greatly benefit from learning this method and practicing it with their families. Where to learn more about BJ Fogg... Tiny Habits Book BJ Fogg Site Twitter Instagram Facebook Page Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Alex Ortner, the Chief Marketing Officer, and co-owner, along with his brother Nick and sister Jessica, of The Tapping Solution, a company on a mission to bring into the mainstream a simple, life-changing, technique known as EFT or Tapping. Alex is a speaker, author, entrepreneur, and marketing expert who has produced first-of-their-kind online programs such as The Tapping World Summit, the longest-running online summit which has been attended by over 3 million people over the last 12 years and The Tapping Solution App, which features easy to follow Tapping Meditations and has over 130,000 active monthly users and over 1.8 million meditation plays. Alex is the co-founder of The Tapping Solution Foundation, which aids trauma survivors such as genocide survivors in Rwanda, war veterans, and those effected by school shootings, such as the one in his home town of Sandy Hook, CT. He is a father of 3 and the author of the children's book "Gorilla Thumps and Bear Hugs: A Tapping Solution Children's Story" and speaks to teachers and students through his foundation on how to use Tapping to create balance, relieve stress and get better results in the classroom. In this episode, Alex and I discuss how the Emotional Freedom Technique, tapping, can help parents and children relieve stress and anxiety. Tapping techniques are well-known for their ability to activate the body and rewire the brain by sending calming signals to the brain's amygdala. Tapping benefits have been seen to not only reduce stress and anxiety but also to address weight loss struggles, body confidence issues, financial and parenting stress, and PTSD. Alex walks the audience through a live tapping session and provides essential resources and tools for parents to learn more about tapping and how to incorporate it into their family's routine for the greatest results. Where to learn more about Alex Ortner... The Tapping Solution The Tapping Solution App Gorilla Thumps & Bear Hugs The Tapping Solution Instagram Alex's Instagram Facebook Page Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Ben Sedley, a clinical psychologist based in Wellington, New Zealand. As a Peer-Reviewed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Trainer, Ben runs ACT workshops in New Zealand and Australia. He is currently in part-time private practice working with adults and adolescents struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, and life changes. He is the author of two books, 'Stuff that Sucks: A Teen's Guide to Accepting to what you can't change and committing to what you can' and the newly released, 'Stuff that's Loud: A Teen's Guide to unspiraling when OCD gets noisy' co-authored with the super brainy and amazing Dr. Lisa Coyne. In this episode, Ben and I discuss how parents can help their teens make space for painful thoughts and emotions with A.C.T (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Creating these safe spaces for teens is essential for parents to allow their child not only to open up to them in a no-judgment zone but to make room for building trust. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy works to help the individual accept their emotions and feelings in the present and allow a trigger of positive change versus adverse rebellious acts. Where to learn more about Ben Sedley... bensedley.com Ben's Books Stuff That's Loud Facebook Page Stuff That Sucks Facebook Page Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Daniel Stein, whose passion for health and fitness lead him to own and operate his private training business and to get certified through NASM, NFPT, and ACSM. Daniel holds a specialty certification as a Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer (CIFT) and as a Certified Autism Trainer, which allows him to train individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. In 2013, Daniel married his beautiful wife, Trinity. A few years later, they prayerfully started Special Strong to pursue their calling of working with the special needs population. In this episode, Daniel and I discuss how and why parents should encourage movement and exercise for their children with special needs. Daniel presents staggering evidence of the benefits of movement and exercise for not only physical health but also for brain health. Daniel serves children with a variety of health backgrounds such as autism, Aspergers, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, obesity, depression, ADD/ADHD, those suffering severe physical injuries, and more. His training program empowers parents and professionals to take their motivation skills to the next level not only for their children and clients but also by encouraging them to engage in healthy activities for the betterment of themselves. Where to learn more about Daniel Stein... specialstrong.com certifystrong.com Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Tom O'Bryan, an internationally recognized, admired and compassionate speaker focusing on food sensitivities, environmental toxins, and the development of autoimmune diseases. In November 2016, Dr. O'Bryan released Betrayal: The Autoimmune Disease Solution They're Not Telling You, an investigation into why our immune system, designed to protect us, begins attacking our own tissue (autoimmunity). He holds teaching Faculty positions with the Institute for Functional Medicine and the National University of Health Sciences. He has trained and certified tens of thousands of practitioners around the world in advanced understanding of the impact of wheat sensitivity and the development of individual autoimmune diseases. He is the founder of theDr.com and the visionary behind The Gluten Summit – A Grain of Truth, bringing together 29 of the world's experts on the gluten connection to diseases, disorders, and a wide range of symptoms and ages. In this episode, Dr. O'Bryan and I discuss the chronic effects of gluten on children's health and behavior. Dr. O'Bryan shares how and why bad glutens, such as wheat, rye, and barley can affect chronic health issues and presents thorough information on accurate food sensitivity testing routes plus easy nutritional shifts families can implement immediately. Parents looking to help their children dealing with chronic diagnoses such as ADD, ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, and schizophrenia can greatly benefit from thoroughly evaluating their child's food sensitivities, especially to gluten. Where to learn more about Dr. Tom O'Bryan... theDr.com Dr. O'Bryan's Books The Betrayal Docu-Series Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Kim John Payne, a consultant, and trainer to over 230 U.S. independent and public schools. Formerly serving as a school counselor, adult educator, consultant, researcher, and educator for nearly 30 years, Kim regularly gives key-note addresses at international conferences for educators, parents, and therapists and runs workshops and training sessions around the world. In each role, he has been helping children, adolescents and families explore issues such as social difficulties with siblings and classmates, attention and behavioral issues at home and school emotional issues such as defiance, aggression, addiction, and low self-esteem. As a partner of the Alliance for Childhood in Washington D.C, he has consulted for educational associations around the world and has run a private family counseling practice for more than 15 years. In this episode, Kim and I discuss the principles and impact of simplicity parenting to help lessen stress and overwhelm within families. While many of us are experiencing new lifestyles and schedules it is extremely important to maintain or find a new working rhythm to your family's day-to-day routine. Kim provides clear, effective and simple ways parents can begin to approach and implement the best daily rhythms for their unique family needs. To learn more about Kim John Payne click here. Episode Highlights Behavior and Brain Function The demands that are children face now are entirely different than what parents experienced in their childhood Behavioral and developmental issues become exacerbated when demanded too much off, our children need to slow down 4 Ways To Show Children They Are Safe Declutter the home Start with your space as a parent and then tackle the pantry and the living space Move into children's bedroom/toy room and declutter there This signals to a child that here in our home we have space and order, not chaos Keeping a daily rhythm/schedule Give children a practical schedule for them to follow Some of the academic expectations for parents who are working and schooling from home have created extreme overwhelm Limit the academic time to what is necessary for each age to avoid overwhelm Structure the day to move from head to heart activities, from cognition to creativity to action Giving kids the gift of boredom, with no screen time involved Out of boredom comes self-creativity and self-motivation They need this time to become creative and enter into deep creative play which allows them to digest the world and cleanse themselves from anxiety Limit screen time and media + filtering out the adult information We must be careful of what we say in front of our children and what we allow them to see Is this kind? Is this securing? Is it true to my values? Is it necessary to be sad right now? If you can't answer yes to all four, it is best not to say it at all Where to learn more about Kim John Payne... Simplicity Parenting Website Simplicity Parenting Book Store Simplicity Parenting Podcast Facebook Home Practice Guides Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Navaz Habib, the founder of Health Upgraded, a Functional Medicine and Health Optimization clinic in Toronto, Canada. By identifying the root causes of health imbalances, and addressing them naturally, his patients experience optimal health the way their bodies were meant to feel and allow them to contribute to humanity and serve more people. Dr. Habib's book "Activate Your Vagus Nerve" is a simple and effective guide to help identify and address major missing pieces in patients dealing with chronic health concerns such as anxiety and depression. In this episode. Dr. Habib and I discuss how activating and strengthening the vagus nerve can allow for improved mental health and behavior in both children and adults. Dr. Habib introduces the audience to the vital functions of the vagus nerve and how activating it can optimize our productivity and energy levels. Maintaining the health of the vagus nerve can improve chronic issues such as sleep apnea, emphysema, anxiety, stress, and depression. To learn more about the vagus nerve and Dr. Navaz Habib click here. Episode Timestamps Episode Intro … 00:00:30 Dr. Navaz's Story … 00:02:25 What Is The Vagus Nerve? … 00:08:00 Causes of Disrupting Vagus Nerve Functions … 00:14:45 Vagus Nerve + Mental Health and Behavior ... 00:20:17 Assessing Vagus Nerve Function … 00:26:24 Strategies To Optimize Vagus Nerve Function … 00:31:45 Episode Wrap Up … 00:50:00 Episode Highlights What Is The Vagus Nerve? Nerves are the information transfer tunnels between the brain and the rest of the body The vagus nerve plays four major functions: Around 80% of the information that is presented or remains on the vagus nerves comes from our organs, upward to the brain. It tells the brain what is happening in the gut and when your body has experienced any trauma. About 15% of information on the vagus nerve is going from the brain to an organ, parasympathetically About 3% of the information on the vagus nerve goes to the muscles at the back of the throat and vocal cords Strive to keep your airways strong and open Sleep apnea, emphysema, COPD are issues that decrease vagus nerve function The great auricular nerve in the center part of the ear is a specific sensory branch of the vagus nerve Causes of Disrupting Vagus Nerve Functions Excess inflammation can be harmful to the vagus nerve function Inflammatory foods stimulate inflammation Over time, excessive inflammation wears down the vagus nerve as it constantly acting as the "brakes" to our inflammatory system Vagus Nerve + Mental Health and Behavior Approx. 94% of the serotonin in our body is produced in the gut and located in our enteric nervous system An imbalance in neurotransmitters working from the gut to the brain are strongly linked to anxiety and depression Those neurotransmitters are being signaled to the brain through the vagus nerve Often these imbalances are also seen in behavioral issues Addressing gut health is essential Assessing Vagus Nerve Function Assess bowel transit time Drink a glass of water with a spoonful of white sesame seeds and track when you discover them in yours or your child's stool An ideal bowel transit time would be for the seeds to begin appearing between 16-24 hours Assess heart rate variability Tools like Corsense Elite HRV, HeartMath, Oura ring Strategies To Optimize and Activate Vagus Nerve Function Working on deep breathing work at least 3x a day Learn to breathe correctly from your belly versus your chest Humming Simple humming with your children at mealtime or in the morning and at bedtime will help bring you into a calm state Gargling Practicing gargling water or saltwater every morning and night This activity forces you to work the muscles at the back of the throat Listening to music and sounds of nature/birds chirping Having your child lay silently and listen to music or natures sounds of birds chirping can help in calming down Great technique to use before bed Where to learn more about Dr. Navaz Habib... Dr. Habib Health Upgraded 'Activate Your Vagus Nerve' Book Book Bonus Material! Instagram Twitter Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Jonah Berger, a Marketing Professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an internationally bestselling author, and a world‐renowned expert on change, word of mouth, social influence, consumer behavior, and how products, ideas, and behaviors catch on. He has published over 50 articles in top-tier academic journals, teaches Wharton's highest rated online course, and popular accounts of his work often appear in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. Over a million copies of his books, Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone's Mind are in print in over 35 countries around the world. Berger often keynotes major conferences and events like SXSW and Cannes Lions, advises various early-stage companies, and consults for organizations like Apple, Google, Nike, Amazon, GE, 3M, and The Gates Foundation. In this episode, Jonah and I discuss how parents can be a positive catalyst in improving their child's behavior versus enforcers of change experiencing constant pushback. Jonah breaks down the behavioral patterns behind the persuasion of change and helps parents interact and instill change without disrupting behavior. To learn more about Jonah Berger click here. Episode Timestamps Episode Intro … 00:00:30 Jonah's Story … 00:02:50 "Pushing" For Change … 00:07:20 Guided Choices … 00:10:10 Be A Catalyst … 00:09:00 Be A Role Model … 00:19:40 Episode Wrap Up … 00:24:52 Episode Highlights Pushing For Change We often push others (children, spouse, colleague) when we want change to happen This easily results in a harder pushback from the individual whose control in the situation feels threatened 5 key barriers discussed in The Catalyst R.E.D.U.C.E. R= reactance, E- endowment, D= distance, U= uncertainty, CE= corroborating evidence Guided Choices Giving a small set of options to shape and encourage people to go into a particular direction providing freedom and control but still not allowing any option to be made I.e. With toddlers, "Which shirt do you want to wear? This shirt or that shirt?" These directives empower the individual with a choice and sense of control This results in removal of frustration that typically comes from forced directives Where to learn more about Jonah Berger... Jonah Berger's Website Jonah's New Book! Catalyst Book Resources Twitter Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Bryan Post, an adopted and former foster child, is one of America's foremost child behavior and adoption experts and founder of the Post Institute. A renowned clinician, lecturer, and best-selling author of From Fear to Love, The Great Behavior Breakdown, Bryan has traveled throughout the world providing expert treatment and consultation to a variety of groups. An internationally recognized specialist in the treatment of emotional and behavioral disturbance, Bryan specializes in a love-based treatment approach that focuses on developing a deeper understanding of trauma, stress and fear and how they rule our lives. He counters this by offering an enlightening perspective on the all-encompassing power of love to bring us peace and healing. In this episode, Bryan and I discuss how stress and trauma can greatly impact behavior in both children and adults. Bryan explains to parents how behaviors arise from a state of stress and provides them with effective tools and techniques to approach their children when acting out. By breaking down the science behind breathing techniques and guiding adults through known and unknown past traumas, Bryan helps parents better facilitate and react to their children's behavior with a love-based approach. Where to learn more about Bryan Post... The Post Institute From Fear To Love Book Facebook Instagram Twitter Episode Highlights The Role of Stress In Behavior Bryan uses his "Stress Model" to explain: All behavior arises, whether good or bad, from a physiological cellular and neurobiological experience of stress When we become stressed we constrict into survival state which can lead to the pathway of fear How Trauma Can Impact Behavior Trauma stems from a stressful event/experience Often adults have yet to realize, recognize or address their trauma This can sometimes lead to parents becoming reactive to certain children's behaviors Trauma Related to Adoption It is important to remember the in utero experience has a great impact on us Adopted children, even if they were adopted as infants have already been significantly defined by their in utero experience and may have already experienced trauma in this way Where To Start Learn the power of breathing, simple but not easy In the midst of your child's behavior before you react and say anything to your child, you must learn how to breathe in the midst of stress It will immediately help lower your cortisol and allow you to interrupt your stress physiology Remember when your child is misbehaving they are already in a state of stress, if you approach them in the same state you will have confused and distorted thinking See and recognize your child's behavior as coming from a place of stress They are stressed out, they are coming from a place of sensitivity and fear Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Eliza Kingsford, a licensed psychotherapist who helps clients and families struggling with food addiction, body image, and emotional eating. Eliza is the author of the best-selling book Brain-Powered Weight Loss and her work has been featured on Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, NBC Health, CNN Health, Health Magazine, MindBodyGreen and many more. Eliza has run two different companies focused on finding solutions for adolescents struggling with overweight and obesity, and she has trained hundreds of clinicians to work with food and body image issues. She is turning the diet industry on its head by combining the science of nutrition with the psychology of eating to create lasting results for her clients. Episode Highlights How Do I Handle This? We often start with treating the symptom and default our focus on "losing the weight". Working to treat the cause by looking at behaviors and choices around foods that led to weight gain is much more effective This also removes the desire of constantly measuring your success to the number on the scale Tips: Do not separate siblings foods, instead work together as a family unit to eat healthier and make better decisions for to support your families health overall Do not emphasize that a specific child must eat a certain way or isolate them as having a problem "Just because you can doesn't mean you should" Just because certain kinds of processed foods does not affect your other children's weight does not give good reason to still have these kinds of foods in your household Set your household in a way to support your whole family's health and agree upon family values as a whole The Weight Conversation Parents inadvertently choose words that sometimes set up a good/bad dichotomy with food Taking out the language like "you can have" or "you can't have" - "No, you cannot have seconds." "You need to stop eating." "Do you really need that cookie?" Try "What does your body say? Does your body tell you you're full? Does your body tell you you're hungry?" Work on the behavior around food in your entire family system Where to learn more about Eliza Kingsford... ElizaKingsford.com Brain-Powered Weight Loss Book Instagram: @elizakingsford Research Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Josh Ochs, the founder and digital citizenship author of smartsocial.com. With a background in marketing at Disney and a love for all things technology, Josh Ochs combines both to help teens and tweens use social media as a portfolio of positive accomplishments. Josh travels the nation speaking to over 30,000 kids each year sharing with them tips they can use to create a positive online presence. Josh's book: "Light, Bright and Polite for Teens" teaches kids of all ages that everything they post on social media will eventually be discovered by their parents, teachers, their school Principal and someday colleges and employers. He shows families and teenagers practical examples they can use to always keep it "Light, Bright and Polite" by posting photos of community volunteer projects that will help them shine online. Josh Ochs' other 5 books teach people and brands how to shine online. In this episode, Josh and I discuss the importance of teaching kids and teens how to maintain a positive online presence. Josh shares with the audience his top tips on encouraging children to use social media for the better by instilling in them the knowledge of what their digital footprint looks online and how they can utilize it for future college and employment opportunities. Parents can help keep their children safe by opening up a dialogue about online profiles, tech use and implementing guidelines on technology in the household. To learn more about Josh Ochs click here. Episode Timeline Episode Intro … 00:00:30 Be Aware of Your Digital Footprint … 00:08:27 Setting Limits On Tech Use … 00:20:39 Tech Guidance Tips … 00:28:00 Why Flip Phones Are A Good Starting Point … 00:33:40 What Age To Begin Social Media … 00:35:00 Episode Wrap Up … 00:41:00 Episode Highlights Setting Limits On Tech Use Actively engage in dialogue with your children about their tech use Actively engage in dialogue with parents in your child's community of friends i.e. whose house they frequent etc. Use the apps your children use Being in the know will open your eyes to the true awareness you need to have and help you create that communication with your children on the right topics Tech Guidance Tips When should my child have a cell phone? Smart Social suggests the following 0-10: no phone, sometimes allowed to use yours to watch videos or use learning apps in your presence 10-13: time for a flip phone for emergency use, text and sms only 13: cell phone safety contract 14: smartphone without social apps 15: smartphone with social apps allowed but limited and monitored Where to learn more about Josh Ochs... Smart Social Site App Guide Books by Josh Ochs Instagram: @joshochs Twitter: @JoshOchs Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Raja Sivamani, a board-certified dermatologist who practices as an integrated dermatologist at Pacific Skin Institute. Dr. Sivamani holds the roles of Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the University of California Davis and Director of Clinical Research in the Clinical Trials Unit. He's also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the California State University, Sacramento, and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at California North State University, College of Medicine. He engages in clinical practice, as well as, both clinical and translational research that integrates bio-engineering, nutrition, cosmetics, and skin biology. With training in both allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine, Dr. Sivamani takes an integrative approach to his patients and in his research. He's published over 100-peer reviewed research manuscripts, 10 textbook chapters, and a textbook entitled Cosmeceuticals and Active Cosmetics, Third Edition with a passion for expanding the evidence and boundaries of integrative medicine for skincare. In this episode, Dr. Sivamani and I discuss ways parents can address finding the root cause of chronic skin issues in their children and teens. Dr. Sivamani explains how nutrition, lifestyle habits, environmental factors, and product use can affect the skin's microbiome and what types of ingredients and irritants to avoid. Children and teens suffering from severe and chronic skin conditions like eczema and acne may struggle psychologically with issues such as anxiety, stress, and depression. Dr. Sivamani shows how a healthy balanced lifestyle can ease these symptoms while treating skin outbreaks and recurring issues. To learn more about Dr. Raja Sivamani click here. Episode Highlights Psychological Impact With Skin Issues Depression, anxiety, social isolation Sometimes children hold back and hide these feelings Engaging children in the conversation is essential to the treatment process Health and Environment in Relation To Skin Issues Eczema for example The more soap you use the more natural oils you strip from the skin that are needed as they are typically deficient in those with eczema Testing foods to eliminate one at a time to see what causes flare-ups Bathing habits count Nutritional choices matter Avoiding high refined sugars, sodas, sweetened teas, low dairy, processed junk foods Steroids and antibiotics In this way, these treatments are not used as a lifetime bandaid issue to the problem, rather an aid to alleviate symptoms more quickly to begin a less painful integrative treatment Often resistance is not discussed broadly in order to manage and use these treatments Lifestyle Relations to Chronic Skin Conditions Mind-body connections High levels of stress impact cortisol levels in the body and stimulate a higher inflammatory response It can affect our mood, anxiety, sleep Skin Microbiome Every hair follicle is full of microbes We have oxygen-rich environments on the skin Within the hair follicle, the environment is oxygen-poor known as an anaerobic environment Different bacteria, yeast, and supernatural mites live on symbiotically on the skin We have natural bacteria that are good that we want to remain in balance What to Avoid Dermveda - free site investing ingredients and the best routines for your skin profile and ideal ingredients to use and to avoid Eczema tends to present super dry symptoms and it is important to keep your skin or your child's skin hydrated Apply moisturizers within 3 minutes of bathing to lock in the moisture Lean towards occlusive, humectant products versus those full of emulsifiers Avoiding fragrances and sometimes even essential oil-based fragrance Where to learn more about Dr. Raja Sivamani... Dermveda Jiva Factory Pacific Skin Institute Pacific Skin Institute Facebook Instagram: @pacificskininstitute Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week Dr. Krista Burns is the founder of the American Posture Institute, author of the textbook The Posture Principles and TEDx speaker. Dr. Krista is leading the charge against Digital Dementia and has been featured on media including Fox News and Global Woman Magazine. In this episode, Dr. Krista and I discuss the challenges of raising children within the digital age and how parents can act now to prevent tech fatigue and digital dementia in their family's. Dr. Krista guides parents on warning signs of tech fatigue and practical ways they can instill healthy tech boundaries within the home. Children and adults with or without diagnosed developmental and behavioral disorders are experiencing negative results from device use overstimulation. Dr. Krista shares with the audience staggering research on how tech device use can actually alter our brain health and what we can do to avoid digital dementia. To learn more about Dr. Krista Burns click here. Where to learn more about Dr. Krista Burns... American Posture Institute Facebook: American Posture Institute Facebook: Dr Krista Burns Instagram: @dr.kristaburns Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Emily Cerda, a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist with a LDN in the State of Maryland. Emily has an MS in Nutrition and Integrative Health from Maryland University of Integrative Health where she supports students in graduate-level Physiology and Pathophysiology when she is not busy with her private practice. Her passion for food and nutrition stems from her son's diagnosis with multiple severe food allergies and her determination to see him thrive in the face of this challenge. Emily is passionate about the need for individualized nutrition and dreams of mobilizing an army of practitioners to cater to the integrative needs of this community. In this episode, Emily and I discuss concepts and strategies to help parents navigate food allergies and food sensitivities while sharing ways they can directly impact children's behavior and development. Emily provides direction on testing and diagnosis, anaphylactic responses and provides invaluable tips on how parents can advocate for their children and empower them to make safe independent decisions with their food allergies as they transition into their teenage years and beyond. To learn more about Emily Cerda click here. Episode Highlights Food Reactions and Behavior Connection Food allergy = an immediate response in health or behavior This immediate shift can be seen in a behavioral response, anaphylactic response, or even a histamine-based response visible via a runny nose, clearing of throat, or hives on the skin Food intolerance or food sensitivity Can/may show up days later after ingesting something the body is sensitive or intolerant to Testing and Diagnosis Start with a board-certified allergist That allergist will then usually do a skin prick or blood test The gold-standard is to do an oral food challenge in office with the practitioner present in case a negative reaction occurs Results are not always precise - they take time, elimination testing and lots of patience Anaphylactic Response Allergic reaction that constricts your airways from a swollen tongue or throat Other symptoms include: weak and rapid pulse, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, skin reactions (hives, itching, flushed and/or pale skin) These reactions can be immediately life-threatening Immediate use of an epinephrine auto-injector is vital, as well as, a visit to the emergency room to ensure safety and possible preparation for a second reaction called - biphasic anaphylaxis Supporting Your Child's Independence with Allergies As your children age, advocacy and awareness must occur as they venture into independence in handling their food allergies outside of their safe places Transitions from elementary to middle school or middle school to high school when labels and bullying can arise can cause children to stray from communicating their allergy needs not wanting to stand out as "different" Modeling good awareness and inclusiveness on part from the adults is crucial Advocating for your child within school setting Section 504 plans- part of the American Disabilities Act provides an avenue for students who may have a diagnosed medical condition that requires accommodations but does not rise to the level of qualifying them as a special education student IEP process - for those who qualify as a student with a disability for the purpose of their schooling Raising and Feeding Children with Food Allergies Simplify first Instead of looking to replace go-to meals or packaged snacks that do not have an allergy-free alternative, look to what whole foods you can start with to create easy, simple meals for the entire family Batch cooking more than what you will eat in one day so that there are some hearty leftovers for snacks or later meals Pre-cut fruits and vegetables always on hand Double checking your ingredients always - even in organic processed foods and foods you have consistently purchased (companies change up ingredients with zero warning!) Empowering your children in the process and teaching them what to look out for so they are equipped for safety Integrative Approach Looking from an integrative approach allows parents to use essentials to help them tackle their children's food allergies Re-framing, empowerment, stress control, resilience building and the teaching of basic kitchen skills and cross-contamination rules The integrative approach will always look to resolve underlying inflammation and will always stay on top of gut health Where to learn more about Emily Cerda... Thrive Inside Nutrition Thrive Inside Nutrition on Facebook Instagram: @thriveinside Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Intere

My guest this week is Dr. Marvin Singh, an Integrative Gastroenterologist in San Diego, California and a Member of the Board and Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Singh is trained and board-certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/Hepatology. He was later trained by Andrew Weil, M.D., a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Currently, Dr. Singh is a voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSD in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health. He is an editor of the textbook of Integrative Gastroenterology, 2nd edition and has written several book chapters and articles. Dr. Singh is dedicated to guiding his clients toward optimal wellness every step of the way, using the most cutting edge technologies to design highly personalized precision-based protocols and help them stay on top of their health, rather than underneath disease. As a result, he founded Precisione Clinic, to bring the best in preventive medicine to his clients. In this episode, Dr. Singh and I discuss how families can improve their health and wellness collectively to help prevent future chronic illnesses in their households with a precision medicine-based approach. To learn more about Dr. Singh click here. Where to learn more about Dr. Marvin Singh... Dr. Marvin Singh Website Precisione Clinic Website Facebook Twitter: @drmarvinsingh Instagram: @drmarvinsingh Instagram: @Precisioneclinic Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Kay A. Toomey, a Pediatric Psychologist who has worked with children who struggle to eat for almost 30 years. She has developed the SOS Approach to Feeding as a family-centered program for assessing and treating children with feeding problems. Dr. Toomey speaks nationally and internationally about her approach and also acts as a consultant to Gerber Products. Dr. Toomey helped form The Children's Hospital – Denver's Pediatric Oral Feeding Clinic, as well as, the Rose Medical Center's Pediatric Feeding Center. She previously co-chaired the Pediatric Therapy Services Department at Rose Medical Center prior to entering private practice. Currently, Dr. Toomey is the President of Toomey & Associates, Inc., and acts as a Clinical Consultant to the Feeding Clinic at STAR Institute. In this episode, Dr. Toomey and I discuss the challenges that parents face with picky eaters and problem feeders and how they can address and treat those issues. Dr. Toomey presents a thorough breakdown showing how and when feeding problems begin for children and sheds light on resolving these issues with proven methods through her SOS Approach to feeding. To learn more about Dr. Kay A. Toomey click here. Where to learn more about Dr. Kay A. Toomey... SOS Approach To Feeding Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Jessica Drummond, the Founder, and CEO of the Integrative Women's Health Institute who is passionate about caring for and empowering women who struggle with women's pelvic health conditions. She is equally passionate about educating and supporting clinicians in confidently and safely using integrative tools to transform women's and pelvic healthcare. Dr. Drummonds has two decades of experience in women's and pelvic health as a physical therapist and functional nutritionist. Owning a private women's health clinical nutrition and coaching practice gives her a unique perspective on the integrative, conservative options for pelvic pain management, hormone balance, pre-conception and fertility support, postpartum recovery, and chronic pain and fatigue management in active and athletic women. She regularly lectures on topics such as integrative pelvic pain management, natural fertility options, optimal hormone health, female athletes, and functional and integrative nutrition for rehabilitation, nutrition, wellness, fitness, and medical professionals. In this episode, Dr. Drummond and I discuss the common issue of endometriosis in teen girls and help parents understand how they can address and treat this disease. Preteen, teen and young women who suffer from endometriosis most commonly show symptoms of severely painful menstrual cramps. Coping with this pain and commonly dealing with inflammatory imbalances within the gut and digestive system can result in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric disorders. To learn more about Dr. Jessica Drummond click here. Episode Highlights What is Endometriosis? A disease state where cells grow outside the lining of the uterus and outside of the uterus in general There is a genetic component to endometriosis and an inflammatory component Diagnosis Is Surgical Diagnosis for endometriosis is surgical Sometimes it can be seen on imaging but imaging does not rule it out It is important to have someone well-versed in endometriosis before having a laparoscopy as endometriosis can be found in surprising places and can be missed Symptoms Severe period pain that is so severe that school or work is missed 1 in 10 women and girls has endometriosis Young girls who have yet to menstruate may show symptoms through: stomach aches, digestive complaints, anxiety, and depression due to an imbalance in the gut Functional Nutrition for Healing An anti-inflammatory plan that feeds a healthy gut microbiome and nourishes a healthy brain Lots of vegetables, 8-10 servings per day Sometimes this must be approached slowly depending on the state of the gut and intestines, i.e. whether the patient is also dealing with SIBO or dysbiosis of the small/large intestine Gut bacteria play a huge role due here in the gut-brain connection as it signals pain and affects anxiety and depression Fiber, prebiotics, healthy fats, proteins and therapeutic doses of turmeric Hydration is key, as well as, avoiding processed foods, sugar, trans fats Where to learn more about Dr. Jessica Drummond... The Integrative Women's Health Institute Dr. Drummond's Book: Outsmart Endometriosis Facebook Twitter Instagram Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Stephanie Belseth, a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years of experience in inpatient and outpatient primary care, pulmonology, asthma, early childhood screening, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Stephanie has a special interest in holistic wellness care, Gastrointestinal disorders, Autism, ADHD, Asthma, mental health disorders, PANS/PANDAS, Autoimmune disease, Pediatric Lyme and conditions that mimic it, and other complex chronic pediatric conditions. In this episode, Stephanie and I discuss the various infections that we see in children who are struggling with neurodevelopmental issues. We also highlight some of the environmental dangers (right in your own home) like EMF radiation and mold, that could be exacerbating these issues. Finally, Stephanie walks us through some examples of treatment protocols for these issues that are very encouraging for parents and children. To learn more about Stephanie Belseth click here. Episode Highlights Infectious issues related to neurodevelopmental challenges Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bartonella, Babesia Problems with mycoplasma, strep, viruses Many different kinds of conditions underlying parasitic or fungal overgrowth, bacterial dysbiosis in the gut and the microbiome PANDAS and co-infections Often times kids that come in diagnosed with PANDAS, actually have many other infections Blood-brain Barrier Kids have leaky blood-brain barriers Their blood-brain barriers are more permeable than they should be, either due to concussions, due to infection, microbiome problems, the gut-brain connection If the gut has increased permeability then the brain will have increased permeability Treatments that can help Often times kids aren't sleeping well, so improving sleep is a good place to start with treatment Melatonin, valerian root, and lemon balm can sometimes help Herbs, vitamins, CBD for lowering brain and gut inflammation Deep breathing skills, hopping skills, QNRT or Brainspotting or other kinds of techniques, EMDR Introducing more healthy fats into the diet and eating mostly anti-inflammatory foods can help Environmental dangers for kids EMF (electromagnetic fields) radiation from wifi and wifi enabled devices Too much screen time Overexposure to screens and devices can cause hyperactivity, irritability, and other neurological issues in kids There are physiological effects of EMF radiation, especially in kids that are extra sensitive, therefore, screen time and proximity to wifi should be limited Mold Exposure Mold can be a significant stressor on the immune system One out of two homes has some type of mold Test your home environment if you feel like you have tried everything for your child and they are still struggling to improve their neurological symptoms Where to learn more about Stephanie Belseth... New Bridge Wellness Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Tamar Chansky, a licensed psychologist and founder of the Children's and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety in Plymouth Meeting, PA. She is the author of numerous books on the treatment of anxiety, including the popular Freeing Yourself from Anxiety Series: Freeing Your Child From Anxiety, Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking, and Freeing Your Child From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Dr. Chansky is the creator of the educational website: worrywisekids.org. Her most recent book, Freeing Yourself from Anxiety: 4 Simple Steps to Overcome Worry and Create the Life You Want is for anyone suffering from everyday worry, an anxiety disorder or depression. In this episode, Dr. Chansky and I discuss how parents can distinguish symptoms, understand and address their children who may be or who are suffering from OCD. Children suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder vary in symptoms from outward obsessive actionable displays to internal incessant thoughts. OCD is often mistaken for anxiety-related symptoms. OCD treatment is possible and highly effective. To learn more about OCD treatments and Dr. Chansky click here. Episode Highlights What is OCD? There are two components Intrusive thoughts that you don't want to be there The brain isn't sending the signal that something is finished Compulsions – what a person does to try to quell that thought or get rid of that thought Treating OCD Depersonalize the content and separate from the content to feel more empowered that this is not something you need to think about Exposure and ritual prevention is the treatment of choice and very highly effective Relabel what's going on, give a name to this process How long does it take to treat? Some progress can be made within the first month On average, treatment can last 4-6 months Why reassuring kids with OCD doesn't work That attempt to soothe actually can add fuel to the fire by teaching a kid or teaching their brain that these are serious thoughts that they need to pay attention to instead of teaching the kid that these are not serious thoughts Why do kids develop OCD? There is a genetic component To put it simply, the brain is in overdrive PANS or PANDAS and OCD 1/3 of kids with OCD tend to have PANS or PANDAS If you see a very obvious and sudden onset of OCD symptoms, testing for PANS and PANDAS is a good first step Where can people learn more? Tamarchansky.com Worrywisekids.org Facebook: @TamarChansky Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Sarah Ward, who holds over 25 years of experience in diagnostic evaluations and treatment of executive dysfunction. She holds a faculty appointment at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions and is an internationally recognized expert on executive function. She presents seminars and workshops on the programs and strategies she has developed with her Co-Director, Kristen Jacobsen. Their 360 Thinking Executive Function Program received the Innovative Promising Practices Award from the National Organization CHADD. Sarah has presented to and consulted with over 1200 public and private schools in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In this episode, Sarah and I discuss the importance of independent executive function skills and how parents can better approach teaching them to their children. Key concepts like planning and prioritizing, self-control, focussing, emotional control, organization and following directions have all become more difficult for those struggling with executive functions skills especially children with behavioral disorders such as ADD and ADHD. Sarah helps parents and children who struggle with executive functions by providing practical and impactful lessons to help improve their skills. To learn more about Sarah and 360 Thinking click here. Episode Highlights Executive Function Skills Organization, time management, decision-making, memory The ability to pre-imagine the future is a developmental skill and is at the core of what executive function is Our digital age has greatly affected the teaching of these skills Teaching Time Management Using an analog clock to show that time is visible and passing through space The curriculum in schools teaching time used to last on average around 6 months, nowadays they may last around two weeks This skill is critical for children and adults to understand and function on their daily lives at work and in school especially for teens before they enter university See 360 Thinking's resources Where to learn more about Sarah Ward... EF Practice Website Twitter Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child's behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child's behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.