Managing School Anxiety: Tips for Parents of Kids and Teens with Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis

On this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast, cognitive psychologist and counselor Dr. Amy Moore chats with Sandy Zamalis about back-to-school anxiety at different ages and stages. You’ll learn how some of the most common fears typically manifest in elementary, middle, and high school and how you can help support your child or teen. You’ll also hear tips on framing discussions about school and which behaviors may indicate more than “typical” anxiety, perhaps requiring an intervention such as therapy, medication, or an intervention for learning struggles. This is a jam-packed episode with useful tips from host and parents who are also professionals in their fields so you don’t want to miss out!

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Help Sleep Problems and Anxiety using qEEG and Neurotherapy with guest Mindy Haukedahl

On this fascinating episode of the Brainy Moms podcast with Dr. Amy and Sandy, psychotherapist Mindy Haukedahl shares details about assessing and treating anxiety and sleep problems in kids, teens, and adults using qEEG and Neurotherapy. From depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and misophonia, her work with non-invasive in-person and remote qEEG and neurotherapy has significantly improved her clients’ lives by using real-time brainwave activity to help diagnose and treat a variety of conditions. Mindy’s use of brain mapping, grounding and meditative techniques, and psychological interviews has helped her patients understand and regulate their emotions, sleep, and overall well-being. If you’re curious about the use of qEEG and neurotherapy for anxiety and sleep problems, you won’t want to miss this episode.

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Curing the Busy Brain to Find Focus, Tame Anxiety, & Sleep Again with Dr. Romie Mushtaq

On this episode, Dr. Amy and Teri are joined by Dr. Romie Mushtaq, a board-certified physician with more than 20 years of leadership in neurology, integrative medicine, and mindfulness. She’s here to talk about the subject of her new book, “The Busy Brain Cure,” which includes an 8-week plan to help adults regain their focus, alleviate raging anxiety, and get better quality and quantity sleep. She’s getting into the details about everything from healthy fats and thyroids to digital detoxes and a culture that has left so many of us overwhelmed, exhausted, and struggling to think clearly. Tune in to learn more about the latest discoveries into taming our busy brains!

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The Ages & Stages of Anxious Kids: A Guide for Parents with guest Dr. Regine Galanti

Whether you’re parenting a 19-year-old or a preschooler, there’s a lot to be understood about anxiety at different ages and developmental stages. Author and clinical psychologist Dr. Regine Galanti joined Dr. Amy and Sandy for this episode about the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with anxiety, why kids and teens are experiencing it, and what parents can do to help. She also explains what parents often do to make anxiety worse for their kids or teens and how to support our kids by looking at things through a lens that may be very different from our own upbringing and life experience. If you’re raising a kid with anxiety, check out this Brainy Moms podcast episode to get practical tips and advice from a true expert on the subject.

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Raising Resilient Teens in an Era of Anxiety with guest Erica Komisar, LCSW

If you’re a parent of tweens or teens, you’ve probably wondered about the difference between “typical” teen angst—that is, normal worries, fears, and struggles associated with adolescence—and when there’s a deeper issue that might require talk therapy (or possibly, medication). Today, psychoanalyst and clinical social worker Erica Komisar joins us to share her experience and knowledge from more than 30 years in private practice. Hear what she has to say about identifying teens’ challenges and struggles, when to seek outside help, how to provide support at home, and the best circumstances to have deeper conversations with your teen. Listen as Dr. Amy, Teri, and Erica discuss everything from boundaries and flexibility to brain development and how parents can serve as the emotional regulators for their teens as they navigate the transition to adulthood.

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Managing Anxiety about School Shootings & Other Traumatic Experiences with guest Stacie Boyar, LMHC, MS Ed

With so many scary things happening in the world today, it’s easy to understand why kids are struggling with anxiety. On this episode of Brainy Moms, Teri and I interview licensed mental health counselor, Stacie Boyar, LMHC, MS Ed, who shares tips and specific strategies for managing anxiety. She’s uniquely qualified to give advice on this topic as a therapist in Parkland, FL who worked with teens from the Stoneman Douglas high school shooting.

We talk about effective therapies for anxiety like CBT and EMDR and also learn at-home breathing and grounding techniques that we AND our kids can use whenever we’re feeling stressed or anxious about anything at all. Join us for this fantastic conversation with the author of You’re Not the Boss of Me, a book for teens on conquering anxiety.

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The Top 6 Episodes of 2021

Are you a new listener to our Brainy Moms podcast and want to know what you’ve been missing all year? Or maybe you’ve been listening since the beginning but wonder which topics everyone else liked the best. On this special year-end episode of Brainy Moms, Dr. Amy and Teri recap the 6 most popular episodes of 2021. We share which one had the most downloads, the key takeaways from each of those guests, and we even play a short clip from all 6 of those episodes. Join us to hear what you’ve missed and what should be next on your playlist! 

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‘The No BS Mama’ Gets Real About Depression & Anxiety with guest Megan Eddinger

As a mom, how often have you felt anxious or depressed but felt like you had to hide those feelings from friends and family? On social media, do you only post the good stuff? Do you feel like you have to appear perfect on the outside while hiding your imperfections on the inside? You’re not alone! On this episode of Brainy Moms, Teri interviews the host of the No BS MAMA Podcast, Megan Eddinger.  Megan shares her own story of depression and the impact it had on her marriage and family. It’s a raw and honest conversation about her journey to becoming an advocate and supporter for moms who struggle with mental health issues. It’s such an important topic and Megan is a bright light in a dark room. Don’t miss this one if you or a mom you love is struggling. 

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Launching Your Teen Into Adulthood with guest Danica Copp, MSW

In this episode of the Brainy Moms parenting podcast, Dr. Amy Moore and Teri Miller interviewed Danica Copp, a licensed clinical psychotherapist specializing in adolescent communication and development. Danica shares what parents need to do starting in elementary and middle school to make sure their teen successfully launches into adulthood when the time comes. It’s a fun conversation where Dr. Amy and Teri both admit they’ve dropped the ball on some essential skills. Get YOUR adolescent launching checklist along with some excellent advice on this episode. 

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Got Anxiety? Break Up with It! with guest Kaitlin Soule, LMFT

In this episode of Brainy Moms, Dr. Amy and Teri interview Kaitlin Soule, licensed marriage and family therapist,  anxiety expert, and author of the book A Little Less of A Hot Mess…The Modern Mom’s Guide to Growth and Evolution.  Kaitlin shares how we need to change the way we think about perfection in order to embrace what we truly value in life. She offers expert insights about changing our relationship with anxiety and gives moms ideas for helping our kids manage their own anxiety and worries all through a lens of personal growth.  

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