• 60. Cannabis and Teen Mental Health: 3 Things You Should Know
    Nov 12 2025

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    In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of CANNABIS and its impact on the developing teen brain and MENTAL HEALTH.

    Dr. Fallucco discusses the latest research on THC and CBD, revealing how modern cannabis has become significantly more potent. Learn about the risks associated with adolescent cannabis use, such as impaired prefrontal cortex development, increased anxiety risk, and associations with psychosis. Dr. Fallucco also offers practical tips for clinicians on how to counsel teens and their families about cannabis use and harm reduction strategies. Don’t miss out on these valuable insights to better support your pediatric patients.

    00:00 Introduction to Child Mental Health Podcast

    00:39 Understanding Cannabis: THC and CBD

    02:28 Cannabis Use Among Adolescents

    03:36 Impact of Cannabis on the Teen Brain

    05:29 Mental Health Risks: Anxiety and Psychosis

    07:39 Practical Advice for Clinicians

    08:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts



    Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
    Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds

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    10 mins
  • 59 ADHD, Anxiety, and Hormonal Changes in Teenage Girls with Laurina
    Oct 28 2025

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    Dr. Elise Fallucco welcomes Laurina, a pediatric nurse practitioner and mom of four. Laurina shares her experience parenting her teenage daughter, Beth, who has ADHD and anxiety. The discussion covers Beth's initial symptoms, her treatment journey and the discovery of Beth's premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Laurina offers insights on tracking symptoms and treatment options, providing valuable advice for clinicians and parents alike. Tune in to learn about managing ADHD, anxiety, and hormonal changes in teenage girls.

    00:00 Introduction WHAT TO EXPECT and Guest Welcome

    01:13 Lorena's Clinical Background

    02:10 Recognizing ADHD and Anxiety in Beth

    04:55 Medication for ADHD and ANXIETY

    07:36 ADHD and Anxiety PLUS HORMONAL CHANGES

    14:20 DEPRESSION or PMDD?

    19:00 Beth's Transformation and Creative Talents



    Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
    Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds

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    22 mins
  • 58. Mystery Case: Fluctuating ADHD symptoms
    Oct 14 2025

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    On this MYSTERY CASE episode of Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians, Dr. Elise Fallucco dives into the case of a 12-year-old girl with ADHD whose symptoms are "on again, off again". Join us to work through a differential diagnosis, discover the history, and most importantly learn about HOW TO HELP! Let's unlock the mystery together!

    00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

    00:26 Presenting the Mystery Case

    01:13 Exploring Possible Causes

    01:56 Investigating the On-Off Pattern

    03:51 Discovering the Pattern

    05:32 How Hormones Help and Hijack the Brain

    09:27 Estrogen and ADHD Symptoms

    11:22 Clinical Implications and Recommendations

    13:41 Conclusion and Future Research

    Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
    Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds

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    15 mins
  • 57. Teen SUICIDE peaks in October - What You can do to reduce risk
    Oct 7 2025

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    Did you know that teen suicide attempts PEAK in October? In this episode, we share why October is so stressful for US teens, what YOU can do in your office to identify and help teens with suicidal thoughts. FInally, we share THREE THINGS we wish everyone knew to reduce suicide risk in teens!

    00:00 Introduction and World Mental Health Day

    01:07 The October Suicide Peak

    02:20 Factors Contributing to October's Suicide Risk

    04:39 Identifying At-Risk Groups

    05:44 Strategies for Clinicians to Help

    09:46 The Importance of Sleep

    11:02 Building Positive Coping Skills

    13:51 Nutritional Considerations

    14:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
    Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds

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    16 mins
  • 56. Challenging Child Behaviors: Help Families Use Selective Attention
    Sep 16 2025

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    Join us as we talk about challenging child behaviors! We'll explore why these behaviors can be developmentally typical and introduce the selective attention strategy for handling them. Learn key techniques such as specific praise, time ins, and the stoplight approach to help parents manage green, yellow, and red behaviors. Additionally, discover important clinical questions to determine when children might need further evaluation and treatment. Join us for practical insights to support both parents and children through difficult behaviors.

    00:00 Introduction to Challenging Child Behaviors

    00:42 Understanding Challenging Behaviors

    01:44 Reframing Behavioral Issues

    03:26 Practical Strategies for Parents

    04:00 Selective Attention Technique

    05:15 Categorizing Behaviors: The Stoplight Approach

    06:43 Reinforcing Positive Behaviors - GREEN

    12:26 Managing Annoying but Safe Behaviors - YELLOW

    15:35 Handling Unsafe Behaviors -RED

    18:01 When to Seek Further Evaluation

    19:03 Summary and Conclusion



    Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
    Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds

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    21 mins
  • 55. What Parents wish you knew about ADHD with Ashley and Lauren
    Sep 3 2025

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    What do parents wish *all* clinicians knew about raising kids with ADHD? How can we ask more effective questions to learn about how ADHD symptoms are affecting a child's life at home and at school? We answer these questions and more in Part 3 of Child Mental Health talks w/ Parents about ADHD with Ashley and Lauren!

    00:00 Advice for Parents and Clinicians

    01:12 Advice for Clinicians from Ashley

    05:17 The Importance of Community and Support

    05:17 Navigating ADHD as a Parent

    08:58 Advice for Parents and Clinicians

    10:10 Encouragement for Parents to Seek Diagnosis and Treatment

    10:10 The Role of Medication in ADHD Treatment

    13:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts



    Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
    Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds

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    16 mins
  • 54. Can you hide ADHD symptoms? with Ashley and Lauren
    Aug 26 2025

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    Dr. Elise Fallucco talks with parents and neurodiversity advocates Ashley and Lauren about the concept of 'masking' symptoms in ADHD. They discuss how children, especially girls, consciously or unconsciously camouflage their ADHD symptoms to fit into social norms, and the emotional toll it takes. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, Ashley and Lauren reveal how they identified masking in their children and the impact it has on their emotional well-being and self-esteem. The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing strengths and the therapeutic value of a diagnosis.

    00:00 Talk with Parents about Masking of symptoms in ADHD

    01:25 Masking Symptoms of ADHD

    02:58 Noticing Behavioral Differences at Home and School

    04:39 Masking Symptoms at School

    06:51 Challenges in Diagnosing ADHD

    09:43 Personal Experiences with ADHD

    10:51 Struggles with ADHD and Masking

    12:01 Understanding Executive Functioning Challenges

    12:49 The Importance of Diagnosis and Labels

    13:44 ADHD Superpowers in Children

    Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
    Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds

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    18 mins
  • 53. Early signs of ADHD with Lauren and Ashley
    Aug 19 2025

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    Understanding ADHD from a Parent's Perspective

    In This episode of Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians, we begin a new series, 'Child Mental Health Talks with Parents,' featuring advocates Ashley and Lauren, who share their experiences raising children with ADHD. They discuss the creation of a Mental Health and Neurodiversity PTA committee, early signs of ADHD in their children, and practical insights for clinicians. Listen in to understand how morning routines and psychoeducational testing can aid in assessing ADHD, and stay tuned for more on masking and self-esteem in the next episode.

    00:00 Introduction and Welcome

    01:33 Starting the Mental Health and Neurodiversity PTA Committee

    03:40 Recognizing ADHD in Children

    05:25 Executive Function Challenges

    09:28 Gender Differences in ADHD

    Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
    Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds

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    15 mins