“Is this decision going to break my child?”

When a family faces divorce, parents often spiral into intense fear and shame. We worry that our choice to pursue a healthier life will dismantle the Secure Base we’ve worked so hard to build. But as we often say at IBH: our children don’t need us to be perfect; they need us to be regulated, honest, and present.

In this episode of Kids These Days, Dr. Courtney sits down with Dr. Karalynn Royster—child psychologist and creator of the Kids First Co-Parenting System—to move parents from a state of anxiety into a place of empowerment. We explore the "Inside-Out" reality of divorce: how to navigate the "messy middle" of co-parenting, why one secure adult is enough to buffer a child’s stress, and how to tell your kids the truth without "gaslighting" their intuition.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. The "Messy Middle" of Divorce: Why distress is a healthy response to a major life stressor and how to help your kids move through it, not around it.
2. The "Flu Shot" Metaphor: Understanding that short-term discomfort (like a separation) can lead to long-term health and a more regulated household.
3. The Best Way to Tell Your Kids: A step-by-step guide for the "Big Talk"—why you need to be concrete and why it’s never a one-time conversation.
4. The Power of One: The research-backed truth that it only takes one secure, loving adult to buffer the stress of even the most high-conflict transitions.
5. Validation vs. Gaslighting: How to be honest about your own "flooding" and anger without burdening your child with the adult details.
6. The Internal U-Turn for Co-Parents: How to regulate your own nervous system when your ex triggers your "Survival Brain."

Remember: you don't have to be perfect to be a great parent, we are all learning about how to raise kids these days.

Links & Resources:

1. Dr. Karalynn Royster: Discover the Kids First Co-Parenting System and more resources at Dr. Royster’s Website.
2. The Kids First Podcast: Listen to Karalynn’s deep dives into divorce and high-conflict dynamics.
3. The Co-Parenting U-Turn Workbook: A resource for IBH listeners to find their own "Smart Brain" during transitions.
4. Newsletter: Sign up for the Kids These Days Newsletter for weekly reflections on building a Secure Base.
5. Instagram: Follow @integratedbh for daily "Inside-Out" parenting insights.

Legal Disclaimer: While this podcast may provide information that is educational in nature, it is not intended to be a health care service, psychotherapy, or the practice of psychology. This podcast’s main purpose is to provide educational insights for all stages of child and family development. We will not provide diagnoses or specific recommendations for your family. At no point is a therapeutic relationship established by way of your unilateral participation by listening to these episodes, and we cannot provide advice or privileges associated with a therapeutic relationship. We recommend that anyone who is seeking a therapeutic relationship reach out to Integrated Behavioral Health at info@integratedbhs.com to begin the interview process of becoming a client or receiving a referral. If at any point in your listening or engaging with the content of this podcast, you experience an emergency, please immediately call 911 or go to your local emergency room.

“If I just try harder, my child wouldn't need this.” “I can exercise my way out of this depression.”

As parents, the pressure to "optimize" our families often turns us into "Human Doings" who are stuck in a state of high-alert. We treat clinical struggles as personal failures. But what if the path to a healthier family wasn't through perfection, but through balance?

In this episode of Kids These Days, Dr. Courtney sits down with Sara Nudd, PMHNP, founder of The Mama Co-op. Sara shares her incredible "in the trenches" journey from being a 21-year-old mom navigating a medical crisis in the pre-internet 90s to becoming an expert in pediatric and maternal mental health. We dive deep into the science of ADHD medication, the safety of maternal mental health support during pregnancy, and why Good Enough parenting is actually the gold standard.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. The Internet Gap: Navigating medical crises in the 90s vs. the information overload of parenting today.
2. Data vs. Connection: Why your child’s behavior is a more important "data point" than any app or thermometer.
3. The Inhaler Reframe: Why mental health medication is a tool for regulation, much like an asthma inhaler is a tool for breathing.
4. ADHD Simplified: How stimulants balance dopamine and norepinephrine to support (not change) the existing brain structure.
5. Maternal Mental Health & Pregnancy: The evidence-based truth about staying stable on medication while trying to conceive or during pregnancy.
6. The 100% Mistake Guarantee: Why making mistakes—and the repair that follows—is more vital for your child than doing it "perfectly."

Remember: you don't have to be perfect to be a great parent, we are all learning about how to raise kids these days.

Links & Resources:

1. The Mama Co-Op: Learn more about Sara’s practice and parent coaching at The Mama Co-Op Website
2. Postpartum Support International: PSI Website– A vital resource for perinatal mental health.
3. Ollie’s Branch: Support for families navigating congenital heart defects at Ollie’s Branch Website
4. Instagram: Follow @integratedbh for more "Inside-Out" reflections.
5. Work with IBH: Book a complimentary 15-minute consultation at www.integratedbhs.com

Legal Disclaimer: While this podcast may provide information that is educational in nature, it is not intended to be a health care service, psychotherapy, or the practice of psychology. This podcast’s main purpose is to provide educational insights for all stages of child and family development. We will not provide diagnoses or specific recommendations for your family. At no point is a therapeutic relationship established by way of your unilateral participation by listening to these episodes, and we cannot provide advice or privileges associated with a therapeutic relationship. We recommend that anyone who is seeking a therapeutic relationship reach out to Integrated Behavioral Health at info@integratedbhs.com to begin the interview process of becoming a client or receiving a referral. If at any point in your listening or engaging with the content of this podcast, you experience an emergency, please immediately call 911 or go to your local emergency room.

Navigating the school system can feel like learning a foreign language. Between IEPs, 504 plans, MTSS, and specialized educational jargon, parents often find themselves overwhelmed and unsure of how to get their child the support they actually need.

In this episode, Dr. Courtney is joined by Rachel Schopp, a K-12 veteran, former administrator, and educational consultant. Rachel acts as a "translator" for families, helping them cut through the noise and move from guessing to becoming informed, powerful advocates.

If you’ve ever wondered if your child’s ADHD or anxiety warrants a formal plan, or if you’ve been told "the school is already doing everything they would do in an IEP," this episode is for you.

1. The "Environment vs. Curriculum" Rule: Rachel’s simple framework for distinguishing a 504 Plan (environmental accommodations) from an IEP (individualized instruction and curriculum changes).
2. Civil Rights vs. Education Law: Why a 504 is a lifelong protection and an IEP is a legally binding educational mandate.
3. The "MTSS" Trap: Why "informal" supports aren't enough and how to respond when a school says a formal plan isn't necessary.
4. The Power of the Paper Trail: Why "if it isn't in an email, it didn't happen" and how the clock starts the moment you hit send.
5. Collaboration over Confrontation: How to draft a "Soft Startup" email to your child's teacher that assumes positive intent while holding firm boundaries.
6. The Intuition Factor: Learning to trust your gut as the expert on your child, especially when "school performance" doesn't match the struggle you see at home.
7. A Tool, Not a Label: Reframing special education as a temporary scaffold to build self-advocacy skills, rather than a lifetime commitment.

1. Work with Rachel: Find resources and advocacy support at Allied Education.
2. School Visit Questionnaire: Going on school tours and having a clear plan on which questions to ask, will empower you with the information you need to make the best school choice for your child and your family! Check it out.
3. The Co-Parenting U-Turn Workbook: If school stress is triggering conflict in your marriage, download our roadmap to break the cycle here.
4. Book a Consultation: If you are seeking a neuropsychological evaluation (ADHD, Autism, or Learning Disabilities) to support your child’s school advocacy, book a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation with our team at