Articles by Khadijah Booth Watkins and Gene Beresin

September 10, 2021

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Mental Health Myths: BUSTED

Mental health myths can increase stigma and prevent parents and caring adults from taking important actions to support children and teens, even when the best intentions are there. Below, child and adolescent psychiatrists Gene Beresin, MD, MA and Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH share the truth about about nine common mental health myths. You can […]

June 16, 2021

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Anger: Knowing What Sets You Off and Ways to Manage It

We all have things that tend to unleash our anger. They vary from person to person. Once we have identified the things that set us off, we can work on behavioral strategies to avoid them – or if that’s impossible, to at least minimize them and lessen the feelings of anger that follow. Furthermore, should […]

June 9, 2021

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

What Are the Consequences If Your Teen Has Been Using Pot?

Many teenagers experiment with alcohol and other substances, and pot – or marijuana – is one of those drugs. While many states have made pot legal for medical and/or recreational use, recent studies show that this, specifically, has not increased its use in teens. Tune in for more on what parents should know about teen […]

June 3, 2021

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Sleep, featuring Bernard Kinane, MD – Shrinking It Down

It’s our last episode of the season, but never fear – we are signing off with tips to last you the summer long. Today’s episode is all about sleep! Listen wherever you get your podcasts – just search for “Shrinking It Down.” Sleep is so important to our physical and mental health. On today’s episode, […]

June 2, 2021

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Q+A: What Can I Do to Help My Preschool Kid Learn Anger Management?

Question: My almost 4-year-old has been having a lot of angry tantrums lately, some that spiral out of control. What can I do to help them calm down?  It’s always good to start early in learning skills, and controlling anger and finding ways to channel it can begin in the preschool years. When it comes […]

May 19, 2021

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Q+A: How Can I Help My Child Control Thoughts That Fuel Anger?

We all have things that cause our anger to flare – waiting in long lines; feeling dismissed by a friend or family member; feeling that another person is treating us unfairly or not paying attention to what we are saying. And once we are angry, the thoughts that arise while in this state can cause […]

April 28, 2021

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Mental Health Challenges and Latinx Children & Teens, featuring Angel Caraballo, MD – Shrinking It Down

Over the past year, the Clay Center has worked to support even more young people by translating our free, online resources for Spanish-speaking parents and caregivers. In this time, we’ve seen high readership on topics like emotionally supporting kids and teens during COVID-19, the importance of sleep for child mental health, and how to help young people manage anxiety and stress.  On […]

April 23, 2021

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

How To Talk With Kids About Gun Violence

Recent mass shootings that have made national news headlines are a frightening reminder to us all of this “new normal.” Beyond those that have made national headlines, there are many more incidence of gun violence – sometimes more than one a day – for which the trauma is felt only locally. Listen to Dr. Felopulos […]

April 16, 2021

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

10 Consejos de Cuidado Personal para Padres

Como padres, nuestro trabajo principal es cuidar de nuestros hijos, incluidos nuestros hijos adultos jóvenes. Es difícil pensar en algo más importante que el bienestar de nuestros hijos. Nos preocupamos por su éxito académico, vida social y logros recreativos. Nos preocupamos por su salud física, ajuste emocional y felicidad en general. Como adultos, además tenemos […]

April 14, 2021

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

A Closer Look at High-Functioning Autism, featuring Robyn Thom, MD – Shrinking It Down

Coming into April, Autism Awareness Month, we’ve noticed more families coming to our website with questions about high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some are seeking guidance on challenges families face, some are wanting to learn more about behaviors stereotypically associated with ASD, and others are wondering what happened to the Asperger’s diagnosis. On today’s episode of “Shrinking It […]