June 3, 2021
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, […]
April 28, 2021
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 14, 2021
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 […]
March 17, 2021
Medicating with Meditation? The Power of Mind Body Medicine, featuring Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH – Shrinking It Down
On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Khadijah welcome special guest Dr. Darshan Mehta, Medical Director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine of Massachusetts General Hospital, to talk about something we could all use more of: Meditation. This past year has brought on new stressors and anxieties for families, on top […]
February 24, 2021
Getting to the Finish Line: Will You Choose Endurance or Resilience?
It’s probably safe to say that 2020 has taken quite a toll on many of us. This has resulted in a number of reactions, particularly in our mental health. That being said, now that we have made it to 2021, despite the rollout of vaccinations, we continue in our new and modified routines built to […]
February 10, 2021
Teen Breakup Violence, Part 2: At-Risk Emotions – Shrinking It Down
Content Warning: Today’s episode is the second in a two-part series on teen relationship violence. It may be difficult for some of our listeners. When we look underneath a young person’s anger, or shame, or grief, there is often a hidden need that’s not being met. Learning how to identify and address these hidden needs is a […]
The Challenges of First-Generation College Students
This post on first-generation students is one in a series on college student mental health. Other posts in this series are: College Students of Color: Overcoming Racial Disparities and Discrimination LGBTQ Students in College: Fostering Inclusion, Acceptance, and Safety International College Students: Challenges and Solutions *** Currently, around half of all students attending college are […]
February 3, 2021
Teen Breakup Violence, Part 1 – Shrinking It Down
Content Warning: This episode is the first in a two-part series on teen relationship violence. It may be difficult for some of our listeners. Romantic relationships are a crucial part of life for teenagers. In fact, the biggest emotional struggles in high school and college often come from breaking up with friends or romantic partners. […]
January 20, 2021
The Nuts and Bolts of Telepsychiatry, featuring Janet Wozniak, MD – Shrinking It Down
Did you know the first telepsychiatry visits at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), conducted back in 2014, weren’t for adults, but for children? Flash forward, we never imagined how critical teletherapy and telemedicine would become – in such a short period of time – as a part of routine healthcare for all age groups and populations, in […]
January 13, 2021
College Students of Color: Overcoming Racial Disparities and Discrimination
This post is one of a four-part series on college student mental health. The other posts in this series are: LGBTQ Students in College: Fostering Inclusion, Acceptance, and Safety International College Students: Challenges and Solutions The Challenges of First-Generation College Students *** Diversity allows us to embrace humanity in a broader way, and to educate […]