The Just A Mom Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 42: Sonya Parker Goode, Director of Outreach and Partnerships, The Grant Halliburton Foundation (https://www.granthalliburton.org/) Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

I first learned about The Grant Halliburton Foundation when a college friend emailed me about it. After researching and learning about all of the work they do in North Texas in mental health education, collaboration, encouragement, and information, I knew I wanted to be part of their annual conference, “When Life Hands You Teenagers” (

https://www.granthalliburton.org/calendar/wlhyt-att7a-dpbpm) on September 28, 2023. In this episode, Sonya Parker Goode talks about the work of the Foundation as well as “When Life Hands You Teenagers.” Early bird registration ends August 31, so register today and come see me at the resource tables!

Make sure you visit the Grant Halliburton Foundation website (

https://www.granthalliburton.org/) to learn about their programs, donate or volunteer.

Episode 41: Jennifer Part 2 Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a continuation of Jennifer’s story. Jennifer has done extensive research and been an incredible advocate for her son. Here are some links/definitions to things we talked about:

TheraPlay

PCIT - Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

What is CBT Therapy?

What is EMDR?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

Problematic Sexual Behavior Therapy

ABA Therapy

Neurofeedback Therapy

"safe room" - sometimes called a seclusion room

- neuro-psych testing

- Thompson Center (Columbia, MO)

- "Alternative School" - this is a school within a public school district, which is still considered free and public schooling, but has increased levels of services for students with specific accommodations and high levels of need.

- pharmacogenetic testing

- FosterAdopt Connect

- CASA

Episode 40: Jennifer Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

This incredible episode is about a young couple who fostered and eventually adopted a boy who was a student in Jennifer’s kindergarten classroom. He was in seven foster homes in five years (some were shelters). Jennifer and her husband became foster parents in their first year of marriage. This young boy had been abused sexually and physically and neglected and had his first suicide attempt at eight years of age, and has a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). Jennifer and her husband have worked non-stop to get their son the help and services their son needs, and Jennifer has compiled an incredible database of resources.
TheraPlay

PCIT - Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

What is CBT Therapy?

What is EMDR?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

Problematic Sexual Behavior Therapy

ABA Therapy

Neurofeedback Therapy

"safe room" - sometimes called a seclusion room

- neuro-psych testing

- Thompson Center (Columbia, MO)

- "Alternative School" - this is a school within a public school district, which is still considered free and public schooling but has increased levels of services for students with specific accommodations and high levels of need.

- pharmacogenetic testing

- FosterAdopt Connect

- CASA

Episode 39: Stephanie and Dr. Caroline Danda, Licensed Clinical Psychologist (KS LP 1208) Specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Children and Adolescents Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

This is a unique episode in that Stephanie, a mom with a special needs child who also has anxiety and depression, requested that her son’s psychologist also be part of our conversation. Stephanie’s son had a stroke in utero that they discovered when he was 3 months old. He has cerebral palsy and an intellectual disability. At age 6, he had surgery where the right half of his brain was removed because of severe epilepsy. Stephanie’s son is also autistic and has anxiety and panic attacks.

Dr. Caroline Danda (http://www.carolinedanda.com/) is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized training in children and adolescents and health conditions. Stephanie credits Dr. Danda and her work with Stephanie’s family in the transformation of their household.

This episode is chock full of challenges and hope and reminds us that people with special needs have feelings, too. Dr. Danda developed The Invisible Riptide with Carron Montgomery to create resources to help fill in the gaps because so many parents don’t know what to do (www.theinvisibleriptide.org).

Episode 38: Renee VanMeter and Jessica Murphy, Deputy Division Directors in Emergency Services, Johnson County Mental Health Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

Renee and Jessica are responsible for some of the crucial Johnson County, Kansas mental health services: the open access walk-in clinic, 988, the mobile crisis response team, and mental health co-responders. My conversation with Renee and Jessica solidified what I already knew—the country in which I live is incredibly fortunate to have the county mental health resources that we have. This episode highlights those resources, their functions, and how the country is continuing to expand and improve the mental health services offered to the community. This county’s mental health co-responder program is the model for other counties across the country and is responsible for founding the National Co-Responder Conference.

No matter where you live, I promise you will find this episode informative and encouraging. These two women are passionate about helping people, and their enthusiasm for doing so is contagious. If you do not have such robust county mental health services in your area, or you are unaware of what your county offers, I encourage you to listen to this episode and use it as a springboard for action in your own community.

Episode 37: Jason Reid, Tellmystory.org Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

Jason Reid knows the pain of losing a child to suicide. His youngest son, Ryan, died by suicide in 2018. Jason has since dedicated his life to preventing other parents from experiencing the devastating loss of a child to suicide. Jason feels like by not being vulnerable with his kids he didn’t invite them to talk to him. He thinks we need to show kids we are normal and human, that we all have had bad days. Jason founded Tellmystory.org and made a movie by that same name that explores the potential reasons adolescent suicide is on the rise and is available on amazon prime (https://www.amazon.com/Tell-My-Story-Jason-Reid/dp/B09QFZ3PQG/ref=sr_1_5?crid=12RCPCTM2MRF6&keywords=tell+my+story+movie&qid=1686511554&sprefix=tell+my+story+movie%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-5). Jason has also developed What I Wish My Parents Knew; this is a school program and a talk back that incorporates local resources. If you are interested in getting What I Wish My Parents Knew at your school, go to

https://tellmystory.org/our-programs/for-schools/.

Episode 36: Courtney Part 2 Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a continuation of my conversation with Courtney. Courtney’s daughter’s mental health journey didn’t end in high school. Courtney recounts her daughter’s time at The Renfrew Center ( https://renfrewcenter.com/) well as her young, toxic marriage and subsequent inpatient hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment at Hopeway (https://hopeway.org/) in Charlotte, NC. Courtney also talks about how she has learned from her daughter how to manage her own mental health.

Episode 35: Courtney Part 1 Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

Courtney’s story of parenting a child who has battled mental illness most of her life starts with the first of a two-part series. Courtney says her daughter has always been “the most”. Courtney’s daughter started struggling with anxiety around four years of age, survived a brain aneurism, and developed anorexia, all before graduating from high school. Listen as Courtney shares the challenges of their journey and parenting a “fiercely independent, wildly intelligent” daughter.

Episode 34: Dr. Brian Barash, M.D., Board Certified Psychiatrist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Brian Barash (www.cpa-kc.com) shares a wealth of mental health and substance abuse information on this episode of The Just A Mom podcast. Dr. Barash refers to several mental health facilities in the Kansas City area, including Marillac (https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/locations/Marillac-Campus-Overland-Park-KS), Crittenton ( https://www.saintlukeskc.org/locations/crittenton-childrens-center?utm_source=crittentonkc.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=redirects) and the Menninger Clinic (https://www.menningerclinic.org/). Dr. Barash also discusses the distinction between mental illness and mental health problems, the different levels of care for mental illness, and pharmacogenomic testing (https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/pharma.htm).

As a certified addiction specialist, Dr. Barash gives a strong warning to parents. He is staunchly against the legalization of marijuana and warns parents about the dangers of kids mixing alcohol and antidepressants and the potential disastrous outcomes that could bring.

Episode 33: Josh Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

Josh is a husband, father, triathlete, coach, and suicide survivor. As a teenager, he deliberately drove his car into a tree—and walked away. Josh recounts his long-time battle with depression, trauma, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and his complex relationship with an abusive father. Josh talks about his significant distrust of mental health professionals based on his experience as a teenager and young adult, and how his mental illness is an ongoing battle still today.
Josh has used his experience to help others and frequently speaks to groups and organizations about mental health. Here is a video Josh recorded with NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) called It’s OK to not be OK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9z0Yi7Rhaw&ab_channel=NAMI.

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