Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple
"Shrinking It Down" highlights the fact that youth mental health is anything but simple! Child & adolescent psychiatrists Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins help parents and other caring adults to navigate tough questions about child and teen mental health. From depression and learning disorders, to digital media and societal concerns, Shrinking It Down covers it all.
Tune in the THIRD Thursday of every month. Subscribe wherever you stream.
About Us: The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital is a multi-media educational resource to help adults support the mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being of young people through innovative education. Visit us online at mghclaycenter.org.
This podcast is for educational purposes only. The Clay Center does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any health-related questions you may have.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Update frequency
- every 18 days
- Average duration
- 24 minutes
- Episodes
- 180
- Years Active
- 2013 - 2025
ADHD: The Transition to Adulthood
Welcome back to a new season of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple!
For our back-to-school season opener, we are joined by Dr. Tony Rostain for a deep dive on how ADHD changes from teen to a…
Chasing Sunshine: Teen Loneliness & Tips for Beating the Summer Blues
While the summer is usually painted as time of fun, freedom, and relaxation, for many teens it can feel like the exact opposite — disconnected, isolating, and emotionally heavy. Without the daily str…
The Vital Role and Methods of Mental Health Advocacy
Why are our young people struggling so much?
In this special episode for Mental Health Awareness Month, Gene and Khadijah dive into the growing youth mental health epidemic. They explore the sharp ri…
More Than Just a Picky Eater - ARFID
Almost everyone knows a picky eater, either from their own childhood or from their child's experiences. But sometimes picky eating goes beyond a simple preference for plain pasta.
In this episode of …
Teen Nicotine Use
In 2024, the CDC reported that 1 in 29 middle school and 1 in 13 high school students vaped in the past month. This statistic is especially troubling, given that 9 in 10 adults who smoke daily first …
Addressing Your Family's Anxieties about California Wildfires
Shrinking it Down will return in January
Shrinking it Down will return on January 23rd for a special episode on teen nicotine misuse.
Happy Holidays and we hope you have a great New Year!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info…
Parents Under Pressure
In the recent Advisory, Parents Under Pressure, the US Surgeon General noted that parents are currently more stressed, burned out, and lonely than ever before. The alarming statistics are not all tha…
Supporting Youth in a World Riddled by Conflict
Let's be honest, we're all stressed.
We're stressed about climate change, world crises, the upcoming election, or even just the common stressors of everyday life: economic pressures, relationship issu…
Navigating Special Education in Schools Part 2: Working with the Team and Your Child
The Special Education system in school can be confusing, especially if you haven’t been through the process with a child before.
In part 2 of this series, Gene and Khadijah continue their discussion w…
Navigating Special Education in Schools Part 1: Legal and Practical Tips
Welcome back to a new season of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple!
For our season premiere, Gene and Khadijah are joined by two special guests who specialize in learning disabilities and…
Stories for Children's Mental Health
Stories matter, especially when it comes to children's mental health and wellbeing.
For our season finale, Gene and Khadijah are joined by two special guests from Barefoot Books – book editor Lisa Ros…
Boys, Body Image + Eating Disorders, feat. Jason Nagata, MD, MSc
When you hear the term “eating disorders” what do you think of? Probably not boys and men. Yet, adolescent boys struggle with body image and disordered eating behaviors nearly just as much as girls.
…
The Role of Roleplay in Therapy
If you’re a regular listener, you’ll know we often reference the benefits of casual roleplay games - from dress up to Dungeons & Dragons - for healthy child development. It can help kids better under…
Alcohol & Drugs - Why Do Teens Use?
The teen years can be a time for experimenting with alcohol and other drugs. But a recent CDC study found the reason why teens use substances today isn’t just for experimentation, but also to stop wo…
Equine Therapy. How Does It Work?
Many of us have heard of dog therapy and pet therapy. But what exactly is equine therapy?
Special guest Janice Gilman of BINA Farm Center joins Gene and Khadijah to help us learn about the many differ…
What Can States Do to Support Youth Mental Health? feat. Senator John C. Velis
To address the youth mental health crisis, we need to approach it from different angles – including access, education, and legislation. So, what are states doing to make a difference?
Today, Gene and …
Next Week: Senator John Velis of Massachusetts
Very special guest Senator John C. Velis of Massachusetts joins Gene and Khadijah to discuss legislative opportunities to address the youth mental health crisis. He says a big focus needs to be on sc…
Stimulants! feat. Anthony Rostain, MD, MA
What role should prescription stimulant medication play in a child’s ADHD treatment plan? Today, Gene and Khadijah are joined by Tony Rostain, MD, MA, chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Coo…
Tune in Dec. 21! Ritalin, Adderall & ADHD
Special guest Anthony Rostain, MD, MA joins us this month to discuss all things stimulants - myths, misconceptions, and managing the shortage. If you have a young person in your life with ADHD, or ha…