Articles by Gene Beresin and Khadijah Booth Watkins

April 22, 2024

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

The Role of Roleplay in Therapy

If you’re a regular listener, you’ll know we often reference the benefits of roleplay games – from dress up to Dungeons & Dragons – for healthy child development. It can help kids better understand themselves, better understand others, and build self-confidence. Tune in below, or wherever you get your podcasts. Today, Gene and Khadijah explore […]

March 21, 2024

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Alcohol and Drugs. Why Do Teens Use?

Many of us know that 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 worrying about problems, and even to help with depression or anxiety. This is really concerning. […]

February 15, 2024

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Equine Therapy. How Does It Work? feat. Janice Gilman of BINA Farm – Shrinking It Down

You’ve probably heard of pet therapy, but what about equine therapy? Special guest Janice Gilman of BINA Farm Center joins Gene and Khadijah to help us learn about the many different kinds of equine therapy for kids. What make horses so unique when it comes to therapeutic treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and more? […]

January 18, 2024

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

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? Tune in below, or wherever you stream! Today, Gene and Khadijah are joined by special guest Senator John C. Velis of Massachusetts. Senator Velis shines […]

January 15, 2024

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

New Year Resolutions: Tips to Focus on the Positive

There’s this guy Sisyphus. I feel like he invented the New Year’s resolution. You know Sisyphus—he’s the guy who works so hard to push that stupid boulder up the hill, only to have it roll down again at the end of his hard work. You’d think he’d have learned after all these years, but there […]

December 20, 2023

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Stimulants! Myths, Misconceptions & Managing the Shortage, feat. Anthony Rostain, MD, MA – Shrinking It Down

What role should prescription stimulants play in a child’s ADHD treatment plan? Tune in below, or wherever you stream. Today, Gene and Khadijah are joined by Tony Rostain, MD, MA, chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Cooper University Health Care, to discuss this and more. How do you talk to your child about stimulants? […]

November 16, 2023

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Lonely College Students: What Can We Do to Help? – Shrinking It Down

Recent national surveys show that a significant proportion of college students report having felt overwhelmed, anxious, and lonely during college. If college is supposed to be the “best years of your life” then why are so many students lonely? That’s what Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins dive into today: what’s contributing to […]

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

How Can Young People Combat Teen Loneliness?

Teen loneliness. It seems the opposite of what most folks would think, but more and more surveys are finding that teenagers and young adults today may be lonelier than any other age group – even older adults. In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory calling attention to Our Epidemic of Loneliness and […]

October 23, 2023

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Fears & Phobias in Kids, feat. Susan Sprich, PhD – Shrinking It Down

Fears and phobias are not the same thing. All of us have fears – kids and adults alike. Many of us even enjoy a good scare now and again (there’s a reason why horror movies do so well). And most fears in our children – real or imagined – eventually respond to reassurance, emotional calming, […]

October 12, 2023

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Fear of the Dark? 16 Ways to Help Your Child

Halloween is almost here, and its presence is inescapable – from commercials and scary movies on TV to ghosts, goblins, and menacing figures in neighbors’ yards. And while it is an exciting and highly anticipated time for many kids, some look upon it with dread. Though the technical fear of Halloween, Samhainphobia, is not listed […]