Articles by Khadijah Booth Watkins, Associate Director

Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH, is associate director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and the Associate Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training Program of Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital. In addition, she provides clinical care to children, adolescents, and families in the Child Outpatient Clinic and continues to teach and supervise fellows, residents, and medical students. To learn more about Khadijah, or to contact her directly, please see Our Team.

Alcohol and Drugs. Why Do Teens Use?

March 21, 2024

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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. […]

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

February 15, 2024

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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? […]

What Can States Do to Support Youth Mental Health? feat. Senator John C. Velis

January 18, 2024

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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 […]

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

December 20, 2023

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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? […]

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

November 16, 2023

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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 […]

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

October 23, 2023

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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, […]

Coping With Gun Violence, Together, feat. Gretchen Felopulos, PhD (Shrinking It Down)

June 15, 2023

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Coping With Gun Violence, Together, feat. Gretchen Felopulos, PhD (Shrinking It Down)

With increasing gun violence and constant media coverage, many kids are scared to go to concerts, to malls, to school. Tune in below, or search for “Shrinking It Down” wherever you get your podcasts. Many adults are feeling the same – coping with gun violence can be paralyzing. Today, special guest Gretchen Felopulos, PhD, the […]

Autism: Making the Transition to College, feat. Chris Keary, MD

May 18, 2023

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Autism: Making the Transition to College, feat. Chris Keary, MD

Starting college for the first time can be a big deal for all kids, but for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder there’s even more to consider for making it a smooth transition. As parents, how do we provide the best support? How involved should we be? Special guest Dr. Christopher Keary of the MGH Lurie […]

Digital Vigilance and Our Kids

April 20, 2023

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Digital Vigilance and Our Kids

We’ve reached a point in time where most of our kids have grown up with digital media as a way of life. Social media, instant viral news, e-learning, digital surveillance – it’s all here to stay. And it’s not all bad. But there are some legitimate concerns about how it’s impacting the mental health and […]

How Should We Respond to Anxiety in Our Kids? feat. Kevin Simon, MD

March 16, 2023

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How Should We Respond to Anxiety in Our Kids? feat. Kevin Simon, MD

Anxiety. Unhealthy levels are rising in our kids and teens. What can we do to help them? On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah are joined by very special guest Dr. Kevin Simon, the first Chief Behavioral Health Officer for the City of Boston, to help make sense […]