Our NICU adolescents and teens sometimes find themselves trying to cope with a difficult medical diagnosis or a major life change. Dina O’Brien, a pediatric psychologist and NICU mom speaks from experience, on both sides, on how a parent can help their child.
In this episode, we chat about:
Why did you pursue a career in pediatric psychology?
What is the primary purpose of a pediatric psychologist?
How did your background as a pediatric psychologist help or hinder your experience as a NICU mom with your fourth child?
For parents, how do you know when your child may benefit from psychology and what are the things they might look for, or assess?
How do you find a good pediatric psychologist?
Some children don't exhibit effects of a NICU stay until they are well into their early adolescent years? How do you differentiate their challenges from NICU vs regular development?
How would you define a successful outcome of a child who has undergone pediatric psychology?
What's your best advice to a parent seeking psychological help for his/her child?
Dr. O'Brien is a licensed pediatric clinical psychologist currently working with Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Harbor Pediatrics in Gig Harbor WA. She has over 25 years of experience working with the mental health needs of children and teens. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 4 boys, and spotting orcas across the PNW!
Connect with Dr. O’Brien:
Website: www.drdinaobrien.com
The NICU is hard. We’re here to help.
Hand to Hold is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents with personalized emotional support, educational resources and community before, during and after their baby’s NICU stay. NICU support is available at no cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.
Connect with Hand to Hold:
Learn more or get support at handtohold.org
Follow Hand to Hold on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
A NICU stay, and subsequent surgeries, can put extreme strain on a relationship. Scott and Kathryn Whitaker share why they sought out help from a licensed marriage counselor, their barriers to get there and how it changed their relationship.
In this episode, we chat about:
What led them to the counseling door?
What were some of their reservations about going to counseling?
Strategies learned in counseling that benefited their marriage?
How did they overcome the stigma of needing help?
What's your best advice for a couple that’s reluctant to go to therapy?
Scott and Kathryn Whitaker, both Texas natives, are the parents of six children, college to elementary, and have been married 27 years. Kathryn is the author of Live Big, Love Bigger, an award-winning book. Scott is the director of stewardship and development for the Catholic Diocese of Austin. On social media, they each share their honest take on family life and marriage, all while eating BBQ, cheering on the Texas Aggies and hiking national parks.
Connect with Scott and Kathryn:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottwhitaker95
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/scottwhitaker95
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathrynwhitakertx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynwhitakertx
Website: www.kathrynwhitaker.net
The NICU is hard. We’re here to help.
Hand to Hold is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents with personalized emotional support, educational resources and community before, during and after their baby’s NICU stay. NICU support is available at no cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.
Connect with Hand to Hold:
Learn more or get support at handtohold.org
Follow Hand to Hold on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Our NICU babies grow up and sometimes find themselves struggling to manage stress, anxiety, depression or navigating a disorder. Dr. Mitnaul, a child psychiatrist, shares how a child or adolescent may benefit from some extra assistance navigating those challenges.
In this episode, we chat about:
How did you get from a biology degree to a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist?
What is a child psychiatrist?
How is that different from a child psychologist?
Often, parents of NICU babies don't uncover other challenges in their children until they enter a school environment, or go through puberty. What are some things they should look for that might need to be addressed by a child or adolescent psychiatrist?
How can parents find a psychiatrist and what questions should they ask to ensure it's a good fit for their child?
Sometimes there's a stigma when a child is seeing a psychiatrist. What myths do you want to bust on that?
What types of encouragement and information can people find on your TikTok account or other social media, as well as your PBS Show, Cause for Hope?
What's your best advice to a parent seeking psychiatry for their child?
Dr. Mitnaul has quickly become a trusted voice in both the parenting and mental health space. When he’s not at the clinic, he’s engaging with his community on socials or on his PBS Show, “Cause for Hope” by helping families navigate parenting in the digital age.
Connect with Dr. Mitnaul:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctormitnaul
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/doctormitnaul
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/doctormitnaul
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctormitnaul/
Website: www.bewellacademy.org/
The NICU is hard. We’re here to help.
Hand to Hold is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents with personalized emotional support, educational resources and community before, during and after their baby’s NICU stay. NICU support is available at no cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.
Connect with Hand to Hold:
Learn more or get support at handtohold.org
Follow Hand to Hold on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Parents of NICU babies often find themselves struggling in relationships or facing difficult feelings. Licensed therapist Regina Boyd shares how to determine if, and when, therapy can help.
In this episode, we chat about:
What does a therapist do / not do?
What's the difference between a therapist and a licensed therapist?
What are some signs you might benefit from seeing a therapist?
How do you find a good therapist?
The NICU often leaves parents with PTSD, anxiety, depression and unresolved grief, how can a therapist help?
Should you do individual or couples therapy?
If your spouse doesn't want to go, or is reluctant, how do you work through that?
How often should you go?
How do you know if therapy is hurting or helping your healing?
How does someone deal with the stigma from friends or family that sometimes surrounds therapy?
What's your best advice for someone considering therapy?
Regina Boyd is the Founder of Boyd Counseling Services, a mental health & coaching practice that provides in-person and virtual services for couples and individuals. She works with clients who are experiencing stress, life changes, desire healthy emotional connection, and seek to develop problem solving strategies within their relationships. Regina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is also a featured contributor to the Hallow app, and lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband and their beautiful daughter.
Connect with Regina:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boydcounselingservices
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reginaboydLHMC/
Website: www.reginaboyd.com
The NICU is hard. We’re here to help.
Hand to Hold is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents with personalized emotional support, educational resources and community before, during and after their baby’s NICU stay. NICU support is available at no cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.
Connect with Hand to Hold:
Learn more or get support at handtohold.org
Follow Hand to Hold on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license