Catch-Up on Kids Mental Health

Janet Morrison | Catch Collaborative Psychotherapy
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

The Catch-Up on Kids Mental Health podcast is hosted by Janet Morrison and showcases leading experts in children and adolescent mental health. Tune in each month to learn how to better support children who are struggling with mental health challenges and the everyday stresses of life. Verification code: 024437

  1. FEB 3

    Episode 64 | Understanding ADHD In Children & Youth

    In this episode, Janet speaks with Dr. Ryan Sultan, a child psychiatrist and researcher specializing in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dr. Sultan helps unpack what it really means to understand ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition, and why symptoms can emerge as early as preschool. He explains how differences in brain development affect attention, regulation, behaviour, and self-esteem, and why ADHD is often misunderstood as simply a problem of willpower or discipline. Drawing on clinical practice and long-term research, the conversation explores how ADHD is diagnosed across childhood and adolescence, how it can overlap with anxiety, learning differences, and emotional regulation challenges, and why careful, collaborative assessment across home, school, and community settings matters. Janet and Dr. Sultan also discuss treatment decisions, including when medication is considered, the role of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and the importance of teaching practical skills like organization, emotional awareness, and social regulation. This episode offers parents and educators a grounded, compassionate lens for thinking about ADHD. Rather than framing it as a quick diagnosis or a single solution, it emphasizes early understanding, thoughtful support, and interventions that help children build confidence, resilience, and long-term wellbeing. To learn more about Dr. Sultan and his work please visit his ⁠⁠website.⁠ For more information on the work we do at Catch, please visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen.  Stay connected with us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    31 min

  2. JAN 13

    Episode 63 | What Doctors Miss About Children's Mental Health

    In this episode, Janet speaks with Dr. Robert C. Smith, professor emeritus at Michigan State University and author of Has Medicine Lost Its Mind?. Drawing on decades of clinical practice, research, and teaching, Dr. Smith explains how modern medicine came to separate mental and physical health, and why that split still shapes how doctors are trained today. The conversation explores how this gap in training affects modern medicine, from rushed appointments and quick prescriptions to missed opportunities for early support and prevention. Dr. Smith also discusses why lifestyle, stress, relationships, and emotional development are often overlooked, despite their central role in both physical and mental wellbeing. This episode offers parents and educators a broader lens for understanding the healthcare system many children move through. Rather than placing blame on individual doctors or families, it invites reflection on how care might look different if emotional and physical health were treated as deeply connected from the very beginning. To learn more about Dr. Smith and his work please visit his ⁠website. For more information on the work we do at Catch, please visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen.  Stay connected with us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    29 min

  3. 12/02/2025

    Episode 62 | Advocating For Children & Youth In Foster Care

    In this episode, Janet speaks with Breana Frazier, a doctoral student at Florida International University whose research explores the foster care to juvenile delinquency pipeline. Breana shares what we know about who enters the foster care system, why those numbers spiked in 2020, and how a lack of stability and trauma-informed support affects children long after they’re placed in care. Together, Janet and Breana look at the emotional and educational challenges foster youth face, the high rates of undiagnosed learning issues, and why behavioral struggles are often misinterpreted rather than understood. They also discuss what happens when children become “crossover youth” who interact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and why these young people are so vulnerable to harsher punishments. This conversation is a sobering look at the long term impact of trauma, but also a call to action. Breana highlights the importance of early intervention, consistent caregiving, and real trauma informed training for the adults who work within these systems.

    32 min

  4. 11/04/2025

    Episode 61 | Attachment Theory for Teachers and Caregivers

    In this episode, Janet welcomes back Dr. John Stewart to explore how the principles of attachment theory extend beyond the home and into the classroom. Dr. Stewart is a clinical psychologist specializing in attachment-focused treatment with children, adolescents, and families. He’s an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Tufts University School of Medicine and author of What Helps When Children and Families Struggle: An Attachment-Informed Guide for Families and Clinicians. Building on their previous conversation about attachment-focused family therapy, this discussion looks at how teachers and caregivers can foster emotional safety, structure, and belonging for every child – especially those who struggle most. Dr. Stewart shares practical insights about the importance of predictability and “padded boundaries,” how joy and attunement shape a child’s sense of self, and why a teacher’s empathy can be just as healing as a therapist’s. He also reflects on the shared responsibility between parents, teachers, and communities to help children feel both lovable and competent –two foundational experiences that support resilience and learning. To learn more about Dr. Stewart and his work you can visit his ⁠website⁠.  For more information on the work we do at Catch, please visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠ and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen.  Stay connected with us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    28 min

  5. 10/07/2025

    Episode 60 | Building Digital Literacy Skills in Kids and Teens

    In this episode, Janet sits down for a second time with Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts, to explore how parents, teachers, and young people can build stronger digital literacy skills and avoid harmful or unwanted online content. Matthew is the author of many of MediaSmarts’ lessons, parent materials, and interactive resources. He has also served on expert panels for the Canadian Paediatric Society, the Sexual Information and Education Council of Canada, and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. In this conversation, Matthew shares practical strategies for keeping kids safe online at every age, from using parental controls and active content curation with younger children to teaching teens how to set their own filters and make mindful choices about what they consume. He also explores how developmental changes affect kids’ online vulnerability and why ongoing communication, empathy, and clear “no-freak-out” rules help keep kids talking to parents when problems arise. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or professional supporting youth, this episode offers grounded, actionable insights to help families navigate digital life with awareness and confidence. To explore MediaSmarts’ resources for parents and educators, visit www.mediasmarts.ca For more information on the work we do at Catch, please visit our ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠ and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen.  Stay connected with us on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠.

    29 min

  6. 09/02/2025

    Episode 59 | Understanding Eating Disorders In Young People

    In this episode, Janet sits down with Dr. Natasha Demidenko to explore the topic of eating disorders in young people including what they are, how they develop, and why they’re often misunderstood. Dr. Demidenko is a clinical health and rehabilitation psychologist who works in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Ottawa, has worked for many years at The Ottawa Hospital’s Regional Centre for the Treatment of Eating Disorders, and is a clinical professor at the University of Ottawa where she trains practicum students and residents. In this episode, she dispels common myths (including the idea that only underweight individuals are affected), explains types beyond anorexia and bulimia such as binge eating disorder, purging disorder, and ARFID, and outlines the medical and psychiatric risks. She also explores how biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors (including trauma and diet culture) can create a “perfect storm,” and why early identification and intervention matter. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or professional working with youth and families, this episode offers a compassionate, clear-eyed perspective on one of the most complex mental health concerns today. To learn more about The Ottawa Hospital’s Regional Centre for the Treatment of Eating Disorders visit their webpage. For more information on the work we do at Catch, please visit our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen.  Stay connected with us on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

    25 min

  7. 08/05/2025

    Episode 58 | Understanding Child & Youth Exposure to Pornography

    In this episode, Janet sits down with Matthew Johnson to explore how and why young people encounter pornography and what parents need to know. Matthew is the Director of Education for MediaSmarts, Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy. He’s the author of numerous educational resources and the architect of MediaSmarts’ Use, Understand, Engage digital literacy framework used in schools across the country. In this episode, he shares findings from national research on how kids access pornography, the advertising and business models that drive it, and what we know about its impact on children and youth. Janet and Matthew also discuss the blurred line between mainstream sexualized content and pornographic media, how gender stereotypes and peer pressure shape teens’ experiences, and why education – not censorship – may be our most effective tool in protecting youth. Whether you’re a parent navigating awkward conversations, a teacher supporting media literacy, or a professional working with teens, this episode offers a nuanced and deeply thoughtful look at one of the more complex digital risks facing kids today. To learn more about Matthew’s work and access MediaSmarts resources, visit ⁠mediasmarts.ca⁠. For more information on the work we do at Catch, please visit our ⁠website⁠ and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen.  Stay connected with us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ & ⁠Instagram⁠.

    33 min

  8. 07/08/2025

    Episode 57 | Understanding Parent-Child Therapy

    In this episode, Janet sits down with Dr. Ruwa Sabbagh, Ph.D., C.Psych., to explore how parent-child therapy can support emotional development and strengthen relationships from the earliest years of life. Dr. Sabbagh is a clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. She has trained extensively in the Watch, Wait and Wonder model, a play-based, attachment-focused approach that supports healing and connection between caregivers and their children. In this conversation, she explains how this style of therapy works, why it’s so effective for helping young children regulate emotions, and how it offers parents a chance to respond more sensitively, even when that wasn’t modeled for them growing up. She also shares insights into how attachment patterns form in early life and continue to shape relationships well into adulthood. For more information on the work we do at Catch, please visit our ⁠website⁠ and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen.  Stay connected with us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ & ⁠Instagram⁠.

    33 min
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About

The Catch-Up on Kids Mental Health podcast is hosted by Janet Morrison and showcases leading experts in children and adolescent mental health. Tune in each month to learn how to better support children who are struggling with mental health challenges and the everyday stresses of life. Verification code: 024437

Information

  • Creator
    Janet Morrison | Catch Collaborative Psychotherapy
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Janet Morrison | Catch Collaborative Psychotherapy
  • Show Website
    Catch-Up on Kids Mental Health