Complex Kids, Simple Solutions

Michelle Choairy
  • 5.0 (14)
  • PARENTING

Complex Kid, Simple Solutions is the go-to podcast for parents raising neurodivergent and medically complex kids. Hosted by Michelle Choairy, a seasoned advocate and mom of a complex child, this podcast delivers clear, actionable strategies to help you navigate the chaos with confidence. Each episode breaks down overwhelming challenges into simple, practical solutions—whether it’s advocating for your child, navigating the school system, or finding the right support team. You’ll hear expert insights, real-life stories, and empowering advice to help you become your child’s best advocate while keeping your own sanity intact. Because raising a complex kid is hard—but finding solutions doesn’t have to be. 🎧 Subscribe now and start turning challenges into victories!

  1. Lisa Watson — Reparenting Yourself: Healing Limiting Beliefs to Become a Calmer, More Conscious Parent

    DEC 15

    Lisa Watson — Reparenting Yourself: Healing Limiting Beliefs to Become a Calmer, More Conscious Parent

    Send us a text In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Lisa Watson, inner-child healing coach and creator of the Reparenting Method, to unpack why parenting—especially complex kids—can feel so emotionally overwhelming, and how our children often activate unhealed parts of ourselves that are asking for compassion, validation, and repair. Lisa shares: Why your triggers aren’t about your child. Our strongest reactions come from subconscious beliefs formed between ages zero to seven—long before we had language, logic, or choice. The truth about the past. The past doesn’t exist in time, but it lives in the body. Healing happens by validating emotional experiences, not reliving or rehashing them. The Reparenting Method. By meeting your inner child as your higher, wiser self, you can correct the lies learned in childhood and replace shame with safety and self-trust. Why validation is the only job during a meltdown. Dysregulated nervous systems can’t learn. During emotional overload, presence and validation matter far more than correction. How healing yourself changes your parenting. When you release shame, perfectionism, and control within yourself, it becomes easier to respond—rather than react—to your child’s behavior. A powerful reframe for parents of complex kids. Your child isn’t here to break you—they’re here to guide you back to yourself. Quote to tape on the fridge: “Your children were divinely designed to be your guide. Every trigger is a gift pointing you back to yourself.” Whether you’re navigating meltdowns, neurodivergence, or your own inherited parenting patterns, Lisa’s message is clear: healing the child within you creates safety, regulation, and connection for the child in front of you. 👤 About Lisa Watson Lisa Watson is an inner-child healing coach, conscious parenting educator, and creator of the Reparenting Method. With a background in childhood development and conscious parenting, she helps adults dismantle limiting subconscious beliefs so they can show up with more presence, compassion, and emotional regulation—especially as parents. 🔗 Connect with Lisa Watson 📧 lisa@lisa-watson.com  📸 https://www.instagram.com/reparent_yourself 📘 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571427100884 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/watsonlisak 🎵 https://www.tiktok.com/@reparent.yourself 🌐 www.reparent-yourself.com

    37 min
  2. Jessica Setnick — Taking the Shame Out of Mealtimes for Complex Kids

    DEC 8

    Jessica Setnick — Taking the Shame Out of Mealtimes for Complex Kids

    Send us a text In this episode, Michelle sits down with pediatric dietitian and eating-behavior specialist Jessica Setnick to talk about one of the most stressful parts of raising complex and neurodivergent kids: mealtimes. Jessica breaks down why picky eating, food battles, and nutrition worries are rarely about the food itself—and how families can create calmer, more connected routines around eating. Jessica shares: Why mealtimes feel so emotional. Parents carry their own childhood memories, family rules, and pressure to “get nutrition right.” Jessica explains how these expectations quietly shape the stress we feel at the table. How to reduce the pressure—starting today. From separating ingredients to offering a reliable “safe food” at each meal, Jessica shows parents how to build trust and remove the power struggle without turning into short-order cooks. Understanding hunger with ADHD and complex needs. Medication, sensory issues, and delayed awareness can mean kids don’t realize they’re hungry until they melt down. Jessica offers scripts and strategies to involve kids in solving the “after-school crash.” Her “experiment, not expectation” approach. Taste tests, paper-bag spit cups, counter snacks, and low-pressure exposures help kids explore new foods without fear—and help parents stop interpreting every bite as a measure of success. Healing your own food story. Jessica reveals how our childhood patterns around food still show up in our parenting today—and how her Healing Your Inner Eater workbook helps families break shame-based cycles. Quote to remember:  “Only really good parents worry that they’re failing their kids.” If your child refuses most foods, eats the same thing every night, melts down at dinner, or panics at the sight of something new, Jessica’s message is freeing: you can lower the stress, reduce the shame, and build a healthier relationship with food—one calm moment at a time. Connect with Jessica 📧 Email: jessica@jessicasetnick.com 🌐 Website: www.JessicaSetnick.com 📘 Facebook: JessicaSetnick 💼 LinkedIn: JessicaSetnick 📸 Instagram: @UnderstandingNutrition #ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #PickyEaters #FeedingTherapy #NeurodivergentKids #MealtimeStress #ParentSupport

    42 min
  3. Joanna Lilley — Rethinking 18 for Complex Kids: What Really Happens at Adulthood

    DEC 1

    Joanna Lilley — Rethinking 18 for Complex Kids: What Really Happens at Adulthood

    Send us a text  In this episode, Michelle sits down with young-adult consultant Joanna Lilley to talk about the moment so many parents fear: the 18th birthday. Joanna breaks down why turning 18 doesn’t magically make a child ready for adult life—and how families of complex and neurodivergent kids can create a calmer, more supported transition. Joanna shares: Why 18 feels so scary. Parents worry they’ll suddenly lose all control and access. Joanna reframes the transition as a process—not a deadline. A realistic “launch plan.” Some 18-year-olds function like 15-year-olds, and that’s okay. Joanna helps families map out individualized paths: living at home longer, supportive housing, or step-by-step independence. The power of the right team. Conflicting providers can derail progress. Joanna explains how to build a collaborative team before 18—and ensure they’ll keep communicating after your child becomes a legal adult. Her signature process. From gathering IEPs, evaluations, and histories to creating a personalized “Who You Are / What You Need” roadmap, Joanna vets every provider before bringing them to the young adult. A skill-building approach to adulthood. Even when parents still hold most decisions, Joanna treats the young adult as the lead—using releases, interviews, and choices to build real adulting skills. Quote to remember: “Eighteen is a date—not a finish line. Adulthood gets to fit your child, not a checklist.” If your child is close to adulthood—or nowhere near ready—Joanna’s message is grounding: there are many valid paths forward, and you don’t have to build that path alone. Connect with Joanna 🔗Connect with Joanna 🌐Website: https://lilleyconsulting.com 📧Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com 💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-lilley-ma-ncc-12546566/ 📘Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilleyConsultingLLC/ ▶️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LilleyConsulting/featured #ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #TransitionToAdulthood #ComplexYoungAdults #NeurodivergentFamilies #ParentAdvocacy

    34 min
  4. Dr. Jack Hinman — The Anxious Generation: Guiding Young Adults Toward Independence and Resilience

    NOV 24

    Dr. Jack Hinman — The Anxious Generation: Guiding Young Adults Toward Independence and Resilience

    Send us a text In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Dr. Jack Hinman, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Engage Young Adult Transitions, to unpack why so many 18- to 30-year-olds are stuck between adolescence and adulthood—and how parents can help their “kids” move forward with confidence, connection, and purpose. Dr. Hinman shares: The crisis of connection. Today’s young adults are more connected than ever online—but lonelier and more anxious than any generation before. Dr. Hinman calls this the Crisis of Connection and explains how real, face-to-face relationships are the key to healing.The anxious generation explained. Born after 1995? Your brain literally developed differently. Between overprotection, constant screens, and “concept creep” around trauma and anxiety, today’s youth are growing up in a world that equates discomfort with danger—stunting resilience and identity formation.Overprotected offline, underprotected online. Parents guard their kids from playground scrapes but hand them unfiltered access to social media during puberty—the most vulnerable neurological window for comparison, shame, and emotional reactivity.When therapy meets autonomy. At Engage, young adults (17–25) live in supervised homes that gradually transition to independent apartments. Staff offices are embedded in the same homes, creating mentorship through proximity and connection, not confinement.Why 30-day programs fail. Short-term fixes don’t build independence. Engage focuses on long-term (9–12 month) support combining clinical care, mentoring, neurofeedback, and community integration—because growth takes time.Quote to tape on the fridge: “Anxiety isn’t the enemy—it’s the gym where resilience grows.” Whether you’re parenting a teen or watching your 20-something stall out, Dr. Hinman’s message is simple: Stop rescuing from discomfort. Start teaching that hard things are part of growing strong. 👤 About Dr. Jack Hinman, Psy.D. Dr. Hinman is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Engage Young Adult Transitions in Cedar City, Utah. With over 20 years in mental health, he specializes in helping neurodiverse and anxious young adults overcome depression, avoidance, and executive-functioning challenges to rediscover autonomy, purpose, and self-trust. He also serves on the board of the Young Adult Transition Association (YATA) and is a leading voice in emerging-adulthood psychology. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hinman & Engage Young Adult Transitions 🌐 Website: engagelifenow.com 📧 Email: podcast@elev8.io 📸 Instagram: @engage.transitions 🎵 TikTok: @engageyoungadult 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jack-hinman-engagelifenow 📘 Facebook: Engage Young Adult Transitions #ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #AnxiousGeneration #YoungAdultTransition #NeurodiverseTeens #ParentingAnxiousKids #ResilienceBuilding #ScreenTimeAwareness #ParentAdvocacy Mama, step into this week knowing that every hug, every smile, and every small win matters. You’re building something beautiful

    38 min
  5. Michael Ringel — Planning for Two Lifetimes: Protect, Grow, and Enjoy (Without Losing Your Benefits)

    NOV 17

    Michael Ringel — Planning for Two Lifetimes: Protect, Grow, and Enjoy (Without Losing Your Benefits)

    Send us a text In this conversation, Michelle sits down with special-needs family wealth strategist Michael Ringel to demystify the money side of raising complex kids—how to get organized fast, protect eligibility for services, and build a plan that cares for your child long after you’re gone. Mike shares: Why families delay (and how to start in 15 minutes). Your financial life isn’t a mess—it’s a junk drawer. Mike’s free “Living Balance Sheet” tool turns scattered accounts into a single snapshot and scorecard so you know what is and what’s possible.Benefits without the gotchas. The big rule of thumb: assets over $2,000 in your child’s name can jeopardize SSI/Medicaid. How third-party Special Needs Trusts preserve benefits, and when an ABLE account (tax-advantaged, spendable for qualified needs) makes sense—plus the key difference on what happens to leftover funds.Funding the future (without wrecking today). Why many families combine term and permanent life insurance to ultimately fund a Special Needs Trust—while using riders and disability coverage to protect income now.Hope for the best, plan for the rest. Build a team—financial pro, special-needs attorney, and benefits optimizer—so you protect today, plan for tomorrow, and avoid painful “do-overs.”Cash-flow judo. Most households leak money in invisible ways. Mike shows how to capture “found dollars” to fund protection and long-term goals without lowering your lifestyle.Quote to tape on the fridge: “Something is worth what it can do for you—not the price you pay.” Whether your child is 3 or 33, Mike’s message lands: get organized, protect eligibility, and set up funding so your child—and your whole family—can live a life without compromise. 👤 About Mike Ringel For over 20 years, Mike has helped families with complex-needs children protect, grow, and enjoy their wealth—planning for two lifetimes while preserving access to vital services. He coordinates with attorneys and benefits specialists to quarterback a clear, compassionate plan. 🔗 Connect with Mike Website: mikeringel.com Email: mringel43@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikeringel/ 🧰 Get the Free Tool Mike mentioned: Ask Mike for access to the Living Balance Sheet to create your 15-minute snapshot and scorecard, then decide your next best step. #ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #SpecialNeedsPlanning #SpecialNeedsTrust #ABLEAccount #SSI #Medicaid #IEPParents #TwoLifetimesPlanning #ParentAdvocacy #CaregiverFinance

    29 min
  6. MegAnne Ford — From “Be Better” to Feel Better: Parenting Complex Kids with CLEAR Connection

    NOV 10

    MegAnne Ford — From “Be Better” to Feel Better: Parenting Complex Kids with CLEAR Connection

    Send us a text In this conversation, Michelle sits down with parent coach MegAnne Ford to flip the old script—away from forcing kids to fit our vision and toward building skills, safety, and connection so families actually feel better day to day. MegAnne shares: Why control backfires. Traditional “make them comply” tactics widen the gap; centering the child’s needs helps the message land. The CLEAR method (her 5-step roadmap). Connection → Limits → Empowerment → Accountability → Recovery—so consequences teach with dignity, not shame. Behavior = a nervous system message. Nonverbals shout louder than words; listen, mirror, validate before you problem-solve. Grief and the pivot. When diagnoses or differences rewrite your plan, community shortens the lonely middle. Connection is the superpower. Online cohorts that become real-life support—through IEP seasons, moves, meltdowns, and milestones. Quote to tape on the fridge: “You’re enough. Let people come in and love on you.” Whether you’re navigating autism, ADHD, anxiety, or big feelings that don’t fit a checklist, MegAnne’s message is simple: connection before correction—and repeat it with CLEAR steps until home feels safer for everyone. 👤 About MegAnne Ford A Richmond-based parent coach and founder of Be Kind Coaching, MegAnne helps caregivers build regulation, boundaries, and resilient relationships through education and group coaching. 🔗 Connect with MegAnne Website: bekindcoaching.com Instagram: @meganne.ford Email: meganne@bekindcoaching.com #ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #ParentCoaching #ConnectionBeforeCorrection #TraumaInformed #Neurodiversity #EmotionalRegulation #CommunityCare #GentleParenting

    34 min
  7. Sharon Dunlevy — Trauma-Wise Parenting for Foster (and All) Families

    NOV 3

    Sharon Dunlevy — Trauma-Wise Parenting for Foster (and All) Families

    Send us a text In this conversation, Michelle sits down with educational advocate Sharon Dunlevy to demystify foster-care realities—what licensing really takes, why trauma shows up like “behavior,” and how schools can (and should) support healing with the right plans and people. Sharon shares: What becoming a foster parent actually requires. Background checks, home studies, annual license renewals, and 20–40 hours of new training each year—with CPR/First Aid often required in addition (and, in states like Indiana, not counting toward those hours). IEPs for emotions are real. Trauma can look like ADHD or withdrawal. Under IDEA, kids may qualify via Emotional Disturbance or Other Health Impairment—and supports must match needs, not labels. Why online “school” isn’t a fix. Post-COVID, many kids were pushed to virtual programs for behavior; most don’t learn there. Trauma-aware classrooms plus in-person connection beat isolation every time. Brains can heal. Safety, attachment, and repeated positive experiences rewire neural pathways; caregivers can coach “big feelings” into words and regulation without shame. Caregiver burnout is common—grace is required. Secondary trauma is real. Use respite, therapy, and boundaries. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Quote to tape on the fridge: “Listen first. Behavior is a message—decode it before you correct it.” Whether you’re a foster parent, kinship caregiver, or raising a complex kid, Sharon’s message is simple: steady relationships plus trauma-informed supports turn survival skills into school success. 👤 About Sharon Dunlevy Sharon is an educational advocate who trains foster parents to navigate schools, secure trauma-aware services, and use IDEA/504 tools to protect kids’ learning. 🔗 Connect with Sharon Website: www.sharondunlevy.com Email: sharon@sharondunlevy.com Facebook: fostercaretrainingtoday Instagram: @sharondunlevy72 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sharondunlevy #ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #FosterCare #TraumaInformed #ParentBurnout #IEP #504Plan #SchoolAdvocacy #Attachment #Neuroplasticity

    35 min
  8. Constance Lewis — Miles & the Colorful Capes of Feelings

    OCT 27

    Constance Lewis — Miles & the Colorful Capes of Feelings

    Send us a text In this conversation, Michelle sits down with nurse practitioner and mom-author Constance Lewis to share the story behind Miles and the Colorful Capes of Feelings—a playful, powerful system that helps kids name big emotions using color, costume, and connection. Constance shares: A family’s turning point. When her son Miles developed seizures at age four, words became hard—so the family created color-coded “capes” to show feelings when speech couldn’t. Why play works when words won’t. Stomping like a dinosaur, “angry chalk,” music & movement—simple body-based tools regulate nervous systems and make emotions less scary. Colors as a common language. Brave, silly, nervous, mad, cheerful—kids pick the color that fits, then “wear” that feeling so caregivers can meet the need without guesswork. Inclusion on every page. Friends with autism and seizure disorders appear throughout the story, modeling empathy, peer support, and everyday accessibility. From meltdown to meaning. Emotions are information, not misbehavior; curiosity (“What happened before this?”) beats shame—at home, in clinics, and at school. Quote to tape on the fridge: “Get curious, not furious. When kids ‘act out,’ they’re telling us what their bodies can’t yet say.” Whether your child is neurotypical or a complex kid navigating seizures, ADHD, or sensory needs, Constance’s message is simple: make feelings visible, practice them playfully, and kids grow emotionally resilient. 👤 About Constance Lewis Constance is a nurse practitioner and mother of three. Her debut children’s book, Miles and the Colorful Capes of Feelings, turns emotional literacy into a hands-on adventure for families and classrooms. 🔗 Connect with Constance & the book Website: colorfulcapesoffeelings.com Email: cllwomenshealthnp@gmail.com Instagram: @colorful_feelings.books #ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #EmotionalRegulation #Neurodiversity #ParentingTools #SeizureAwareness #FeelingsEducation #Inclusion

    29 min
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About

Complex Kid, Simple Solutions is the go-to podcast for parents raising neurodivergent and medically complex kids. Hosted by Michelle Choairy, a seasoned advocate and mom of a complex child, this podcast delivers clear, actionable strategies to help you navigate the chaos with confidence. Each episode breaks down overwhelming challenges into simple, practical solutions—whether it’s advocating for your child, navigating the school system, or finding the right support team. You’ll hear expert insights, real-life stories, and empowering advice to help you become your child’s best advocate while keeping your own sanity intact. Because raising a complex kid is hard—but finding solutions doesn’t have to be. 🎧 Subscribe now and start turning challenges into victories!

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Choairy
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Complex Kids, Simple Solutions
  • Show Website
    Complex Kids, Simple Solutions