Did you know that 90% of your child’s serotonin—the "feel-good" neurotransmitter—is actually made in their gut, not their brain?

In this episode of Kids These Days, Dr. Courtney sits down with functional and integrative medicine expert Dr. Laura Vanston to demystify the "gut-brain connection." We often think of anxiety as a "head problem," but Dr. Laura explains why it is a bi-directional highway. When the gut is inflamed or the microbiome is out of balance, it sends distress signals straight to the nervous system, often keeping our kids (and ourselves) stuck in a state of "fight or flight."

In this episode, we discuss:

1. The Bi-Directional Highway: How the brain talks to the gut (butterflies!) and how the gut talks back to the brain.
2. The Serotonin Secret: Why gut health is the foundation for mood, focus, and anxiety regulation.
3. P.O.P (Plants On Purpose): Simple, non-overwhelming ways to add fiber and "rainbows" to even the pickiest eater’s diet.
4. The Vagus Nerve & Breathwork: Why slowing down our breathing is the "off-switch" for the sympathetic nervous system and how it allows the gut to actually heal.
5. Beyond the Multivitamin: The specific roles of Vitamin D, Iron (Ferritin), Zinc, and Magnesium in supporting a child’s emotional stability.
6. Practical "Micro-Shifts": From fermented ketchup to "stair breathing," we explore tools that work for real, busy families.

If you’ve ever wondered why your child’s "nervous stomach" seems to coincide with their biggest meltdowns, this episode will give you the physiological "why" and a roadmap for repair.

About Our Guest: Dr. Laura Vanston is an integrative pediatric nurse practitioner who has dedicated her career to helping parents navigate health and wellness for their kids. She loves helping kids improve gut health and their gut-brain connection to help learning, their immune system, sleep, and more!

Links & Resources:

1. Fermented Ketchup Recipe: Download here!
2. Integrative Health: Dr. Laura mentions Tiny Health for individualized gut mapping. Check out her website for more info!
3. Newsletter: Sign up for the Kids These Days Newsletter for parenting tips.
4. Instagram: Follow @integratedbh for more on the Internal U-Turn and the Gut-Brain connection.
5. Website: Learn more about our specialized services at www.integratedbhs.com.

#KidsTheseDays...

“I’m stupid.” “I’m going to fail.” “If I don't get an A, I'll never get into college.”

As parents, hearing our children engage in negative self-talk can trigger our own "Internal Critic." We feel the urgency to fix it, to argue against it, or to problem-solve the pain away. But what if our "fix-it" mode is actually closing the door on connection?

In this episode of Kids These Days, Dr. Courtney sits down with Dr. Kathleen Diaz to define what negative self-talk actually is—and why "unhelpful self-talk" might be a more effective term. We dive deep into the experience of the inner critic, exploring why children and teens ruminate and how their behaviors—like defiance or withdrawal—are often communicating the disappointment they can't yet put into words.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. The Problem-Solving Trap: Why "normalizing" or "investigating" a child’s failure can accidentally lead to invalidation.
2. Behavior as Communication: How to spot the inner critic in teens who aren't speaking their thoughts out loud.
3. The Parent’s Internal U-Turn: What to do when your child’s struggle triggers your own fears of not being a "good enough" parent.
4. The Power of Repair: How to move back into your "Smart Brain" (Prefrontal Cortex) and fix a conversation when you’ve reacted from a place of fear or dysregulation.
5. Precision over Frequency: How to communicate expectations in a way that builds a "Secure Base" rather than a "Manager" dynamic.

Whether you are navigating an elementary schooler’s math meltdowns or a teen’s high-stakes anxiety, this episode provides a roadmap for moving from "investigator" to "vessel of support" through curiosity and radical accountability.

About Our Guest: Dr. Kathleen Diaz is a licensed therapist specializing in child and adolescent mental health, focusing on evidence-based strategies to help families navigate emotional regulation and the complex inner dialogue of the modern student.

Links & Resources:

1. Newsletter: Sign up for the Kids These Days Newsletter for monthly parenting tips and practice resources.
2. Podcast Library: Catch up on previous episodes of Kids These Days.
3. Instagram: Follow @integratedbh for daily reflections and the messy middle of parenting.
4. Website: Learn more about our specialized evaluations and therapy services at www.integratedbhs.com.
5. Dr. Kathleen's Bio

Legal Disclaimer:

Navigating the school system can feel like learning a foreign language. Between IEPs, 504 plans, MTSS, and specialized educational jargon, parents often find themselves overwhelmed and unsure of how to get their child the support they actually need.

In this episode, Dr. Courtney is joined by Rachel Schopp, a K-12 veteran, former administrator, and educational consultant. Rachel acts as a "translator" for families, helping them cut through the noise and move from guessing to becoming informed, powerful advocates.

If you’ve ever wondered if your child’s ADHD or anxiety warrants a formal plan, or if you’ve been told "the school is already doing everything they would do in an IEP," this episode is for you.

1. The "Environment vs. Curriculum" Rule: Rachel’s simple framework for distinguishing a 504 Plan (environmental accommodations) from an IEP (individualized instruction and curriculum changes).
2. Civil Rights vs. Education Law: Why a 504 is a lifelong protection and an IEP is a legally binding educational mandate.
3. The "MTSS" Trap: Why "informal" supports aren't enough and how to respond when a school says a formal plan isn't necessary.
4. The Power of the Paper Trail: Why "if it isn't in an email, it didn't happen" and how the clock starts the moment you hit send.
5. Collaboration over Confrontation: How to draft a "Soft Startup" email to your child's teacher that assumes positive intent while holding firm boundaries.
6. The Intuition Factor: Learning to trust your gut as the expert on your child, especially when "school performance" doesn't match the struggle you see at home.
7. A Tool, Not a Label: Reframing special education as a temporary scaffold to build self-advocacy skills, rather than a lifetime commitment.

1. Work with Rachel: Find resources and advocacy support at Allied Education.
2. School Visit Questionnaire: Going on school tours and having a clear plan on which questions to ask, will empower you with the information you need to make the best school choice for your child and your family! Check it out.
3. The Co-Parenting U-Turn Workbook: If school stress is triggering conflict in your marriage, download our roadmap to break the cycle here.
4. Book a Consultation: If you are seeking a neuropsychological evaluation (ADHD, Autism, or Learning Disabilities) to support your child’s school advocacy, book a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation with our team at