Avni Panchal’s mission is to help people overcome the feeling of being an “imposter,” in both their personal and professional lives. Avni wants to support people in breaking free from the limitations that prevent them from reaching their true potential.

Avni is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in mental health as a social worker, therapist, trainer and coach. As an Empowerment Coach, Avni specializes in assisting South Asians, and other individuals, who find themselves navigating multiple cultures.

Together we discuss the external and internal pressures faced by youth in South Asian culture when choosing a professional path, particularly in engineering and medicine. We explore the stigmas surrounding mental health in various cultures, including South Asian culture, and emphasize the importance of de-stigmatizing mental health and normalizing conversations about it. Avni mentioned the importance of following one's interests and doing something well, rather than conforming to societal expectations. We also discuss the challenges of self-doubt and limiting beliefs faced by moms, and the importance of recognizing and validating these feelings.

Today’s episode includes a discussion of the following topics:

• Navigating cultural expectations in career choices.

• Immigrant pressure, identity, and career choices.

• Career choices, self-doubt, and trusting intuition.

• Mental health stigmas in different cultures, with a focus on de-stigmatization and normalization.

• Combating self-doubt and limiting beliefs for moms.

• Self-doubt and self-care for moms, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing oneself for the sake of resilience

• Motherhood, self-love, and unlearning for moms.

Episode Notes and Resources:

Avni Panchal’s Website: https://www.theindiancounselor.com/

Avni’s private practice for therapy: https://strengthandselflove.com/

Avni’s article for Medium titled, “Three Ways for BIPOC Individuals to Combat Self Doubt and Recognize Their Worth” https://medium.com/therapists-in-tech/three-ways-for-bipoc-individuals-to-combat-self-doubt-and-recognize-their-worth-b89bb04d815a

Support Mama Needs a Moment! Become a patron through our Mama Needs a Moment Patreon.

This episode complements Ep.110 and is the second part of our Roundtable discussion with several of our experts from our Provider Directory. The experts are exploring how to deal with Learning, Social, and Behavioral Struggles of Children (from both a neurotypical and neurodiverse lens).

The speakers discuss collaborative care and working with professionals from different industries to provide a holistic model of care for neurodiverse children. They emphasize the importance of early evaluations and diagnoses for developmental delays and ADHD in preschool children, and highlight the role of private practitioners in providing clinical diagnoses and educational classifications. The speakers also discuss the importance of feeding therapy and early intervention, and emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach that considers various factors, including speech, language, and sensory needs.

This HER Health Collective Roundtable features the following HER Provider Directory Experts:

• Dr. Emily King, Learn with Dr. Emily - Child Psychologist

• Kelly Smedley, MSN, PMHCNS-BC, PMH-C, Waypoint Counseling - Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist

• Kerry Lett, MPH, RDN, LDN, CLC, Milestones Pediatric & Maternal Nutrition - Registered Dietitian

• Dr. Priscilla Hidalgo, Lux Psychiatry - Psychiatrist

• Rebecca Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP, ACT Therapy Services - Speech Language Pathologist

• Sarah Parise, CPT, Great Days by Sarah - Wellness Specialist

To connect with any of our experts, please go to our ⁠website directory⁠.

For more episodes on neurodiversity and/or supporting behavior struggles, please listen to the following episodes: 110, 108, 107, 102, 45, 33, 6.

Today’s episode includes a discussion of the following topics:

• Addressing social and behavioral struggles in children from neurotypical and neurodiverse perspectives.

• Wellness, mental health, and nutrition for moms and kids.

• Evaluations for autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities in children.

• Early childhood development and evaluation for ADHD.

• Child-led therapy and self-care for parents of neurodivergent children.

• Managing guilt and setting boundaries for moms of neurotypical and neurodivergent children.

Episode Resources:

• Dr. Emily King - https://www.learnwithdremily.com/

• Kelly Smedley - https://www.waypointcounselingnc.com/

• Kerry Lett - https://www.milestonesnutrition.com/

• Dr. Priscilla Hidalgo - https://www.luxpsychiatry.com/

• Rebecca Rowe- https://acttherapyservices.com/

• Sarah Parise - https://www.greatdaysbysarah.com/

Support Mama Needs a Moment! Become a patron through our Mama Needs a Moment ⁠Patreon⁠.

HER Circle by HER Health Collective

Several of our experts from our Provider Directory have come together in our second Roundtable discussion of 2024. We are exploring how to deal with Learning, Social, and Behavioral Struggles of Children (from both a neurotypical and neurodiverse lens).

Experts in this Roundtable discussed supporting neurodiverse children's social, behavioral, and emotional development. They emphasized understanding unique needs, nurturing resilience, and collaborating across industries. Speakers shared practical strategies for addressing challenges such as frustration tolerance, impulse control, and sensory overwhelm, and highlighted the importance of nutrition and movement in education. They also discussed collaborating with teachers and addressing behavioral differences between home and school, and acknowledged the role of anxiety in children's development.

This HER Health Collective Roundtable features the following HER Provider Directory Experts:

• Dr. Emily King, Learn with Dr. Emily - Child Psychologist

• Kelly Smedley, MSN, PMHCNS-BC, PMH-C, Waypoint Counseling - Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist

• Kerry Lett, MPH, RDN, LDN, CLC, Milestones Pediatric & Maternal Nutrition - Registered Dietitian

• Dr. Priscilla Hidalgo, Lux Psychiatry - Psychiatrist

• Rebecca Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP, ACT Therapy Services - Speech Language Pathologist

• Sarah Parise, CPT, Great Days by Sarah - Wellness Specialist

To connect with any of our experts, please go to our ⁠website directory⁠. For more episodes on neurodiversity and/or supporting behavior struggles, please listen to episodes 108, 107, 102, 45, 33, 6.

Today’s episode includes a discussion of the following topics:

• Dealing with learning social and behavioral struggles in children from neurotypical and neurodiverse perspectives.

• Parenting, education, and mental health with experts.

• Understanding and addressing behavioral differences between home and school settings.

• Supporting children with anxiety in school.

• Parenting, homework, and testing anxiety in children.

• Nutrition and mealtime challenges for neurodiverse children, including sugar cravings and meal planning strategies.

• Importance of movement and exercise for children's physical and mental health, with suggestions for incorporating movement into daily life.

Episode Resources:

• Dr. Emily King - https://www.learnwithdremily.com/

• Kelly Smedley - https://www.waypointcounselingnc.com/

• Kerry Lett - https://www.milestonesnutrition.com/

• Dr. Priscilla Hidalgo - https://www.luxpsychiatry.com/

• Rebecca Rowe- https://acttherapyservices.com/

• Sarah Parise - https://www.greatdaysbysarah.com/

Support Mama Needs a Moment! Become a patron through our Mama Needs a Moment ⁠Patreon⁠.

HER Circle by HER Health Collective

Let’s talk parenting, conflict resolution and teens! Karleen Savage is a TEDx speaker, certified in hostage and crisis negotiation and a seasoned parent who stands at the forefront of empowering parents to instill confidence in their teens. With more than four decades of hands-on experience parenting seven unique children, Karleen has honed her skills in navigating the complexities of raising confident and resilient individuals and has documented her approach in her new book, The Confident Teen Blueprint: A Parent’s 30-Day Challenge to Empower Your Teen.

As the creator of the Savage Theory of Resolution®, a five-skill model that can be used to resolve any conflict, Karleen knows that peaceful and amicable resolution is possible. Karleen has been featured on MSNBC for her knowledge in hostage negotiation. She holds a Masters in Conflict Resolution &

Negotiations, and is a certified hostage and crisis negotiator. She has been married for more than 30 years and lives in Utah with her family.

We discuss insights on parenting, highlighting the importance of raising resilient and confident children who can navigate challenges and mistakes without relying on external validation. We also talk about various strategies for fostering independence, self-esteem, and the ability to make mistakes without fear of judgment.

Today’s episode includes a discussion of the following topics:

• Trust, listening, and conflict resolution with a certified hostage negotiator.

• Hostage negotiation techniques and parenting strategies.

• Using mediation to resolve conflicts between children.

• Conflict resolution and the importance of curiosity and a positive attitude.

• Effective communication strategies for resolving conflicts.

• Parenting strategies for teens, including active listening and setting clear expectations.

• Parenting and building resilient children.

• Raising resilient kids through unconventional parenting methods.

Episode Notes and Resources:

Karleen Savage’s Website: https://www.karleensavage.com/

Karleen’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Confident-Teen-Blueprint-parents-challenge/dp/B0CRD71YDN

Support Mama Needs a Moment! Become a patron through our Mama Needs a Moment Patreon.

This is a continuation of our discussion with Dr. Emily King. It is a perfect episode on its own or pairs beautifully with the previous episode (107)! Moms, if you think that you may need to get your child evaluated or get personalized support in school, this episode will be helpful!

Dr. Emily King has spent the last 20 years working with neurodivergent children and teens along with their families and teachers in schools and private practice. She has been on both sides of the IEP and 504 meeting tables, first as a school psychologist and then as a parent. She knows the feeling of thinking you are out of ideas to support your child, which inspired her to help parents and educators beyond her therapy practice with online parent workshops and professional development trainings for teachers.

This episode’s conversation centered around the complexities of neurodiversity in children, including differences between boys and girls, and the importance of addressing concerns about children's development. Dr. Emily emphasized the need for involvement from teachers, understanding the differences between medical and psychological evaluations, and addressing anxiety in neurodiverse children. We also discussed the complexities of gender and neurodiversity in children, highlighting the need to unlearn societal expectations and prioritize individual happiness and connection.

• Neurodiversity in children, gender differences, and mental health.

• How parents can identify and address concerns about their child's learning and development.

• Evaluating children's cognitive and social abilities in school.

• Supporting children with learning differences, including therapeutic and joyful activities outside of school.

• Gender differences in child development.

Episode Notes and Resources:

Dr. Emily’s Website and access to her course: https://www.learnwithdremily.com/

Dr. Emily’s Blog and Podcast: https://www.learnwithdremily.com/media

HER Circle: https://www.herhealthcollective.com/membership

Support Mama Needs a Moment! Become a patron through our Mama Needs a Moment Patreon.

Moms and teachers with neurodivergent kiddos, this episode is for you! Dr. Emily King has spent the last 20 years working with neurodivergent children and teens along with their families and teachers in schools and private practice.

She has been on both sides of the IEP and 504 meeting tables, first as a school psychologist and then as a parent. She knows the feeling of thinking you are out of ideas to support your child, which inspired her to help parents and educators beyond her therapy practice with online parent workshops and professional development trainings for teachers.

In our discussion, Dr. Emily emphasized understanding each child's unique needs, creating a supportive environment, and challenging traditional expectations in education. We went on to discuss the importance in developing a comprehensive understanding of children's skills and challenges. We highlighted the importance of adapting education to meet the unique needs of neurodivergent children, including more flexibility within general education classrooms and personalized learning approaches.

• Supporting neurodivergent children and teens with Dr. Emily King.

• Parenting neurodivergent kids, course for newly diagnosed parents.

• Parenting and education for neurodivergent children.

• Parenting strategies for children with developmental delays.

• Parenting a neurodivergent child, self-care practices for parents.

• Parenting strategies for addressing children's emotional questions at night.

• Adapting educational system for neurodiverse students.

• Homework challenges for neurodivergent children and alternative approaches to support independent learning.

• US education system challenges and potential solutions, including teacher support and flexible learning options.

• Special education, IEPs, and navigating school systems.

Episode Notes and Resources:

Dr. Emily’s Website and access to her course: https://www.learnwithdremily.com/

Dr. Emily’s Blog and Podcast: https://www.learnwithdremily.com/media

HER Circle: https://www.herhealthcollective.com/membership

Support Mama Needs a Moment! Become a patron through our Mama Needs a Moment Patreon.

Our MOM CHAT episodes are something special! For this chat, we are joined by two of our cherished HER Circle members Barbara (a registered drama therapist) and Sarah (a high school art teacher). We discuss the topic of creativity in both adults and children. The conversation centered around the challenges of losing creativity in adulthood and the importance of fostering creativity in children.

What if moms recorded their conversations when they got together? There’s something wonderful about having casual conversations on a specific topic when out to dinner, having coffee, drinking wine or on a walk with other moms. We wanted to capture these conversations and share them with you. In this episode and once a month going forward, we will be joined by some of our HER Circle members (HER Circle is the mom community created by HER Health Collective) for special episodes called, Mom Chats.

• Why adult creativity declines with age and parenthood.

• Creativity and its various forms, including jamming out to music, laying in fields, and spending time with kids.

• Embracing creativity, letting go of perfectionism, and fostering a growth mindset in art classes.

• Incorporating creativity into daily life through various activities.

• Creativity boosters for busy parents, including art kits, music, and nature.

• Embracing creativity and play for children, with tips for parents to encourage imagination and reduce stress.

• Creative ways to display children's artwork in the home.

Episode Notes and Resources:

HER Circle: https://www.herhealthcollective.com/membership

Action Items:

[ ] Look for adult art/craft kits to make creativity easy

[ ] Prioritize play and creativity over chores by making memories

[ ] Consider creative storage solutions for children's art like photos, framing, magnet walls

[ ] Reconnect with your own creativity by remembering childhood activities

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We are sharing the second part of our conversation with Ruth Klein who has an impressive list of accomplishments. She is an author and founder of the nonprofit Universal Mom, which aims to help children and teens uncover their talents through the art of writing. Ruth has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Psychology with an emphasis on Health, Consciousness and Healing. She is passionate about helping youth reach their full potential by believing in themselves.

Prior to starting Universal Mom, Ruth led the nonprofit Self Esteem Council for 22 years, which focused on going into high schools to work with sophomores and juniors to help them change their perceptions of their lives and increase their self-esteem & confidence. Ruth is the author of 7 best-selling books. Her eighth and most recent book is titled “Conscious Connection.”

In the second part of our discussion with Ruth, we talk to her about:

• Parenting, connection, and legacy - the invisible thread.

• Empowering children through valuing their gifts and talents, and role modeling charitable behavior.

• The importance of sharing stories and listening to your children without negating their viewpoint.

• Identifying and utilizing learning styles, particularly kinesthetic, auditory, and visual, for personal growth and entrepreneurship.

• Anxiety in kids and teens, with tips for parents and mentors.

• Parenting, relationships, and legacy with a focus on building connections with children.

Episode Notes and Resources:

Enjoy a complimentary parenting discovery session with Ruth! You can book an appointment using this link:

https://calendly.com/ruthklein/chat-with-ruth-30-min

Universal Mom - ​​https://universalmom.org/

Ruth Klein - https://ruthklein.com/

Ruth’s Books - https://ruthklein.com/books/

HER Circle: https://www.herhealthcollective.com/membership

Support Mama Needs a Moment! Become a patron through our Mama Needs a Moment Patreon.