If your child has been diagnosed with PANS or PANDAS, you may have noticed sudden changes in their self-esteem. A once confident, happy child may now express feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or self-doubt. They might suddenly feel like they’re “bad” or “broken,” struggle to engage with friends, or withdraw from activities they once loved.

As a parent, this shift can be alarming. You may wonder, “Is this just part of the condition? Will it pass? How can I help?” The good news is that there are ways to support your child through these emotional struggles. Let’s explore why this happens and what you can do about it.

If your child has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), you may have noticed that their symptoms sometimes mimic or trigger panic attacks. A racing heart, dizziness, and shortness of breath can feel overwhelming—both for your child and for you as a parent. While panic attacks can be frightening, there are concrete ways you can help your child regain a sense of calm and control.

As a parent, you may have noticed that your child's tics seem to worsen after long periods of screen time. Whether they’re watching TV, playing video games, or scrolling on a tablet, screen exposure can sometimes make tics more frequent or intense. But why does this happen, and what can you do about it? Let’s explore the connection between screen time and tics and how you can help your child find balance.

If your child has been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), you’re likely juggling a whirlwind of symptoms, medical appointments, and lifestyle adjustments. POTS is more than just feeling dizzy when standing—it’s a complex autonomic nervous system disorder that affects heart rate, blood pressure, and circulation. Beyond the physical challenges, children with POTS often struggle with anxiety, depression, and identity shifts that impact their emotional well-being.

If your child or teen has been struggling with tics, you may feel overwhelmed, unsure of what to do next, or worried about how tics might impact their daily life. You’re not alone—many parents feel the same way. Fortunately, there’s an effective, research-backed therapy that can help: Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT).

As a pediatric psychologist specializing in neurology, I often hear from parents who feel overwhelmed by the role screens play in their little one’s life. With so much conflicting advice online, it’s hard to know what’s best. The truth is, screen time isn’t inherently bad—but for babies, real-world interaction is far more beneficial.

Here’s what the research says and how you can create a healthy digital balance for your baby.

Picky eating isn’t just a phase for toddlers—many teens struggle with food variety, texture sensitivities, or anxiety around eating. For some, especially neurodivergent teens (such as those with autism or ADHD), food can feel overwhelming, and the pressure to “just eat what everyone else is eating” only makes it worse.

If your teen is resistant to trying new foods, avoids entire food groups, or struggles with texture aversions, you’re not alone. The good news? You can support them without battles, guilt, or frustration.

Here’s how to approach food in a way that respects your teen’s autonomy while creating a positive food environment—and some helpful resources to guide the way!

Picky eating doesn’t always end in the toddler years. Many school-aged kids continue to struggle with trying new foods, eating a variety, or tolerating certain textures—and for some neurodivergent children (such as those with autism or ADHD), picky eating can be even more pronounced.

The good news? You don’t need power struggles or bribery to help your child expand their eating habits. Instead, focusing on trust, exploration, and positive mealtime experiences can make all the difference.

Let’s explore why picky eating happens in school-aged kids, what parents can do to create a positive food environment, and some must-have resources to support you along the way!

Immigration policies and enforcement impact communities in deep and personal ways. In many areas, including our own, families—documented and undocumented alike—are experiencing fear, uncertainty, and disruption. Even children who are not personally at risk are noticing changes: classmates who suddenly stop coming to school, parents who seem more stressed, and neighbors who are no longer showing up for work.

I will never forget when, as a child, California Prop 180 made waves in California. Suddenly, in my little country school in the middle of rural Madera County, went alight with terror. Many of my friends and friend’s families were undocumented. Some of the staff were undocumented. One of my core childhood memories is that day when they all didn’t show up—I felt confused and terrified for my friends and beloved families. I could only imagine what they might be feeling. No one stopped to tell me what was going on which left me confused and scared.

As adults, it’s our responsibility to help children understand what’s happening in a developmentally appropriate way—with honesty, without fear-mongering, and with deep compassion for those affected.

This guide will help you navigate these conversations, whether you’re talking to the child of an undocumented parent or a child who wants to understand what’s happening in their community.

If you have a little one who’s selective about food, you’re not alone! Many young children (ages 2-6) go through a picky eating phase, and for neurodivergent kids (such as those with autism or sensory sensitivities), this stage can last even longer.

The good news? You don’t have to battle at the dinner table. By creating a low-pressure environment and using gentle, child-led strategies, you can help your child feel safe around food and even excited to try new things.

Let’s dive into simple ways to support young children with picky eating—plus some fantastic books and resources to help along the way!

If you’re raising a neurodivergent child—whether they have autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, or other conditions—you’ve probably dealt with what others may describe as picky eating. Maybe your child has a limited list of "safe foods," refuses anything green, or struggles with certain textures.

And let’s be honest—mealtimes can get stressful. You want your child to eat a variety of foods and get proper nutrition, but every new food attempt ends in frustration (or a meltdown). For children like ours it goes beyond just “healthy lifestyles” and goes straight to “will my child be able to live an independent and healthy life?” Maybe they are severely constipated and you are worried about an impacted bowel yet they won’t touch the fiber they need? Maybe you are terrified they are going to end up with yet another chronic illness like type 2 diabetes but they only eat highly refined carbohydrates?

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to battle your child over food. With the right approach, you can create a positive, low-pressure mealtime environment where your child feels safe exploring new foods—on their own terms.

When your child has a medical condition, neurodiversity, or special needs, it’s natural to want the support of extended family. But what happens when well-meaning relatives just don’t get it?

Maybe a grandparent insists, “She just needs more discipline,” or an aunt says, “He’ll grow out of it.” Perhaps family members downplay your child’s diagnosis, push unhelpful advice, or resist making accommodations when you visit. Maybe you had an experience like I did? Even though 15 years prior to having my son I worked with special needs children AND had a brother on the spectrum I still listened to family members input on my son’s struggles. In my postpartum haze I started to question if my hunch he was on the spectrum was incorrect—I started to feel guilty and internalize the messaging that I was doing motherhood wrong.

“He’s fine”

“Why rush? Children develop at different rates.”

“Have you tried reading him books?”

“It’s almost like you WANT him to be autistic”

Or the best one…”Maybe you just have postpartum depression and aren’t talking to him enough”

That last one stung because I DID have postpartum depression! It seemed to confirm my deepest fear I was failing at being a mother. After hearing that off-hand remark I ignored my gut and waited for testing until the signs were way too obvious and I felt more capable. We went through a lot of testing during the pandemic with mixed results. Of course, when I got a comprehensive evaluation it turned out (like most parents with that feeling) I was correct.

These moments can be frustrating, invalidating, and exhausting. But here’s the good news: You can set loving but firm boundaries to protect your child and your own peace of mind. Let’s talk about how to do that.

When a child is diagnosed with a medical condition, the entire family feels the impact—including siblings. As a pediatric psychologist, I’ve seen firsthand how a diagnosis like epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, cancer, or a tic disorder can bring up big emotions in brothers and sisters. I, myself, am a sister of a brother who went through cancer! It can be complex and tricky to talk to the non-complex sibling in a way they will truly understand. They might feel confused, scared, left out, or even jealous of the extra attention their sibling is receiving. The mixed emotions of fear (because they love their sibling) and jealousy (because they feel left out) leave many siblings suffering in silence.

If you have a child with a disability or medical condition that impacts their ability to learn, you may have heard about IEPs and 504 plans. These are essential tools to ensure children get the support they need in school, but the differences between them can be confusing.

As a pediatric psychologist specializing in neurodiverse and medically complex children, I work closely with families navigating these educational plans. My goal is to break down the differences in a way that feels clear, empowering, and actionable—so you know exactly how to advocate for your child.