Mattering as a Core Need: Interview with Gordon L. Flett, PhD
In this podcast, I talked with Dr Gordon Flett about the psychology of mattering, a topic in which he has been a leader in the field. Mattering is a core component of one's self concept which refers to a genral sense of being significant, and valued in our relationships. A felt sense of mattering is a strongly protective factor against a variety stressors. Conversely, the absence of mattering has been associated with depression and suicidal ideation. A sense of mattering becomes especially relevant during the adolescent years as fitting in with peers becomes so important The importance of mattering is an idea that immediately resonates with many people and is the theme in movies such as It's a Wonderful Life and Mr Holland's Opus. Unfortunately, in keeping with the crisis in youth mental health, survey data suggest that about 30% of adolescents do not feel or are not certain that they matter to anyone. So this is obviously an important topic for us to consider Dr Flett has written two books on the psychology of Mattering: Mattering As A CORE Need in Children and Adolescents and The Psychology of Mattering: Understanding the Human Need to be Significant In an earlier podcast on 9/13/22, I also talked to Dr Flett about his book he coauthored with Paul Hewitt Perfectionism in Childhood and Adolescence: A Developmental Approach The Mattering Movement website is an excellent source of information https://www.thematteringmovement.com/ see also https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/27/well/mind/mental-health-mattering-self-esteem.html
--------
58:55
Mindfulness-Based Movement Program for Calm and Anxiety: Interview with Lisa Danahy
Lisa Danahy is a registered yoga therapist who recently published Creating Calm in Your Classroom: A Mindfulness-Based Movement Program for Social-Emotional Learning in Early Childhood Education. She also directs www.CreateCalm.org a nonprofit organization dedicated to educational programming for schools, teachers, children and special populations. Although her book is focused on the classroom, it is actually quite appropriate for families and health care professionals. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the energy level of the child in front of you and what their body may need in order to function optimally. In her book, she has a series of movement exercises appropriate to the different energy levels a child may show especially around transitions. In the interview, we talk movement/breathing exercises appropriate for a child who is afraid of throwing up and has just gone to the nurses office and several other situations. Her book can be found at https://amzn.to/4jOI4W1 The movement exercises discussed in the podcast can be seen in at https://youtu.be/h2IxJNuzuDc
--------
46:20
Lessons From Infancy: Interview with Claudia Gold, MD
Claudia Gold, M.D. is a developmental pediatrician who has just published her fifth book Getting to Know You: Lessons in Early Relational Health From Infants and Caregivers. She has previously been on this podcast when we talked about her book The Developmental Science of Early Childhood (2017). Dr Gold discusses how early infant-caregiver relationship serve as a prototype for all the relationships that follow. She talks about the importance of just observing your infant and that relationships are always messy. As a pediatrician she is well versed in practical advice, however in this interview and in her book she talks about what do when nothing seems to work. She illustrates how taking a stance of "not knowing" can often help relationship heal and move on
--------
49:42
Helping Anxious Child with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Interview with Anna Scetinina, MACP, RP
Anna Scetinina, MACP, RP is a psychotherapist in Toronto, ON Canada who has just written A Workbook for Kids Who Worry: 50 Ways to Stand Up To Worry. She is also an award-winning professional artist whose pictures delightfully illustrate the ideas in the workbook She discusses how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be used to help anxious children. Her workbook will provide parents, children and therapist with a range of activities that will help children build the skills to tame anxiety.
--------
50:22
Eco-Anxiety and developing your service superpowers with Heather White
Heather White is the founder of OneGreenThing.org. She has spent over 20 years as a climate activist, including serving as presidential campaign staffer for Al Gore. She has published three books on climate change: One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future and 60 Days to a Greener Life: Ease Eco-anxiety Through Joyful Daily Action Heather provides an invitation to discover how you can participate in solving the most pressing issue of our time by exploring what your service "superpower" might be. Heather infuses an energy and optimism to the topic of climate changes that we all can take inspiration from.
This is a podcast for parents for who have an anxious child. Practical suggestions are given to help with a wide range of situations in which anxiety can interfere with a child's life
South Africa