Ep. 220: How to Support Children and Teens with Chronic Pain with Dr. Samantha Levy
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
Release Date: 01/14/2025
Ep. 232: Turning Kids’ Passions and Enthusiasms into Superpowers with Barry Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Re-Air)
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are doing a reairing this week of of Diverse Thinking Different Learning in which we talked with . This episode is being revisited at a perfect time because this is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. In this episode, Dr. Prizant helps us understand why it’s important to stop labeling certain behaviors in children as intentional defiance or difficulty. Dr. Barry Prizant is a speech-language pathologist with nearly five decades of experience working with individuals with autism and their families. He serves as a Visiting Scholar at Brown University and directs Childhood Communication...
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Ep. 231: How to Use Students’ Interest and Creativity to Enhance Learning with Victoria Waller, Ed.D.
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are so happy to be welcoming back to the podcast this episode. Dr. Waller is a seasoned reading specialist and educational therapist with more than four decades of experience helping children with learning differences, especially ones who teachers have sadly given up on. She is the author of , a finalist for the Foreword Reviews Best Book of the Year in 2022, and has received multiple accolades for her contributions to education. Holding advanced degrees in reading and learning differences, she has shared her expertise nationwide and internationally via speaking engagements and on...
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Ep. 230: Executive Functioning & Navigating the Yearly Calendar with Michelle Porjes
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
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Ep. 229: Boosting a Child’s Autonomy with Self-Care Routines with Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA & Christine Drew, PhD, BCBA-D
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
For this episode of Diverse Thinking Different Learning, we are excited to welcome two guests - Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA and Christine Drew, PhD, BCBA-D! Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA, is a behavior analyst specializing in helping children and families build independent living skills through her private practice in Locust Valley, New York. With expertise in special education, psychology, and behavior analysis, Kristin supports individuals from early childhood through young adulthood, customizing her approach to a range of developmental and support needs. Dr. Christine Drew, PhD, BCBA-D, is an...
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Ep. 228: Understanding Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) with Dr. Samantha Levy
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are excited to have Samantha Levy, PhD join the show again this week to discuss Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Dr. Samantha Levy is a clinical psychologist specializing in youth with chronic pain disorders. She uses a biopsychosocial approach to address both physical and emotional struggles, working with children, families, and parents to help them align the mind and body for improved functioning. Dr. Levy also runs parent groups, writes a parenting blog for , and works as a psychologist for Whole Child LA. Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a condition in which often...
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Ep. 227: Teen Depression Gone Viral with Dr. Meredith Gansner
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are joined this week by . Dr. Gansner is a child psychiatrist at Boston Children’s Hospital and an instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, specializing in high-risk digital media use in teens. She has received multiple research grants, including a K23 career development award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and she is an active member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry media committee. Her first book, , explores the challenges of treating adolescent depression in the digital age. In this episode, Dr. Meredith Gansner discusses depression in...
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Ep. 226: Is It Autism? Recognizing, Assessing & Supporting Children and Teens with Dr. Chandni Singh
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
This week on the podcast, we are happy to have Dr. Chandni Singh on the show. Dr. Singh is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than a decade of experience in diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions in children, adolescents, and young adults. She is committed to providing evidence-based assessments and tailored treatment recommendations, and she strongly focuses on serving culturally and ethnically diverse communities. At West LA Neuropsychology, PC, she specializes in early diagnostic evaluations for young children and comprehensive assessments...
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Ep. 225: Moving Beyond Accommodations and Modifications to Cognitive Change for Academic Gains with Shelley Woon
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
This week on the podcast, we welcome Shelley Woon to the conversation. Shelley is a dedicated educator and school leader with over three decades of experience supporting students, families, and staff in overcoming learning challenges. She holds a Master of Education in Leadership, has specialized qualifications in Special Education and Reading, and serves as Head of School at and Superintendent of Special Education. Shelley values the brain-learning connection and is committed to helping others unlock their potential. Shelley joins us to explore how we can move beyond compensatory strategies...
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Ep. 224: Should I Medicate My Child? – Part 2 with Lance Steinberg, M.D.
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
Following up on last week’s episode, we are joined once again by , M.D. to further discuss the complex issue of medicating children with conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and if you missed part 1 of the discussion, be sure to go back and listen to that before diving into part 2! In this continuation of our discussion, Dr. Steinberg sheds more light on the approach that is required when considering medication, stressing that a thoughtful evaluation is important before immediately jumping to medical solutions. Dr. Steinberg offers some insights into the FDA-approved medications,...
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Ep. 223: Should I Medicate My Child? – Part 1 with Lance Steinberg, M.D.
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are joined this week by , M.D. Dr. Steinberg is an expert in psychopharmacology, specializing in conditions such as OCD, ADHD, and autism. He has taught internationally and at institutions like UCLA, earning multiple awards for his outstanding teaching. He completed his medical training at Dartmouth, UCLA, and Stanford, and he currently practices in Calabasas, Encino, and Valencia. Dr. Steinberg joins us today in this first part of a two-part episode to discuss managing medication for youth with conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. We discuss the important factors parents...
info_outlineDr. Samantha Levy joins us this week to discuss the challenges of supporting kids with chronic pain. Samantha is a clinical psychologist specializing in youth with chronic pain disorders, using a biopsychosocial approach to address both physical and emotional challenges. She also supports parents through individual sessions, group facilitation, and a parenting blog for Creative Healing for Youth in Pain, while working with Whole Child LA.
In this episode, we discuss the complexities of chronic pain and explore its neurological nature and the effects that it has on one's body, mind, and family dynamics. Dr. Levy explains the difference between acute and chronic pain, highlighting how the latter often persists even after healed injuries, creating a cycle of anxiety and misunderstood suffering.
Our conversation goes into common causes of chronic pain in children and teens, including the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. We talk about how these can contribute to the development of pain around puberty, and Dr. Levy highlights the emotional and social burden that this puts on kids, with children often withdrawing from school, friends, and activities which, of course, only worsens their pain and mental health.
With practical advice, Dr. Levy shares how treatment can address the root causes via a more holistic approach, including psychotherapy and mindfulness. She also discusses the importance of family support, the idea of "backward parenting," and strategies to reintegrate children into daily activities such as modified school accommodations.
Finally, Dr. Samantha Levy offers insights for caregivers, encouraging them to prioritize their own well-being via self-care and support networks!
Show Notes:
[2:19] - Dr. Levy explains how acute pain alerts us to harm, while chronic pain creates anxiety and misunderstood distress.
[4:51] - Chronic pain is a neurological condition that causes changes in the brain, often making it invisible.
[6:06] Chronic pain is typically viewed holistically and includes biological, psychological, and social factors.
[8:43] - Things like puberty, stress, and social complexities can make it even more difficult for kids to manage chronic pain.
[11:16] - Kids with chronic pain are often perfectionists, emotionally sensitive, and/or tend to internalize stress.
[14:47] - Chronic pain leads to isolation which then affects daily life, school, and relationships.
[15:20] - Chronic pain ultimately impacts every aspect of a child's life, worsening mental health and often resulting in isolation.
[18:54] - Isolation, anxiety, and chronic pain often create a vicious cycle that's further affected by family dynamics and support.
[19:30] - Samantha explains how medical trauma from misdiagnosis or mistreatment leaves many kids feeling hopeless and resistant to new treatments.
[21:02] - Strategies such as a team approach, psychotherapy, and/or mindfulness can help break the chronic pain cycle.
[24:23] - Recovery from chronic pain involves re-engaging in activities and a shift in the approaches that parents are used to taking,
[27:02] - Dr. Levy discusses how backward parenting encourages connection and avoids pressuring progress.
[29:17] - Dr. Levy feels that parents must acknowledge discomfort and anxieties to support their child's recovery.
[32:09] - Samantha argues that advocating for accommodations such as extra time and modified schedules helps kids with chronic pain.
[35:19] - Physical accommodations, such as flexible bathroom breaks or desk signals, ultimately support kids with chronic pain!
[36:57] - Dr. Levy points out how caregivers of children with chronic pain need self-care, therapy, and activities that offer healing.
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