Autism and Anxiety. Interview with Donna Henderson, PsyD author of Is This Autism: A Guide for Clinicans and Everyone Else

Dr Melissa Giglio and Daisy Geddes have recently published Bravery Grow and an accompanying workbook The Bravery Grows Journal & Workbook: Building Bravery in Anxious Kids with Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety Dr Melissa Giglio is a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders. She is the director of Central Health Partners Child Development Team in Hong Kong. She created an intensive group therapy program for selective mutism "Confident Crew"'. Her coauthor, Daisy Geddes is an associate Psychologist and assoicate director of the Selective Mutism Program at CHP. In this interview I talked with Dr Giglio about the book she coauthored with Daisy Geddes. In any anxiety disorder, psychoeducation about the condition is a critical first step. Bravery Grows captures the experience of a child with selective mutism in a way that will appeal to children and their caregivers. It can be a puzzling condition for both the child and caregivers and this book will provide much needed clarification.  For more information https://bravemightyminds.com/

Rhiannon Theurer, LMFT has just published The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Teens: DBT Tools To Help You Deal with Sensory Sensitivity, Manage Emotional Overwhelm and Thrive. Rhiannon Theurer is a  neurodivergent therapist in private practice who works with neurodivergent teens and adults. She can be found at [email protected] Rhiannon Theurer talks in her book and in this interview about  how the skills taught in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be so helpful for neurodivergence teens who may for a variety of reasons experience the world in a more intense and nonvalidating manner.  

Coltan Scrivner, PhD has just published Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look.  He defines morbid curiosity "...a curiosity about things that are threatening or potentially dangerous". In the interview and in his book he explains why it is important to be curious about things that are dangerous. He provides an entirely new perspective about why children enjoy scary stories, the appeal of horror movies, haunted houses and true crime stories. All of these activities help you become familiar and explore the sensation of being afraid in a fictional context which in turn has been shown to help you with real life fears and dangers. For more information about Coltan Scrivner, here is his website https://www.coltanscrivner.com

Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP is a clinical psychologist and senior director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Related Disorder Program at Cognitive Behavioral Consultants in White Plains, NY. She was previously the past president of the Selective Mutism Foundation and the director of the Selective Mutism Service at the Child Mind Institute. She also runs a camp for children with Selective Mutism Voices Rising which is held during the summer and during the school year.  Dr Busman has written Being Brave with Selective Mutism: A Step-by-Step Guide for Children and Their Caregivers. This is a very helpful guide for parents and children dealing with selective mutism. In this interview, Dr Busman provides an overview of selective mutism and highlights some the key interventions for this condition. She speaks with an energy and clarity that I think you will inspiring and motivating.  For more information about Dr Busman https://www.cbc-psychology.com/cbc-staff/rachel-busman-psyd-abpp and for the Voices Rising Program https://www.cbc-psychology.com/events/voices-rising-winter-2026 Dr Busman recommends the Selective Mutism YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GwY4kccpkcmgl-uNIA5tg and of course The Selective Mutism Foundation is an excellent source of information https://www.selectivemutism.org/

Robyn Koslowitz, PhD is the director of The Center for Psychological Growth of New Jersey and the educational director of the Targeted Parenting Institute. In this podcast episode we talk about her recently published book Post Traumatic Parenting: Break The Cycle And Become The Parent You Always Wanted To Be. This is a valuable book for parents and clinicians. Traumatic experience in childhood and adulthood can effect our parenting. This is not an unusual observation. However,  Dr Koslowitz dissects the issue of how trauma effects parenting in a way that makes more understandable and also leads to clear plan of what to do. As a child psychologist, I found this book to be the most useful book I have read this year.  I think you will also enjoy her podcast on Post Traumatic Parenting https://www.drrobynkoslowitz.com/podcast-2/ And you can also find more information about Dr Koslowitz at https://www.drrobynkoslowitz.com/about/    

Sophia Vale Galano, LCSW  has just published Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Teenager Cope with Worry Her book is a practical and accessible guide for parent to talk about all forms of anxiety with their teenager. It provides a blue print to guide conversations regardless of the way in which the anxiety might be showing up. She maintains a private practice in California and has extensive experience working with adolescents in inpatient, outpatient, medical and educational settings. She also has completed Sex Therapy certification from California Institute of Integral Studies, an Animal Assisted therapy certification from The Animal Behavior Institute and a Forensic Social Work Certification from The National Organization of Forensic Social Work.   

Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD is a licensed psychologist and a leader in the field of BRFB. Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC is also a leader in the field of the treatment of BFRB.  In this interview we talk about their latest book, The BFRB Survival Guide: A Workbook for Overcoming Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors. This workbook provides a clear program of action for dealing with these complex disorders. It involves identifying the BRFB potentially mainfest themselves in 5 domains (Sensory, Affective, Cognitive, Motor and Place) and then with this comprehensive knowledge developing a treatment plan.   I have previously interviewed the authors on my podcast about their previous books: Helping Your Child with Sensory Regulation by Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD and Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC, Psychological Interventions for Children with Senory Dysregulation by Ruth Goldfinger Golomb and Suzanne Mouton-Odum, Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) Treatment of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors by Charles S Mansueto, Suzanne Mouton-Odum & Ruth Goldfinger Golomb   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hair-pulling-and-skin-picking-interview-with/id937022377?i=1000634550977 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/expert-interview-25-ruth-goldfinger-golomb-lcpc-helping/id937022377?i=1000519775283 Also of interest is their book for parents of children who pull their hair.  https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Guide-Hair-Pulling-Disorder/dp/0615657400/ref=asc_df_0615657400?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80539280274815&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=51562&hvtargid=pla-4584138866830203&psc=1#:~:text=A%20Parent%20Guide,LCPC%20(Author) The authors are also on the scientific advisory board of the TLC Foundation for BFRBs which is a very helpful resource https://www.bfrb.org/    

Gina Rippon has just written Off The Spectrum: Why The Science of Autism Has Failed Women and Girls. Gina Rippon is emeritus professor of cognitive neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre, where she uses brain-imaging techniques to investigate patterns of brain activity in developmental disorders such as autism. She is also the author of Gender and Our Brains. She lives in England.  In this interview, Dr Rippon talks about the research on autism has overwhelming focused on males and consequently the different ways in which this condition may present itself in females has been neglected until recently. She suggests that one of primary differences between autism in males and females, may be in the predominance of camouflaging and masking in women. This is certainly relevant in understanding anxiety, as she points out in her book "...if you read the testimonies of camouflaging autistic females so much of their anxieties concern the anticipation of what might go wrong" (p219). She also talk about the particular challenges autistic adolescents face at a time when their brains are undergoing a significant reorganization. Dr Rippon presents a very thoughtful discussion about this important topic.  

Lisa A Phillips talks about her new book First Love: Guiding Teens Through Relationships and Heartbreak. She teaches journalism and a very popular seminar "Love and Heartbreak" at the State University of New York at New Paltz. She noted that there are plenty of good books dealing with sex education for teens but very little addressing the emotional aspects of these first relationships. These first relationships and crushes are not "puppy love" but "first drafts" in the development of a romantic identity. In this podcast and in her book, Lisa Phillips provides thoughtful suggestions about how a parent can help their child deal with a break-up and many other issues. For more information https://www.lisaamyphillips.com

Martha B Straus, PhD is an emeritus professor of clinical psychology at Antioch University New England. She is the author of seven books including No-Talk Therapy for Children and Adolescents, a book that has truly stood the test of time and is a favorite of mine. Today we are primarily talking about her most recent book Cool, Calm & Connected: A Workbook for Parents and Children to Co-regulate, Manage Big Emotions & Build Stronger Bonds If we are  going to help our child who is either very anxious or struggling with another "big feeling" it is critical that we don't get caught up in the excitement but remain as the title of book suggests cool, calm and connected. Easier said that done. Her workbook breaks this task down into manageable steps.