When parenting a biologically sensitive "fire feeler" teen, daily life can quickly turn into a relentless cycle of crisis management, emotional exhaustion, and caregiver burnout. In this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Peter Fenger speaks with Katie K. May, LPC, founder of Creative Healing Teen Support Centers and author of “You’re on Fire, It’s Fine,” to explore how Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and radical acceptance can transform that overwhelming dynamic. As one of only eleven board-certified DBT clinicians in Pennsylvania, Katie pairs deep clinical expertise with the lived experience of a parent who has walked this path, offering a compassionate, actionable roadmap for families navigating teen depression and self-harm. Together, Peter and Katie break down why emotionally sensitive adolescents stay stuck in overdrive and how genuine validation can cool the flames of emotional escalation. Katie highlights the crucial role of parental self-regulation, reminding caregivers that their child needs them to be the stabilizing thermostat in the room rather than reacting like the thermometer. From shifting out of grief and blame into radical acceptance to building sustainable coping skills at home rather than relying on hospital holding patterns, this conversation equips parents to move away from constant panic and toward a proactive, validating connection with their teen.

For more information about “You’re on Fire, It’s Fine” by Katie K May, please visit: https://youreonfireitsfine.com

For more information about Katie K May, please visit: https://katiekmay.com

For more information about the Teen Coping Code and download the free framework guide, please visit: https://katiekmay.com/f/code/

For more information about the Creative Healing Teen Support Centers, please visit: https://creativehealingphilly.com

Connect on Social Media:

• On Instagram: http://instagram.com/creative_healing
• On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teensupportcenter
• On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/creativehealingphilly
• On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiekmay/

Sometimes a binge is a deep emotional cry for help; other times, it's simply a habit cycle hijacked by autopilot. Dismantling the underlying shame starts with knowing the difference. On this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Sharlee Dixon sits down with Toronto-based Registered Psychotherapist Brian Baumal, founder of Aliva Psychotherapy. Specializing in eating disorders, food addiction, and sustainable weight management, Brian focuses on the psychological drivers of weight struggles, helping clinicians and clients break through the complex shame cycles and relapse patterns that stall recovery. What sets Brian’s practice apart is a profound commitment to lived experience, having personal triumph over exercise bulimia and binge eating disorder while maintaining a permanent 100-pound weight loss. Blending validated CBT and addiction principles with a deeply human, Gestalt-informed approach, Brian shares practical frameworks for targeting root causes and dismantling rigid thinking. Tune in as we explore how clinicians can leverage lived experience and a "behavior-first" clinical framework to address autopilot habits, release perfectionism, and empower clients to drive their own sustainable healing.

For more information about Aliva Psychotherapy and eating disorder treatment, please visit: https://alivapsychotherapy.com

For more information about Brian Baumal, please visit: https://alivapsychotherapy.com/our-team/brian-baumal/

Book a free discovery call with Brian: https://bb-therapist.janeapp.com/?_gl=1*ltw25x*_gcl_au*MTQ5NTM4OTIzNy4xNzg5NDg2MzQw*_ga*MTgwOTAzNTcxLjE3ODk0ODYzNDA.*_ga_NDXPL15J07*czE3ODk0ODYzNDAkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODk0ODYzNDAkajYwJGwwJGgw - /staff_member/1/treatment/39

An autism diagnosis isn't a single condition with a one-size-fits-all solution, uncovering your child’s unique biology is the key to targeted, life-changing progress. On this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Theresa Lyons: a Yale-trained scientist, medical strategist, and autism parent who is redefining how families navigate care. After leveraging functional medicine and cutting-edge research to help her own non-speaking daughter thrive, Dr. Lyons founded Navigating AWEtism to bridge the gap between complex science and practical, real-world solutions. Today, she empowers parents across 18 countries to look beyond standard behavioral therapies, uncover the root causes of physical symptoms, and turn diagnosis anxiety into strategic action. Tune in to learn how data-driven care and parental intuition can help your family move past survival mode and reclaim extraordinary joy.

For more information about Navigating AWEtism and their platform, please visit: https://awetism.co/work-together

Watch Navigating AWEtism with Theresa Lyons, PhD on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrnw5_DvQ4E7IRwa3zSJe7g

For more information about “Autism & Functional Medicine Doctors” by Theresa Lyons, PhD, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/Lyons-Report-2020-Functional-Medicine/dp/1734358203