Dawn Friedman welcomes Dr. Melissa Giglio, a CBT therapist and director of Central Health Partners Child Development in Hong Kong, to discuss selective mutism (SM). Giglio explains SM as an anxiety disorder in which children who speak fluently at home are persistently unable to speak in specific settings, often mistaken for stubbornness, and distinguishes shyness from social anxiety and SM using persistence and functional impairment. They emphasize collaborating with schools, using gradual exposure without “rescuing,” helping children habituate, and coaching parents to stay calm, supportive, and non-accommodating while building distress tolerance and confidence. The conversation addresses anxious parents, concerns about traumatizing exposure, demand avoidance and providing perceived control with continued expectations, common comorbidities (including ADHD), when medication may help, and the need for evidence-based, systemic treatment involving parents and schools. Giglio shares resources (Bravery Grows book, a six-month journal) and intensive one-to-one camps in Hong Kong and Maine, plus outcomes when SM is untreated.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:17 Meet Dr Giglio

01:47 What Is Selective Mutism

02:44 Why The Name Changed

03:37 Misconceptions And Oppositionality

04:22 How Parents First Notice

05:23 Shy Vs Social Anxiety

06:53 When Anxiety Becomes Persistent

09:43 Supporting Exposure Without Rescue

11:55 Handling Meltdowns And Tiny Steps

13:27 Anxious Parents And Trauma Fears

16:12 PDA And Demand Avoidance Nuance

20:00 Comorbidity And Medication Questions

22:23 Overlearning Through Exposure

22:54 Finding Proper SM Treatment

23:47 Parents As Co Therapists

27:08 Coaching Without Accommodating

28:15 Books And Journals Tools

31:25 Intensive Exposure Camps

33:37 Wins And Progress Stories

35:16 Risks Of Late Identification

37:23 Let Kids Do Hard Things

Working with Dr. Giglio at Main Child Therapy Center

Grab her book, Bravery Grows

Follow her on Instagram

Dawn Friedman introduces the final May Mental Health Awareness Month guest episode of Tell Me It Will Be OK, featuring Pam Howard of Less Drama More Mama, a licensed clinical social worker, master certified life coach, author, and mom of two. Pam shares two “mama meltdown” stories—one in 2009 with a 3-year-old and newborn when she yelled, threatened consequences, and spanked in rage, and another 13 years later when she yelled at her teen for not getting up for school and threatened a truancy officer. She explains how, instead of spiraling into shame, she practiced self-compassion, sought support, and used the experience as growth, drawing on The Gap and the Gain to focus on progress. Pam describes repairing with her daughters through apology, conversation, and a “family reset,” and invites listeners to forgive themselves and reframe imperfect parenting as an opportunity for change.

00:00 Finale Guest Intro

02:20 What Is a Mama Meltdown

02:51 2009 Breaking Point

04:55 Shame and Wake Up Call

06:17 Meltdown Returns Years Later

07:02 Saboteurs Take Over

08:57 Choosing Self Compassion

10:24 Gap Versus Gain Mindset

11:11 Repairing After the Blowup

13:24 Forgiveness and Growth

15:16 Wrap Up and Coaching Invite

Get more of Pam at the following links:

Website: Less Drama More Mama

Instagram: Less Drama More Mama

Facebook: Less Drama More Mama

Mentioned in this episode:

Tell Me It Will Be OK: The Practice

🌟 READY TO FIND YOUR ROOM TO BREATHE? Tell Me It Will Be OK: The Practice is a weekly, 30-minute audio-guided journaling sanctuary designed to help you connect with your own inner wisdom, calm, and connection.ry a free 30-minute sample session today and lock in your spot on our priority waitlist for the July 8th launch. Get your free sample session at OpenBookParenting.com!

In this Mental Health Awareness Month crossover, the Tell Me It Will Be Okay podcast features Leah Davidson—speech language pathologist, nervous system resilience coach, host of Building Resilience, and founder of Resilient Brilliance—sharing an episode on “Parenting Older Kids Without Overfunctioning.” Leah explains that as kids become teens and young adults, parents’ roles shift from constant doing to observing, which can bring grief, relief, confusion, and longing. She argues older kids don’t “borrow” a parent’s regulation the same way; they react to it, so parental urgency, advice, and fixing can feel like pressure or control and create distance. Leah emphasizes regulating yourself to respond rather than reflexively react, set clear boundaries without escalation, and create space that communicates respect and trust. She offers practical cues like pausing, using non-withdrawn silence, and reflecting on effort versus connection.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:58 Why Older Kids Hit Hard

03:28 Midlife Focus and Community

05:40 From Borrowing to Reacting

07:36 Regulate Yourself and Set Boundaries

10:00 Space Builds Connection

12:31 The Real Work Is You

14:05 Practical Regulation Tools

15:31 Stop Overfunctioning for Closeness

17:34 Reflection Questions and Wrap Up

19:13 Community Invite and Outro

Mentioned in this episode:

Tell Me It Will Be OK: The Practice

🌟 READY TO FIND YOUR ROOM TO BREATHE? Tell Me It Will Be OK: The Practice is a weekly, 30-minute audio-guided journaling sanctuary designed to help you connect with your own inner wisdom, calm, and connection.ry a free 30-minute sample session today and lock in your spot on our priority waitlist for the July 8th launch. Get your free sample session at OpenBookParenting.com!