Encompass Parent Talks

“When we shift the lens and start to look at [behaviors] as the signal rather than the target . . . we get so many more answers, and we really start to build connection and relationships.” Dr. Mona Delahooke Encompass is honored to have Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Mona Delahooke on our Parent Talks podcast. As a speaker, trainer, and consultant, Dr. Delahooke has dedicated her career to promoting compassionate, relationship-based neurodevelopmental interventions for children with developmental, behavioral, emotional, and learning differences. Dr. Delahooke has provided collaborative workshops for Encompass and our Snoqualmie Valley partners around her books Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges, and Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behaviors and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids. Encompass Behavioral Health Director Megan Walsh is a frequent guest on our podcast, but this month, she switched roles as she sat down to talk with Dr. Delahooke about “The Power of Connection – A Conversation with Mona Delahooke”.

As we head back to the school year, we are throwing it back to one of our most popular episodes from last year! Though last year's school experience was a little more typical than the year before, the emotions that come with returning often remain the same -- eagerness, nervousness, anxiety, and more. Encompass pediatric professionals and parents share their perspectives and experiences on how parents and caregivers can support their children and each other, and how communities can help support families during the back-to-school transition phase.

What can parents do if they have questions or concerns about their child’s behavior, mental health, or social-emotional development? In recognition of May as National Mental Health Awareness month, we’ll hear from two mothers who navigate decisions about what’s best for their families, and we’ll get some helpful tips from three therapists from Encompass’s Behavioral Health Program.

Every year, the start of school brings an inevitable rush of e-flyers promoting a wide array of extracurricular activities for kids of all ages. The sheer quantity of options can be overwhelming for parents trying to decide what and how many activities their kids should be engaged in. We tackle that very topic in this episode of our Parent Talks podcast. Our host and parent of two Caley George sits down with Encompass Speech-Language Pathologist and parent of two Missy Budworth to discuss “Extracurricular Activities and Your Family”. They will explore the balancing act for families and kids as well as the challenges and benefits that factor into the decision-making process when considering outside activities.