Home Podcasts Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians
Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians

Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians

Elise Fallucco M.D. 76 Episodes Oct 13, 2026

Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians is a podcast designed for pediatric clinicians to help them identify, manage, and support children and teens with mental health problems. Hosted by Dr. Elise Fallucco, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and mother of three, the show features interviews with experts in child psychiatry, psychology, and pediatrics. Each episode provides practical tools, tips, and strategies for addressing mental health issues in young patients. The podcast aims to equip healthcare providers with the knowledge and confidence to support kids and teens effectively.

Episodes

87. Teen Suicide Screening: Why Depression Screening Isn't Enough
87. Teen Suicide Screening: Why Depression Screening Isn't Enough Oct 13, 2026 766 Send us Fan MailDepression screening and suicide screening are not the same thing—and relying on the PHQ-9 alone can miss youth who are at risk for suicide.In this episode, I break down a quick, practical approach to suicide screening and risk assessment in primary care —including what to do when a screening tool comes back positive.In this episode, you’ll learn:🚨 Why the PHQ-9 isn’t enough — and
86. Pediatric Mental Health: From Overwhelmed to Confident
86. Pediatric Mental Health: From Overwhelmed to Confident Oct 6, 2026 1164 Send us Fan MailWhere are YOU on your pediatric mental health journey?If you’ve ever felt nervous when a child’s mental health screen comes back positive, frustrated when straightforward ADHD treatment suddenly becomes complicated, or overwhelmed because you’ve become the “mental health person” in your practice—this episode is for you.In this episode, Dr. Elise Fallucco introduces the 4 phases of
85. Anxiety in Kids: When Is Therapy Enough—and When Should You Add an SSRI? (And why Remission Matters)
85. Anxiety in Kids: When Is Therapy Enough—and When Should You Add an SSRI? (And why Remission Matters) Sep 29, 2026 1083 Send us Fan MailEpisode 85 of ADHD, Anxiety & More is for pediatric clinicians who want to know when to prescribe medication for children and teens with anxiety. In this episode, you will learn about:Which treatment (therapy, medication, or combination of both) offers the highest response for child and teen anxiety Why it is important to treat anxiety to remission The 3 things to do when refer
84. Anxiety: When is it normal? When does it need treatment?
84. Anxiety: When is it normal? When does it need treatment? Sep 22, 2026 1320 Send us Fan MailAnxiety is a normal human emotion.  So, how do you know when it’s developmentally typical and when it has crossed the line into something that needs treatment? In this episode, Dr. Fallucco walks through a practical approach pediatric clinicians can use to recognize clinically significant anxiety that requires treatment.  We talk about Screening, Taking a focused history of Anxiety
83. ADHD and Epilepsy: Can You Safely Prescribe Stimulants?
83. ADHD and Epilepsy: Can You Safely Prescribe Stimulants? Sep 15, 2026 682 Send us Fan MailJoin us for the latest Mystery Case: A teen with ADHD + EpilepsyWould you prescribe a stimulant?How do you treat ADHD in people who have epilepsy?In this episode, we unpack:• The surprising relationship between ADHD and epilepsy• Why ADHD is easy to miss in kids with epilepsy• Where the concern about stimulants and seizures came from• What newer research tells us about stimulant tr
82. ADHD Treatment beyond Meds: Exercise and Nutrition
82. ADHD Treatment beyond Meds: Exercise and Nutrition Sep 8, 2026 916 Send us Fan MailWhat ELSE helps ADHD symptoms (in addition to meds?) What does the evidence say about non-medication treatment options for ADHD? We talk about...behavioral therapy  exercise - which is an under-prescribed intervention,  Think 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity 3 times weekly for 8–12 weeksWhat about Nutrition?omega-3 fatty acids may help with emotional lability in ADHD  br
81. Chronic Abdominal Pain in Kids: The Gut-Brain Connection and How to Help
81. Chronic Abdominal Pain in Kids: The Gut-Brain Connection and How to Help Sep 1, 2026 2528 Send us Fan MailHow can we support children and families who struggle with chronic abdominal pain?  Dr. Fallucco shares an episode from The Pediatrician Next Door, an excellent podcast hosted by pediatrician Dr. Wendy Hunter.  Dr. Hunter talks with Dr. Ali Navidi, a psychologist who specializes in disorders of gut-brain interaction. Dr. Navidi explains why some kids experience abdominal pain, naus
80. Viloxazine (Qelbree) or Atomoxetine (Strattera) for ADHD: Which should you choose?
80. Viloxazine (Qelbree) or Atomoxetine (Strattera) for ADHD: Which should you choose? Aug 25, 2026 652 Send us Fan Mail Dr. Elise Fallucco continues this series on non-stimulant medication for ADHD and shares practical tips about using Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (NRIs): viloxazine ER (Qelbree) and atomoxetine (Strattera) for pediatric clinicians.Who can benefit from NRIs? What are the potential benefits, drawbacks, and side effects? Working through the case of a 12-year-old girl with inatte
79. When stimulants don't work: Guanfacine and Clonidine explained
79. When stimulants don't work: Guanfacine and Clonidine explained Aug 18, 2026 1156 Send us Fan MailWhile stimulant meds are first-line treatment for ADHD, they do NOT work for everyone... or sometimes they only PARTIALLY help.  So, what can you do in these situations?When is the right time to try a non-stimulant medication like Guanfacine and Clonidine (a.k.a - alpha-agonists?)? In which clinical situations can these alpha-agonists be helpful?  How do you know when to switch fro
78. ADHD Meds: Which Stimulant Should you start first?
78. ADHD Meds: Which Stimulant Should you start first? Aug 11, 2026 893 Send us Fan MailIt’s back-to-school season—and that often means a surge of ADHD concerns as academic demands ramp up, especially around key school transitions like 3rd, 6th, and 9th grade. In this episode of ADHD, Anxiety, and More, Dr. Elise Fallucco  shares a practical, confidence-building approach to picking stimulant treatment for children and teens, answering questions like:Which ADHD medicat
Helping Kids Thrive Through Sports with Coach Peter Verhoef (Summer Replay)
Helping Kids Thrive Through Sports with Coach Peter Verhoef (Summer Replay) Jul 14, 2026 1530 Send us Fan MailWhat can we learn from an Elite Coach about how to help young athletes THRIVE through sports? Join us as we chat with Coach Peter Verhoef, head coach and aquatics director at the Bolles School Swimming Program and former Olympic Trials finalist (2x).We discuss: Why do so many kids quit organized sports by age 13?How can we prevent burnout?When are teens MOST vulnerable to burnout? 
Are Youth Athletes Burning Out? 2 Questions To Ask at Every Sports Physical with Dr. Joel Brenner (Summer Replay)
Are Youth Athletes Burning Out? 2 Questions To Ask at Every Sports Physical with Dr. Joel Brenner (Summer Replay) Jun 30, 2026 1571 Send us Fan MailSummer sports physical season is here! Before you sign that next pre-participation physical, are you asking the questions that could help prevent burnout, overuse injuries, and early sports dropout? In this timely replay, pediatric sports medicine expert Dr. Joel Brenner shares practical, evidence-based strategies to help young athletes stay healthy—and stay in the game. Learn why

Recommended