Healing Kids Starts With Healing Parents Too

What if healing a child starts with healing the parent, too? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Emily Gutierrez joins us to discuss how caregiver stress, genetics, and toxins intersect to shape a child’s healing journey. She reveals why supporting parents is as vital as treating the child and discusses integrative approaches—from nutrition to repurposed medications—that bring families hope and resilience.

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In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Emily Gutierrez joins us to discuss the complexities of treating PANS/PANDAS. She explains how these immune-mediated conditions not only affect children but ripple across entire families, leaving parents with lasting trauma and stress. She emphasizes the importance of addressing caregiver stress, recognizing early signs, and understanding that parents’ emotional states can influence a child’s healing.

Dr. Gutierrez also explores the interplay of genetics, environmental toxins, and immune function, highlighting how genomic testing can provide clarity for treatment decisions. She discusses integrative strategies such as anti-inflammatory diets, repurposed medications, antiviral herbs, and collaborative care approaches tailored to each child’s unique needs. She encourages families to embrace their children’s innate resilience, manage stress with mindful practices, and view the healing journey as a path of growth for both parents and children.

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Dr. Emily Gutierrez is a recognized expert in pediatric functional medicine. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin. Her extensive credentials include board certification in functional medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine, clinical nutrition, and primary mental health care, and she is a Fellow of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs

Dr. Gutierrez is the founder of Neuronutrition Associates in Austin, Texas, one of the first pediatric-focused functional medicine clinics in the United States. She has treated children with complex neuroimmune conditions.

She is also the Chief Scientific Formulator for Neuro Nutrients, developing science-based nutrient products tailored to support mental health and neurological resilience, and serves as adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins University, where she has lectured on integrative medicine for almost a decade.

Dr. Gutierrez has contributed the first chapter on functional and integrative medicine to a major pediatric primary care textbook and remains an active researcher, writer, and speaker dedicated to advancing root-cause approaches in pediatric neuropsychiatric care.

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