Child & adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Blaise Aguirre (McLean Hospital) shares DBT tools that help ADHD kids and their parents build emotional regulation before a crisis. We cover modeling calm, the mantra “regulate before you can reflect,” fast resets (breathing, PMR, ice-dive), and a practical, compassionate look at ADHD medication, what to watch, and how careful prescribing reduces risk.
GuestDr. Blaise Aguirre, Mood's leading psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. With 25+ years of treating over 7,000 children and adolescents at McLean Hospital, Dr. Aguirre has extensive experience helping ADHD kids develop emotional regulation skills and coping strategies for high-stress periods.
Episode OverviewMany kids labeled “misbehaving” are actually missing skills. Dr. Aguirre explains how DBT-based exercises taught early, practiced often, and modeled by parents become second nature and reduce meltdowns. You’ll learn why a parent’s steady nervous system matters (mirror neurons), how to de-escalate in the moment, and how to think about ADHD meds: quick signal checks, side-effect watching, and partnering with a responsive prescriber. Goal: fewer crises, more connection, and a resilient self-story for your child.
What We Talk About (Highlights)- Skills > “misbehavior”: teach what’s missing—don’t shame
- Parents first: model regulation; your calm lowers their heat
- Practice before you need it (make coping automatic)
- Fast resets anywhere: slow breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, ice-dive
- Medication basics: quick feedback loop for many stimulants, dose/side-effects to watch, work with a responsive prescriber
- Protect the self-story: reduce invalidation (“lazy,” “stupid”) to prevent long-term harm.
- Mirror neurons: your agitation amplifies theirs—stay steady
- Dr. Aguirre (McLean Hospital): https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/blaise-aguirre
- Mood Tools App (free): https://www.mood.org/app
- Books by Dr. Aguirre: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JP3X2W
Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach; author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD; host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. Every child with ADHD is unique—so are their strengths and struggles. Website & coaching: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com
Get the first three chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters
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