I’m joined by Dr. Cheryl Stallings, Wake County Commissioner and licensed psychologist, along with psychologist Emily King, to unpack what is actually happening behind the scenes when it comes to mental health, schools, and family support systems.

We talk about the realities families are facing right now, how local policy decisions impact access to care, what happens when schools and systems are stretched thin, and where families are being asked to carry more than they should.

This is not a fear-based conversation. It is a clear, grounded look at what is real, what is changing, and where families can focus their energy.

If you have ever felt like you are doing everything you can and it still feels like too much, this episode will help you understand why and what actually helps.

Contact Commissioner: Dr. Stallings 

Email: Cheryl.Stallings@wake.gov

Contact Emily King, PhD

Instagram: @emilykingphd

Website: learnwithemily.com

Find me,  https://substack.com/@drmelaniemccabe

website: DrMelanieMcCabe.com

Website: RDUTherapy.com 

Instagram: @drmelaniemccabe

9/30/25

Concussion treatment has changed significantly over the last decade, yet many parents, coaches, and even athletes are still following outdated advice that can delay recovery.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Paul Cohen to talk specifically about concussions in youth athletes. From soccer to football to cheer to lacrosse, we break down what actually happens in the brain, why “rest until symptoms are gone” is no longer the gold standard, and how early, guided return to activity is changing outcomes.

We also get into the real-life pressure athletes feel to get back in the game, how to navigate return-to-play decisions, and what parents should be watching for on the sidelines and at home.

In this episode, we cover:
• How concussion treatment for athletes has evolved over the last 10 years
• Why complete rest can backfire and what to do instead
• The updated return-to-play approach for youth sports
• Signs your athlete is not ready to go back yet
• The overlap between concussion symptoms and emotional or behavioral changes
• What to say when your child wants to “push through it”
• When to see a specialist and what modern concussion care looks like

If your child plays sports at any level, this conversation will help you protect their brain, support their recovery, and make confident decisions when it matters most.

Resources & Links:
Learn more about Dr. Paul Cohen: https://orthonc.com/who-we-are/physicians/dr-paul-cohen

Instagram: @theconcussiondoc
More from me:
• https://rdutherapy.com

• https://drmelaniemccabe.com

Instagram: @drmelaniemccabe

@RDUTherapy

9/30/25

In this episode, I sit down with Peyton Gemmell, founder of Lightminded, to talk about ADHD in women, late diagnoses, and what it really takes to thrive as a neurodivergent woman in a neurotypical world.

We break down the subtle ways ADHD shows up differently in women, especially moms and high achieving professionals who have learned to mask, overcompensate, and push through. Peyton shares how chronic overwhelm, burnout, emotional dysregulation, and feeling “behind” are often misunderstood signs of ADHD, not personal failure.

We also talk about:
How ADHD presents differently in women versus men
The link between ADHD, anxiety, and burnout
Why so many women are diagnosed later in life
Practical strategies for emotional regulation and executive functioning
How to move from survival mode to actually thriving
What neurotypical moms and women need to understand about ADHD

Whether you are a woman with ADHD, wondering if you might be, or a parent trying to better understand your child or yourself, this episode will help you feel seen and give you real, usable tools.

Peyton brings a compassionate, real world perspective that helps women stop blaming themselves and start building lives that actually work for their brains.

Connect with Peyton Gemmell:
Lightminded: https://www.lightmindedot.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lightminded.ot

Connect with Dr. Melanie McCabe:
Website: https://www.rdutherapy.com

Website: https://www.drmelaniemccabe.com

Instagram: @drmelaniemccabe

If this episode resonated, share it with a friend, save it for later, and leave a review to help more women understand ADHD and mental health.

9/30/25

In this episode of Real Life with RDU Therapy, I sit down with Jeremiah Gibson and Julia Postema of Let’s Heal Together to talk about purity culture, high control religious environments, attachment, communication, intimacy, grief, and healing in relationships. Jeremiah and Julia are licensed relationship therapists and certified sex therapists, and they specialize in helping individuals and couples rebuild healthier patterns around connection, sexuality, and emotional safety. Let’s Heal Together offers relationship and sex therapy, including co therapy, and also supports people navigating deconstruction and recovery from purity culture. 

We talk about how early messages around gender, sexuality, and “being good” can show up years later in adult partnerships, why couples often get stuck in criticism, repetition, and outdated assumptions, and how healing often happens through kindness, play, pleasure, pacing, and honest communication. Jeremiah and Julia also explain why sex therapy so often involves grief, and how relationships can survive major identity shifts when beliefs, faith, or community ties begin to change. 

If you grew up with shame based messages about bodies, intimacy, marriage, or gender roles, or if you are trying to build a healthier relationship after purity culture or a high control religious background, this conversation will leave you feeling less alone and more hopeful.

In this episode, we cover:
purity culture and abstinence only messaging
how childhood and religious messages affect adult relationships
attachment, communication, and conflict in couples
grief, intimacy, and sexual healing
deconstruction, faith shifts, and partnership stress
how co therapy can help couples feel supported and understood

Connect with Jeremiah Gibson and Julia Postema
Let’s Heal Together https://www.letshealtogether.org/
Instagram: @sexvangelicals
Podcast: Sexvangelicals

Connect with Dr. Melanie McCabe / RDU Therapy
https://rdutherapy.com/

https://drmelaniemccabe.com/

Instagram: @dr_melanie_mccabe and @rdu.therapy 

9/30/25

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Matt Zaretsky, clinical psychologist and expert in gifted and neurodivergent kids, to unpack what giftedness really looks like and why so many of these children are missed, mislabeled, or expected to just “be fine.”

We talk about emotional intensity, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and what it actually means to be twice-exceptional (2e). If your child can be incredibly capable in one moment and completely dysregulated the next, this conversation will likely hit home.

Dr. Matt explains why giftedness is a form of neurodivergence, how the brain contributes to big feelings and uneven skills, and why traditional school environments often fail these kids.

We also get practical about what parents can do when schools minimize concerns, how to pursue testing, and how to create environments where kids can truly thrive, not just cope.

If you are raising a child with big emotions, high intensity, or a brain that does not fit the typical mold, this episode will help you understand what is happening and how to support them more effectively.

What giftedness actually means beyond being “smart”
Why gifted kids often have big emotions and struggle with regulation
The overlap between giftedness, ADHD, and autism
What “twice-exceptional” (2e) means
Why many gifted kids are missed in school systems
What to do when your child is labeled as “fine” but you know something is off
How to advocate for testing, support, and the right environment
Why connection and belonging are critical for neurodivergent kids

Learn more about Dr. Matt’s clinical work:
https://www.theneurodiversitycollective.com

Book Dr. Matt for speaking and trainings:
https://www.drmattzakreski.com

Get the book The Neurodiversity Playbook:
https://www.amazon.com

Learn more about Dr. Melanie McCabe and RDU Therapy:
https://www.rdutherapy.com

https://www.drmelaniemccabe.com

Follow along on Instagram:
@drmelaniemccabe

9/30/25

Today, Dr Emily King talks with myself and Dr. Matt Zakreski, all 3 psychologists who know schools and neurodivergent kids well. The impact of these proposed cuts goes beyond students receiving special education services and their teachers. It's going to affect everyone.

9/30/25

Amber shares the personal story that shaped her work, including motherhood, caregiving, grief, chronic overwhelm, and the moment she realized life could not keep feeling this hard. We talk about the invisible emotional load so many women carry, how burnout can show up in both mind and body, and why so many moms look like they have it all together while quietly feeling exhausted, disconnected, and stuck.

We also dive into Amber’s book, Seasonal Syncing, and her framework for understanding different seasons of life. This conversation explores how women can stop forcing themselves to keep producing, start listening to what their body and mind are telling them, and move toward more harmony, healing, and wholeness.

In this episode, we cover:
motherhood and emotional exhaustion
women’s mental health and burnout
the pressure moms feel to hold everything together
how stress can show up physically in the body
the difference between therapy and life coaching
intergenerational healing and modeling wellness for our kids
why self care is not selfish
how women can reconnect with themselves in a practical way

If you are a mom, a woman feeling overwhelmed, or someone trying to support the women in your life, this episode will speak to you.

Connect with Amber Lynn Richardson:
Website: amberlrichardson.com
Instagram: @lifewithcoachamber
LinkedIn: Amber Lynn Richardson
Book: Seasonal Syncing on Amazon

Connect with me:
drmelaniemccabe.com
rdutherapy.com
Instagram: @drmelaniemccabe

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend, send it to a mom who needs to hear it, and follow along for more conversations about parenting, mental health, emotional regulation, and real life.

9/30/25

But what happens when her own mental health is struggling?

In this episode of Real Life with RDU, I sit down with Dr. Priscilla Hidalgo of Lux Psychiatry, PLLC to talk about maternal mental health, anxiety, depression, postpartum changes, and the role medication can play in emotional regulation and family stability.

We talk about:

• How untreated anxiety and depression impact parenting
• The difference between stress and a clinical mental health concern
• Medication during pregnancy and postpartum
• Why stigma keeps high functioning moms from getting help
• What emotionally regulated parenting actually requires

Here is the truth. Parents cannot teach emotional regulation skills while chronically dysregulated themselves. Mental health support is not weakness. It is responsible leadership inside your family.

If you work with children, support families, or are a parent yourself, this conversation matters.

Share this episode with a mom who carries too much quietly.

Connect with Dr. Priscilla Hidalgo
Lux Psychiatry, PLLC
Website: www.luxpsychiatry.com

8396 Six Forks Rd., Ste 104
Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: 919 646 1914
Fax: 352 204 1963
Instagram: @luxpsychiatry
Facebook: Lux Psychiatry PLLC

Listen wherever you get your podcasts and follow for more parenting psychology, emotional regulation skills, and real conversations about family mental health.

9/30/25

Brittni shares what she sees most often when families first reach out feeling overwhelmed unsure and stuck in daily routines that have become power struggles. She breaks down common misconceptions about occupational therapy sensory needs and executive functioning and offers practical shifts parents can try right away to make mornings homework time and transitions feel more manageable.

The conversation also explores Brittni’s Task Masters program and why supporting tweens and teens with follow through and ownership can change the emotional tone of an entire household. This episode is grounded hopeful and honest about the challenges parents face while raising kids with big emotions and growing responsibilities.

Whether you are parenting a toddler a school aged child or a teen this episode will leave you feeling less alone more confident and better equipped to support your child in everyday moments that matter.

Learn more about Brittni and her team at Emerge Pediatric Therapy
https://emergepediatrictherapy.com

Follow RDU Therapy on Instagram for family centered mental health support and resources
https://www.instagram.com/rdutherapy

Connect with Dr Melanie McCabe on Instagram for parenting insights clinical expertise and real life conversations
https://www.instagram.com/drmelaniemccabe

9/30/25

In this episode Dr Melanie McCabe sits down with Raleigh City Council member Christina Jones a leader known for transparency compassion and bringing real families teachers and neighborhoods into the policy making process.

We talk about how everyday residents can shape city decisions why listening is a form of public service and what it takes to build trust between government and the people it serves. Christina shares behind the scenes stories about coalition building navigating disagreement caring for a city as a mother of two and what she wishes every parent understood about their local government.

Whether you want to get more involved support your community or simply understand how policies that shape family life are made this conversation will leave you inspired and informed.

Perfect for parents, community members, educators and anyone who wants to see Raleigh grow with intention and heart.

9/30/25

In this powerful conversation Dr Melanie McCabe sits down with Marybeth Sullivan, Carolyn Costin Institute certified eating disorder recovery coach, and marketing and outreach coordinator for Nutritious Thoughts to talk about what really drives disordered eating and what genuine healing looks like.

Mary Beth shares her own twenty five year struggle with an eating disorder the turning points that finally led her to treatment and how recovery reshaped her parenting and her work. Together we talk about how diet culture sneaks into everyday family life the messages kids absorb at home school and online and why seemingly harmless comments about food and bodies can land as deep shame.

You will hear practical guidance for parents on
• What actually separates disordered eating from a full eating disorder
• Early red flags in kids and teens that you should never ignore
• How to talk with your child if they say they want to diet or they hate their body
• How to repair if you realize you have contributed to food fear or body shame
• Ways to break intergenerational patterns even if you have your own history with food

We also explore how to build a collaborative care team therapist dietitian coach and medical provider and why compassion is the most powerful tool in recovery for both families and individuals

Listen in if you want a grounded hopeful look at eating disorder recovery and concrete language you can start using with your kids today

Learn more about Marybeth and her work at Nutritious Thoughts at nutritiousthoughts.com and at epiphanycoaching.com

https://epiphany-coaching.com/

https://www.nutritious-thoughts.com/

9/30/25

This conversation blends humanity, humor, and truly tangible tips—offering language and validation for the parts of grief that feel confusing or isolating, while also giving you practical ways to move forward with gentleness.

Dr. Bracken shares her clinical wisdom and grounded insight, reminding us that healing isn’t linear… and that movement, even when small, is still movement.

Key Topics:

– How grief lives in the body

– Why trauma responses can feel unpredictable

– The difference between “getting over” and “moving through”

– How to stay connected to yourself while healing

– What helps (and what doesn’t) when supporting someone in grief

– The surprising resilience the body carries

– Real-world tools you can use today

About Our Guest:

Dr. Kat Bracken is a clinician known for her compassionate, insightful approach to trauma, grief, and integrative healing.

9/30/25

In this solo reflection episode, Dr. Mel unpacks her conversation with Sabrina on Designing Your Life and applies it to real-world parenting and family balance.

She shares how a week in the hospital with pneumonia changed her “do-it-all-myself” mindset — and how she’s redesigned her own life ever since:

• Tailoring her work hours to her kids’ school schedule
• Running during soccer practice (parallel play for grown-ups!)
• Moving her therapy practice online to meet modern families where they are
• Asking grandparents to babysit so she and “Mr. Dr. Mel” can actually date again

Then she turns the question back to you: What part of your life doesn’t fit anymore — and what small shift could help you breathe again?

Key Take-Aways:

• Flexibility isn’t failure; it’s wisdom.
• Sanity and connection grow when you stop trying to do it all.
• You get to shape a life that fits your family — not the other way around.

Quick ideas you can try:
Change the carpool. Let the kids scooter beside you while you run. Hire the cleaning help. Order take-out. Breathe.

Listen for:
✨ Humor, honesty, and permission to bend before you break.

• Take five minutes today to notice what’s not fitting anymore — and redesign it.
• Share this episode with a parent who needs permission to loosen the grip, or with someone who modeled flexibility for you.
• Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Real Life with RDU Therapy.

9/30/25

We explore how love can start to look like possession, why “checking in” can turn into “checking up,” and what real emotional freedom looks like between partners, parents, and even friends. Dr. Hayden brings her trademark humor and heart to the conversation, reminding us that true security doesn’t come from control — it comes from trust, self-awareness, and the willingness to let people be who they are.

You’ll laugh, maybe cringe a little (thinking of your own group texts or relationship habits), and walk away with practical insights on how to build connection without control — whether you’re a parent, a partner, or someone learning to love yourself better.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The myth that love equals possession or constant reassurance
• Subtle signs of control in everyday relationships
• How to tell if your need for “security” is really about fear
• What freedom in love looks like — and why it’s actually safer
• Stories and strategies from real therapy and real life

About Our Guest:

Dr. Jessica Hayden is a licensed psychologist, business owner, and triathlete known for her energetic, relatable take on mental health and human connection. She brings equal parts expertise and laughter to every room she’s in — and this episode is no exception.

Follow RDU Therapy:

📱 Instagram: @rdutherapy

🌐 Website: www.rdutherapy.com

9/30/25

In this episode, Dr. Melanie McCabe sits down with Kelly Rusher Sanderford, licensed mental health counselor, mom, and former camp counselor, to explore how lessons from the cabin translate into lifelong emotional skills.

From helping homesick teens find their footing to guiding young adults through anxiety and transition, Kelly shares how play, belonging, and structure form the foundation for emotional regulation — both at camp and in therapy.

Together, they discuss the importance of community-based prevention, how adults can use “camp-style” connection to reach teens, and what it really means to build resilience outside the therapy room.

Key Takeaways:

• How play, belonging, and structure create safe spaces for growth.
• Why community is essential to emotional regulation and resilience.
• How parents, educators, and therapists can bring “camp magic” into daily life.

Learn more at RDUTherapy.com or on Instagram @RDUTherapy

9/30/25

We talk about what it means to move from reactive to intentional, how to simplify the complexity of everyday life, and why clarity is such a powerful tool when you’re juggling kids, work, and everything in between. Sabrina shares her perspective on creating environments — at work and at home — that align with your values and vision, while still leaving room for flexibility and joy.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in survival mode or wondering how to bring more intention into your days, this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped with practical ways to “design your life” in a way that works for you.

9/30/25