In this episode of More Than Words: Treating the Whole Child, Tristen sits down with Dr. Elizabeth (Lisa) Bennett, clinical psychologist at MindWell Psychology, to explore why many children with ADHD thrive when their days include intentional structure, movement, and supportive scheduling.

Dr. Bennett explains ADHD in accessible language—describing executive function as the brain’s “manager” and using memorable analogies to illustrate both hyperactive and inattentive presentations. Together, she and Tristen unpack the phrase “keep ’em busy,” revealing its neurological basis and how movement, motor activity, and the right “gear” help children regulate and succeed.

The conversation also explores research supporting structured activities, including the well-known Iceland Model, which demonstrated dramatic improvements in teen outcomes when communities increased access to supervised extracurriculars. Dr. Bennett and Tristen discuss what this means for younger children, particularly those with ADHD who benefit from consistent, growth-promoting routines.

Blending research, clinical expertise, and personal reflection—including Dr. Bennett’s experience raising a highly active child—this episode offers compassionate, realistic tools for parents seeking balance between structure and overscheduling, as well as thoughtful guidance for families hesitant about ADHD medication.

• What ADHD truly is and why executive function can be thought of as the brain’s “conductor”
• How understanding your child’s “gear” helps you match activities to their energy and attention needs
• The benefits of structured, supervised activities for children’s regulation, mental health, and safety
• How movement-based programs like Taekwondo, swimming, drumming, and performing arts build confidence and focus
• What research tells us about overscheduling vs. healthy involvement
• How parents can identify signs of burnout or overwhelm when schedules become too demanding
• A compassionate framework for thinking about ADHD medication options
• What to do when the “perfect” schedule falls apart — and how those moments still support growth

Dr. Elizabeth (Lisa) Bennett is a licensed clinical psychologist at MindWell Psychology in Chantilly, Virginia. With a professional background that spans preschool education, school psychology, and clinical psychology, she brings a holistic, whole-child perspective to her work with children and adolescents. Dr. Bennett specializes in ADHD, emotional regulation, developmental support, and helping families understand the individualized needs and strengths of their children. Known for her clear analogies and compassionate approach, she empowers families to create structure, balance, and routines that support healthy development.

MindWell Psychology: https://mindwell.us

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The Reading & Language Learning Center

• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
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In this episode of More Than Words, Tristen sits down with Kellie Boyle, LPC, founder of Reprocess Therapy, to talk about two powerful, brain-based therapies: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Brainspotting.

Kellie explains how both methods help children with learning challenges, ADHD, or anxiety quiet the “negative noise,” process early experiences, and build more confident, flexible thinking. She also shares insights on how parents’ own emotions can shape their child’s growth and how staying regulated and self-aware can make all the difference.

• What EMDR and Brainspotting are, and how they work in the brain
• How these therapies help kids reprocess negative self-beliefs
• Signs a child might benefit from EMDR or Brainspotting
• The unique needs of kids and teens with ADHD or learning differences
• How parent anxiety and self-talk can impact a child’s progress
• What a brain-based therapy session looks and feels like for kids
• How parents and professionals can work together to support whole-child growth

Kellie Boyle, LPC, is a licensed therapist and founder of Reprocess Therapy, where she specializes in EMDR and Brainspotting for children, teens, and parents. Her work focuses on helping clients release stuck emotions, reframe negative self-beliefs, and develop clearer, more confident thinking. Kellie frequently supports children with ADHD and learning differences and brings personal insight as a parent of a child diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech. She’s passionate about helping families move from reactivity to resilience, one reprocessed thought at a time.

Kellie’s Practice, Reprocess Therapy: https://www.reprocesstherapy.com/

Kellie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reprocess_therapy/

Kellie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-boyle-41aa156/

• RLLC’s Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
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• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center

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In this episode of More Than Words, host Tristen talks with Susan Danker, co-owner of the Reading and Language Learning Center (RLLC) and co-creator of the Sounds2Print™ Reading Program, which was recently accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).

Susan shares why dyslexia is fundamentally a language-based learning difference, not just a reading issue and how a strong foundation in oral language sets the stage for reading and writing success. Together, they explore what dyslexia looks like long before a child ever begins reading, why speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are uniquely qualified to serve as reading specialists, and how addressing language first is essential for effective literacy intervention.

Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how phonological awareness, vocabulary, and syntax all contribute to reading development and why “language is the soil that reading grows in.”

Topics Covered:

• What dyslexia is and how it affects the brain’s processing of language and print
• Early signs of dyslexia in preschool-aged children
• The critical role of oral language—vocabulary, grammar, and listening—in reading success
• Why speech-language pathologists make exceptional reading specialists
• The importance of phonological awareness as the bridge to literacy
• When children need to strengthen receptive and expressive language before formal reading instruction
• How articulation challenges differ from spelling and decoding difficulties
• Explaining to parents why “strengthening language first” leads to better reading outcomes
• The Sounds2Print™ multisensory reading program and its recent IDA accreditation

About the Guest:

Susan Danker, M.S., CCC-SLP, is the co-owner and co-founder of the Reading and Language Learning Center (RLLC) and co-creator of the Sounds2Print™ Reading Program, recently accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).

A certified speech-language pathologist with more than two decades of experience, Susan specializes in helping children with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences build strong foundations in both oral and written language. At RLLC, she has pioneered approaches that integrate speech-language pathology with structured literacy instruction, empowering SLPs to take the lead in reading intervention.

Susan is passionate about helping professionals and families understand that reading grows out of language and that when we strengthen language first, we give children the foundation they need to become confident, capable readers.

Resources Mentioned:

• International Dyslexia Association – Definition of Dyslexia
• Reading and Language Learning Center
• Sounds2Print™ Reading Program

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• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
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