Real Life with RDU Therapy

Behind the Decisions: How Local Policy Shapes Your Family’s Mental Health

Today’s conversation goes beyond the therapy room and into the decisions shaping mental health at a community level. 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 [https://www.instagram.com/emilywkingphd/] Website: learnwithemily.com [https://www.learnwithdremily.com/] Find me,  https://substack.com/@drmelaniemccabe [https://substack.com/@drmelaniemccabe] website: DrMelanieMcCabe.com Website: RDUTherapy.com  Instagram: @drmelaniemccabe [https://www.instagram.com/dr_melanie_mccabe/] 9/30/25

Your Athlete’s Concussion Isn’t Treated Like It Was 10 Years Ago

If your child is an athlete, this is information you cannot afford to miss. 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has changed significantly over the last decade, yet many parents, coaches, and even athletes are still following outdated advice that can delay recovery.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 [https://orthonc.com/who-we-are/physicians/dr-paul-cohen] Instagram: @theconcussiondoc More from me: • https://rdutherapy.com [https://rdutherapy.com/] • https://drmelaniemccabe.com [https://drmelaniemccabe.com/] Instagram: @drmelaniemccabe @RDUTherapy 9/30/25

ADHD in Women: How Neurodivergent Women Can Thrive Not Just Survive with Peyton Gemmell

What does ADHD actually look like in women and why are so many high functioning, successful women just now getting diagnosed? 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/ [https://www.lightmindedot.com/] Instagram: https://instagram.com/lightminded.ot [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

Purity Culture, Sex, and Relationships: Healing Together with Jeremiah Gibson and Julia Postema

What happens when the messages you learned about sex, gender, and relationships long before adulthood still shape the way you connect today? 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/ [https://www.letshealtogether.org/] Instagram: @sexvangelicals Podcast: Sexvangelicals Connect with Dr. Melanie McCabe / RDU Therapy https://rdutherapy.com/ [https://rdutherapy.com/] https://drmelaniemccabe.com/ [https://drmelaniemccabe.com/] Instagram: @dr_melanie_mccabe and @rdu.therapy  9/30/25

Dr. Matt on Gifted and Neurodivergent Kids: Emotional Intensity, ADHD, and Twice-Exceptional Truths

What if your “gifted” child is not just advanced, but overwhelmed, misunderstood, or struggling in ways no one is talking about? 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 [https://www.theneurodiversitycollective.com/] Book Dr. Matt for speaking and trainings: https://www.drmattzakreski.com [https://www.drmattzakreski.com/] Get the book The Neurodiversity Playbook: https://www.amazon.com [https://www.amazon.com/] Learn more about Dr. Melanie McCabe and RDU Therapy: https://www.rdutherapy.com [https://www.rdutherapy.com/] https://www.drmelaniemccabe.com Follow along on Instagram: @drmelaniemccabe 9/30/25