Look for the Helpers, a podcast by Engage Therapy

When a Child Changes Overnight: A Pediatrician Explains PANS, PANDAS & Inflammation | Conejo Valley

Episode Summary What if your child changed overnight—emotionally, behaviorally, or cognitively? In this episode, pediatrician Dr. Tanya Altmann explains how infections and inflammation can trigger sudden neuropsychiatric symptoms in children, and why early recognition matters. This conversation offers parents and clinicians a grounded, compassionate lens for understanding complex cases where mental health and physical health overlap. Topics Covered * PANS & PANDAS explained in plain language * Signs that behavior changes may be medically driven * Why parents are often the first to notice something is wrong * The role of sleep, nutrition, and nervous system regulation * When to involve pediatricians, therapists, and specialists About the Guest Dr. Tanya Altmann is a pediatrician with Calabasas Pediatric Wellness Center, specializing in integrative and relationship-based pediatric care for families in the Conejo Valley. You an find her practice at https://calabasaspeds.com/ [https://calabasaspeds.com/] and her website for at https://www.drtanya.com/ [https://www.drtanya.com/] Engage Therapy and Engage Treatment is a practice located in Westlake Village and Agoura Hills and provides IOP level of care for youth. Our website can be found at https://www.engagetherapy.com [https://www.engagetherapy.com] Chapters00:00 Why sudden behavior changes matter03:30 When symptoms don’t fit one explanation07:00 PANS & PANDAS explained14:00 Infections, inflammation, and the brain23:00 Why pediatricians and therapists must collaborate35:00 Supporting the whole child and family42:30 Where parents can start

Psychiatry, Medication, and Trust: An Integrative Approach with a Calabasas Psychiatrist

In this episode of Look for the Helpers, we welcome Dr. Rob Feeley, psychiatrist and Medical Director at Engage Therapy, for a wide-ranging conversation about medication, trauma, and trust in mental health care. Dr. Feeley discusses why psychiatry is about far more than prescriptions, how misconceptions about medication take root, and how he works collaboratively with clients and families who may feel hesitant or afraid. He also shares his personal journey into neuroscience, meditation, and Buddhist philosophy—and how those practices inform his clinical work today. This episode offers a grounded, compassionate look at psychiatric care for families navigating anxiety, trauma, and complex mental health decisions. You can learn more about Engage Therapy at https://www.engagetherapy.com [https://www.engagetherapy.com] and reach Dr. Feeley's practice at https://robfeeleymd.com/ [https://robfeeleymd.com/] 0:00 – Why medication conversations feel so scary 3:10 – Dr. Fey’s path into psychiatry 7:45 – Buddhism, neuroscience, and mental health 12:30 – Medication myths and misconceptions 18:40 – Trauma, psychiatry, and safety 26:15 – Working with families and adolescents 33:50 – COVID, young adults, and self-worth 42:10 – Integrating mindfulness into daily life 55:00 – What it really means to “look for the helpers”

Empathy as a Leadership Strategy | Ajit Dodani on Belonging, Burnout, and Self-Awareness

🎧 Podcast Show Notes Episode Summary In this episode, Engage Therapy host Dr. Blake Brisbois welcome Ajit Dodani for a grounded conversation about empathy—not as a soft skill, but as a learned leadership strategy. Ajit reflects on immigration, trauma, and corporate leadership, sharing how self-awareness and emotional regulation shape healthy families, workplaces, and communities. Key Themes * Empathy as a skill that can be practiced * The cost of emotional dysregulation in families and organizations * Burnout, boundaries, and sustainable leadership * Supporting neurodiverse individuals at work and at home * Creating cultures where people feel safe to belong About the Guest Ajit Dodani is an empathy strategist and former CFO based in West Hills, California who advises organizations on leadership, trust, and human-centered systems. His work bridges business performance with emotional intelligence and belonging. You can find him and his company, Empathify-U, at www.empathifyu.com [https://www.empathifyu.com] About the Podcast Look for the Helpers is a YouTube-first podcast by Engage Therapy, highlighting local helpers and conversations that support families in the Conejo Valley and surrounding communities. You can find Engage Therapy and Engage Treatment at www.engagetherapy.com [https://www.engagetherapy.com] ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Ajit’s early experiences with empathy and emotional suppression 05:00 – From CFO to empathy strategist 12:00 – Trauma, PTSD, and post-traumatic growth 20:00 – Emotional regulation in families and workplaces 30:00 – Burnout, boundaries, and self-awareness 40:00 – Neurodiversity, inclusion, and leadership systems 52:00 – Why empathy matters for future generations

Threat Assessment & School Safety in the Conejo Valley | Robert Scholz, LMFT (Westlake Village)

In this episode of Look for the Helpers, a podcast by Engage Therapy, Adelina Brisbois, LMFT and Dr. Blake Brisbois sit down with Robert Scholz, LMFT—founder of The Change Place in Westlake Village—to talk about threat assessment, school safety, and how helpers make careful decisions when fear and urgency are in the room. Robert is a speaker, author, national trainer, and former Clinical Director at Engage Therapy (now a consultant). He shares howstrong “systems” support better judgment, why protective factors deserve as much attention as risk factors, and how schools and communities can respond in ways that reduce harm and increase real support.   Content note: This episode includes discussion related toviolence risk, suicidal/homicidal concerns, and school safety.   Key topics: * Why teams need a clear system for assessing risk * Risk factors vs. protective factors (and why both matter) * The harm of labeling kids—and the role of curiosity * Supporting parents who feel anxious about safety * Talking with kids in developmentally appropriate ways * When to call in emergency support   Guest: Robert Scholz, LMFT (The Change Place, Westlake Village) Website: www.roberttherapy.com [www.roberttherapy.com]   Engage Therapy: www.engagetherapy.com [www.engagetherapy.com] Serving families in Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Malibu, Simi Valley, Moorpark, and Camarillo.   Disclaimer: This podcast is for education and is not a substitute for therapy or crisis care. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for immediate mental health support.

Understanding OCD in Kids and Adults | Andrew Cohen, LMFT of Cohen OCD Therapy (Conejo Valley)

In this episode of Look for the Helpers, Adelina Brisbois, LMFT speaks with Andrew Cohen, LMFT, a Westlake Village–based therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders. Andrew is the co-founder of Cohen OCD Therapy, which he runs with his wife, Danielle Cohen, LMFT. Their practice serves children, teens, adults, and families throughout the Conejo Valley using evidence-based approaches, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Andrew shares both personal and professional insight into: * What OCD actually looks like beyond stereotypes * Why reassurance can unintentionally strengthen anxiety * How families can reduce accommodation while staying supportive * What helps kids build resilience when facing uncertainty ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Andrew’s journey into OCD work 05:10 – What OCD really is (and what it isn’t) 11:30 – Obsessions, compulsions, and the anxiety cycle 22:45 – Reassurance, accommodation, and family dynamics 36:00 – ERP and learning to tolerate uncertainty 54:30 – PANS/PANDAS and sudden-onset OCD 01:03:00 – Why early recognition matters 01:08:00 – Community impact and closing reflections This episode offers grounded education and hope for families navigating OCD and anxiety. Learn more at www.cohenocdtherapy.com. [www.cohenocdtherapy.com] https://www.engagetherapy.com