Developmental Health: The Problem with Teaching a Man to Fish

Developmental Health: The Problem with Teaching a Man to Fish

What if the best way to create a good fisherman wasn’t just by teaching him to fish but rather by going fishing with them? When it comes to the overall well-being of adolescents, focusing on development from an experiential perspective is so important to help them become who they want to be. Today on The Reframe, we welcome Executive Director at NeuroDev, Cam Sherman, to discuss the concept of developmental health. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Cam’s career, what led him to what he does now, why he wants to bring awareness to developmental health, what it is, and so much more! We delve into the imperative third step of the metaphor of teaching a man to fish before discussing why Cam believes the extracurriculars in college are the curriculum, why the application of knowledge is far more important than the acquisition of knowledge, and how NeuroDev supports its students in gaining confidence through experience. Cam delves into why developmental health is so relevant today, ‘learned helplessness’, how we can combat this phenomenon, and when standardization in medicine and mental health care is problematic. He even talks about why intellectualizing doesn’t lead to growth and shares a call to action for how other institutions and parents of young adults can move towards active learning through ‘unlearning’. Finally, our guest touches on the danger of holding onto control as a parent of a young adult. To hear all this and so much more, be sure to press play now!  Key Points From This Episode: * Welcoming Cam Sherman to the show.  * A definition of what developmental health is.  * Cam tells us what NeuroDev is and what they do.  * The power of learning alongside more experienced people.  * Why college is valuable for both education and experience.  * Steps NeuroDev takes to give students confidence through experience. * Why developmental health is so relevant for this generation.  * The phenomenon of ‘learned helplessness’ and how to combat this. * Cam’s concerns about standardization in medicine and mental health treatment.  * What institutions can do to improve the skill of active learning.  * How parents can support their adult children and improve their stress tolerance.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Cam Sherman on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cambron-sherman-94b32b226/] Cam Sherman on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cambron.s/] NeuroDev [https://neurodev.circle.so/neurodev-home-page] ‘How to Support Young People on the Road to Adulthood’ [https://www.apa.org/monitor/2026/06/emerging-adulthood-housing-labor-market-climate]  Douglas Bodin [https://thebodingroup.com/dougbodin] The Bodin Group [https://thebodingroup.com/]

Beyond Beer, Barbecues, and Buffoonery: Valuing Fatherhood in Therapy with Hilary Moses

With Father’s Day coming up, it’s important to acknowledge the essential role fathers play in the family dynamic and to reframe the stereotypical picture society has painted of fathers. Today on The Reframe, we welcome Hilary Moses, owner and parent coach at Solutions Family Support, for a conversation about how fathers can be valued in therapeutic spaces despite cultural narratives that often devalue them. Together, they explore the persistent stereotype of fathers as unintelligent, unempathetic, or incompetent "buffoons," and discuss the impact these assumptions can have on families, parenting, and clinical practice. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about the cultural narrative framed around fathers and how society perpetuates that, how Hilary is prioritizing reframing these narratives in her therapeutic environments, how therapists can challenge their own biased viewpoints, and more! We delve into the infantilization of fathers, the role women play in that, and the danger of perceiving men as a burden to the household before discussing the power of women seeing their husbands’ strengths as fathers. Hilary goes on to share therapeutic tools professionals can leverage to help deconstruct these stereotypes and support change within these dynamics. She also shares her thoughts on gentle parenting and how it may perpetuate stereotypes. Finally, Hilary discusses some action steps that therapeutic practitioners can implement to move the needle on these issues. Key Points From This Episode: * Welcoming Hilary Moses to this episode of The Reframe.  * The cultural narrative surrounding fathers vs. mothers.  * How Hilary navigates reframing these stereotypical roles in therapy.  * Biases therapists may have about fathers and how they can be aware of that.  * The effects of a father’s depression on his children and what may cause it.  * How the infantilization of fathers plays out within the family dynamic.  * The importance of women seeing their husband’s ‘superpowers’ as a father.  * How we can support change within this dynamic and deconstruct stereotypes.  * Our guest shares her thoughts on gentle parenting and how it discounts the father’s role.  * Action steps to take within therapeutic environments to better value fatherhood.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Hilary Moses on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilary-moses-9499401/] Solutions Family Support [https://solutionsfamilysupport.com/] Douglas Bodin [https://thebodingroup.com/dougbodin] The Bodin Group [https://thebodingroup.com/]

Experience-Dependent Neuroplasticity: The Key to Resilient Brains with Dr. Danny Recio and Dr. Heather Tracy

Convenience can make life easier, but it can also prevent the kinds of experiences people need in order to grow. In this episode of The Reframe, Doug Bodin is joined by co-host Dr. Heather Tracy, co-founder and executive director of New Summit Academy and The Bridge Young Adult Gap Program in Costa Rica. They sit down with Dr. Danny Recio, who co-founded both initiatives with Dr. Tracy, to explore how experience shapes the brain and why many young people are struggling despite having more comfort and convenience than previous generations. The conversation unpacks the science of experience-dependent neuroplasticity and explains why challenge, repetition, embodiment, and relevance are essential for learning and long-term growth. Together, they examine how technology and convenience may be contributing to “experiential deprivation” and why shielding young people from discomfort can unintentionally weaken resilience, agency, and self-trust. They also reflect on the work being done at The Bridge, where students are encouraged to engage with real-world challenges in supportive environments that allow room for experimentation and growth. Tune in for an insightful breakdown of neuroplasticity, resilience, and the power of meaningful learning. Key Points From This Episode: * Introducing co-host Dr. Heather Tracy and guest Dr. Danny Recio. * What experience-dependent neuroplasticity means in practice. * How experience reshapes the brain throughout life. * Why screen-based living can limit meaningful learning experiences. * Key factors for brain development: time, repetition, relevance, embodiment, and challenge. * The difference between behavioral approaches and experiential learning. * What AI research and neuroscience reveal about learning through trial and error. * Why protecting kids from failure may undermine resilience. * The rise of “experiential deprivation” among young people. * How convenience and technology can reduce opportunities for growth and resilience. * Reflections on findings from The Mental State of the World Survey. * Creating “life laboratories” where young adults can safely explore and fail. * How experiential learning helps build resilience, agency, and self-trust. * Research insights from alumni of The Bridge program. * Using supportive immersion to balance challenge and guidance. * The six mechanisms of change behind experiential growth at The Bridge. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Dr. Heather Tracy [https://www.bridgeyoungadults.com/heather-tracy.html] Dr. Heather Tracy on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/htracy] Dr. Danny Recio [https://www.bridgeyoungadults.com/danny-bio.html] Dr. Danny Recio on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-recio-ph-d-ba727423b/] New Summit Academy [https://www.newsummitacademy.com/]  The Bridge [https://www.bridgeyoungadults.com/] The Mental State of the World Report [https://mentalstateoftheworld.report/] Douglas Bodin [https://thebodingroup.com/dougbodin] The Bodin Group [https://thebodingroup.com/]

Treatment Architecture Then and Now: A Conversation with Dr. Laura Dunn and Doug Bodin

Mental health treatment for young people has changed dramatically over the last two decades, but are today’s approaches helping or unintentionally keeping families stuck? In this episode of The Reframe, host Doug Bodin is joined by Dr. Laura Dunn, Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Director of the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute, for a thoughtful conversation about the evolving landscape of adolescent and young adult mental health care. Dr. Dunn also happens to be Doug’s sister, bringing an added layer of familiarity and candor to the discussion. Drawing on decades of experience and their shared background in family systems thinking, Doug and Dr. Dunn explore the rise of “slow motion crises” among young people, the impact of technology and overaccommodation, and why families often struggle to recognize when support has turned into enabling. They also discuss the evolution of therapeutic consulting, shifting cultural attitudes around mental health, the value of experiential and mentoring-based interventions, and why building confidence often starts with helping young people reconnect with the real world. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation about parenting, treatment, and the changing architecture of care. Key Points From This Episode: * Introducing Dr. Laura Dunn and her perspective on modern mental health care. * Why therapeutic consulting requires a “360-degree” family systems approach. * How family systems often get overlooked in traditional treatment models. * Why many clinicians struggle to address family dynamics in practice. * Acting in vs. acting out: how adolescent behavior has shifted over time. * From risk-taking to isolation: the rise of “slow motion” crises. * How technology and the pandemic reshaped adolescent development. * Hope and fear: the “twin pillars” of codependency in families. * The growing challenge of “failure to launch” in young adults. * Why overaccommodation can unintentionally keep young adults stuck. * The role discomfort and autonomy play in building resilience. * How “slow motion relational interventions” help families create change. * Why consistency, cohesion, and accountability matter for parents. * The debate around overdiagnosis, accommodations, and mental health treatment. * How mental health labels can become part of a young person’s identity. * Key ways mentoring helps young people build confidence through real-world action. * What was lost in the decline of wilderness therapy programs. * Why treatment works best as part of a larger long-term care blueprint. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Laura Dunn on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/geriatricpsych/] Douglas Bodin [https://thebodingroup.com/dougbodin] The Bodin Group [https://thebodingroup.com/]

The Pressure to Perform: Balancing Resilience and Accommodation with Dr. Leena Khanzode

How do parents support anxious, high-achieving teens without turning childhood into another project? In this episode of The Reframe, host Doug Bodin sits down with Dr. Leena Khanzode to discuss the pressures adolescents face in today’s materialist and high-achieving world. Dr. Khanzode is an adjunct clinical faculty member at Stanford University and the founder and president of Taarika Foundation, where she supports youth mental health through education, awareness, and resilience-building programs. During their conversation, Dr. Khanzode shares her perspective on the intense pressure many adolescents face and how elite college admissions can shape a teen’s sense of identity and self-worth. She delves into how the pressure has shifted over time, the role of cultural expectations, parent-child dynamics, mental health treatment, and the growing reliance on accommodations. They also discuss how parents can move away from fixing and performing, listen more deeply, and support teens in building resilience without ignoring mental health needs. Tune in to learn about achievement culture, parenting, therapy, accommodations, and how families can reframe success in a more balanced and emotionally healthy way with Dr. Leena Khanzode. Key Points From This Episode: * Background about Dr. Khanzode and the work she does with adolescents and families. * Learn what adolescent pressures Dr. Khanzode sees most often in Silicon Valley. * How pressure has shifted from parents pushing teens to teens pushing themselves. * Explore why some high-achieving parents can start treating their children like projects. * Find out how pressure can extend into activities, therapy, and mental health treatment. * Why there is no quick fix for a struggling teen, and why the parents’ involvement is key. * Hear how Dr. Khanzode’s background informs her view of education and success. * Dr. Khanzode shares lessons from parenting her own daughter through high school. * Understand how college admissions pressure affects both parents and teens. * Insights into her approach to helping parents realign their expectations with their kids. * Unpack how mental health awareness can sometimes negatively impact teens.  * The ways over-accommodation can affect teens’ perseverance, resilience, and coping skills. * Discover how Taarika Foundation supports youth mental health awareness and resilience. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Dr. Leena Khanzode [https://taarika.foundation/about-us/our-board-members/] Dr. Leena Khanzode on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leena-khanzode-5249891b4/] Stanford University School of Medicine [https://med.stanford.edu/] Taarika Foundation [https://taarika.foundation/] Mindful, Beautiful, and Thriving Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/2mEHeUet0QkIpTIljIpQUi] Supporting the Whole Child on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@supportingthewholechild5247] Douglas Bodin [https://thebodingroup.com/dougbodin] The Bodin Group [https://thebodingroup.com/]