The Summit Emotional Health Podcast

Summer Series with Teresa Vossen: Balancing Play, Rest, Growth, and Connection

Dr. Matt Bitsko welcomes back Teresa Vossen for the second episode of our Summer Series! Throughout this series, we’ll explore how to make the most of summer vacations, camps, and activities while moving through the seasonal transition with our kiddos in a way that feels smooth and manageable. In addition to exploring play, rest, growth, and connection, Teresa offers valuable insights on parent regulation. She reminds us that when parents refill their own cup, they are better equipped to handle challenges, stay connected, and support their children’s self-regulation.

Summer Series with Ashley Morck: Balancing Play, Rest, Growth, and Connection

Dr. Matt Bitsko welcomes back Ashley Morck to kick off the first episode of our Summer Series! Throughout the series, we’ll explore how to make the most of summer vacations, camps, and activities while navigating the seasonal transition with our kiddos in a way that feels smooth and manageable. In this episode, Ashley shares tips and activities to create a meaningful summer for your family and encourages parents to embrace a rhythm that works for them — balancing play, rest, growth, and connection without the pressure of perfection.

Relationship Boundaries with Bruce Hammond

In this week’s episode, Matt speaks with licensed clinical social worker Bruce Hammond to explore how boundaries shape our relationships. Bruce explains why boundaries matter, how developing them can bring greater balance both in your relationships and within yourself, and how they contribute to a deeper sense of emotional ease in everyday life.

Executive Functioning with Ashley Morck

In this episode, Matt speaks with educational therapist and consultant Ashley Morck, who shares insights into the field of educational therapy and her focus on executive functioning supports for families and students. These skills can help children plan, stay organized, and follow through on tasks. Ashley emphasizes a strengths-based approach, supporting each child in ways that build independence and confidence across a variety of environments. She also shares simple, practical tools that parents can use at home to better support their child’s social-emotional growth.

One-on-One Time Between Children and Caregivers with Sarah Harvey

This episode, Matt sits down with licensed professional counselor Sarah Harvey to talk about the importance of one-on-one time with children and their caregivers. Sarah explains how giving kids focused, positive attention can strengthen relationships, build trust, and improve behavior. She also shares practical strategies and everyday examples parents can use to intentionally connect with their children and build healthier family dynamics. Resources Mentioned:  NPR Article https://www.npr.org/2022/10/13/1128737199/the-5-minute-daily-playtime-ritual-that-can-get-your-kids-to-listen-better [https://www.npr.org/2022/10/13/1128737199/the-5-minute-daily-playtime-ritual-that-can-get-your-kids-to-listen-better] Seattle Children's Hospital FAST Parenting Workbooks For Children Ages 5-12: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/globalassets/documents/healthcare-professionals/pal/fast/fast-b-caregiver-workbook.pdf [https://www.seattlechildrens.org/globalassets/documents/healthcare-professionals/pal/fast/fast-b-caregiver-workbook.pdf] For Teens: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/globalassets/documents/healthcare-professionals/pal/fast/fast-parenting-teens-workbook.pdf [https://www.seattlechildrens.org/globalassets/documents/healthcare-professionals/pal/fast/fast-parenting-teens-workbook.pdf]