ON THIS EPISODE OF CYCLE OF HEALTH, WE CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX, THE LAW THAT OPENED A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN AT ANY SCHOOL RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING.

WE TALK WITH A WOMAN LIVING THE DREAMS WHICH THAT LAW DREAMS WHICH THAT LAW ENABLED.

SHE'S AN IRON WOMAN TRIATHLETE AND LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST, WHO NOW HELPS KIDS AND FAMILIES TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES BY FREEING THEIR MINDS AND BODIES FROM UNREALISTIC THINKING.

COMING UP ON CYCLE OF HEALTH.

HELLO!

WELCOME TO CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M DOCTOR RICH O'NEILL.

TONIGHT, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX, THE LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS LAW THAT PROHIBITS ANY SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION IN SCHOOLS WITH FEDERAL FUNDING, INCLUDING IN THEIR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.

TITLE IX CREATED AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD AND OPENED A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE JOINED TONIGHT BY A WOMAN LIVING DREAMS THAT LAW ENABLED.

YOU MAY KNOW HER FROM HER MANY APPEARANCES ON THE LOCAL NEWS.

OR PERHAPS YOU HAVE WORKED WITH HER IN A CLINICAL SETTING.

OR SEEN HER LACING UP HER SNEAKS TO RUN ANOTHER TRIATHLON.

WHEREVER, WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE HER HERE TONIGHT TO LEND ADVICE ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS.

LET'S MEET: DR. TANYA PELLETTIERE, AN IRON WOMAN TRIATHLETE AND LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST AT LIBERTY POST.

DR. PELLETTIERE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S START WITH YOU TELLING US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PSYCHOLOGY YOU SPECIALIZE IN AT LIBERTY POST.

>> SURE.

I AM A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST BY TRAINING ACTUALLY.

AND HAVE DONE MOST OF MY CAREER WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, A VARIETY OF SETTINGS, VARIETY OF AGES.

BUT I HAVE REALLY LEARNED WHO LOVE WORKING WITH THE YOUNGER POPULATION.

SO AT LIBERTY POST, I ENJOY DOING WORK WITH OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> AND DO I KNOW THAT YOU SPECIALIZE IN COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE HAVE HEARD THE TERM.

C.B.T.

COULD YOU DEFINE IT FOR US?

I DOUBT THAT MANY PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS?

>> SIGHTS NOT SOMETHING THAT I ACTUALLY GOT IN MY TRAINING PROGRAM AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST BUT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE REALLY GROWN TO GET SOME EXPERTISE IN OVER TIME.

IT IS THE GOLD STANDARD INTERVENTION FOR THINGS LIKE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND ANGER MANAGEMENT.

AND I USE THOSE TOOLS AND THOSE STRATEGIES TO HELP OUR YOUNGEST POPULATION, TOO.

SO IN BASIC EXPLAN A LITTLE, I THINK THE BEST WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS I TEACH KIDS TOOLS AND STRATEGIES TO CHANGE THEIR THINKING.

>> THEIR COGNITION.

>> THAT'S THE COGNITIVE WORD, IN ORDER TO MANAGE THEIR FEELINGS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW OUR LITTLE ONES HAVE BIG FEELINGS.

AND THEREFORE CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIORS, THE BEHAVIORS THAT MIGHT BE WORRYING THEIR PARENTS OR GETTING IN THE WAY OF SCHOOL.

BOTTOM LINE, THE BEHAVIORS THAT GOT THEM IN THE DOOR.

>> SO IN 1967, A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF KAREN SWITZER RAN AND FINISHED THE FIRST-- SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO FINISH THE BOSTON MARATHON.

AND SHE ALMOST GOT DRAGGED OFF THE FIELD BY A RACE ORGANIZER.

WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT TITLE NINE REALLY CHANGEED THE SOCIETAL COGNITION THAT GIRLS CAN'T DO THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> YEAH, I IMAGINE IT DID NOT DO THAT OVER NIGHT.

YOU KNOW, AS PICTURES LIKE THAT AND STORIES THROUGHOUT THE FIRST DECADE OF THE LAW PROBABLY PORTRAY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH.

>> IT TOOK SOME TIME.

>> I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT I THINK IT'S CHANGED MAJOR THINKING OF WOMEN ATHLETES, WOMEN IN ATHLETICS.

A PARADIGM SHIFT, IF YOU WILL, TO ALLOW WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS, AND TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

IN FACT, I WAS ACTUALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN MY HIGH SCHOOL HAD THEIR FIRST LACROSSE TEAM FOR WOMEN.

SO I WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD WHEN THE LAW WAS ENACTED BUT I DEFINITELY HAVE BENEFITED FROM TITLE IX AND APPRECIATE THE FIGHT THAT THE WOMEN BEFORE ME FOUGHT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR ME.

>> SO IT TOOK SOME YEARS TO FILTER DOWN TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL AND GET LAUNCHED THE LACROSSE TEAM.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ATHLETIC CAREER.

>> WELL, I'M LIKE WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, AN ADULT ONSET ATHLETE.

>> I REFER TO MYSELF THE SAME WAY.

>> I DID DO SOME ATHLETICS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I PLAYED LACROSSE, I PLAYED SOCCER.

MOST OF MY ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE AS A CHILD WAS ON THE STREETS, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> STICK BALL.

>> YEAH, MY ATHLETIC CAREER STARTED WITH MY MID LIFE CRISIS AROUND AGE 40.

I WAS IN THE GYM, TAKING MY FIRST CYCLING CLASS AND I HAD A TRAINER APPROACH PLEA.

I HAD ALREADY BEEN DOING SHORT RUNNING RACES APPROACHED ME AND SAID YOU SHOULD SIGN UP FOR A TRIATHLON.

I SAID WHAT IS THAT?

>> WHAT IS A TRY TRIATHLON.

IT'S THREE SPORTS, YOU START BY SWIMMING, JUMP ON A BIKE AND YOU FINISH WITH A RUNNING RACE.

AND I SAID ALL AT ONCE?

BUT I CAN'T SAY NO TO A CHALLENGE.

I REALLY LIKED THE BIKING AND ENJOY THE THE RUNNING AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS LEARN HOW TO SWIM.

SO I DID THAT AND I DID A BUNCH OF THE SHORTER DISTANCE TRIATHLONS CALLED SPRINTS AND MOVED ON TO INTERMEDIA, DID A HALF AND THEN TOOK THE PLUNGE AND SIGNED UP FOR THE IRON MAN RACE WHICH IS THE LONGEST LENGTH TRIATHLON THAT YOU CAN DO UP IN LAKE PLACID HERE IN NEW YORK.

>> CONGRATULATIONS FIRST OFF I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT.

>> TOUGH TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND BUT ENTHUSIASM.

HOW DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE CROSS OVER TO YOUR WORK AS A PSYCHOLOGIST, WHAT IT TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ANY ASPECT OF LIFE.

WHAT DO THEY SAY?

THAT YOUR SPORTS PERFORMANCE IS 90% MENTAL AND 10% PHYSICAL.

I THINK GETTING THROUGH LIFE AND LIFE'S CHALLENGES IS 90% MENTAL, WHICH IS WHY CBT HAS BEEN SUCH AN AMAZING TOOL FOR ME AS A PROFESSIONAL BUT IT'S A DAILY TOOL FOR ME AS A HUMAN BEING.

NOT ONLY GETTING THROUGH, FORGET ABOUT GETTING THROUGH IRON MAN BUT THE TRAINING WEEK TO WEEK, YOU KNOW, IS A BIG MENTAL CHALLENGE AND BIG MENTAL GAME.

SO I THINK CBT PRINCIPLES AND WHAT HAVE I TO TEACH MY CLIENTS IS WHAT I SHARE WITH MY FRIENDS AND WHAT I USE MYSELF FROM A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

SO I THINK THEY'RE ONE IN THE SAME.

SO YOU REFERRED SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS REALLY KEY TOO YOU SAID YOU USE CBT YOURSELF TO GET THROUGH YOUR TRAINING HOW DID YOU GET YOURSELF GOING WHEN YOU FELT LIKE I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

IT'S COLD OR RAINY.

HOW DID DO YOU THAT.

>> THE CORE OF CBT IS USING EVIDENCE.

WHETHER YOU ARE TRYING TO GEAR UP FOR A SEVEN HOUR BIKE RIDE OR JUST TRYING TO CONVINCE YOURSELF TO ABOUT TO THE GYM THE EVIDENCE I FELT IS HOW GOOD I FELT AT THE END OF THE WORKOUT.

SO-- >> YOU WOULDN'T FOCUS ON LIKE I DO, HOW BAD MY BUTT FEELS AFTER THREE HOURS ON THE BIKE.

>> IX ACTUALLY.

>> THE EVIDENCE THAT I FOCUS ON IS WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ALREADY.

IN FACT, I DID THIS AND I ALWAYS TEACH MY KIDS AND FAMILIES TO DO THIS.

I KEPT A JOURNAL.

I KEPT A JOURNAL OF ALL OF MY SUCCESSFUL TRAINING.

>> I DO THE SAME.

>> AND I TEACH MY KID TO WRITE DOWN THREE GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPEN EVERY DAY BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE CREEPING IN THAT DOUBT AND WE ARE SINKING DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE OF I CAN'T DO THIS WHAT AM I THINKING, I OPEN UP MY JOURNAL AND REMIND MYSELF WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.

SO MY KIDS WHETHER THEY'RE ABOUT TO STEP ON THE ATHLETIC FIELD OR TAKE THE S.A.T.

OR YOU KNOW, WALK INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME,.

>> OR CALL UP THAT GIRL FOR THE FIRST DATE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THAT'S PRETTY TELLING.

I HAVE TO USE THAT ONE.

OPEN UP THE JOURNAL, USE THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE BUILT FOR YOURSELF TO GET MOTIVATED.

>> I KNOW HAVE YOU WORKED WITH KIDS WHO HAVE HAD A SPORTS INJURY AND KIDS ARE AFRAID TO GET BACK ON THE FIELD.

TELL US HOW YOU WOULD DEAL WITH THAT KIND OF A PROBLEM.

>> RECOVERY FROM AN INJURY IS A LOT OF PHYSICAL WORK, REHABILITATION, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND A LOT OF KIDS END UP GETTING CLEARED PHYSICALLY BUT HAVE HIT THAT WALL OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE FIELD, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE COURT, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE BIKE.

>> BECAUSE THE HEAD GO ET CETERA IN THE WAY-- BECAUSE THE HEAD GETS IN THE WAY.

>> THAT FINAL CHALLENGE, THAT FINAL WALL THAT KIDS HAVE TO GET UP TO BECAUSE ALL THEY CAN FOCUS IS ON THE INJURY DAY OR EVENT AND THE SELF DOUBT IS STRONG AND IT CAN BE CHALLENGING TO HELP THEM GET OVER THAT SO GIVING BACK, GOING BACK TO THAT USE OF EVIDENCE, YOU KNOW, I WORK WITH TEENS, I WORK WITH KIDS, YOU KNOW, TO LOOK AT ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE THAT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, IS CONTRADICTORY TO THAT ONE EVENT.

ALL THE GAMES THEY PLAYED, ALL THE PRACTICES THEY GOT THROUGH, ALL OF LIFE'S CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO MUSCLE THROUGH, TO COUNTER BALANCE THE STRENGTH OF THAT ONE DAY THAT ONE EVENT, THAT INJURY THAT IS GETTING IN THE WAY FOR THEM.

>> TAKE THE ATTENTION AWAY FROM THAT ONE GAME, THAT ONE AND PUT IT ON THE BIG PICTURE.

>> YEAH CBT IS ABOUT CHANGING THE NARRATIVE.

IF THE NARRATIVE IS, THE SPORT THE DANGEROUS, I CAN'T DO IT.

I'M GOING TO GET HURT.

WHAT INFORMATION DO WE NEED TO FILTER IN TO THEIR AWARENESS TO HELP THEM CHANGE THE STORY, CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.

>> INTO THE DATA SET.

>> COLLECT A BIGGER DATA SET.

IN GENERAL, WE THINK OF SPORTS HAVING LIKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON KIDS DEVELOPMENT MORE GRIT, MORE DETERMINATION, BETTER SOCIAL SKILLS.

DO YOU SEE SOME NEGATIVE IMPACT ON KIDS SOMETIMES?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I LIKE THOSE REASONS FOR SIGNING YOUR KIDS UP FOR SUPPORTS AND TEACHING THEM PERSEVERANCE AND SPORTSMANSHIP AND TEAMWORK AND TRYING SOMETHING NEW AND PUSHING YOURSELF OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

I THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE FOUNDATION FOR WHY WE SIGN KIDS UP FOR SPORTS.

UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK SOMETIMES THE EMPHASIS SHIFTS A LITTLE BIT THAT SPORTS BECOMES, YOU KNOW, THE PATHWAY TO COLLEGE OR, YOU KNOW, SPORTS BECOMES THE MEANS TO A DIFFERENT END, AND I THINK THAT PLACES AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON CHILDREN BECAUSE, THERE IS THERE GOAL THAT MAY NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED AND WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE HERE AND NOW AND, YOU KNOW, WE LOSE SIGHT OF BEING MINDFUL OF THE PRESENT.

AND WHAT SPORTS AND TEAMWORK WITH BRING TO A CHILD'S OVERALL DEVELOPMENT.

>> AND THE FUN.

>> EXACTLY.

>> WHEN WE WERE KIDS PLAYING ON THE STREET, PLAYING STICK BALL AND FOOTBALL.

I WASN'T THINKING OF GOING TO COLLEGE, I WAS THINKING THAT THIS IS REALLY FUN.

I'M OUT THERE.

>> THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON TEAMWORK AND BUILDING, YOU KNOW, SPORTSMANSHIP AND PERSEVERANCE AND CHALLENGING YOURSELF, NOT DIVISION ONE OR DIVISION 2 AND WHERE AM I GO TOEING PLAY.

>> AND BEATING THE McCUES ACROSS THE STREET THAT HAD THEIR OWN TEAM.

>> AND PARENTS CAN SUCK THE FUN OUT OF SPORTS.

YOU HEAR THE CLICHE OF PARENTS LIVING THROUGH THEIR CHILDREN.

THAT'S A REAL THING AND I THINK IT HAPPENS MORE THAN THE CLICHE WOULD LEAD US TO THINK AND I THINK PARENTS NEED A LITTLE GUIDANCE AND YOU KNOW, HELP TO STEP BACK AND REALLY GET SOME BETTER PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT THEY WANT THE SPORT TO BE FOR THEIR CHILD AND TO, YOU KNOW, ASK THEM, WHAT, WHO DO YOU WANT THEM TO BE AND WHO DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN 10 MINUTES, 10 WEEKS AND 10 YEARS.

IS SPORTS REALLY GOING TO BE A PART OF THINK LIFE AND DO WE NEED TO BACK OFF THIS PRESSURE OF PLAYING, YOU KNOW AT A LEVEL THAT TENDS TO REALLY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ENJOY.

>> YOU READ IN THE PAPER ABOUT PARENTS WHO LIKE SCREAM AT THE REFS OR THEY ARE ON THE COACH ABOUT GET MY KID MORE PLAYING TIME YOUR PARENTS, YOU DEAL WITH PARENTS AND KIDS IN THE ROOM AT THE SAME TIME.

HOW DO YOU TALK WITH PARENTS ABOUT THAT?

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO OUR AUDIENCE IF YOU ARE A PARENT LIKE THAT?

WE ARE OUR CHILDREN'S FIRST TEACHER AND THE MOST ROBUST METHOD OF TEACHING IS ROLE MODELING.

WE CANNOT POSSIBLY ASK OUR CHILDREN TO DO THINGS WE CANNOT DO.

SO IF YOU ARE COMING TO MY OFFICE BECAUSE YOUR CHILD YELLS AND SCREAMS AND TALKS BACK, PLEASE DO NOT YELL AND SCREAM AND TALK ABOUT IN PUBLIC.

>> SOUNDS LIKE COMMON SENSE.

BUT I HAVE A-- IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

YELLING AT YOUR KIDS IS ONLY MODELING YELLING AND IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO YELL LESS, THEN HAVE YOU TO YELL LESS AND THAT GOES IN THE HOME, AT FAMILY GATHERINGS AND ON THE PLAYING FIELD.

>> SO YOU ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WE HAVE TO SET THE EXAMPLE.

>> WE DO.

>> WE HAVE TO BE A REASONABLE HUMAN BEING IN ORDER TO RAISE A REASONABLE HUMAN BEING, SOMEBODY WHO IS TUNED IN TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> THAT'S WHY I LIKE WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND PARENTS TOGETHER BECAUSE WE ARE LEARNING THE TOOLS TOGETHER.

THE PARENTS ARE LEARN CAN THE SAME SET OF CBT TECHNIQUES OR WHATEVER TECHNIQUE WE ARE USING FOR THE PROBLEM AT HAND SO THEY CAN USE THEM IN THEIR DAY TO DAY AND FUNNY BECAUSE A LOT OF PARENTS COME BACK TO ME AND SAY I HAVE BEEN USING THESE SKILLS AND IT'S HELPING ME BE A BETTER CO-WORKER OR-- IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I DELIVER IT IN A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE WAY FOR THE KIDS, THE PARENTS ARE INTERNALIZING THE STRATEGIES, TOO, WHICH IS HELPING THEM IN THEIR LIFE BUT IT'S ALSO HELPING THE PARENT BECOME A BETTER COACH, NO PUN IN TENDED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S DAY TO DAY LIVES.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE A BIG FIVE.

>> YEAH.

>> TELL US THE BIG FIVE OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING THIS DOVETAILS FROM TALKING ABOUT SPORTS AND ATHLETICS BECAUSE GETTING KIDS MOVING IS SO IMPORTANT AND IT IS LIKE THE THUMB OF MY BIG FIVE.

I REALLY DO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY WELL YOU ARE A PSYCHOLOGIST, WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ACTIVITIES AND EXERCISE BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

>> I AGREE.

>> GETTING KIDS TO MOVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME A DAY.

>> WIGGLE A THUMB.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT.

LIKE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SMALLEST.

IT'S THE STRONGEST FINGER.

GETTING THEM EXERCISE AND GETTING THEMENT MOVEMENT, SOME ORGANIZATIONS WILL RECOGNIZE 60 MINUTES A DAY.

IF YOU CAN GET OUT THERE 30 MINUTES A DAY FOR THREE DAYS A WEEK, YOU ARE DOING YOURSELF AND YOUR BODY A BIG FAVOR.

IF YOU CAN DO IT OUTSIDE, BONUS POINTS.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THE BENEFITS OF THAT VITAMIN D ON OUR MOOD AND OUR ABILITY TO TOLERATE.

>> JUST BEING OUT IN THE SUN.

>> THEN I TALK A LOT ABOUT DIET AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO EAT WELL.

I THINK WHAT WE EAT, WE ARE WHAT WE EAT AND I THINK OUR DIET AND OUR NUTRITION ARE SO IMPORTANT AND SO CONNECTED TO OUR OVERALL MOOD AND ENDURANCE AND ABILITY TO TOLERATE LIFE'S FRUSTRATIONS.

THE THIRD IS SLEEP.

SLEEP IS THE MEEFT MOST IMPORTANT REGULATORY THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR BODY.

GETTING A CONSISTENT SCHEDULE, A GOOD AMOUNT OF SLEEP DEFINITELY HELPS WITH MANAGING THOSE BIG FEELINGS.

SCREEN TIME.

BUZZ WORD THESE DAYS BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AND GETTING PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT LIMITS FOR SCREEN TIME ARE SO VERY IMPORTANT.

IT BECAME A REAL BIG CONUNDRUM DURING THE PANDEMIC BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE INTERFAITH WITH SCREENS WITH MINIMUM AND SOCIALIZATION.

AGAIN SOMETHING THAT CAME TO LIGHT EVEN STRONGER DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET KIDS CONNECTED TO THEIR PEERS.

AND HAVE THAT TRIBE AND HAVE THAT GROUP OF CHILDREN THAT THEY CAN SOCIALIZE WITH.

>> SO LET ME SUMMARIZE.

EXERCISE THE WIGGLY THUMB, DIET, SOCIALIZATION, BIG WORD THERE.

SLEEP, WHAT AM I MISSING.

>> LIMITING SCREEN TIME.

>> I DON'T DO MUCH SCREEN TIME SO I'M GOOD AT THAT.

>> THAT'S WHY YOU FORGOT IT.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE SORT OF BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH FOR KIDS PRE-AND NOW INTO THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT WAS SUCH A PRIVILEGE AND SCIENTIFIC PROCESS TO WATCH THIS PANDEMIC UNFOLD AS A PSYCHOLOGIST.

IT WAS QUITE FASCINATING ACTUALLY TO KIND OF WATCH HOW THINGS SHIFTED.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN SOCIALIZATION AND INCREASE-- RIGHT, MY FIVE ARE IMPACTED HERE AND I'M LIKE HOW DO WE RECALIBRATE AND WE REALLY SAW THE EFFECTS BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT MENTAL HEALTH REALLY VARIED BASED ON THE KID, BASED ON THE ISSUE SOY, FOR EXAMPLE, MY KIDS WHO STRUGGLE WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ANXIETY TENDED TO DO WELL DURING THE BEP PANDEMIC.

THEY WERE NOT FORCED INTO SOCIALIZATION EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> THEY WERE NATURALLY AVOIDING THOSE SITUATIONS.

>> THEY WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, AVOID ALL OF WHAT BRINGS THEM THAT ANXIETY AND FOR SOME KIDS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT IT WORKED WITH, WE SAW A REAL IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR OVERALL PERFORMANCE, OVERALL MOOD, OVERALL DEMEANOR.

OF COURSE THEIR REENTRY WAS A LITTLE TOUGHER AND THAT PIECE OF THE CLINICAL PICTURE WAS REALLY ROUGH LIKE GETTING THEM BACK INTO SCHOOL.

KIDS WITH A.D.H.D.

DID BETTER DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEY COULD SELF DIRECT THEIR SCHEDULE.

THEY COULD TAKE THOSE BREAKS, STAND AT THEIR DESKS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF BENEFIT TO THE VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR SOME KIDS OVERALL I WOULD SAY THAT THE GENERAL TOLL HAS BEEN THAT IT'S BEEN A DETRIMENT TO KIDS MENTAL HEALTH.

I THINK FOR MOST CHILDREN THE LACK OF SOARM SOCIALIZATION, THE TEACHING BY SCREEN TOOK ITS TOLL FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.

WE WERE ALREADY AT A CRISIS POINT PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC BUT WE ARE AT AN ALL TIME CRISIS POINT WITH MENTAL HEALTH WITH KIDS.

>> WE HAVE HAD A HUGE NUMBER OF TRAGEDIES IN THE COUNTRY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS: RACE RELATED, GUN RELATED.

FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW AS A PSYCHOLOGIST WORKING WITH FAMILIES, IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE DIRECT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THESE THINGS WITH OUR KIDS?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS YES.

NOW DEVELOPMENTALLY SPEAKING, YOU HAVE TO ADJUST THOSE CONVERSATIONS BRACE BASED ON THE AGE OF YOUR CHILD.

FOR REALLY YOUNG CHILDREN, TURN THE TV OFF AND DON'T HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS BUT FOR THE OLDER KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO OTHER KID, RIDE THE BUS, WATCH, YOU KNOW, EXPOSED TO THESE STORIES, YEAH, I DO THINK THAT THE HONEST CONVERSATION NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT HOME WITH PARENTS.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE BAD PEOPLE OUT THERE.

MY JOB AS A PARENT IS TO KEEP MY CHILDREN SAFE AND TO PROMISE CHILDREN THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO YOUR JOB TO THE GREATEST EXTENT OF YOUR ABILITY.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE HONEST, I DO.

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, KIDS KNOW THAT WE CAN'T PROTECT THEM FROM EVERYBODY.

THEY RUN INTO BULLIES.

THERE ARE BULLIES OUT THERE BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE FOR THEM NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS FOR ME THAT HAS BEEN THE BOTTOM LINE WITH MY KIDS NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, MOM AND I ARE GOING TO BE HERE, WE ARE GOING TO HELP OUT.

YOU CAN COME AND TALK TO US.

>> FOR THE ANXIOUS KIDS, THAT'S WHY I TEACH PARENTS TO HELP THEIR ANXIOUS CHILDREN USE EVIDENCE TO HELP THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S THINK OF OTHER TIMES THAT OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN IN A CONUNDRUM OR HAD A CHALLENGE OR FACED SOMETHING, WHAT ARE THINGS MOM OR DAD DO OR DID DO IN THOSE SITUATIONS TO KEEP YOU SAFETY AND THEN THAT KIND OF, AGAIN, TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.

MY PARENTS DO KEEP ME SAFE BECAUSE THERE IS IS THIS STORY AND THIS STORY AND WE WORK TOGETHER ON THAT YOU OBVIOUSLY LOVE YOUR WORK AND YOU LOVE ATHLETICS AND YOU LOVE YOUR WORK.

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF THIS WORK AS A PSYCHOLOGIST PERSONALLY FOR YOU WHAT DOES IT DO FOR YOU?

WHY GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT TRAINING?

>> I KNOW.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE SNARKY COMMENT.

>> I LIKE SNARKY.

>> DAY TO DAY I'M NOT SURE.

I GET EXHAUSTED AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO LISTEN TO FAMILY AFTER FAMILY AND YOU KNOW, LUCKILY I LIVE OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND I HAVE THIS 30 MINUTE DRIVE TO RECHARGE AND LEAVE IT BEHIND.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S THE EMAIL I GOT LAST WEEK FROM THE THE CHILD OF A WHO HAD SCHOOL PHOBIA, COULDN'T GET HIM TO SCHOOL AT ALL AND IT'S THOSE EMAILS THAT YOUY KNOW, IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, I THINK THAT IS WHAT RECHARGES ME.

>> SO YOU, THEY AND YOU DID THE MARATHON AND THEY GOT THROUGH AND THEY FINISHED AND.

>> I DON'T ALWAYS GET TO SEE THE FINISH LINE SO IT'S NICE WHEN THE PARENT DOES REACH OUT AND YOU KNOW, I HAD A WOMAN WALK UP TO ME, SHE IS A WAITRESS SERVING US FOOD FOR DINNER AND SHE SAYS YOU'RE DOCTOR SO AND SO.

I HAD A DIFFERENT NAME AT THE TIME.

I SAID YEAH SHE SAID I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER ME.

I'M SO AND SO.

I WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE ALIVE IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU.

RIGHT?

SO, YEAH THAT'S WHY.

THAT'S WHAT I GET OUT OF IT, JUST TO KNOW THAT I WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT CHEER LEADER AT ONE PART OF THEIR MARATHON OR TRIATHLON OR LIFE CHALLENGE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR WONDERFUL GUEST AGAIN FOR JOINING US DR. TANYA PELLETTIERE, AN IRON WOMAN TRIATHLETE AND LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST AT LIBERTY POST.

BE SURE TO VISIT WCNY.ORG/CYCLEOFHEALTH TO SEE ADDITIONAL CONTENT, PRIOR EPISODES, AND OUR WEB SERIES CHECKUP FROM OUR NECKUP.

FOR CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M PSYCHOLOGIST DOCTOR RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

ON THE NEXT CYCLE OF HEALTH, WE CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX, THE LAW THAT OPENED A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES FOR WHEN THE SIRS TEM IS DISRUPTED, FAMILY THERAPY CAN SHIFT THE DYNAMICS AND FREE THE MEMBERS.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN IS THE CONVERSATION AS OUR GUESTS EXPLORE THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FAMILIES AND FAMILY THERAPY NEXT ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."