On and Off The Spectrum
How do families react, respond and reorganize after receiving a potentially life altering physical or mental health diagnosis, either for themselves or for someone they love? Dr. Esther Hess and Dr. Ann Kirsch, two experienced and well-known psychotherapists offer strategies, guidance and realistic hope through some of the toughest times that families can face.
Episodes
39 episodes
A Vision Beyond Politics: Helping the special-needs community launch in Northern California
Dr Hess and Kirsch sat down with two very special guests: Congressional candidate Melissa Hernandez and sunflower Hill foundation founder Susan Houghton. Learn how these two forward thinking women joined forces to create both affordable housing...
Ellemercito Learning Community: A very special neurotypical/neurodivergent schoolhouse that teaches to the child
Drs. Hess and Kirsch had the pleasure of speaking to Lizette Valles, a teacher who has created a school that addresses the emotional/social needs of children and adolescents and then creates an individual curriculum that matches the strength of...
Up close and personal: Getting to know Dr. Ann Kirsch
A casual interview with Dr. Ann Kirsch
Overcoming Cultural Definitions of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Drs. Hess and Kirsch sat down with Khushi Khandelwal to discuss her experiences of receiving a diagnosis of ADHD in India and how that diagnosis and communal expectation change when she moved to the UK and received the additional diagnosis of a...
When Forgiveness is Extra Hard: An Expanded Conversation with Rabbi Yisrael Bernath
The podcast episode features Dr. Estie Hess, Dr. Ann Kirsch, and Rabbi Yisrael Barnath discussing the complex topic of forgiveness, particularly in the context of parenting children with developmental delays or disabilities.
Advances in Autism Research in Israel
Professor Boaz Barak joins Drs. Hess and Kirsch in a fascinating discussion regarding the various advancements in autism research that have come out of the state of Israel. Strategies discussed include a neuro-divergent army platoon in the Isra...
Podiatry for the special needs community
Dr. Estie Hess met with Dr. Mary Schuh-Clark, who described her volunteer activities as a podiatrist for the Southern California Special Olympics. The discussion let to how clinical staff are better prepared for working with a neuro-diverse pop...
Al in the Classroom: The Benefits and the Challenges
Drs. Hess and Kirsch have a very passionate discussion about the realities of AI in the classroom and its effect on the capacity for our Nation's children to learn and be creative.
The Need for Certified Divorce Coaches in the Neuro-Diverse Community
Drs. Hess and Kirsch meet with Mary Ann Hughes, a certified divorce coach for the neuro-diverse community, who describes her role as a mediator to assist families who are ending partnerships but need support so that they can continue to partner...
Guerilla Mode: Neuro-divergent strategies for a neuro-typical world
Drs. Hess and Kirsch speak with Ella Dawley about the workbook that she has created that addresses the needs of both neuro-divergent and neuro-typical young adults as they navigate workplace, school and interpersonal challenges. Issues address ...
Overcoming Being Underestimated
Drs. Hess and Kirsch meet up with Mary and Ryan Heller, a remarkable mother/son team. Mary believed in her son's innate intelligence despite a severe diagnosis of autism level 3. But even she was blown away when her son's world opened up with s...
The Forgiveness Experiment
Drs. Hess and Kirsch sit down with author Rabbi Yisrael Barneth as he describes his own process of writing a book that fundamentally offers a self-reflective strategy to forgive those in our lives who have done us wrong, be it another person, s...
Unsuccessful Suicide: The Long Road to Recovery - Part 2
Drs. Hess and Kirsch sit down for a very frank discussion with Avraham Zeren, a former soldier in the Israel Defense Force. Avraham speaks openly about the course of severe PTSD that resulted in an unsuccessful suicide attempt and the long road...
Unsuccessful Suicide: The Long Road to Recovery - Part 1
Drs. Hess and Kirsch sit down for a very frank discussion with Avraham Zeren, a former soldier in the Israel Defense Force. Avraham speaks openly about the course of severe PTSD that resulted in an unsuccessful suicide attempt and the long road...
A Field Trip: The Hospital of Emotions
Drs. Hess and Kirsch have an adventure to share with their viewing audience. A visit to a pop-up art Exhibit, the Hospital of Emotions in downtown Los Angeles, is an experience not to be missed.------------------A Temporary Pop-U...
Overcoming Learning Disabilities on Route to a PhD
Drs. Hess and Kirsch interview Dr. Madeline Wolf as she shares her life story. Inhibited by lifelong learning disabilities and stuttering, she was nonetheless a person of grit and determination. She met an educational therapist in graduate scho...
Understanding and Treating Porn Addiction on the Internet - Part 2
This episode is the second part of Drs. Hess and Kirsch discussion with expert Naomi Afriat, LCSW, on the timely and understandable disconcerting subject of internet porn addiction; it's origins, impact on individual and family life and course ...
Understanding and Treating Porn Addiction on the Internet - Part 1
Drs. Hess and Kirsch discuss the timely and understandable disconcerting subject of internet porn addiction; it's origins, impact on individual and family life and course of treatment with leading expert in the field, Dr. Naomi Afriat. Tonight ...
Where Have All The Male Therapists Gone?
Drs. Hess and Kirsch sit down with Dr. Seth Kurzban, a community mental health social worker. based in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Kurzban approaches this question from his own personal and professional experience and relates the way children are bein...
An Inclusive House of Worship: Our Conversation with Pastor Joshua Hernandez Montoya
Drs. Hess and Kirsch sit down this evening with pastor Joshua Hernandez Montoya who leads God's Pueblo; a bi-lingual, inclusive and all inviting Christian church that offers support to the neuro-divergent community, to those who are gender flui...
Dr. Laura Hernandez: A Pediatrician Who Meets Her Patients Where They're At
Drs. Hess and Kirsch sit down with Dr. Laura Hernandez, a very knowledgeable and thoughtful pediatrician, addressing the complexities of raising today's child. She also addresses her experience as a clinician of color and how her patients ackno...
Think Again Foundation: A Foundation of Hope for Families with Children Recovering from Cancer
Drs. Hess and Kirsch interview Dr. Patty Kerrigan, founder and CEO of Think Again Foundation. An organization that offers families the necessary support services during and following recovery from cancer treatment.
The Relief of a Mid-life Diagnosis of ADHD
In this episode of On and Off the Spectrum, David Richmond joins Drs. Hess and Kirsch from the UK to share his deeply personal journey toward a mid-life diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. For years, David lived with patterns...
Overcoming oral defensiveness: Supporting the neuro-diverse dental patient
Drs. Hess and Kirsch meet with pediatric dentists Bernard Gross and Michael Kleinman who offer tips and strategies to support the special needs child and their parents navigating oral phobias and sensory sensitivities.
Binge Eating Disorder: Discovery and recovery
Drs. Hess and Kirsch sit down with Ilana Zackon with a candid conversation about her own experiences with Binge Eating Disorder. She enlightens the audience to how common eating disorders are ignored or misdiagnosed and how she fought her way b...