Look for the Helpers, a podcast by Engage Therapy

About Look for the Helpers, a podcast by Engage Therapy

Look for the Helpers is a podcast by Engage Therapy, a clinician-owned, clinician-led mental health practice serving youth and families in the Conejo Valley. In each episode, Engage clinicians talk with local helpers — therapists, educators, medical providers, coaches, and other community professionals — about what families and young people actually need. This podcast offers calm, honest conversations about mental health, development, and support in our local community. https://engagetherapy.com

Publisher

Engage Therapy I Engage Treatment

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Jan 2026

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Let Your Kid Do the Hard Thing — Raising Confident Kids with Lori Allen, LMFT (Conejo Valley)

   What if the most loving thing you can do as a parent is hold the line? Local marriage and family therapist Lori Allen, LMFT, owner of Village Wellness in the Conejo Valley, joins Adelina Brisbois, LMFT, on Look for the Helpers for an honest, practical conversation about raising confident, resilient kids. They get into why the kids who feel least loved are often the ones whose parents set the fewest limits, how "calmer, quieter, closer" turns a blow-up into a conversation, and why your real job is to tolerate the discomfort you so badly want to fix for them. They also talk about confidence that starts in pregnancy and infancy, why "you can do everything right and your kid still struggles" doesn't mean you failed, compassion AND consequences, why you should let your kids see you cry, the Stanford "How to Raise an Adult" problem, and co-parenting when you're on different pages. And Lori tells the story of her own son, who had childhood apraxia of speech, couldn't be understood until kindergarten, and now reads the announcements over the middle-school loudspeaker. Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:23 Meet Lori Allen and Village Wellness 5:23 The trauma and domestic-violence background that shapes the work 7:12 Confidence starts in pregnancy and infancy 8:13 "You did everything right and your kid still struggles" 9:23 The culture of fixing fast 13:53 Compassion AND consequences 16:43 "Calmer, quieter, closer" 20:23 Why kids feel unloved when we don't hold the line 23:23 Please cry in front of your kids 29:53 Youth sports: modeling for kids 40:06 Mindful Beginnings, attachment, and unconscious repeating 47:45 The son who couldn't speak, and now does the announcements 56:52 Collaborative care, aftercare, and why we refer Guest: Lori Allen, LMFT, Village Wellness (Thousand Oaks / Westlake Village) · Instagram @villagewellnesscounseling · https://www.villagewellnesscounseling.com/ Watch the video episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFcMbOphIp8 Episode page and transcript: https://engagetherapy.com/podcasts/holding-the-line-is-love-lori-allen/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep11 Look for the Helpers is a podcast by Engage Therapy, highlighting the people and resources supporting families across the Conejo Valley, including Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, and nearby. Our Engage Treatment Program offers intensive outpatient care for preteens, teens, and young adults. engagetherapy.com · (805) 497-0605 · @engagetherapy This conversation is for education and support, not therapy or medical advice. If you're struggling, you're not alone. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time.

2. 

   6 Jul 2026

   Why Neurodivergent Kids “Fall Apart” After School — Deanna Dow, PhD, an LA Autism Psychologist

   On Look for the Helpers, a podcast by Engage Therapy in Agoura Hills, Dr. Blake Brisbois sits down with Deanna Dow, PhD, a clinical psychologist and the founder of Spectrum Psych in Los Angeles. Dr. Dow specializes in autism and ADHD, and she recently came out to the Engage Treatment Program campus in Westlake Village to spend three hours helping our team make our programs more neuro-inclusive. This is that conversation. Her throughline is one every parent, teacher, and clinician can use: a neurodivergent kid who "falls apart" at home isn't being bad. They spent the whole day masking, looking people in the eye, managing their sensory world, holding their emotions in, and they have nothing left when they walk in the door, where you're their safe person. Dr. Dow explains why so many kids (especially girls) and high-IQ adults get diagnosed late, why a diagnosis can land as relief instead of a label, and the reframe that changes everything: your brain is wired differently, and that's not a problem. Blake and Dr. Dow also get into the language that's shifted (identity-first, and "support needs" instead of "high or low functioning"), the myth that autistic people don't want to be social, autistic burnout, and how to adapt good, evidence-based therapy so it actually fits a neurodivergent brain. Warm, practical, and hopeful for anyone raising, teaching, or treating a neurodivergent kid. Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:45 Welcome: Dr. Deanna Dow & Spectrum Psych (and training the Engage team) 2:23 The words we use: identity-first language & "support needs," not "functioning" 5:53 Treating mental health, not "curing" autism — and why a specialist matters 9:13 What gets missed: masking, late diagnosis, and why girls slip through 11:13 The after-school meltdown: the invisible work of masking 13:03 "My kid is not bad": diagnosis as relief and the superpower reframe 17:03 Accommodate vs. adapt: routines, sensory breaks & neuro-affirming spaces 23:23 The social-motivation myth & social-skills groups, done right 27:13 Why this work: authenticity, identity & autistic burnout 32:08 The hidden cost of masking, and a warm goodbye Key topics: • Masking and the after-school meltdown: why the tank is empty at home • Why girls and high-IQ adults get diagnosed late • Identity-first language and "support needs," not "high/low functioning" • Diagnosis as relief: "my kid is not bad" • The social-motivation myth, autistic burnout, and neuro-affirming therapy About Engage Therapy Engage Therapy is a clinician-owned, clinician-led practice supporting youth and families across the Conejo Valley, including Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Calabasas, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and nearby. Our Engage Treatment Program offers intensive outpatient care for preteens, teens, and young adults. Learn more at engagetherapy.com (https://www.engagetherapy.com) · (805) 497-0605 · @engagetherapy (https://www.instagram.com/engagetherapy/). Guest: Dr. Deanna Dow, PhD — Spectrum Psych, Los Angeles · spectrumpsychla.com (https://www.spectrumpsychla.com/)· IG @spectrumpsychla (https://www.instagram.com/spectrumpsychla/) This conversation is for education and support, not therapy or medical advice. If you're struggling, you're not alone. You can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time.

3. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Connection Before Correction: Repair, Trauma & Kids' Voices — Maurissa Szilagi, LCSW

   Title: Connection Before Correction — with Maurissa Szilagi, LCSW, Attachment & Trauma Therapist Summary: Maurissa Szilagi, LCSW, Ed.M, has spent her career helping families heal attachment wounds, and she comes to the work with rare lived experience: she grew up in foster care and was adopted in her late 30s. In this warm conversation with Adelina Brisbois, LMFT, she makes a case that lands for every parent, not just adoptive ones. You are going to rupture with your kid. The repair is the win. Maurissa describes letting a six-year-old "check" the adult who hurt their feelings, validating before correcting ("connection before correction"), and turning the car ride into an apology tour, because people remember the repairs. She and Adelina talk honestly about the narrative a child of trauma carries (the quiet "I'm not keeping you" that never fully turns off, only turns down in volume), the way the body keeps the score (the amygdala she calls "the jerk of the brain," the acne she came to read as a message), and why caring for yourself is not selfish but the whole job. It is hopeful, practical, and full of permission for any parent who has ever gotten it wrong and wondered if it was too late to make it right. Key topics: • Attachment and repair in parenting • Giving kids a voice and "connection before correction" • The foster/adoptive narrative that never turns off • Turning down the volume on trauma • The body keeps the score (the amygdala, somatic symptoms) • Bodily autonomy and consent with young kids • Self-care as part of the work • Clinician community and collaborative care Guest: Maurissa Szilagi, LCSW, Ed.M — attachment & trauma therapist, The Connecting Therapist (theconnectingtherapist.com (https://www.theconnectingtherapist.com/) · IG/TikTok @theconnectingtherapist (https://www.instagram.com/theconnectingtherapist/)) Resources mentioned: The Body Keeps the Score (Dr. Bessel van der Kolk) · Violet Oaklander (Gestalt child therapy) · Peter Levine / Somatic Experiencing · EMDR · Dr. Tanya Altmann (prior Look for the Helpers guest, on PANDAS/PANS) · Engage Therapy's Reflective Parenting and Mindful Beginnings programs · Support: if you're struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), 24/7. Timestamps: (chapters — see YouTube description) Links: engagetherapy.com (https://engagetherapy.com/)· @engagetherapy (https://www.instagram.com/engagetherapy) · (805) 497-0605 Note: This episode is education and support, not therapy or medical advice.

4. 

   15 Jun 2026

   Why Women's Mental Health Is Different — Dr. Brittany Booth, Reproductive Psychiatrist in Westlake Village

   Title: Why Women's Mental Health Is Different — with Dr. Brittany Booth, Reproductive Psychiatrist Summary: Dr. Brittany Booth is a reproductive psychiatrist in Westlake Village who works at the intersection of hormones and mental health — PMDD, pregnancy and postpartum, menopause — and at UCLA's Maternal Mental Health Program. With Adelina Brisbois, LMFT, she makes a quietly radical case: so much of what gets women labeled "too much" or "just hormonal" is a normal human response to carrying too much with too little support. They name postpartum rage, grieve the lost "village," and bust the well-meaning myths about psychiatric medication in pregnancy — why stopping a medication that's working can carry more risk than staying on it. Key topics: • Reproductive psychiatry & women's mental health • Postpartum rage and de-pathologizing women's emotions • PMDD, perinatal & menopause hormone transitions • Postpartum isolation & rebuilding the village • Social media & new motherhood • Attachment, anxiety & infant sleep • Psychiatric medication in pregnancy/breastfeeding — myths vs. evidence Guest: Dr. Brittany Booth, MD — reproductive psychiatrist, Westlake Village; UCLA Maternal Mental Health Program website (https://www.brittanyboothmd.com/) · @brittanyboothmd (https://www.instagram.com/brittanyboothmd/) Resources mentioned: UCLA Maternal Mental Health Program (perinatal IOP, Westwood) · PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) · neonatal adaptation syndrome · TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) · SSRIs · Engage Therapy's Mindful Beginnings class for new & expecting parents. Support: If you're struggling, you're not alone. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) · National Maternal Mental Health Hotline 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), 24/7 · Postpartum Support International 1-800-944-4773. Note: This episode is education and support, not medical advice. Decisions about medication should be made with a qualified clinician. Links: engagetherapy.com (https://engagetherapy.com/) · @engagetherapy (https://www.instagram.com/engagetherapy) · (805) 497-0605

5. 

   8 Jun 2026

   Breaking the Silence on Mental Health — with Harsha Dodani, Chief Heart Officer of EmpathifyU

   Title: Empathy Is a Human Skill — Breaking the Silence on Mental Health, with Harsha Dodani Summary: Harsha Dodani has spent years teaching empathy — first in schools, now in boardrooms as the Chief Heart Officer of EmpathifyU. In one of the first times she's shared her family's story out loud, she and her friend Adelina Brisbois, LMFT get honest about the cultural silence around mental health, deciding “the stigma stops with me,” and why “you have to be selfish to be selfless.” They dig into empathy as a human skill, neurodiversity and belonging, breaking generational patterns, and why a rising tide raises all ships. Key topics: • Empathy as a human skill (not a soft skill) • Breaking cultural & generational mental-health stigma • Therapy, shame, and “you don't know what you don't know” • Self-care and boundaries (“selfish to be selfless”) • Neurodiversity, belonging & workplace culture • Raising kids who can speak up; rupture & repair • Community — a rising tide raises all ships Guest: Harsha Dodani — Chief Heart Officer & co-founder, EmpathifyU Resources mentioned: EmpathifyU (https://www.empathifyu.com/) · My Name, My Story / Changemaker Day · Childhood Matters · Violet Oaklander (child-therapy training) · Gary Vee's “Chief Heart Officer” · If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), 24/7. Links: engagetherapy.com (https://www.engagetherapy.com) · @engagetherapy (https://www.instagram.com/engagetherapy) · (805) 497-0605

6. 

   3 Jun 2026

   A Trauma Therapist Took Our Parenting Class — Here's What Surprised Her | Janet Bayramyan, LCSW (Encino)

   Janet Bayramyan, LCSW — a trauma therapist and owner of Road2Wellness Counseling in Encino — joined our new Mindful Beginnings program as a parent, alongside her one-year-old son. Mindful Beginnings is for parents and their little ones (walking age through 5), built on the Reflective Parenting curriculum and grounded in attachment theory. It's not a typical parenting class. Instead of only teaching skills to use on your child, it asks how you were parented — and how that shapes the parent you're becoming. Janet talks with Dr. Peggy Matson, LMFT (our Director of Parent Services) and Adelina Brisbois, LMFT about what shifted for her: making room for free play, validating a child's frustration instead of fixing it, the "little-t" traumas that surface when you have a baby, and the quiet power of staying regulated when your child falls apart. They also get into why it's never too late to repair a relationship, and the work Janet does with adults, EMDR, and IFS at Road2Wellness. Chapters 00:00 A therapist on the other side of the room 00:41 Welcome to Look for the Helpers 01:03 Part 1 — With Dr. Peggy Matson: "I thought I knew this" 04:36 Her son, slow-to-warm — and the curriculum 06:25 Taking it home: free play & validating frustration 09:55 Boundaries — with your child, and with your own parents 12:13 Part 2 — With Adelina: two moms, reflecting 14:50 What "mommy & me" misses: the mom's experience 18:00 Little-t trauma and learning to slow down 22:35 Prevention: support parents now, help kids later 24:35 "It felt like magic" — triggers, anger & repair 28:25 Empathy over judgment — and why it's never too late 31:55 New at Engage: grandparent & dad/partner support 34:11 How to explain Mindful Beginnings (hint: it's about you) 37:35 Real moments: the car seat & the bedtime narration 43:30 The oxygen-mask reframe — care for the parent first 47:15 Janet's work: trauma, EMDR, IFS at Road2Wellness 54:29 Why Conejo Valley clinicians lift each other up About Engage Therapy Engage Therapy is a clinician-owned, clinician-led practice supporting youth and families across the Conejo Valley — Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Calabasas, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and nearby. Learn more about Mindful Beginnings and our programs at engagetherapy.com (engagetherapy.com) · (805) 497-0605 · @engagetherapy (https://www.instagram.com/engagetherapy/). Guest: Janet Bayramyan, LCSW — Road2Wellness Counseling, Encino · road2wellness.co (road2wellness.co) · IG @therapy_with_janetb

7. 

   3 Feb 2026

   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

8. 

   27 Jan 2026

   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”

9. 

   20 Jan 2026

   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

10. 

    13 Jan 2026

    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.

11. 

    7 Jan 2026

    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)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Contact Look for the Helpers, a podcast by Engage Therapy

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.