On August 31st on “About Health” on KPFA 94.1 FM I was joined by two terrific guests, Phil Boissiere and Katherine Ellison. We had a lively discussion about how the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is made and what treatments are available for adults.
Is your distractibility, procrastination, perceptiveness, restlessness, high energy, creativity, honesty, or disorganization, a symptom of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or is it something else?
Do you see ADHD as a disorder? A difference? or just the way your unique mind works?
Frequently, adults begin to uncover and untangle their own neurodiversity when they are seeking treatment for their child who is having trouble at school, with friends, or at home. And sometimes job or relationship struggles and failures motivate people to seek out help. ADHD appears in childhood, and usually continues into adulthood for approximately 5% of the population.
My guests:
Phil Boissiere, MFT is a Silicon Valley based Adult ADHD treatment specialist. He is the creator of the self-help video series titled Learn to Thrive with Adult ADHD available at beyondfocused.com. He is also the co-founder and clinical director of Elite Focus Clinictreating adult ADHD and cognitive performance. Phil also holds a private practice in San Francisco. His approach is goal oriented and he believes that dramatic change is possible in short periods of time.
Katherine Ellison is a Pulitzer-Prize winning investigative journalist and former foreign correspondent who was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 48. She is the co-author, with Dr. Stephen Hinshaw, of “ADHD: What Everyone Needs to Know,” forthcoming in November, and the co-author of seven other books, including the memoir, “Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention.” “Buzz” is an account of a year she spent trying to improve her relationship with her 12-year-old son after both she and he were diagnosed with ADHD. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Buzz-A-Year-of-Paying-Attention/113732785325394?fref=ts
What does the term Integrative Medicine really mean? And how is it similar to or different than the medical care you receive? On August 3rd on “About Health” on KPFA 94.1 FM, we discussed various healing modalities that are used on the path towards health and healing.
If you missed the show you can hear it at https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=211515
Our guests were:
Davi Pakter MD. In his practice he focuses on removing the obstacles to health and activating the body’s innate ability to heal. Dr. Davi is board certified in Family Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine. At the core of his philosophy is the concept of Integrative Medicine, which unifies Traditional Allopathic Medicine (the medicine practiced by most MD’s and in Hospitals) with Complementary and Alternative therapies. He currently works at the West Berkeley Family Practice-Lifelong Medical Care Clinic, and works to increase access to integrative medicine for those that can’t afford it.
(Lifelongmedical.org, 510-981-4200)
Also joining us was Kate Lewis, L.Ac. At West Berkeley Family Practice, Kate balances the roles of Center Supervisor and acupuncturist. She was a core developer of the Integrative Medicine progam at West Berkeley which offers Naturopathic services. Kate has worked and volunteered in community medicine for 10 years. She is grateful to be able to offer services to both Spanish and Mandarin speaking community members following her travel and work in clinics in South and Central America as well as living in Shanghai, China.
There are many questions women have when they are in their 40’s and 50’s about when menopause (the last menstrual period) will occur and what treatments are available for the physical symptoms and mood changes that often occur.
Dr. Amy Day and Nurse Barb Dehn were my guests on “About Health” on Monday July 13th. You can hear the entire show here: https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=210178
Barb Dehn is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, award winning author, and a nationally recognized health expert. An in demand and popular national speaker on all aspects of women’s health, she also lectures at Stanford and is a frequent health expert on television and radio
Amy Day is a naturopathic doctor. After eight years at San Francisco Natural Medicine, Dr. Amy opened her private practice in Berkeley specializing in helping busy professional women with stress, fatigue, and hormonal issues. She uses an integrated approach combining diet, exercise, lifestyle counseling, stress management, nutritional supplements, botanical medicines, and bioidentical hormones as she guides women on the journey to optimal wellness. Learn more at www.DrAmyDay.com where you can download a free copy of her newest e-book: The Busy Woman’s Guide to Adrenal Health. www.DrAmyDay.com/adrenalguide
We discussed some simple things you can do to prevent and treat serious health emergencies such as Heat Stroke, Dehydration, and Drowning. And we’ll review ways to assess a situation, such as finding someone on the ground, not knowing what happened. With summer here, it’s a good idea to hone our first aid skills, and review some lifesaving measures.
Joining me was Ashanti Boykin,Emergency Medical Technician, MA program Coordinator, BLS Coordinator, and EMT Skills Instructor, at Fast Response School of Health Care Education. in Berkeley.
Contact me at if you have any questions or ideas for future shows.
Have you talked with your family or neighbors about how you’ll help each other when the next earthquake or fire hits? It’s so easy to put off doing what we need to do to prepare, but there are little steps we can all take that will reinforce our resilience and keep us healthy and safe.
Join me and my guest Ana-Maria Jones for a lively discussion on how to prepare for emergencies from a non-fear based perspective.
Ana-Maria Jones is the Executive Director of CARD – Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters, a nonprofit located in Alameda County. Created by local community agencies after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, CARD offers an alternative approach to emergency preparedness, disaster response, and planning activities.
We look forward to your questions and concerns. You can call in at 510-848-4425 or toll free at 1-800-958-9008
June is Men’s Health Month with the purpose to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. On June 8th I was joined in-studio at KPFA (94.1FM) by two wonderful men to discuss Fathers, Kids, and Health.
There are many ways fathers can be good role models for their children, especially when they spend time together. You can listen to the show at https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=184112
Our guests were:
Dr. Will Courtenay, an internationally recognized expert in men’s health and in helping men, boys, and fathers. The American Psychological Association calls him, “a leading psychologist in the field of masculinity.” He provides psychotherapy and counseling to individuals in the S.F. Bay Area, and phone consultation to those outside of the area. You can reach him at 415-346-6719 or check out his website at http://www.themensdoc.com. He is also the author of Dying To Be Men: http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Men-Environmental-Biobehavioral-Psychotherapy/dp/0415878764
Gary Thompson, the Fatherhood Coordinator for the Family Health Services Division of the Alameda County Public Health Department. He is also one of the co-founders of the Fathers Corps, a learning community of male service providers administered in collaboration with First Five, Alameda County. http://www.first5alameda.org/alameda-county-fathers-corps. He has more than twenty-five years of experience administering education and family-centered programs and advocating for the Bay Area’s most vulnerable children and families. You can reach Gary at 510-667-4343.
