Hello, and welcome back to The Parent Doctor Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Marissa Caudill. Please rate and follow this podcast to help spread this resource, and be sure to visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theparentdoctor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to sign up for my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or join the monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, both are FREE!

Interested in working with me directly? Sign up for my monthly Office Hours call⁠⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Parent Doctor Podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Eric Endlich, a clinical psychologist, former therapist, and founder of Top College Consultants. Dr. Eric is an educational consultant specializing in helping students with learning differences or emotional challenges apply to and successfully transition into college. With his background in psychology and decades of experience, Dr. Eric also brings a broader lens on mental health and neurodiversity.

In our conversation, Dr. Eric shares how the college admissions process has changed dramatically over the years, and why families—especially those raising neurodivergent kids—need to focus less on prestige and more on fit. We talk about the strengths an educational consultant brings to the table, how parents can calm the temperature during this stressful season, and why a student’s mental and physical well-being should always come first.

We also explore the unique challenges that arise when students have ADHD, autism, dyslexia, anxiety, or OCD, and how parents can navigate accommodations, disability services, and support programs without fear. Dr. Eric explains the difference between what all colleges must provide by law and the specialized programs that go above and beyond, offering practical tips on what questions to ask during campus visits. You’ll also hear his powerful perspective on readiness—when a student might benefit from summer programs, a structured gap year, or additional executive function support before heading to college.

If you’ve ever worried about whether your child will thrive once they leave home—or if you’ve wondered how to balance independence with the safety net of accommodations—this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and concrete tools. Dr. Eric reminds us that there are many paths to success, that the “best” college is the one where your child can flourish, and that parents don’t have to do this alone.

Dr. Eric also co-manages a thriving Facebook community of nearly 27,000 parents:Parents of College Bound Students with Learning Disabilities, ADHD and ASD

If you’d like to reach out to Dr. Eric, you can contact him via email at Eric@TopCollegeConsultants.com, or connect with him on social media: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and his Website

Thanks for tuning in!

Hello, and welcome back to The Parent Doctor Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Marissa Caudill. Please rate and follow this podcast to help spread this resource, and be sure to visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theparentdoctor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to sign up for my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or join the monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, both are FREE!

Interested in working with me directly? Sign up for my monthly Office Hours call⁠⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Parent Doctor Podcast, I’m joined by Rochel Ferman, a seasoned pediatric sleep coach and founder of Make My Baby Smile. With over 13 years of experience helping families from infancy through adolescence, Rochel brings a deeply compassionate, behaviorally grounded, and practical approach to one of parenting’s biggest challenges: sleep.

Together, we unpack everything from how and when to begin sleep training, to what to do when your toddler refuses bedtime, and why co-sleeping often becomes a point of tension between partners. Rochel explains why sleep is a behavior—not just a biological function—and how parents can support their child in developing lifelong skills for independent sleep. We also discuss the importance of consistency, how illness or travel can derail progress, and why both parents (and all caregivers) need to be on the same page.

Beyond early childhood, we explore how sleep changes throughout development, from nap schedules in preschoolers to the circadian shifts of adolescence. We touch on teen sleep hygiene, screen time, caffeine, clutter, and why the real solution to sleep problems usually isn’t melatonin or Benadryl—but a shift in habits, routines, and mindset.

If you’ve ever struggled with your child’s sleep—or your own—this episode is packed with evidence-based tips and loving reminders that sleep is not selfish, it’s foundational. You’ll leave with clarity, compassion, and real-world strategies to help your whole family rest well.

If you’d like to reach out to Rochel, you can contact her via email, or you can visit her website.

Thanks for tuning in!

Hello, and welcome back to The Parent Doctor Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Marissa Caudill. Please rate and follow this podcast to help spread this resource, and be sure to visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theparentdoctor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to sign up for my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or join the monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, both are FREE!

Interested in working with me directly? Sign up for my monthly Office Hours call⁠⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Parent Doctor Podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Justin H. Dove, a licensed educational psychologist and the school psychologist at my kids’ school here in Los Angeles, The Mirman School. Justin is not only a deeply compassionate clinician and advocate, but also someone whose work is rooted in social justice, neurodiversity-affirming practices, and equitable access to education.

In our conversation, Justin shares insights from his 15 years of experience in public, charter, and independent schools across the country, and breaks down what actually happens when parents raise concerns about their child’s learning, attention, or emotional wellbeing. We demystify what school psychologists do, how IEP (Individualized Education Program) and SST (Student Support Team) processes work, and why it’s so important to assume positive intent when partnering with educators.

We also explore the challenges families face navigating between public and private school systems—especially when kids are twice-exceptional (gifted + neurodivergent). Justin explains how parents can request an evaluation (even if their child is in private school), what accommodations are considered “reasonable,” and how to handle delays or resistance without immediately going into fight mode. You'll also hear his powerful take on the difference between a diagnosis and a label—and how we can talk to our kids about ADHD, autism, or learning differences in affirming, empowering ways.

If you’ve ever felt confused about how to get help for your child at school, or you’re unsure whether speaking up might limit their opportunities, this episode will give you clarity, courage, and tools to advocate without fear. Justin reminds us that special education isn’t a place—it’s a menu of services—and that every child deserves to learn in a way that honors who they are.

You can access Justin’s Special Education Evaluation Request Templates here: a General version for families outside of California and a California-specific version.

If you’d like to reach out to Justin, you can contact him via email at jdove@mirman.org, or connect with him on social media:LinkedIn and his Website.

Thanks for tuning in!