ADHD Kids and Anxiety: What Parents Need to Know (ft. Dr. Laura Van Schaick-Harman, Psy.D.)

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Anxiety and ADHD go together like coffee and chaos — they just show up together. In this raw, relatable episode of Chaos & Caffeine, host Danielle Kelly sits down with psychologist Dr. Laura Van Schaick-Harman, founder of Meaningful Psychological Services, to unpack the tangled mess of ADHD + anxiety in kids.

Dr. Laura brings her deep experience as a school psychologist, CBT and mindfulness expert, and board-certified telemental health provider to share practical, science-backed strategies parents can actually use—not just print out and forget on the fridge.

We dig into:
 ☕ How to tell if your child’s meltdowns are ADHD, anxiety, or both
 ☕ Why bedtime is often the trigger for spirals (and what CBT-I can do about it)
 ☕ Real-life ways to teach kids the difference between “real danger” and “brain drama”
 ☕ What “consistency” actually looks like when executive function is in the toilet
 ☕ Affordable, do-at-home mental health support when therapy isn’t an option

If you’re an ADHD parent trying to stop the 3 a.m. worry spiral, this episode is your new comfort listen.

🎧 Tune in, take a deep breath, and remember — you’re not failing, you’re parenting with a wiring manual nobody gave you.

Connect with Dr. Laura 👉 www.meaningfulpsychservices.com

This Month’s Sponsors:

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

🧮 Pop Sugar Cafe 

The printable shop saving ADHD parents everywhere from pure morning meltdown chaos. Their visual schedules, routine charts, and emotion trackers are actually cute and neurodivergent-friendly. Head to Pop Sugar Cafe and grab the tools your kid will actually use — because structure shouldn’t suck. 

🪑 Ted Kangaroo

A line of science-backed sensory furniture and tools designed for kids who feel everything — loudly, quickly, and all at once. Ted Kangaroo’s patented chairs, vests, and rockers give your child a safe, calming, multi-sensory space to refocus, self-soothe, and regulate their emotions. 

🎁 Play Therapy Supply

Because sometimes the best gifts aren’t found in the toy aisle. Play Therapy Supply curates sensory-friendly tools, fidgets, and therapeutic toys that actually help kids calm their bodies and connect with their feelings.

👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips 

Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive!

Resources:

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📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected].

Support the show

Danielle is the host of Chaos & Caffeine, a fast-growing ADHD parenting podcast where she interviews leading psychologists, clinicians, researchers, and neurodivergent advocates about what actually helps ADHD kids thrive in the real world. Through science-backed conversations and very real mom-in-the-trenches storytelling, the show helps parents navigate executive function challenges, emotional regulation struggles, learning differences, and the everyday chaos of raising neurodivergent kids.

Each week, Danielle translates complex ADHD research into practical tools parents can actually use — from building routines that support developing brains to helping kids strengthen focus, flexibility, and self-regulation skills.

Listen to the podcast and explore expert interviews at:
https://linktr.ee/chaosandcaffeinepodcast

Danielle frequently speaks and writes about ADHD parenting strategies, executive function development, emotional regulation, screen use and attention, learning challenges like dyslexia, and building resilient neurodivergent families.