Resources - Children's Mental Health

Ka Vang on War in Southeast Asia, ICE in Minnesota, and Mental Health Echoes

Newspaper columnist and community leader Ka Vang reflects on surviving war and displacement as a Hmong refugee and the lasting mental health impacts on her family. She shares how generational trauma continues to echo today, as immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota trigger fear and flashbacks within the Hmong community.

Tracey Yokas on Helping Your Child While Making Sense of Your Own Childhood

After the loss of both her parents, author and artist Tracey Yokas found herself supporting her daughter through grief that developed into an eating disorder and self-harm, all while navigating her own mental health challenges. In this episode, Tracey reflects on parenting through crisis, examining how her own childhood experiences shaped her family dynamics, and the long, complex path toward healing and understanding across generations.

Generational Trauma, Hypervigilance, and Moving Forward with Ophira Eisenberg

Comedian, writer, and podcast host Ophira Eisenberg joins us to explore generational trauma, hypervigilance, and resilience. Reflecting on her upbringing in a family shaped by unaddressed war-related trauma, she shares how anxiety and anger carried into her own life and parenting — and how she’s learning to face difficult emotions with honesty, humor, and a commitment to keep moving forward.

How To Help My Child’s Anxiety

Children today face many kinds of worries, from everyday stressors to larger uncertainties in the world around them. These stressors can feel overwhelming, especially for kids who are still learning how to understand their emotions and make sense of new experiences. As caregivers, we play an essential role in helping children feel grounded, supported, and safe. With all these stressors, how can we help keep kids feeling safe and secure in today’s world?  

Jason Tougaw on Finding Your Own Mental Stability When Your Family Didn’t Provide it

Acclaimed writer and university professor Jason Tougaw finds time to reflect on a chaotic childhood marked by instability, inherited family myths, and the search for identity in a time when being gay felt unsafe. In conversation, he shares how paying close attention to the patterns he didn’t want to repeat—and finding unexpected sources of healing—helped him build a calmer, more intentional life as an adult.

NPR’s Peter Sagal On Breaking Cycles and Learning From His Past

NPR’s Peter Sagal joins Dr. Michelle K. Murray for a candid conversation about mental health, family history, and personal growth. Known for his humor on Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me, Peter shares his experience with undiagnosed ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and how reflection and therapy helped him break unhealthy patterns and build stronger family connections.

A Helpful Message During Difficult Times

In this special episode, Dr. Michelle K. Murray offers some practical advice on taking care of yourself and your loved ones during these tumultuous events. She discusses creating a safety plan, setting healthy boundaries, and staying grounded in your values. A short, compassionate guide to help families navigate uncertainty together.

Best of "In This Family" Episodes

Nexus Family Healing’s "In This Family" podcast brings together powerful voices who share how mental health, addiction, and recovery have shaped their lives and families. This best-of roundup highlights four impactful episodes that spark honest conversations, reduce stigma, and remind us that healing begins when stories are shared.

Clancy Martin Unlocked the Secret of How Not to Kill Himself

Author and professor Clancy Martin tells Dr. Michelle K. Murray about what a lifetime of trying to die feels like, about his own complex family, and how just in the last few years he has managed to finally lose that urge to make the worst decision one can make.