Andrew Fishman is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and the Owner of Video Game Health, a platform that helps parents and adolescents understand and manage the impact of video games on mental health. He works with teens and young adults in individual, family, and group therapy on balancing gaming habits and promoting overall well-being. Andrew is certified by the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board for treating video game addiction.

Is your child's love for video games a harmless pastime or a sign of something more serious? Many parents struggle to know when gaming is simply a fun social activity and when it crosses the line into unhealthy territory. How can you recognize the difference and guide your child toward balance?

According to Andrew Fishman, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in gaming and mental health, most kids who play video games are not at risk for addiction and enjoy the same level of life satisfaction as non-gamers. Concerns arise when gaming becomes a coping mechanism for depression or when kids want to stop but feel they can't. Recognizing the difference between normal teenage power struggles and signs of true addiction is key to protecting mental health and relationships. Andrew also highlights the importance of creating real-world connections and teaching emotional regulation.

In this episode of The Coping Podcast, Dr. Leigh Weisz sits down with Andrew Fishman, Owner of Video Game Health, to talk about how parents can identify gaming addiction versus healthy gaming. They discuss warning signs such as withdrawal symptoms and a loss of interest in other activities, how to set practical boundaries, and why online gaming can be a positive social outlet. Andrew also shares strategies for building emotional regulation and balance in kids' lives.

Elyce Shapiro is the Founder of Balanced Gut Nutrition & Health, a virtual private practice that helps people restore balance in gut and mental health through a non-diet, Health-at-Every-Size (HAES®)-aligned approach. She is a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) and Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS). As a specialist in the gut-brain connection, Elyce works compassionately with individuals experiencing digestive distress often tied to anxiety, trauma/PTSD, or stress. Her practice emphasizes intuitive eating and compassionate care — free from diet culture, food moralizing, and weight stigma.

Digestive distress and anxiety can feel like an endless cycle, each one making the other worse. Many people are left wondering if the key to relief lies beyond restrictive diets and quick fixes. How can understanding the connection between the gut and brain catalyze healing?

According to Elyce Shapiro, a licensed dietitian nutritionist and gut health specialist, the gut and brain are constantly communicating, and when they fall out of sync, it can trigger both physical and emotional struggles. She highlights how stress, trauma, and restrictive diets often worsen digestive issues rather than solve them. The key is restoring balance through diversity in food, food freedom, and supporting the body's natural healing process. Elyce also emphasizes collaboration with therapists and the importance of movement, sleep, and compassion in long-term healing.

In this episode of The Coping Podcast, Dr. Leigh Weisz sits down with Elyce Shapiro, Founder of Balanced Gut Nutrition & Health, to discuss healing digestive distress and anxiety through the gut-brain connection. They explore the risks of restrictive diets, why stress damages the gut barrier, and how food neutrality supports adults and children. Elyce also shares when common gut health fixes like probiotics or fiber may actually make symptoms worse.

Nina Badzin is the Host of Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship, a podcast and newsletter that explores the ups and downs of adult friendship. She's a Minneapolis-based writer who began offering friendship advice in 2014 and launched the podcast in 2021. Her work, now offered via Substack, is regularly featured in outlets like The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Time, The Guardian, and NPR. Nina also co‑leads creative writing groups at ModernWell and reviews dozens of books each year.

Friendships can bring joy, support, and a sense of belonging, but they can also be challenging to navigate. How do you keep connections strong when life gets busy, or end them gracefully when they no longer serve you? What practical skills can help you model healthy relationships for your children?

According to Nina Badzin, a longtime writer and advice columnist on friendship, the key to lasting connections lies in understanding the natural stages of relationships and not getting in your own way. She highlights three main areas where most challenges arise: making friends, keeping them, and deciding when to part ways. By reframing how we define equality in friendships and letting go of rigid expectations, we can avoid unnecessary insecurity. Nina also emphasizes that friendships are a choice, and surrounding yourself with people you genuinely like improves your well-being and sets an important example for your kids.

In this episode of The Coping Podcast, host Dr. Leigh Weisz sits down with Nina Badzin, Host of Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship, to talk about how to build, maintain, and end friendships. They discuss redefining reciprocity to strengthen bonds, avoiding social engineering in kids' friendships, and fostering deeper one-on-one connections in groups. Nina also shares how to protect trust by practicing discretion.