ADHD, DBT & Emotional Regulation: Dr. Blaise Aguirre on Mood Tools & Meds

Episode Summary 

Child & adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Blaise Aguirre (McLean Hospital) shares DBT tools that help ADHD kids and their parents build emotional regulation before a crisis. We cover modeling calm, the mantra “regulate before you can reflect,” fast resets (breathing, PMR, ice-dive), and a practical, compassionate look at ADHD medication, what to watch, and how careful prescribing reduces risk.

Guest

Dr. Blaise Aguirre, Mood's leading psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. With 25+ years of treating over 7,000 children and adolescents at McLean Hospital, Dr. Aguirre has extensive experience helping ADHD kids develop emotional regulation skills and coping strategies for high-stress periods.

Episode Overview

Many kids labeled “misbehaving” are actually missing skills. Dr. Aguirre explains how DBT-based exercises taught early, practiced often, and modeled by parents become second nature and reduce meltdowns. You’ll learn why a parent’s steady nervous system matters (mirror neurons), how to de-escalate in the moment, and how to think about ADHD meds: quick signal checks, side-effect watching, and partnering with a responsive prescriber. Goal: fewer crises, more connection, and a resilient self-story for your child.

What We Talk About (Highlights)

• Skills > “misbehavior”: teach what’s missing—don’t shame
  
  
• Parents first: model regulation; your calm lowers their heat
  
  
• Practice before you need it (make coping automatic)
  
  
• Fast resets anywhere: slow breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, ice-dive
  
  
• Medication basics: quick feedback loop for many stimulants, dose/side-effects to watch, work with a responsive prescriber
  
  
• Protect the self-story: reduce invalidation (“lazy,” “stupid”) to prevent long-term harm.
  
  
• Mirror neurons: your agitation amplifies theirs—stay steady
  
  

Resources & Links

• Dr. Aguirre (McLean Hospital): https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/blaise-aguirre
  
  
• Mood Tools App (free): https://www.mood.org/app
  
  
• Books by Dr. Aguirre: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JP3X2W
  
  

About Your Host

Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach; author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD; host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. Every child with ADHD is unique—so are their strengths and struggles.
Website & coaching: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com

Get the first three chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters

Enjoyed this episode?

• Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast
  
  
• Share with a parent who needs encouragement today.
  
  
• Leave a quick rating/review—it helps other ADHD families find the show.