Dr. Katie Davis: Are We Overpathologizing Childhood? Rethinking Kids’ Mental Health

What if some of the behaviors we’ve been taught to worry about are actually normal parts of growing up?In this episode of Hidden Secrets in Books, Dominic sits down with Dr. Katie Davis, a clinical neuropsychologist, professor, researcher, and author of the upcoming book Actually, You’re Fine.Dr. Davis challenges the growing tendency to pathologize ordinary childhood emotions, behaviors, and developmental struggles—while emphasizing that genuine mental health conditions still deserve timely recognition and evidence-based treatment.We explore one of the biggest questions facing parents today: How do you know when a child truly needs professional help, and when they simply need support, patience, and room to grow?Dr. Davis shares insights from her clinical work and research on anxiety, ADHD, autism, school accommodations, social media, resilience, and the changing culture of parenting. We discuss how parents can validate their children’s feelings without unintentionally teaching them to fear normal emotions, and how to distinguish evidence-based guidance from the endless stream of advice found online.This conversation offers a balanced perspective for parents, educators, clinicians, and anyone trying to understand children’s mental health without falling into either extreme—ignoring genuine struggles or treating every challenge as a disorder.If you've ever asked, “Is this normal, or should I be worried?” this episode is for you.Preorder Dr. Katie Davis’s book, Actually, You’re Fine:Actually, You’re Fine — Hachette Book GroupLearn more about Dr. Katie Davis:Dr. Katie DavisFollow Dr. Davis:Instagram