There’s a very damaging belief that if we just believe in ourselves more or try to manifest away our circumstances, we can make huge, sweeping changes in our lives. That we can do all of the hard work of learning mindful self-compassion, changing the way we talk to ourselves, or reacting differently in certain situations. And that we should be able to learn this all by ourselves. While that might be true for a slim number of people, Dr. Whitney talks this week about why you need to put yourself at the center of your life in order to really see the need to link arms with others to get the help you need.
Key takeaways:
- You have to place yourself at the center of your life in order to own your value and worth. And this is crazy difficult for women. Part of putting yourself in that center position is by getting help. We’re constantly talking about mindful self-compassion, being kind to yourself, and tapping into your body’s needs–but we often assume we have to do that all by ourselves with no help.
- There’s a damaging belief that if we just believe in ourselves or try to manifest away our circumstances, we can make huge, sweeping changes in our lives. But we have to change the actual faulty thinking in our head. We have to change the neural pathways in our brain. We can’t do that by just thinking positive thoughts.
Here’s what I did to get help:
- I went to a couple’s therapist with my husband. We needed a mediator because our needs are SO different. And as much as I hate paying for it, it saved my marriage. And I don’t see us ever stopping.
- I went to my own therapist that I go to every other week. And what’s different than just reading the things that I’m learning from her in a book, is that she’s gonna call me on it when I’m not living it out. When I’m not looking at things realistically, when I’m being too hard on myself, or when I need to have stronger boundaries.
- Medication. I take anti-anxiety meds every single day. Therapy and being a parent to an extremely anxious child have taught me SO much about myself and one giant thing I’ve discovered was that I have been dealing with anxiety my entire life and had no idea that’s what was going on. Whatever tools that are helpful, not harmful, and are at our disposal, we should have no shame in using.
- Outsource. Nannies, robots that help with my daughter’s social and emotional regulation, meal services. All of these things give me margin to focus on the things that I can do really well and that bring me joy. Let’s normalize not doing everything just because we “can.” What about things that don’t cost money? School counselors, podcasts, books from the library–if these things are going to make you feel better in your brain and your body, DO IT!
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About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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