In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino explores a little-known but common health challenge facing children and teens — disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBIs) — with Dr. Ali Navidi, a leading expert in the emerging field of gastro-psychology, which studies how the mind and digestive system communicate.
Dr. Navidi, a licensed psychologist, CEO of GI Psychology and father of three, discusses:
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How GI disorders like IBS, functional abdominal pain, and dyspepsia often begin in childhood
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The powerful role of anxiety, trauma, and stress in gut health
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Why clinical hypnosis and cognitive behavioural therapy are effective, drug-free treatments
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How parents can support their child’s emotional resilience and digestion through safety, structure, and empathy
DR. ALI NAVIDI
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
CEO, GI Psychology
Gastro-Psychology expert
Father of 2
“…it’s very likely that at some point your kid is going to have have one of these disorders. And the most common of these types of disorders is irritable bowel syndrome. Kids develop these, and sometimes it’s transient and sometimes it lasts longer. So I think it’s good for every parent to at least have kind of a knowledge of what these are and how they work.”