Behavioral Health Today

The Safety Trap: Why Over-Medicalizing Childhood is Failing Our Kids with Dr. Will Dobud – Episode 465

August 13, 2026·1h 4m
Episode Description from the Publisher

Modern parenting hasn't made children safer; it has just burdened them with the weight of adult anxieties. In this episode, host Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Will Dobud. Dr. Dobud is an award-winning researcher, educator, and social worker recognized for his international expertise in youth mental health and clinical excellence. He currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at Charles Sturt University, Australia’s largest social work school, and has a distinguished career practicing across the United States, Australia, and Norway. As the co-author of the new book “Kids These Days,” Dr. Dobud is a leading advocate for "positive deviance," challenging harmful industry fads to create environments where teenagers can truly thrive. Today, I’m joined by Will to explore the "wicked problem" of youth mental health by examining how modern interference, over-medicalization, and the "safety trap" are harming adolescent development, ultimately offering "positive deviance" and a return to risky, independent experience as the keys to truly empowering the next generation.   For more information about “Kids These Days” by Will Dobud PhD and Nevin Harper PhD, please visit: https://www.kidsthesedaysbook.com For more information about Dr. Will Dobud, please visit: https://safersociety.org/will-dobud-phd-mswap-bsw/ Subscribe to Dr. Dobud on Substack at: https://willdobud.substack.com/?r=33s135&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist Connect with Dr. Dobud on social media: On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillDobudPhD On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willdobud/ On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-dobud-5209ab74/ On X: https://x.com/WillDobud

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of Behavioral Health Today and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.