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Today we’re talking about motivation—what it is, what it isn’t, and why so many of our neurodivergent kids get mislabeled as “unmotivated” when the real story is far more nuanced. My guest is Dr. Ellen Braaten, an expert on motivation and the author of several books including Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less, and her newest release, The Motivation Mindset Workbook: Helping Teens and Tweens Discover What They Love to Do. Ellen shares why motivation is not a fixed trait, how identity shapes whether kids lean in or shut down, and what often gets in the way for learners with ADHD and other differences. We talk about how parents can shift from pushing performance to supporting purpose, and how giving kids the space to discover what genuinely interests them can be transformative for confidence, engagement, and long-term growth.

About Dr. Ellen Braaten 

Dr. Ellen Braaten is the founding director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. She has published numerous scientific papers on topics related to ADHD, learning disorders, child psychopathology, processing speed, and intelligence, as well as many books for parents and professionals, including the bestsellers Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up, and Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less: How to Rekindle Your Child’s Motivation. Most recently, she coauthored The Motivation Mindset Workbook: Helping Teens and Tweens Discover What They Love to Do.Dr. Braaten has a strong interest in educating the public on topics related to child mental health, maintains an active speaking schedule, and contributes regularly to local and national news outlets.

Things you'll learn from this episode 

• How motivation is a dynamic skill that ebbs and flows based on environment and context, not a fixed trait

• Why helping teens and tweens identify their strengths and values lays the foundation for authentic motivation

• How responsibility and meaningful real-world experiences spark engagement and ownership

• Why identity development plays a central role in sustaining long-term motivation

• How practical, strengths-based activities can reignite momentum when kids feel stuck

Resources mentioned 

• Dr. Ellen Braaten’s website

• The Motivation Mindset Workbook: Helping Teens and Tweens Discover What They Love to Do by Dr. Ellen Braaten & Dr. Hillary Bush

• Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less: How to Rekindle Your Child’s Motivation by Dr. Ellen Braaten

• Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up: Help Your Child Overcome Slow Processing Speed and Keep Up in a Fast-Paced World by Dr. Ellen Braaten

• How to Rekindle Your Child’s Motivation, with Dr. Ellen Braaten (Tilt Parenting Podcast)

• Exploring Slow Processing Speed with Dr. Ellen Braaten (Tilt Parenting Podcast)

• Traits of Flow According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

• The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds

• Dr. Martin Seligman / Positive Psychology

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