Demystifying Men's Apprehension Towards CRAFT and Therapeutic Support, with Steve Andrews
Last year, we launched The Woods, our private community for dads, stepdads, and male co-parents. And as much as we would love to help more dads who have kids struggling with substances, they don’t come flocking to our services. I wanted to dive into this imbalance and asked Steve Andrews to join me for a conversation. As a battle-tested dad and therapist, Steve gives us his best take on why men seem to have a natural aversion to approaches like The Invitation to Change and CRAFT and how we can reframe those ideas in a more accessible way.
A Powerful Combo of Proven Tools for Families When Your Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol, with Dr. Jennifer Fernandez
My guest today, Dr. Jennifer Fernandez, is a proponent of a compassionate model that sounds more complex than it is - the "biopsychosocial model." This model aims to contextualize all factors contributing to someone’s reliance on substances - not just genetics. She says this type of analysis can help those who love someone struggling with substances understand behavior that would otherwise seem irrational. And when we know more, it leaves room for the empathy we need to parent young people who can appear out of control.
three keys to a positive approach for parenting a child misusing drugs or alcohol; courage, confidence, and compassion, with Brenda Zane
Research has shown that a positive, non-confrontational approach to helping our kids make positive changes in their lives is the most effective when they’re misusing substances. In this episode I share three keys to shifting your words, actions and mindset in a more positive direction using courage, confidence and compassion. I also share a tip for those times when you revert to old, confrontational ways to help keep things moving in a positive direction.
watch out for the near enemies of love and compassion, and a tip to survive graduation season, with Brenda Zane
The concept of near enemies is helpful when you’re working to parent from an intentional place and avoid unhealthy patterns with your son or daughter. You’ll learn what a near enemy is and two common ones that show up when parenting a child with substance use issues. Then I provide a tried and true tip for getting through graduation season without losing your mind.
mothering in the age of opioid addiction with Paula Becker, author of A House on Stilts
"We do not know when he will come and go. Stealthily he avoids us, coming after dark leaving before dawn. But I look out the kitchen window and when my son is present, the stained glass windows of the House on Stilts glow with the light of the small lamp within like a church on Christmas Eve. This is my only solace and it is fleeting and I cling to it as I once clung to him. Sweet smelling, freshly bathed.”