happiness and joy are not the same (and why it matters for parents), with Alex Stavros, CEO of Embark Behavioral Health
Sometimes, parents seeking guidance and comfort during difficult times are told to “choose happiness.” My guest on this episode believes instead, we should be choosing joy. Alex Stavros is the CEO of Embark Behavioral Health, a leading network of premiere youth outpatient centers and residential programs. Their “big hairy audacious goal” is driving down youth anxiety, depression, and suicide from all-time highs of today to all-time lows by 2028.
nine things we never talk about (out loud) when our kids misuse drugs or alcohol, with Cathy Cioth
There are some thoughts, questions, and situations we face as parents of kids who are misusing substances that make us question our parenting, our sanity and even our humanity. Because these tricky topics don't often make it into the conversation, we're tackling them today as a way to air issues you may be wrestling with - but doing it in a safe, private place.
don't get derailed by change, plan for it when you have a teen or young adult child who struggles with substances or addiction, with Brenda Zane
If there is one thing you can count on when your child is misusing substances or struggling with addiction and the mental health issues that come with it - it's change. Change is a constant, and you can either have your world capsized by it, or you can be intentional about planning for it to lessen its impact on you and your family. Based on lessons learned from my own experience and that of the hundreds of families I work with, this episode will help you prepare emotionally and practically when things go right and when things go wrong.
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.
a better way to parent a child struggling with substance use or addiction: the compassion antidote, with Cathy Taughinbaugh
In this episode, I’m joined by author, and certified parent and life coach, Cathy Taughinbaugh. Cathy is a Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) trained coach through the Center for Motivation and Change and a parent coach with the Partnership to End Addiction. She’s an expert in helping parents connect with their kids through an approach that is driven by compassion and positivity which she shares in her book.
3 ideas for combating parenting burnout and empathy fatigue when your child is misusing drugs or alcohol, with Brenda Zane
We’re getting real this week about the mental and physical burnout and empathy fatigue we can feel as parents when we're trying our hardest with our kids who are struggling with substance use. It's not often talked about but it's real, so we'll dive into what it can feel like and 3 things you can start doing today to turn it around.
insights, wisdom and coping strategies for parents of kids struggling with substance use from a mom who's been there, twice, with Cathy Cioth, Director of The Stream Community
How does a parent cope when you have not one, but two kids struggling with substance misuse and all the issues that surround it? Cathy Cioth has seen the world of adolescent and young adult substance use from all angles and shares openly in this conversation about her family's journey which included wilderness therapy, 'gooning', an unwelcomed intervention, and lots of coping skills.
a harm reduction approach to risky behavior in teens and young adults, with Dee Dee Stout
When your teen or young adult son or daughter refuses or can't seem to embrace abstinence, what do you do? Harm reduction is an approach that can help navigate your child to safer territory and...it's confusing. Dee Dee Stout is someone Psychology Today includes in their list of "the top 10 harm reduction names you should know" so I was thrilled to spend time with her talking about a concept parents can embrace to help move their child toward more positive change.
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.
clinging to hope: an epic saga of addiction, medical innovation, loss, recovery, hope and unconditional love, with Pattie Vargas and Rebekah Mutch
Sometimes there's a story so unbelievable it's hard to know where to start when telling it. This is one of those. My guests are mother and daughter and they trusted me with sharing their family's journey to hell plus the miraculous twist that no one saw coming. It's a binge-worthy episode that merits its own NETFLIX series. You'll come away awestruck by the determination of a Scottish surgeon, the power of a mother's fierce love, and the realization that parents should never, ever stop clinging to hope.
answers to common CRAFT questions parents have when their child is struggling with addiction or experimenting with drugs, with Erica Lubetkin, LMHC
CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) is proven to be an effective way for parents to help their kids who are misusing drugs or alcohol and is easily accessible to learn and put into practice. In this episode, I invited CRAFT-certified therapist Ericka Lubetkin, LMHC to join me to answer common questions parents have about using this approach in the real world. We cover questions like, what to do when you see a pre-lapse, what to do when your child just won't talk or engage with you, tips when your child doesn't see that their substance use is a problem, what you can do when you're not on the same page as the person you're co-parenting with and lots more.
What Parents Need to Know About Trauma-Informed and Responsive Transport and Interventions, with Heather Hayes
You've likely seen the A&E show "Intervention" where families work with a professional team to encourage a loved one to go to drug or alcohol treatment, and wondered how much of that is reality vs. Hollywood show. In this episode, you'll hear from Heather Hayes who's been an interventionist on the show, is a Master's Level Licensed Counselor, Board Certified Interventionist (CIP) and Certified Arise Interventionist. She brings nearly 40 years of experience in the field of addiction and mental health to this very important conversation.
Dr. Anna Lembke, author Of ‘Dopamine Nation’ on addiction, the pain/pleasure balance, and a counterintuitive, drug-free way to find homeostasis
If you've ever wondered what dopamine has to do with the way we interact with decision making, pain-relief, pleasure-seeking, addiction, and basic human functioning, you're going to want to tune into this episode. I got to sit down with Dr. Anna Lembke, author of Dopamine Nation; Finding Balance In The Age of Indulgence, to talk about all of this and so much more.
finding ways to reduce your suffering when parenting a child misusing or addicted to drugs or alcohol, with Brenda Zane
The emotional distress a parent feels when their child is struggling with or addicted to drugs or alcohol is incomprehensible to the average person. Through the lens of the second arrow principal, I share ways that parents can minimize their suffering, anxiety, emotional anguish and isolation while their child is actively engaged in misusing substances, or in the early and sometimes fragile days of recovery.
Surviving The Perfect Storm Of Challenging Kids, Aging And Menopause; This One's For The Mommas, with Dr. Robin Sinclair, ND
It's a cruel twist that just as we moms enter the perimenopause and menopausal phase of life, our kids are at the age when they may be experimenting with or addicted to drugs or alcohol. This combo is the perfect storm of hormones, uncertainty, and emotions, and often not in a good way. My very own doctor, Dr. Robin Sinclair joins me to clear up misunderstandings about aging and menopause and to help us understand the connection between stress and our bodies.
teasing apart the complexities of gender identity, neurodiversity, substance use and mental health in young people, with Sean Garcia
If there's a perfect storm of complexity and confusion for parents of adolescents and young adults it's the intersection of a mental health condition, neurodiversity, substance use and gender or sexual identity. It's overwhelming to know which aspect of these to address first, or do you address them all at once?
9 dangerous and negative thought patterns, and what to do instead, for parents with kids misusing drugs or alcohol, with Brenda Zane
In this episode I cover nine of the most common unhelpful and unhealthy thinking patterns parents fall into and talk about ways to shift those to a more productive place. If you tend to catastrophize, judge, doubt, criticize or ruminate about your life or your child's life, this is your episode. You'll walk away being more aware of how to recognize these unhealthy patterns and learn ways to change your thinking.
what parents need to know about substance use and trauma; what it is and isn't, and why we can't ignore it, with Steve Sawyer
Just hearing the word "trauma" can cause a parent's stomach to turn in knots and create feelings of guilt and regret. We believe we should be able to spare our kids from trauma and might push this aspect aside when seeking treatment options. Steve Sawyer is an expert in trauma and adolescents and joined me for a deeply educational and enlightening conversation around trauma, and why as parents, we need to understand it better.
using rituals to withstand distress, build resilience and counteract triggers when your child is misusing drugs or alcohol (and a little pep talk), with Brenda Zane
There's never a shortage of discomfort, distress, or triggers when you have a son or daughter who's misusing drugs or alcohol. You can live in a constant state of unrest and feel as if you have no control over anything. I share in this episode how parents can use simple rituals to withstand the varying levels of chaos, unpredictability, and frequent triggers in their day-to-day lives.