Dr. Kirstin Barchia is a clinical psychologist who has worked with teenagers and their families for the past 25 years. She developed the Calm Connection Program and other online resources to help parents of teens because she’s watched so many great parents unknowingly make mistakes, because they didn’t get the support they needed. As a researcher who has conducted studies on teen bullying and aggression, lying, delinquent behavior, and resilience, Kirstin wants parents to have access to strategies that are based on scientific and psychological research, along with practical support and guidance.

SUMMARY:
For parents of teens (and tweens) who are dealing with eye rolls, moodiness, or slammed doors, it might seem like the only choices are: 1. punishments and consequences that don’t work, 2. ignoring them and walking on eggshells, or 3. waiting until they’re 25 years old. Dr. Kirstin Barchia talks about what is going on with our teens and shares what parents can do to make things better. She talks about the most common mistakes that good, well-intended parents make with their teens and simple things that we can do differently. Kirstin says that many teens are sad about losing the closeness and connection with their parents. For teens, growing up is inevitable; growing apart is not.

SUMMARY:
Kristina Nation supports parents of teenagers with depression, a topic that is intensely personal to her. She knows firsthand the fear and helplessness that parents often feel when their child is struggling. Kristina talks about the importance of self-care for parents, maintaining a strong relationship with your teen while still having healthy boundaries, and building a support system around your family. Kristina shares advice about how to create a safety plan with your teen, how to find professional help, and how parents can work through their own feelings of shame or guilt. Finally, Kristina urges parents to keep your relationship with your teen strong and to have hope by “believing it can get better”.

SUMMARY:
Want a parenting tool that will help get you out of overwhelm, unstuck from patterns that don't work for you, and build closeness and connection in your family? Sheryl Ang says to try a family meeting. Family meetings aren’t just another thing to add to an already overflowing to-do list; rather, they will make the “to-dos” disappear by creating the kind of family that you want to have now and for the future. Listen to this interview to hear how to get started with family meetings.

SUMMARY:
Heather Schalk explains that if a young child is having a meltdown and the parent solves it by distracting them with a phone, or saying “no, stop that!” or removing them from the situation, the child misses a learning opportunity to develop their advocacy skills. In this interview, you’ll find out what advocacy means, why it’s important, and how to help your child develop their advocacy skills. Heather shares her 5-step process for handling using emotional moments, like meltdowns, as learning opportunities for kids and their parents, and explains how to use these steps with a child who has limited verbal ability.