Listen Now

Do you think you can stay calm and parent a teen? Well Hesha Abrams believes you can. In fact, she believes you can "Hold the Calm". Hesha Abrams is on a mission to help people from all walks of life to find a solution when it seems impossible. A recipient of the Brutsche Award for Excellence in Mediation and 2021 Women Leaders in The Law, Hesha is an internationally recognized attorney, mediator and negotiator for crafting highly creative settlements and resolutions in very difficult matters. She has successfully mediated thousands of parties and was an innovator in the mediation field serving on the legislative task force that drafted landmark ADR laws and taught mediation and negotiation at the 2001 International Symposium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution in The Hague. Hesha recently published, Holding the Calm the Secret to Resolving Conflict and Defusing Tension. And we are going to discuss the secret in this episode. So if you would like to resolve conflict and defuse tension in your family then listen to this episode. Contact Hesha at https://www.holdingthecalm.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you wonder if your teen has ADHD? Well, I have invited back Dr. Norrine Russell . She recently published, Asking the Right Questions about ADHD Before, During and After your Child's Diagnosis.  Dr. Norrine Russell began Russell Coaching for Students in 2009, now a premier national coaching practice for middle school through college students with students across the US and Canada. Her passion for providing support to frustrated students and weary parents is fueled by her own experience of raising two complex children who are both neurologically atypical (her children’s diagnoses include autism, mood disorders, ADHD, giftedness, and learning differences). Dr. Russell knows firsthand the exhaustion parents face as they day in and day out seek solutions for their out-of-the-box children. The entire team at Russell Coaching is committed to supporting the psychological wellbeing, education, and family life of their clients. To learn more contact Russellcoaching.com or call 212 716-1161 Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/russellcoachingllc/ Special offer: Mention Power Your Parenting and you will get 10% off the first three months of coaching. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you be a parent of a teen and be at peace? Not 100% of the time. But yes you can be a mom and chase after peace. It's good for you and your teen. In this episode we will explore five ways moms lose their peace and how to not fall into those traps. You will be given four practical ways moms can dial up their peace.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

40-50% of teens say that they feel addicted to their phones. 90% of teens admit that too much time online is a problem for their peers. In this episode I interview Alex J. Packer PhD. His newest book Slaying Digital Dragons: Tips and tools for protecting your body, brain, psyche, and thumbs from the digital dark side will be released October 2021. . Without avoiding the dark side of technology, this comprehensive reference book empowers young adults to take charge of their digital life and improve their mental health and well-being. Quizzes and exercises guide readers through the process of evaluating their relationships with their screens, social media, and tech in general. Alex J. Packer PhD. is an educator, psychologist, and award winning author of numerous books for parents and teenagers including How Rude! The Teen Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out. Alex is sought after by the media for his provocative commentary on manners, child-rearing, and substance abuse prevention, and has led workshops and lectured widely across the United States and around the world. He received his Ph.D. in educational and developmental psychology from Boston College and his master’s degree in education from Harvard. We discuss... Signs that screen time is affecting young adults’ bodies, brains, and relationships Tips for protecting their privacy, safety, and reputation Ways social media and algorithms can distort their reality and sense of self Tools for finding life balance and resetting their screen scene You can contact Alex at https://www.alexjpacker.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we are going to talk about all things control. I think there can be a lot of confusion for parents around control. You hear phrases like keep your teens under control because you don’t want them to be out of control and then you hear don’t be too controlling or over controlling, or you need to exercise self control And then you have parental controls for everything social media. So I think it's easy to get confused about where you should stand on the whole control issue. In this episode we explore healthy control or monitoring vs being over controlling. We will look at the 4 traps over controlling moms fall into. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever thought, "I wish I could just hypnotize my teen so that they would . . ." Our guest today Dr. Ran Anbar is going to talk about how you can change teens and adult lives through hypnosis. Many people have negative connotations and misperceptions about hypnosis, Dr. Anbar explains hypnosis is not mind control over another person depicted in many children's and adult movies. It’s the complete opposite. Hypnosis therapy helps people claim more personal power –over their bodies their feelings and their relationships. Dr. Ran Anbar, MD, FAAP, author of new book “Changing Children’s Lives with Hypnosis” (November, 2021, Rowman & Littlefield). is board certified in both pediatric pulmonology and general pediatrics but what separates him from many doctors is the 25 years of experience he has treating children with hypnosis and counseling. He is considered one of the leading experts in this field and has served as a guest editor and advisory editor for the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. Dr. Anbar is on a mission to bring clinical hypnosis into the mainstream helping thousands of children benefit from this often misunderstood and under-utilized therapy. His new book is a down to earth guide on how this therapy works, including case studies of children he has worked with personally, with step by step advice for parents on they can take advantage of this non-invasive, painless method of treatment in caring for their children’s medical problems and emotional needs.   Here are some of the questions we explored. How did you find your way to hypnosis after several years as a practicing pulmonary and general pediatrician    How can hypnosis help when medical therapy isn’t working   Can hypnosis help teens with anxiety? And what would that look like? Is hypnosis the same as visualization or meditation? How are they similar and how are they different? What role does the subconscious play in hypnosis?  More info at https://www.centerpointmedicine.com/provider/ran-d-anbar-md-faap Email at  ran.anbar@centerpointmedicine.com         Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you feel exhilarated, excited and alive? Or do you feel stuck in a rut, bored or even resentful? Does your life feel like one predictable routine after another? Do you feel mired in your comfort zone? Maybe we can take a cue from our teens. We expect them to take risks, try new things and put themselves out there even when it’s hard. We expect them to take action and experiment with new activities. In other words we want them to get off the couch and step out of their comfort zone. We have witnessed them do that over and over again. Maybe it's time we do the same. In this episode I invite Sue Ludwig to talk with me about how moms can dial up their own dreams while in the thick of parenting. You don't need to have everything figured out. You can take one small step and dial up your dream one click at a time. Sue is a dear friend and a sought-after speaker, consultant, writer, and educator. A licensed occupational therapist and certified neonatal therapist, she is president and founder of the National Association of Neonatal Therapists, where she uses a unique blend of clinical expertise, innovation, and leadership to support the advancement of this specialized field on a global level.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I talk with guest host Sherry Duson, MA, LPC, LMFT about The Mom Story. Every mom has her own Mom Story even if you're not fully aware of it. Concious or unconcious The Mom Story is still playing in the background of your mind. A common theme of the Mom Story is "Am I a good mom or a bad mom?" Typically, when your daughter leaves home and you feel her absence, is when you start to become aware of the first draft of the Mom Story . The first draft tends to be full of negative emotions. This is when the resentments and disappointments surface from your years of mothering. The first draft is when you feel you lost more than you gained by being a mom. It's when you admit to yourself that parenting is/was hard. The good news is that the first draft is just part of the story. You don't want to get stuck in the first draft because you will be stuck in negative emotions. This is not good for you or for your relationships with your teens and family. To become aware of your first draft story takes courage, self-reflection and some soul-searching. Now that you have your first draft you want to integrate this into the second draft of the Mom Story which is a more complete and conscious story. The second draft takes a new set of eyes but you'll find that you have actually gained more than you have lost by being a mother. Too often our Mom Story is tossed about on the turbulent waves of life and our teens turbulent emotions. In other words we feel dependent on our family to shape our Mom Story. Often we are waiting for validation and appreciation. It's time to not be dependent on anyone else to shape The Mom Story. It's time to own your story. Your Mom Story is so important because it shapes how you feel about yourself and how you feel about your relationships and it sets the course for your future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I interview Cara Kalf, who is a writer, editor and teacher who coaches high-schoolers to write their best college application essays and get ready for the top-tier schools they plan to attend. For more advice on writing, admissions, and academic success, check out carakalf.com.  Questions we address are:  What is the best way to get organized and get started on applications? How do you avoid writer's block when it comes to writing your essays? How to help teens that are completely overwhelmed and don’t think there is anything special about their life. What are schools looking for in an essay? What are schools not looking for? What should students consider in writing supplemental essays? What are some traps that moms fall into when trying to help their teens with college applications. What is your best piece of advice for moms who are trying to motivate teens with their college applications. Contact Cara at connect@carakalf.com, or get free resources at carakalf.com, Follow Cara on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/carakalf/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I brought back my friend and colleague Sherry Duson back as guest host where we discuss how to turn a hard conversation into a healing conversation with your teen or young adult. "Sherry Duson is a Texas and an Arizona Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, and the Founder and Director of The Center for Postpartum Family Health in Houston, Texas. Since 1999 she has focused her practice on helping new mothers and the needs of young families. In 2014, she opened the Center for Postpartum Family Health, using therapists training under her supervision, to provide services on a sliding scale to the community. Sherry and I dive into Chapter 7 Healing Conversations in my book Dial Up the Dream. Healing conversations rarely begin as healing conversations they start as hard conversations. In this episode I discuss the Six Keys to a Healing Conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world where tweens and teens prefer online communication over face-to-face communication, basic social skills are not being learned. My guest today Catherine Newman is the author of What Can I Say: A Kid's Guide to Super-Useful Social Skills to Help You Get Along and Express Yourself.  Middle school is an essential time to learn and practice social skills, including how to get along with others, talk about hard things, be an ally, and a good friend. In What Can I Say?, Catherine Newman, provides supportive guidance to help kids establish or and maintain meaningful relationships with friends, teachers, family members, and others in their communities. Catherine Newman is the author of the award-winning bestseller How to Be a Person, as well as two parenting memoirs: Waiting for Birdy and Catastrophic Happiness, and a middle-grade novel, One Mixed-Up Night. She is also the co-author of Stitch Camp. Newman is the etiquette columnist for Real Simple magazine and the editor of the James Beard Award-winning kids’ cooking magazine ChopChop. Newman lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her family. Visit Catherine at catherinenewmanwriter.com. Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/catherinewman/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is all about safety and security. Safety expert and former scientist, Cathy Pedrayes is best known to her 2.3 million TikTok followers as the “mom friend.” With her signature blue dress and pearls, Cathy's content includes clever safety tips, such as how sleeping with a door closed can save a life and go-to lies for awkward situations and what not to post and what to do when strangers approach you or knock on your door. Cathy’s safety life hacks have been covered by Good Morning America, Buzzfeed, Today, and more, as well as in her new book published by Simon & Schuester, The Mom Friend Guide to Everyday Safety and Security: Tips From the Practical One in Your Squad. We also discuss. . . What are 5 seemingly innocent questions that strangers use to take advantage of you?  What should teens know about protecting themselves in their dorm or apartment?  What are the top apps to ease worried parents’ minds? Follow Cathy on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cathypedrayes?lang=en Follow Cathy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cathypedrayes/  Contact Cathy at info@cathypedrayes.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I share highlights from my Dial Up the Dream Event and share the "Why" of my new bestselling book, Dial Up the Dream: Make Your Daughter's Journey to Adulthood the Best for Both of You. I also interview four amazing, authentic and knowledgeable women about their experience mothering emerging young adult daughters. Neha Gupta, author and founder of College Shortcuts. Sherry Duson, who is a Texas and an Arizona Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, and the Founder and Director of The Center for Postpartum Family Health in Houston, Texas. Ann McKittrick, parenting coach, early childhood educator, and founder of Nurtured Noggins, Sue Ludwig, Author of Tiny Humans Big Lessons, President & Founder of the National Association of Neonatal Therapists (NANT), Sherry, Ann and Sue share the good, the gold and the challenges of parenting a late teen to early twenties daughter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I am talking to Cai Graham from Northern Ireland. Cai has been a teen mentor for decades. She shares some great practical advice for us today including the 3 questions that improve communications with your teens by speaking less and learning more. BIO: Known for being able to help teens get their spark back within three sessions, Cai Graham is a UK-based Master Teen Mentor with three decades of experience as a mom and Master Practitioner in NLP, hypnotherapy, and coaching. She goes straight to the heart of the issue and brings a side of humor to lighten difficult subjects. Cai is a podcaster, international speaker, and Amazon #1 best-selling author of The Teen Toolbox. Her mission is to help parents to support their children so that together they can build a mentally healthier and happier generation of young people. Three tools from The Teen Toolbox Box Breathing : Calming the chaos in your head :  www.caigraham.com/boxbreathing Brain Dumping : Prioritising tasks to avoid overwhelm :  www.caigraham.com/brain-dumping 3 Questions : Opening up the dialogue with your teen :  www.caigraham.com/threequestions  Learn more about Cai at https://www.caigraham.com/  Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/caigraham/      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Okay this is a very special podcast to me. Instead of me interviewing a guest, I’m going to be the one interviewed. If you have been listening to my podcasts for the last twelve weeks you know that I have written a new book called, Dial Up the Dream: Make your Daughter's Journey to Adulthood the Best for Both of You for moms of daughters from 17 to 25. Well, in this episode my friend and colleague, Sherry Duson will be interviewing me. Sherry Duson is a Texas and an Arizona Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, and the Founder and Director of The Center for Postpartum Family Health in Houston, Texas. Since 1999 she has focused her practice on helping new mothers and the needs of young families. In 2014, she opened the Center for Postpartum Family Health, using therapists training under her supervision, to provide services on a sliding scale to the community. Sherry did a great job of interviewing me. You will enjoy listening to a couple of seasoned therapists who have lived (and living) through these emerging adult years with our own daughter's. We get real! Dial up the Dream is launching May 3rd, 2022. You can order it anywhere books are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I interview Dr. Robyn Graham author of You, Me, and Anxiety: Take Action Over Anxiety to Enjoy Being you. Do you ever wonder what it might be like to not feel anxious all the time? The good news is you no longer have to feel alone and isolated. You me and anxiety helps you identify anxiety, recognize its symptoms, and take intentional action to manage and overcome it so that it no longer has a negative grip on your life. This book does not promise that overcoming and managing anxiety will be easy, but it will show you that you have the ability and tools to navigate through it. Dr. Robyn Graham is an anxious introvert on a mission to help teen girls go from feeling anxious to relentless by sharing her life-long journey with anxiety and the tools and resources that helped her not only survive but thrive. As a clinical pharmacist, professional photographer, brand strategist, and business coach, Robyn has witnessed both the clinical and social complications of anxiety and how it holds people, especially girls and women, back from achieving their goals and dreams. Robyn is a mom to Joshua, Samuel, and Grace, wife to Dr. John Graham, dog mom to Stella and Kona, and a daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. This is her first book. You can follow Dr. Graham on the following social media channels: ·      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therobyngraham ·      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therobyngraham ·      Twitter: https://twitter.com/therobyngraham ·      LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobyngraham Contact Robyn at https://therobyngraham.com/      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I interview Cathy Cassani Adams about her new book, Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World. We discuss what it means to have a Zen Mindset when parenting. There is so much wisdom in this episode like, "Kids don't learn kindness because we shamed them into it. True Kindness needs to be experienced and felt--ideally with their parents." Cathy Cassani Adams. Cathy Cassani Adams, LCSW, co-hosts the Zen Parenting Radio podcast and is co-founder of the annual Zen Parenting Conference. She is a social worker and former elementary school educator from a family of educators, and a yoga teacher who is a forever student when it comes to breathing and mindfulness. Cathy teaches in the Sociology/Criminology Department at Dominican University, and she lives outside of Chicago with her husband Todd and their three daughters Learn more about Cathy and her new book at https://zenparentingradio.com/ Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/zenparentingradio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Even mothers who hit all the marks may not be well or on a good path. For this reason, we need to talk about a mom’s inner life. We need safe places to process our struggles and needs, friends who listen and empathize, and healthy conversations that move us forward so we can genuinely thrive.” Kari Kampakis In this episode I interview Kari about her new book, More Than a Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive. Kari Kampakis is an author, speaker, and podcaster from Birmingham, Alabama. Her newest book  which we are going to talk about in this episode is, More Than a Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive, Her book was just released on April 5, 2022. Her other books, Love Her Well: 10 Ways to Find Joy and Connection with Your Teenage Daughter, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know and Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For, have been used widely across the country for small groups studies.  Kari’s work has been featured on Today show, Today Parents, and Focus on the Family,  Kari also hosts the Girl Mom podcast. Kari and her husband, Harry, have four daughters and a dog named Lola. Join Kari on Instagram, Facebook, and the  Girl Mom Podcast, or visit karikampakis.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Staying grounded is one of the best ways to dial down the drama. However for most moms "staying grounded” is not on the top of your daily to do list. It probably is not on your list at all. What do I mean by being grounded.? (You may call it centered or anchored) It's when you are deeply rooted in yourself, in your clarity, in your values, in your spirituality and faith. And when you are rooted you are not preoccupied, you are present to the world around you and yourself. Being grounded is like a strong oak tree with deep deep roots. Even when hurricane winds of drama start to blow the tree remains stable . It might lose some leaves or some twigs but it stands strong even in the worst of storms...even adolescent storms. Another metaphor for being grounded is being anchored. Again you stay steady even though there is turbulence all around you. It’s very challenging for moms to stay grounded. And here's why. Because everyone is pulling for our attention. In this podcast I will give you practical ways to stay grounded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does your teen frequently get angry? In this episode, we talk about what anxiety-driven anger looks like in our teens. Kelsey Torgerson Dunn, MSW, LCSW, specializes in anxiety and anger management therapy for kids, teens, and college students. She opened her group practice, Compassionate Counseling St. Louis, in early 2017. She practices cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness skills, and often finds that just having someone on your side is the most helpful part of counseling. Kelsey recently published When Anxiety Makes You Angry written for teens.  “Using a proven-effective approach rooted in evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), When Anxiety Makes You Angry will help you identify the anxiety beneath your anger, accept difficult emotions—rather than fighting or trying to ignore them—and learn healthy coping and self-regulation skills to help you find emotional balance. You’ll also discover how to “train your brain” to stop and think before reacting; and how to choose calm over chaos when faced with the things that trigger your anxiety or anger. To learn more contact Kelsey at https://www.kelseytorgersondunn.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselingwithkelsey/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices