Cultivating Resilient Teens Podcast

Does your teenage daughter ever feel like she just can’t catch a break? When life’s challenging events stack up, it’s almost impossible to ‘look on the bright side’ and offering a bit of optimism just feels dismissive. We’ve all had those Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - kinds of days.  But bad days are going to happen. Instead of letting them ruin everything, you’re g...

Have you ever watched one careless comment completely reshape how your daughter sees herself? One word. One moment. And suddenly, she’s smaller. Today we’re talking about what’s actually causing your daughter’s pain and confusion. Because it’s usually not the comment. It’s the belief and the identity she builds around it. Intro Hey Parents, Welcome back to the Cultivating Resilient Teens Podcast ....

Hey Parents, Is your teenage daughter coming home from school snappy, completely drained and you can just feel the heaviness as she retreats to her room? And if you try to support her your involvement somehow makes things worse instead of better…this episode is for you.  And you’re not alone. Eight out of ten families who complete the Work with Shawna form on my website report: - They feel emotion...

 Hey parents, have you ever watched your daughter tie herself in knots in order to clear up a misunderstanding or fix messy friend drama?  Maybe she’s bending over backwards to repair a friendship that’s gone sideways, rewriting her texts a dozen times before hitting send – or the one thing I hear often – taking the blame for something she didn’t do just to restore a sense of peace and stability. ...

Hey Parents, Have you ever noticed how fast words like…                                            “Don’t ask - I can’t even right now”  tumble out of your teenage daughter’s mouth when she’s totally overwhelmed? That’s exactly what happened at the start of a recent session. Before I even finished pouring my glass of water, the newly enrolled client blurted out, “ No clue what just happened, but I...

Has your daughter ever experienced a memory from the past that’s so vivid she can recall it as if it happened yesterday? Maybe it’s a cringe-worthy moment she wishes she could erase or maybe it’s an incredible experience that redefined her.  Either way, THAT moment may be playing a crucial role in your daughter’s behavior, development, and relationships without her awareness. I’ve certainly had my...

Have you seen it yet? That moment when your daughter comes home from school after the long break and looks at you with wary eyes, a furrowed brow and lips that appear to be moving but she’s stumbling over her words and there’s no audible sound. I feel like we’ve all been there. That moment in time where you want to clearly articulate the thoughts swirling around in your head and release the mixed...

I’ve never been a fan of new year’s resolutions. Maybe it’s because the conversations I had with my mom were more about reinventing ourselves. And so, I’ve always been a believer that you don’t need to wait until tomorrow, next month or for a big milestone – you can begin again – anytime. Beginning again is simply about tuning in and being honest with yourself. Which, I’ll admit, wasn’t always eas...

We all know that comparison is a confidence killer. But ‘what if’ you flip the coin and look at the other side of comparison as a catalyst, a sign, that you’re ready to create more for yourself? Begin again.  The cool thing about learning how to flip the coin and begin again is it’s not as hard as your daughter might think it is and here’s why…her experiences – all of them - the messy ones and the...

Is it time to calm your daughter's exam anxiety? Hey Parents, Parenting teenagers is no small feat, but being a parent during final exams is akin to stepping into the realm of unsung heroes. I remember thinking that I could write my final psych paper while also listening to Prince’s new album, Purple Rain. I also remember my mom walking into my room, shaking her head, and telling me this appr...

Hey parents, is your daughter’s social life running her or is she running her social life?  Teenage girls come to me all the time feeling confused, hurt, and distraught by other people’s behavior. When someone says or does something that’s inconsistent with your perception of them, or different from how you believe they’re supposed to behave, it creates internal conflict. And internal conflict tur...

Hey parents , Does your daughter’s anxiety come from thinking about her future, or trying to control it? It’s no mystery that uncertainty has the power to ignite the strongest human emotions – anxiety and fear. And if fear and anxiety are the ‘kryptonite’ that are keeping your daughter from establishing the friendships she craves or developing a strong sense of self , stay tuned. This episode is d...

Hey Parents, Is your teenage daughter feeling a bit overwhelmed by ‘all the things’ right now? what’s going on around her?  how she fits into her world? and how to be okay with missing something? The fear of missing out and the fear of messing up are REAL for teenage girls. And seem to be a hot button issue right now. Thankfully we’re back to in-person learning here in the US, though, like every n...

Hey parents, Have you ever heard the saying … ‘what you resist persists’? I mean, could it really be true that, in your daughter’s attempt to push away all those unwanted things, she only attracts more unwanted things ? The father of analytical psychology, Carl Jung, suggests that in your attempt to ‘resist’ certain situations, by focusing on what you don’t want, you actually cause those unwanted...

Hey parents, I have a question for you … what throws your teenage daughter off more - her big emotions OR the after-effects that follow her reaction to her big emotions?  Welcome back to the cultivating resilient teens podcast. If you’re listening today, you probably recognize the value in understanding, and learning how to manage emotions capable of rocking your household and social circles. So,...

Hey parents, I’m interrupting the regularly scheduled podcast to bring up a concerning issue I experienced, the clients enrolled in my 90 Days to a More Resilient Teen Coaching Program are talking about, and maybe it’s coming up for your daughter, too. As we’re moving through the covid pandemic - a time that challenged us collectively and impacted each of us a little differently – there appears to...

Hey parents,  How much do your daughter’s friendships influence HER attitude, mood and motivation? As a parent and teen coach I hear a lot of stories about how other people’s actions and reactions seem to affect my client’s well-being. Of course, it’s natural for connection seeking teens to be influenced by their environment, especially their social scenarios. The hard part is, humans, not just te...

Hey parents,  I wanted to share a personal conversation I had with a dear friend I’ve known for over 30 years because she raised a great question that’s relatable to anyone raising teens.   My girlfriend and I met when we were in the thick of our teenage years and now, we’re both raising teens, so we naturally we found ourselves talking about all the social complexities teens experience, particula...

Hey Parents, does your teenage daughter doubt herself or feel like there’s something fundamentally wrong with her when things don’t work out? It’s so easy to weave the “ Ugh, what’s wrong with ME ?” narrative into an emotionally triggering situation. The Good News The good news is, there’s an effective way for your daughter to deactivate doubt, get stronger and feel more self-confident.  Welcome b...

Hey Parents, Does your teenage daughter have a plan to stay confident and mentally clear when she’s emotionally triggered? After making a very long list on a giant piece of paper, the teenage girls in my social media group just sat back with that deer-in-headlights look. I think they were more stunned than I was at the list they’d created. The task was to identify all the all the “parts” of social...

Hey Parents, Have you ever asked your daughter how she’s doing and heard something like … “it’s complicated” or “you won’t understand!” As you’re working through the ‘letting go’ and ‘losing control’ part of raising a teenager (two of the toughest parts if you ask me), getting a non-answer when you’re trying to connect is tough because: it feels like it widens the divide and pulls heavily on your...

Hey Parents , Is your teenage daughter “freaking out” about what’s next? You’re probably noticing that spring fever is in the air, which undoubtedly signals one thing - transitions are on the horizon.  Whether it’s her transition into middle school, high school, college or beyond, you’re likely seeing any number of behavioral changes in your daughter. Welcome back to the Cultivating Resilient Teen...

Hey Parents, What’s your daughter most important asset? Welcome back the Cultivating Resilient Teens Podcast . Today we’re diving in a little deeper to an issue we touched on in last week’s podcast, Ep – 28 How to Break Free from Thinking Errors that Wreck Your Daughter’s Confidence . Because, interestingly, even though your daughter may think she’s the only feeling one insecure or being left out,...

Hey parents, Is your teenage daughter a hard worker who gets frustrated and feels defeated when things don’t go her way? If mind management sounds like some type of voo-doo, though you see your daughter repeating the same behaviors over and over, but expects a different result, this podcast is for her. Welcome back to the Cultivating Resilient Teens Podcast where you can find the full show notes o...

Hey Parents, Does your teenage daughter feel like she has to choose between being liked or being respected? Welcome back to the Cultivating Resilient Teens Podcast where we’re going to offer a “Short, Sweet and Spot On” episode, as listener Me and Xoxo , shared in a recent iTunes podcast review. Thank you, Me and Xoxo, for taking the time to share your thoughts and for being part of the Cultivatin...