Headstraight: Mental Health Support for Teens

Fear doesn't always stop us by making us run away. Sometimes it shows up as hesitation, overthinking, procrastination or convincing ourselves not to try in the first place. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why fear can hold us back from doing things we genuinely want to do. You'll learn how fear influences decision-making, why self doubt often grows alongside it and how avoiding challen...

Do you start with good intentions, feel motivated for a few days and then find yourself slipping back into old habits? If so, you're not alone. Many young people struggle to stay consistent, even when they genuinely want to change. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why motivation fades, why lasting change is often harder than it looks and what sits underneath self sabotage. You'll learn...

Welcome to Season 2 of Headstraight . Last season, we dug into emotions, boundaries, and the patterns that keep you stuck. This season, we’re going further—turning awareness into action. It’s about making better choices, building self control, and taking real steps toward the life you want. Across the season, we’ll tackle the big barriers: why you keep losing motivation, how self doubt and people...

Season 1 of Headstraight has been all about one thing: learning to understand your emotions and take back control of your life. Across these episodes, we’ve faced down self doubt, worked through people pleasing, dealt with guilt trips, and broken cycles of self-sabotage and losing motivation. For young adults and teens, these aren’t just ideas—they’re everyday mental challenges and teen troubles t...

Why does saying no feel so difficult? Many young people worry about upsetting others, disappointing people they care about or being seen as selfish for putting their own needs first. As a result, they end up saying yes when they want to say no and ignoring their own limits. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why boundaries can feel uncomfortable, where the guilt comes from and why self do...

Have you ever snapped at someone and immediately regretted it? Maybe you said something hurtful, lost your temper or pushed someone away, then wondered why it keeps happening. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore what sits underneath emotional outbursts and why strong emotions can sometimes take over before we've had time to think. You'll learn how stress, frustration, anxiety and overthink...

Wanting attention isn't a weakness. It's a normal human need. We all need connection, reassurance and a sense that we matter to other people. Yet many young people feel guilty for wanting those things and worry that asking for support makes them needy, selfish or attention-seeking. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore where that guilt comes from and why so many people learn to hide their em...

Have you ever found yourself making the same mistake again, even though you knew it would probably end badly? Whether it's acting on impulse, giving in to pressure or repeating old patterns, many young people find themselves making choices they later regret. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why this happens and what sits underneath self-sabotage. You'll learn how emotions, habits and sh...

Feeling unsafe can take many forms. It might be a difficult situation at home, a friendship that doesn't feel right, pressure from other people or simply a feeling that something isn't okay. Whatever the reason, feeling unsafe can affect your confidence, wellbeing and ability to cope. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore what it really means to feel safe and how to recognise situations that...

Who do you turn to when life gets difficult? The people around us can have a huge impact on our confidence, wellbeing and ability to cope, but not every friendship or relationship provides the support we need. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore what real support looks like and how to recognise the difference between healthy relationships and connections that leave you feeling drained, cri...

Ever feel like your emotions take over before you've had a chance to think? One minute you're fine, the next you're angry, anxious, upset or overwhelmed, wondering why your reactions feel so intense. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore what is happening inside the teenage brain and why emotions can feel so powerful during adolescence. You'll learn why anxiety and overthinking can quickly s...

Feeling like you're not good enough can affect every part of your life. It can leave you questioning yourself, comparing yourself to other people and struggling with self doubt, even when there's no real evidence that you're falling short. In this first episode of Headstraight, we explore where that feeling comes from and why so many young people carry a harsh inner voice that constantly tells the...

Welcome to Headstraight, a teen mental health podcast where we cut through the noise and give young adults and teens the real talk mental health they actually need about emotions, choices, and teen mental health. If you’ve ever been hit by self doubt, stuck in cycles of overcome self sabotage, or drained by endless guilt trips and overcoming people pleasing, this season is for you. Season 1 is cal...

If you've only just discovered Headstraight, this is probably the best place to start. In this short introduction, I want to tell you a little about who I am, why I started the podcast, and what you can expect if you decide to stick around. After more than thirty-five years working alongside young people and their families, I've learned that the questions we carry around in our heads are often muc...