HEALTHY FAMILY CONNECTIONS

In this eye-opening episode, we dive into a common parenting dilemma: what happens when therapy for your teen backfires? We explore the story of Mom and her 15-year-old daughter, Olive, whose rebellious behavior leads them to counseling. While the therapist aims to help by advising Mom to loosen her control and give Olive more independence, things take an unexpected turn. Olive's behavior spirals,...

In this heartfelt episode of our podcast, we dive into a challenging yet vital topic: co-parenting with an abusive partner. Listener Sharon, a devoted mom of two boys, shares her courageous journey of leaving an abusive relationship and navigating the complexities of shared custody. Facing her ex's harmful behaviors and refusal to communicate, Sharon seeks advice on helping her sons recognize thei...

Struggling to guide your teen back to a healthy path? In this episode of Healthy Family Connections , host Neil D. Brown, LCSW, tackles parental blind spots that sabotage change in families. Discover why even motivated parents miss key strategies from books like Ending the Parent-Teen Control Battle and learn actionable solutions to overcome control battles , power struggles , and counterproductiv...

Is your teenager under functioning because of anxiety, depression, ADHD, hyper-sensitivity, oppositional behavior, learning differences or other neural differences? We'll talk about what to do about this in today's podcast, How to Create Real Change with your Teenager. *** Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast:   http:/...

In this episode, Neil responds to a mom wanting to know how to support her adult daughter who is in an emotionally abusive marriage. *** Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast:   http://neildbrown.com/submit 📘 Buy the book:  https://neildbrown.com/books 👉 Take the online course:  https://neildbrown.com/parent-teen-cont...

In this episode, Neil responds to a mom struggling to get her husband to parent without blame and anger. After offering some context, Neil demonstrates a letter writing technique that can jumpstart the process of change. *** Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast:   http://neildbrown.com/submit 📘 Buy the book:  https://...

In this episode, Neil responds to a Mom struggling with what went wrong and what to do now that her daughter has moved out and is living with her grandmother. *** Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast: http://neildbrown.com/submit 📘 Buy the book:  https://neildbrown.com/books 👉 Take the online course:  https://neildbr...

In this episode, Neil follows last week's podcast where he responds to parents struggling with their young teenager's lack of impulse control. In this episode, Neil offers a second way to help their teenager improve and he demonstrates how to go about it. *** Hi, I'm Neil D. Brown, psychotherapist, author, and podcaster. I've evolved a model for parents of teenagers with behavior issues. Learn mor...

In this episode, Neil responds to parents struggling with their young teenager's lack of impulse control. Neil offers a positive way to help their teenager improve and demonstrates how to go about it. This is the first of 2 podcasts on this topic. *** Hi, I'm Neil D. Brown, psychotherapist, author, and podcaster. I've evolved a model for parents of teenagers with behavior issues. Learn more about...

Do you find yourself in a cycle of giving and taking away privileges to get your teenager to simply do their work? These parents do and Neil helps them understand how to use the shift from giving kids Consequences to giving them Earned Privileges , why it works and how to apply it in real life.  We talk about that and a whole lot more on this week's podcast, Getting Earned Privileges Right.  *** ...

In this podcast Neil responds to a mother struggling to get her young adult daughter who suffers from OCD moving. This mom wants to know if she's cruel for wanting her daughter to challenge herself more. Neil offers this parent a way to communicate with her daughter and end the stalemate in their relationship. Hi, I'm Neil D. Brown, psychotherapist, author, and podcaster. I've evolved a model for...

In this episode Neil responds to parents who are losing control of their ADHD 15 year old son. Neil highlights the problem of parents doing all the work to help their son succeed, while their son is putting his effort into resistance. Neil explains the critical function in adolescence of youth taking onus for their responsibilities and offers these parents a surprising strategy to shift motivation...

In this episode Neil responds to a dad who explains that his wife and daughter fight constantly. His question is whether it's better to push their 14 year old daughter to do better and participate in activities as his wife promotes, or to allow their daughter to make her own decisions as long as she's doing well enough as he favors. Listen to Neil's surprise answer in this relaunch of the Healthy...

In this podcast, Neil takes issue with National Columnist Amy Dickinson's advice to a mother whose daughter is intentionally screwing up her chores to get her mother to quit assigning them to her. Neil explains how ramping up consequences can unwittingly only support a Control Battle while missing the opportunity for real change.  Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future...

In this episode, Neil responds to a Mom whose young teen son reports that shoplifting is okay, as long as it's from large corporate stores. Neil helps this family unify their approach to include both positivity and accountability.  Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast: http://neildbrown.com/submit  

Episode Description:  In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a Caroyln Hax column in which a desperate mom wants advice for dealing with her hostile 17 year old son. Mom is divorced and her son has been living mostly with his father, who just passed away.  Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast: http://neildbrown.com...

In this podcast, Neil and Robin explore generational sources of self-destructive behavior, how best to understand it, and most importantly, how to heal it. Learn how to invite gratitude into healing generational trauma.  Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast: http://neildbrown.com/submit  

In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a Mom wanting to know the best ways to talk with her teen daughter about sex. Mom sees that dating is on the horizon and wants to be prepared. Neil and Robin approach the subject with the goal of raising healthy empowered teens, and they discuss the best ways parents can encourage their teen's participation in the discussion.  Have a question for Neil? Su...

In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a dad who wants Neil to decide which parent has the right idea, him or his wife. Dad sees his teen daughter as normal and doesn't want to enforce his wife's limits while Mom wants daughter held to higher standards. Neil explains how these polarized positions are triangulating and confusing their daughter and gives guidance on how to end this destructive d...

In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a husband and father struggling with why he isn't being listened to or appreciated in his own family. Neil offers a powerful yet simple way to think of and build empathy skills, a missing ingredient for this husband/father.  Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast: http://neildbr...

In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a woman who's frustrated that a positive approach isn't working with her kids and she's ready to return to her older parenting model of getting angry and bawling them out when they're not behaving. Neil supports the idea that saying your truth is a good thing, and shows how being truly authentic includes being vulnerable. This provides new possibilities f...

In this podcast Neil and Robin respond to a woman whose daughter threatens to quit going to college, or harm herself when her parents don't give her what she wants. Neil names this syndrome as Hostile Dependency and offers this mother clear guidelines and the healthy path forward.   Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast...

In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a question from Patricia, whose   daughter is isolating more and more and seems to possibly be depressed. Neil provides insight into what may be happening and a path for getting the right kind of help for this family. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast: http://neildbrown.com...

In this podcast Neil and Robin respond to a woman on a quest to get healthy, who wants to  have a stronger voice with her husband. She's struggling with how her husband fights with their college age son and wants the pattern to change. Neil and Robin explore the many reasons things need to change, and they offer this inquiring wife and mother a way to get her voice heard. Have a question for Neil?...

In this podcast, Neil, along with co-host Robin, reviews a question that Amy Dickenson responded to in her column at the end of December entitled, " Texas native should go home again." Neil provides insights into what can lead to family estrangement and offers support for people who may find themselves dealing with estrangement or family dysfunction.