HEALTHY FAMILY CONNECTIONS

A former client helps Neil learn that he needs to not take clients' understanding basic concepts for granted. In this episode, Neil takes the basic concept of "listening" that many of his clients are struggling with, and breaks it down so we can all understand and be understood in a more productive way. Then he challenges listeners to take the one week test. Sign up to get your free checklist to h...

Raising successful kids means teaching our kids to be comfortable with failure. In this episode Neil finds the concept of personal vulnerability emerging in many places and all pointing to the same thing, vulnerability, courage, and success all go together. Neil introduces listeners to a book by parents, Dale and Monica Vernon, How Imperfect Parents Lead Great Families as an example of embracing o...

At a recent presentation to middle school parents, parents wanted real solutions to dealing with aggressive pushback from their teenagers. In this podcast Neil shows listeners how to deal with four common forms of teen pushback and gives parents the critical skills to avoid Control Battles and Parental Burnout and set their teenagers on a healthy path forward. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and...

In this episode, Tracy of Victoria, Australia, wants to know how to deal with her 16 yr. old son who wants to be treated like a young adult yet isn't managing his responsibilities. Neil addresses this question by helping listeners understand how parental self-doubt and burnout undermine empowered parenting and the ability to set healthy limits. Neil then inspires listeners to turn 3 critical cause...

Healthy Expectations for your Depressed Teenager Should a parent lower expectations if their teen is dealing with mental health Issues? Let's say you've already tried some combination of therapy, wilderness experiences, a residential treatment center, psychiatry, medicine, and your teen is still depressed and doesn't want to go to school, complaining of head-ache, stomach ache, fatigue etc. Will r...

In this episode, Mike of Salinas, is worried for his 39 year-old daughter. He's concerned about the possibility of emotional abuse in her relationship with her 55 year-old boyfriend. Mike asks Neil how to intervene without causing further problems. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive a free checklist to help you determine whether you and your teen are having a power struggle or a control...

In this episode, Neil addresses a question from Lisa, of Aptos California. Lisa's 15 year old son spends a lot of time avoiding being at home and being with his parents, saying his parents are boring. She wants to know what she can do about this. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive a free checklist to help you determine whether you and your teen are having a power struggle or a control b...

This episode is focused on a question from Priyal from India, who is currently living in Iowa City, Iowa, and it's one Neil never anticipated being asked. Priyal asks, "How do you help a child establish a relationship with God? How do you make him or her spiritually aware? And at what age?" Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive a free checklist to help you determine whether you and your te...

Are we being picky if we require our gifted straight "A" son to get physical exercise? In this episode Neil discusses the importance of physical activity and setting limits with gifted kids, an excellent question from Marie of Dallas, Tex-as. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive a free checklist to help you determine whether you and your teen are having a power struggle or a control battl...

Jasiri of San Jose, California asks, "What are appropriate and effective methods of discipline for outspoken, independent and highly intelligent 6-8 year olds?" and Neil gives context for the question itself and a learning approach for such a spirited child to develop the skill of cooperation without making her gifts wrong. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive a free checklist to help you...

This week's question is from Jennifer of San Francisco, California. Her question is about her youngest child who, different from her older siblings, seems especially anxious and angry. There are lots of pieces to this scenario and Neil addresses them with actionable advice. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive a free checklist to help you determine whether you and your teen are having a p...

This week's question is from April of Santa Cruz, California. April is asking "when should your wants and needs overrule your kid's wants and needs?"… Neil gives practical tips for doing just that. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive a free checklist to help you de-termine whether you and your teen are having a power struggle or a control battle. Enter your email address here >> http://e...

Neil responds to a question posed by Jennifer of Oslo Norway, who asks how to best parent her teen who has been diagnosed with autism after a "break-down."

Shannon of Santa Cruz, California, asks what to do about a teenager who won't do his homework! Neil provides insight into potential reasons for this which could require additional support, such as ADHD or other situations, and provides a strategy for empowering a teen to develop the ability to embrace challenge and take ownership of their own success.

Thanks to a question from Jessica in Gainesville, Virginia, Neil expands the control battle strategy conversation beyond the family environment to a middle school classroom, demonstrating step-by-step how "The Talk," key in transforming control battles in families, can also be used successfully by teachers with their students.

The focus in this episode is about setting and holding healthy boundaries in families. Thanks to Jeremy, of Aptos, California, for asking an honest question about a situation that comes up all the time. My Inlaws are in my Business.

In this episode, Helping Your Depressed Teenager, Neil addresses a question for Tracy, a mother in Victoria, Australia, concerning a child who says "he doesn't want a life."

Neil responds in this episode to a question about lying and developing trust and honesty in a child who has chronically lying behavior. You'll learn a perspective that will empower you to be a parent skilled in helping your kid to develop honesty - in a way that is practical and authentic for both you and your kid.

In this podcast Neil answers a question posed by Anna, asking how to maintain her "adult side" when she finds herself in a heated argument with her husband. Neil deals with fighting at the personal and the relationship level and gives solid advice for how to get through emotionally painful situations

Family gatherings are the hallmark of the holidays. If there are sibling issues in our families, the holidays can be a time when they surface and we may feel anxiety about this. In this episode Neil gives insight and instruction to the mother of two teenage+ daughters who won't get along.

In this first podcast, Neil gives context for this podcast series. We all want our families to be healthy and happy. We aren't always prepared for the inevitable challenges to creating this health and happiness. This podcast provides practical guidance for creating, and sustaining, healthy dynamics in your family, dealing with the way the world is changing around us and the uniqueness each of us b...

In this episode of  Healthy Family Connections , Neil takes a question regarding arguing and screen time. "How can we set aside screen time without arguing about it?" A relevant and tough question for any parent in this modern age of technology. Screens are a part of our everyday life. Many of us take our screens to bed as well as wake up with them — but screens are not a great thing for kids to b...