HEALTHY FAMILY CONNECTIONS

In this episode Neil responds to a Mom looking for ways to help her 13 year-old raging, cutting daughter.  Neil shows Mom how being reasonable with an emotionally out of control daughter is unreasonable and offers Mom four steps to action instead.  

What do you do when your 16-year-old son turns your house upside down with drama and emotion , displays defiance, is argumentative, aggressive, loud , has provoking behaviors, and fits the description of Narcissistic Personality Disorder ? In this week's episode, I answer a question from a mom who wonders whether her teenage son has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). After doing some researc...

What do you do when you're 15-year-old is avoiding responsibilities and smoking weed , and the therapist you're going to says as parents, you need to back off ? In this week's episode, I answer a question from a father who is questioning the advice he's getting from his son's therapist. Dad is stuck in a Control Battle with his son, who's developing some unhealthy habits . We don't want these habi...

What do you do when you've taken some good parenting steps and your previously violent 13-year-old daughter is back in control ? Is that enough , or is there more to do ? In this week's episode, I answer a question from a grandmother who is raising her 13-year-old granddaughter. Her granddaughter used to exhibit violent, destructive behavior . But, after utilizing the tools outlined in my book, En...

What do you do when your husband is letting his very disturbed adult son take him and his business downhill ? This week, I address concerns from a woman who is facing some pretty tough challenges with her husband, their small business, and her adult stepson. Her husband has been enabling his adult son since he was a teenager. His son has some severe issues and his deteriorating condition and behav...

What do you do when your relationship with your truly terrific teenage daughter with learning disabilities has turned into a daily battle over homework?   This week, I answer a question from a Mom who is struggling to support her teenage daughter in getting her schoolwork completed.   Mom has provided ample support to her daughter who has struggled with a learning disability since elementary schoo...

What do you do when your very norma l 17-year-old starts to fail in their senior year? In this week's episode, I answer a question from a Dad who is trying to help his 17-year-old son, who suddenly seems to no longer care about school or college.   There are many challenges at play, like failing grades and a lack of motivation to attend college, but the most concerning is his son's substance abuse...

How do you keep your son caught up with his work when you only have 50% custody , he won't do it on his own, and his father won't take responsibility ? In this week's episode, I answer a question from a Mom having a challenging time getting her 15-year-old son to take responsibility for his school work. Unfortunately, she's not getting any support from her ex-husband. She's stuck in a Control Batt...

What do you do when your daughter is hibernating in her room , has a history of cutting , is on meds, in counseling, but remains depressed ? This week, I answer a question from a mom who is concerned about her daughter's mental health problems . She feels lost and doesn't know what else she can do to help her daughter thrive . There are lots of parents out there who can relate to this Mom's concer...

What do you do when you move to a new country , work to put a roof over your child's head, only to have them say that they hate you ? This week, I answer a question from a mom who is facing a challenge with her daughter after moving to a new country, and in turn, a whole new culture . The expectations of teens and the journey of adolescence vary widely among cultures. Many parents who make a move...

What do you do when you fall in love with someone who has a young adult child at home, and they don't like you upsetting their very comfortable, dysfunctional lifestyle ? This week, I address a question from a gentleman named Christopher who is dating the mother of a 20-year-old son. Christopher is concerned that his girlfriend is enabling her young adult son who abuses cannabis and doesn't work o...

What do you do when your kids won't own up to a problem and you don't know whom to hold responsible ? In this week's episode, I answer a question from a mom who is trying her best to teach her sons responsibility , but is struggling to get the message across. Taking responsibility is an important value to learn. While this mom's intention and her plan is great , she's facing challenges with gettin...

What do you do when you have a Special Needs Child throwing fits while you are struggling to make a living and be a good mother to all your kids? This week on the podcast, I answer a question from a mother of 3 kids, one of whom has special needs. She is struggling to manage the household, work a full-time job, and teach her remote-learning children. She's facing particular challenges with her you...

What do you do when you've tried to get your college graduate son, who's sheltering at home, to get a job and all you've gotten is a toxic relationship ? This week on the podcast, I address a problem from a mother with a young adult son, a problem that I've been hearing a lot about lately . This mother has a young adult son who has just graduated college, is living at home due to the pandemic, and...

Have you ever wondered how to get your teenager to cooperate and be positive when you have to fight with them to do anything? This week on the podcast, I answer a question from a dad with a 15-year-old son whose contrary attitude is affecting the whole family. This father is in a Control Battle with his son. It will take effective communication to help this family turn things around. Listen in for...

How do you get your husband to  stop parenting with anger  when your therapist and your husband have convinced you that you're  too critical ? This week, I answer a question from a mom who worries she's  too controlling and wants to know how she can  effectively support and encourage change  in her home. Listen in for: A critical shift in  parenting strategy  as your child gets older Tips on how y...

How do you start an online school year with a daughter who's hard to motivate and has been on her phone all summer ? In this week's episode, I answer a question from Mandy, a mom who is facing a challenge  that many other parents can relate to right now. Mandy is in a  control battle  with her teenage daughter and needs to  set new boundaries  as they prepare for online school this semester. Liste...

What do you do when your adult daughter calls you with the  horrible details  of her abusive relationship? In this week's episode, I answer a question from Denise, who is struggling with how best to help her daughter.   It seems that no matter what advice Denise offers, her daughter doesn't take it. In turn, the daughter blames her mother for her problems. Listen in for: The difference between  su...

What do you do when your two sons  ignore  your very reasonable requests and your husband  covers for them ? This week on the podcast, I answer a question from Terri, a mom who doesn't feel like she's being  listened  to by her sons and  undermined  by her husband. As the  only woman  in a house full of boys, I suspect Terri is being  taken advantage of  and that's sending her sons a  dangerous me...

What do you do when your 20-year-old son won't spend time with you,  a caring Dad , because he's afraid of his mother's  wrath ? This week on the podcast, I answer a question from Michael, a dad who has had a  strained relationship with his son going on six years now. His ex-wife has  alienated  their son from him. Michael wants to know what he can do to  mend the relationship  with his young adul...

What do you do when your 17-year-old son shouts at, swears at, and berates his girlfriend? In this week's podcast episode, we answer a question from Margaret, a mother who can't understand why her son is exhibiting abusive behavior towards the people he loves and wants to learn how to put a stop to it. Listen in for: The importance of teaching our children  emotional management skills Why parents...

How do you fight it when your 16-year-old son has several reasons to justify his smoking weed? In this week's podcast episode, Linda from LA shares her concern about her son's marijuana use  and how he wants to keep using it because of it's  perceived  benefits. Listen in for: An examination of the  Control Battle  between Linda and her son Some advice for starting the conversation about weed with...

What do you do when your husband  criticizes  you when you set limits with your teenage daughter? In this week's podcast episode, Denise from Kentucky writes to ask if her daughter will end up with  an unhealthy view  of marriage and is there something she should do about that. So this week on the podcast, I examine: How to become an  empowered  parent that's  focused  on your child's needs How to...