Hopestream: Parenting Kids Through Addiction & Mental Health

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Danielle Schaffer is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to her business and her family, but not even this determined, dynamic Italian "momshell" who hails from New York City could save her baby brother from the grip of addiction. As founder of the insanely popular blog and Instagram account, City Girl Gone Mom, and host of The Mom Confidential podcast , Danielle...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: If you've started the process of looking for options to help your son or daughter with substance use issues, you know it can be overwhelming, intimidating, and exhausting. If you're just starting out and thinking about making that first call or sending the first email, you may soon find yourself wading through website after website, at 2 in the morning, wondering how y...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Parents are often hit with sticker shock when they start researching treatment options for their adolescent or young adult children, especially if Wilderness Therapy is on that list. With costs reaching $500 per day, it can mean families have to forego treatment only because of financial constraints.  When Rochelle Bochner's son was in a wilderness therapy program and she r...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: "It didn't happen that way" "You're way too sensitive, get over it" "You're confused, I didn't say that" and 10,000 other ways our teen and young adult kids twist and turn reality until we wonder if maybe we're the ones who need psychotherapy and treatment. It's called gaslighting and it's something you may be all...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Parents of kids in recovery from substance use disorder may not think college is a good or even realistic option - who would be crazy enough to send their child who struggles with alcohol or drugs to a place where those things tend to be rampant and "normal?"  This episode will be a beacon of hope for those parents who want their kids to continue on to higher education...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Families who have a child or children with substance use disorder often have struggles other families don't ever experience or know about. Having a coach and mentor to come alongside you is invaluable when it comes to navigating the tricky family dynamics involved. My guest in this episode brings a wealth of hands-on experience working with teens, young adults and parents a...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: If you've ever been in a conversation where you were thinking, "I'd love to have those kinds of problems" this is an episode you need to hear. For those of us who have kids with a life-threatening disease like addiction, it can be hard to navigate relationships with people who have what we think of as "normal" problems. We retreat and isolate to avo...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: You may be a parent who's noticing changes in your teen or young adult that worry you, but drugs or alcohol don't seem to be the problem. Their behavior is off, they're acting uncharacteristically and definitely not thriving like someone their age should. What do you do? This episode is a great place to start if you're thinking about intervening and what that...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Dr. Joseph Lee is the Medical Director for Hazelden Betty Ford's Youth Continuum and, as I learned in this powerful, hopeful episode, one of the most genuine and caring people in the field of addiction recovery. Dr. Lee generously shared his thoughts and perspectives from his vast history and experience ranging from the streets of Baltimore to now working with one of the co...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: August 31 is Int'l. Overdose Awareness Day and this informative bonus episode will highlight why drug overdose is closer than you think, why it's on the increase during COVID, and some simple things you can do to save a life, even if you don't know anyone who's addicted. Special guests Aaron and Lin Sternlicht from Family Addiction Specialists provide insight...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Having a child at-risk with emotional or substance use issues can consume every part of you. It’s a daily struggle that often robs parents of even the smallest joys in life. This episode is for you if you’re wondering if and how you can ever be happy - and is that even ok when your child is so sick?  I share 3 things to consider if you haven't smiled (genuinely) in a long t...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: "When parents are parents, kids can be kids" sounds easy right? Yet it's not easy to know how to be a parent who sets clear boundaries and creates a safe container for kids to grow, mature and feel all the feelings life throws at them in a healthy way. Luckily, Krissy Pozatek, MSW, joined me for an enlightening conversation on doing just that. Krissy is the author...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: We've all seen the Ven diagrams showing us to focus on what we can control. But how does that specifically apply if you've got a teen or young adult child who's misusing substances and your life is in chaos? In this episode, I share from the seat of wisdom - 7 very real and practical things you can do to regain some control and sense of agency over your life even...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: One of the scariest parts of having a child who needs treatment outside of the home is finding the right place, program and people for their unique needs. And Google is NOT the answer (usually.) My guest on this week's episode made a switch from being an educational consultant placing teens and young adults in treatment programs to building a best-in-class, data-driven webs...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Parents with kids in active addiction often find themselves grieving and mourning the loss of what could and should have been - the life that was robbed by drugs or alcohol. But it's a unique kind of grief because your child is still technically alive, their body is with you but the child you know and raised and love is no longer there. This unimaginable kind of torture is...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Dr. Patricia Conrod and her team at PreVenture have identified 4 personality traits that make teens at higher risk for substance use later in life, and have developed a school-based program that helps these at-risk kids learn how to turn their personality challenges into strengths.  Parents will want to learn about the traits and this program which has some astounding, evidence-...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: One of the hardest things for parents to do when their child is struggling is to know when or when not to help them. When they’re little, it’s easy - but as they get older, it’s more complicated because, especially for moms, there’s often an urge to step in and smooth the way and remove obstacles from their path so they don’t have such a hard time. I am 100% guilty of this and k...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Ask any parent what it's like to know your teen or young-adult child is coming home from drug treatment and you'll see a very frightened, confused, and anxious person. It's a highly vulnerable time for the child and a hopeful, yet confusing and terrifying time for parents and caregivers. Wonder, co-founded by Dave Herz and Willow Rubin is a unique program closing...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: It's a hard place to be, parenting a teen who you suspect is experimenting with alcohol or drugs, or both. This episode provides listeners with ten hard truths you need to know in this situation. Host, Brenda Zane shares her perspective and knowledge from living through many years with her son who struggled with substance use, defiance, and at-risk behavior. It's a mus...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Wilderness Therapy, or Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare, is an option parents often consider when locally-based treatments aren't working for their teen or young adult who's struggling with emotional issues or substance use. But it can be scary and confusing if you're unfamiliar with what wilderness therapy actually is (and isn't.) This episode does a deep-dive...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: The world of addiction and treatment are not exempt from the racial disparities we're so painfully aware of at the moment (June, 2020). This episode takes a look at what's happening in Black communities in the U.S. relative to: addiction as a percentage of the population vs white and other races how the opioid crisis and overdose deaths are impacting the Black communit...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: It's well known that addiction is an equal-opportunity disease that impacts every socio-economic group with its destruction. For families and individuals who live under a spotlight of fame, recognition, and elite status, addiction brings about circumstances and challenges not readily faced by the average person.  Aaron and Lin Sternlicht founded Family Addiction Specialist...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: When our sleep goes, everything goes with it. I have yet to talk with a parent who's getting good sleep while their child is misusing or addicted to drugs or alcohol - so this is a hugely important topic.  This episode covers: the mindset you need to adopt to have a chance at sleeping well a short, recorded meditation to help you sleep 5 serious health risks associated with...

ABOUT THE EPISODE:   If anyone could love a son out of addiction it would be Megan Megale. Her son Matt was an all-American Boy but Megan found out heroin was stronger than her love. This episode will make you sad, mad, and inspired all at the same time. You'll hear: how Megan's family tried everything they knew to save Matt from the horrors of heroin how she now sees ways she may have n...

ABOUT THE EPISODE: This personal episode is dedicated to all the moms who have put their life, dreams, career, and sanity on hold while they fight for their child's safety and health. For those who are having health issues and have given up on joy because of the stress in their life. I share the bigger meaning behind what this podcast and The Stream represent both to me and to the world at la...