On Navigating the Abyss: Parenting Alchemy for Kids in Crisis

Interview with Caya - Part 2 A hip infection lands Caya in hospital and, unexpectedly, becomes the interruption that addiction could not talk its way around. From that bed, she and I have a clear eyed conversation about what actually moved her towards recovery and what did not, including the painful truth many parents learn the hard way: you can love fiercely, you can set limits, you can offer tre...

What if the bravest thing a parent can do is listen without trying to fix? Teri Potter and Catherine Borgman-Arboleda sit down with Catherine's daughter, Caya, who has lived the realities of anxiety, addiction, and the mental health system. Her candour cuts through platitudes as she explains how algorithms fuel risk, why peer groups often shape choices more than families, and what actually he...

What if the way forward with your struggling teen isn't through control, but through connection? Catherine's powerful new guide "Conscious Parenting: Struggling Teens" offers a compassionate framework for parents feeling overwhelmed by their teenager's challenges. We often believe good parenting means fixing our children's problems. Yet Catherine reveals how this appr...

Have you ever felt paralyzed by conflicting advice about your struggling teen while your own parental voice gets drowned out? That gut-wrenching feeling of being told the "experts" know better than you do about your own child? This raw, vulnerable conversation dives deep into how parents become disempowered when navigating mental health systems for their children. We share personal stori...

The moment your teenager rolls their eyes, retreats to their room, or responds with a dismissive "whatever" can trigger something deep and primal within you. That feeling of invisibility, of being taken for granted after all you've sacrificed – it's a universal parental wound that cuts especially deep for those of us raising adolescents through mental health crises. In this raw...

Fear grips you when your child overdoses. The nightmare every parent dreads becomes reality, and suddenly every moment feels like walking on a tightrope across an abyss. In this deeply personal conversation, Catherine courageously shares her ongoing journey supporting her 18-year-old daughter through addiction and substance misuse, including a recent overdose that required Narcan intervention. She...

Struggling with a partner who parents differently than you do? You're not alone. In this vulnerable conversation, Teri and Catherine dive deep into one of the most challenging aspects of raising children: navigating different parenting approaches with a spouse or co-parent. Drawing from their personal experiences as trauma-informed mothers and Conscious Parenting Coaches, they explore the pro...

Every parent knows that moment—standing at your teenager's bedroom door, desperately trying to get them moving while being met with pure teenage disdain. What seems like a simple morning routine quickly reveals the complex emotional landscape we navigate as parents. In this deeply relatable episode, Teri opens up about a recent morning struggle with her 16-year-old that triggered familiar que...

Radical Acceptance: Letting Go and Trusting the Journey In this episode of Navigating the Abyss, hosts Teri and Catherine, both Trauma-Informed Conscious Parenting coaches, delve into the concept of Radical Acceptance. They explore the critical differences between regular acceptance and radical acceptance, sharing personal experiences and parenting challenges to illustrate the transformative power...

In this episode of Navigating the Abyss, Teri and Catherine explore the challenges parents face when their children experience intense emotions. They share personal stories and insights on how to manage these situations, emphasizing the importance of emotional regulation, connection, and validation. The conversation highlights the necessity of understanding one's own emotions as a parent and...

Teri and Catherine share their experiences and discuss challenges faced by parents, the importance of emotional support, and the journey of self-awareness that can help both parents and children navigate difficult times. Teri shares her personal story about her daughter's struggles and the lessons learned about being present and supportive without trying to fix the situation. Navigating the C...

In this episode, hosts Teri and Catherine share their personal journeys as trauma-informed parents navigating the challenges of raising teens in crisis. They discuss the importance of connection, understanding mental health issues, and the tools they have learned to support their children. Catherine shares her profound experiences with her daughter, highlighting the need for acceptance and the shi...