Teen Mental Health, Parenting, and Family Support | Turning Winds Podcast

Send us Fan Mail When a teen enters treatment, what is the parent's job? And how do you know it's time to seek help in the first place? In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Jared Sartell, LCSW, Director of Clinical Programming, to explore the parent's role across the entire treatment and healing journey, from the first signs that something is...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to be a relationship-based treatment program and why does that distinction matter so much? In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Jared Sartell, LCSW, Director of Clinical Programming, to unpack the relationship model at the core of Turning Winds and how it fundamentally changes treatment outcomes for teens. Jared exp...

Send us Fan Mail Host Kevin Zundl sits down with Program Director Enoch Stump and Clinical Manager Sean Carlin, MS, PCLC to explore how experiential therapy strengthens connection, trust, and emotional growth in ways traditional treatment settings often cannot. They reflect on a recent multi-day backpacking trek near the Canadian border and unpack the clinical intention behind taking a small group...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes the hardest part of helping a teen is realizing that love alone is not enough. For one family, the decision to seek outside help came only after years of trying everything they could on their own. They worked with specialists, made school adjustments, and tried every plan that promised progress. But nothing seemed to bring peace or consistency. When both their pediatrici...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Turning Winds Podcast, where we highlight the voices and ideas that help families navigate teen challenges. This episode features Dr. Foster Cline , one of the most influential voices in modern parenting and child psychology. Dr. Cline is the co-founder of the world-renowned Love and Logic Institute , a bestselling author, and a sought-after speaker who has spent de...

Send us Fan Mail What if your teen could stop being “managed by the world” and start managing themselves?  Carl pulls back the curtain on what emotional intelligence really is and why it matters more than grades, discipline, or even motivation. For many teens, powerful emotions arrive like tidal waves. They react, they lash out, they shut down, and the cycle repeats. What they do not realize is th...

Send us Fan Mail Executive functioning is one of the most important yet often misunderstood areas of adolescent brain development. These skills shape how teens plan, organize, remember, prioritize, and follow through on tasks. When executive functioning develops unevenly, it can show up as missed assignments, self-sabotage, conflict at home, or difficulty with accountability. For many parents, tea...

Send us Fan Mail What if leadership isn’t something you’re born with but something you build? In this episode of the Turning Wind Podcast, Kevin Zundl speaks with Enoch and Carl about how teens evolve into authentic leaders during their time at Turning Winds. They break down how the program creates space for students to shift from self-focus to service, from insecurity to confidence. You’ll hear a...

Send us Fan Mail What does real healing from trauma look like for a teen? In this episode of the Turning Winds podcast, you'll hear directly from an alumna who shares her personal journey from arriving guarded and disconnected to discovering trust, community, and a stronger sense of self. She opens up about the challenges of treatment, the emotional growth she experienced, and how staff suppo...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, an alumnus returns to campus and sits down with host Kevin Zundl to reflect on the journey that changed his life. Years after completing the program, Aiden shares how the emotional support, academic structure, and peer connection he found at Turning Winds continue to guide his path forward. Now studying psychology and helping o...

Send us Fan Mail This is what it sounds like when a treatment provider steps up, not only for the families they serve, but for families across an entire state. In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with John and Owen Baisden about their pivotal role in helping write and advocate for Montana Senate Bill 191 (SB191). This bipartisan legislation creates a new license f...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when teens leave behind comfort, routine, and screen time to immerse themselves in a new culture focused on service, connection, and perspective? In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with Kimberly Sparks, LCPC , a licensed clinical professional counselor with more than 24 years of experience working with adolescents. Together, they exp...

Send us Fan Mail Why do parents react so emotionally when teens make mistakes? How do we balance authority with empathy without robbing kids of their self-worth? In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl talks with Carl Baisden about what really happens in the heat of parenting challenges. From late-night gaming arguments to school stress and emotional shutdowns, they explore...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to hold boundaries with compassion, and why do so many parent-teen power struggles miss the mark? Parenting a teen comes with hard decisions, especially around discipline. Do we let kids face the natural consequences of their actions, or do we step in with structure to guide them? In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl is joined by...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with therapist Sean Carlin and addictions counselor Tara Steven to reflect on one of the program’s most impactful international trips: a week in Greece that pushed teens beyond their comfort zones and into real-world therapeutic growth. This journey was much more than a cultural experience. Through s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, clinical director Jared Sartell joins host Kevin Zundl to explore the surprising power of gratitude. Not just around Thanksgiving, but as a daily practice that improves mental health, supports better sleep, and builds emotional resilience. Drawing from his work with teens in treatment, Jared explains why gratitude is often one of the f...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when military families finally find a treatment team that truly understands their journey? In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Turning Winds Founder John Baisden Jr. and Admissions Director Eric Loesch to discuss the unique struggles and incredible resilience of teens growing up in military families. From frequent relocations...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when teens who’ve put in the hard work at Turning Winds come back to lead others? In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Program Director Enid to talk about everything happening on and off campus. From Halloween festivities and impactful group therapy themes to the launch of a new alumni-led weekly support group, there’s a lot to...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a military family finally finds the help their teen needs, right when it matters most? In this heartfelt episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with a military couple who opens up about their son’s mental health journey, the warning signs they missed, and the emotional toll of trying to find effective care. They share what ultimately led th...

Send us Fan Mail What does real personal growth look like in a teen’s life? In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with a recent Turning Winds alumnus about the transformation that happens when a young person commits to self-discovery, healing, and maturity. Through honest reflection, they explore the emotional turning points, from initial defiance and resistance to...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl is joined by Carl Baisden and Enoch Stump to explore a crucial back-to-school question: When is academic structure enough, and when does your teen need more? They unpack why school environments may temporarily stabilize behavior but often fall short of addressing the emotional or mental health issues beneath t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with educators Kathy Miller and Greg Hall, M.Ed. to explore how individualized support empowers students, especially those with IEPs and 504 plans, to rediscover academic success. With small class sizes, tailored learning plans, and integrated therapeutic support, Turning Winds helps teens not only catch up b...

Send us Fan Mail MUST LISTEN EPISODE This is what it sounds like when real relationships don’t end at graduation. In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Carl Baisden and Enoch Stump to explore one of the most critical but often overlooked phases of a teen’s recovery journey: the transition home after treatment. Together, they unpack what truly happens when te...

Send us Fan Mail This is what it looks like when collaboration fuels transformation. In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with Danny Baccum about what it truly takes to help teens before, during, and after treatment. From coordinating care with school districts and outpatient therapists to understanding why longer stays often lead to better outcomes, Danny shares i...

Send us Fan Mail Thirteen years after completing Turning Winds, alumnus Justin returns to Montana to reflect on how the experience shaped his life. As a teen, he struggled with defiance and direction. What he found at Turning Winds was a community that challenged him to grow, develop confidence, and build real leadership skills. In this episode, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Justin to discuss wh...