Your Zen Friend

Send Lauren a text! If you, a friend or family member is expecting a baby or has given birth in the past twelve months, then this episode is sure to be a helpful one! Listen in for a candid and informative interview with licensed professional counselor, Carol Ann Murphy. Carol Ann shares important information about how prevalent postpartum mental health challenges are, what symptoms new moms shoul...

Send Lauren a text! If you want to embrace a little Hygge on a difficult day, then this meditation is for you! On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you get super comfy and cozy and feel more calm and relaxed.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psych...

Send Lauren a text! As a parent, you're likely feeling overwhelmed on a daily basis. On this episode I will tell you all about the Danish practice of Hygge. I'll tell you what it is and how you can use it to create less chaos and more calm for you and your family. Using the book "The Little Book of Hygge" by Meik Wiking, I'll tell you how you can easily invite in more comf...

Send Lauren a text! On this week's Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short meditation for when you are having trouble connecting with your tween or teen. This meditation will help you to offer yourself love and compassion. It will remind you that parenting is hard and and it's common to have times of disconnect with tweens and teens. This meditation will also help to take a one step...

Send Lauren a text! Parents often ask me how they can get their tweens and teens to talk to them more. So on this episode I have my 20 year old daughter, Leena, (AKA Queen Leens), here with me to tell us what gets kids talking to their parents. Leena will tell us what I did right to get her talking and keep her talking throughout her tween and teen years. I am lucky that Leena has always shared a...

Send Lauren a text! On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you identify a goal that can help you to enhance or improve your life in some way.  This meditation is perfect to do at the start of a new year or anytime you would like to set and keep a new goal.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I'll review the goals I set for myself at the start of last year, including whether or not I finally organized my Tupperware. I'll tell what lead to being successful with some of my goals. I'll also tell you why I was not successful with other goals.  Whether you have created a New Year's resolution or are setting goals at another time of the...

Send Lauren a text! Drop of Zen ~ On this episode I will guide you through a short meditation to invite in a sense of peace. I will talk you through seeing a beautiful, warm, white light and ask you to envision it slowly shining over you.  This is a great meditation to do when you can lie down and invite yourself to relax deeply. Perfect to do at the end of a day or when you need a short but relax...

Send Lauren a text! Have you ever felt the pressure of being the perfect parent during the holiday season? I know I have. In this lively chat with my dear friend Lori Simon, we share laughs, struggles, and strategies for navigating the holiday season without losing our sanity. From tackling the tricky topic of Santa's existence to the dilemmas around gift-giving and wrapping, we explore it al...

Send Lauren a text! Drop of Zen ~ On this episode I will guide you through a short breathing exercise designed to help you feel more calm and grounded. This breathing exercise is perfect to practice during hectic times (like the holiday season)  but can be done at any time. Enjoy! This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, me...

Send Lauren a text! Feeling overwhelmed with all the holiday to do's? Guest and friend of the pod, Vicki Smith will help us to clear our schedules of the stuff that doesn't serve us so that we have more time to do the things we enjoy. Self care isn't just about lighting candles and wearing cozy socks. One terrific way to care for yourself, especially during the holidays is to set he...

Send Lauren a text! Drop of Zen ~ On this episode I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you feel safe and grounded. This is a great meditation to do when you want to calm your central nervous system.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind...

Send Lauren a text! Many kids struggle with making and keeping friends. As a parent it can be challenging to support your children when they have difficulties with social skills. On this episode I will talk about some developmental milestones to watch for that will let you know if your child is on target with their social skills. I'll also tell you how I assess if a child is having difficulti...

Send Lauren a text! Drop of Zen ~ On this episode I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you connect with your yourself, feel into your body and identify what you need.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your docto...

Send Lauren a text! Get ready to be inspired by guest and fitness entrepreneur, Lauren George! Lauren is a superstar in the barre and fitness industry. As a successful entrepreneur, social media influencer, college professor, coach and mom, Lauren knows what it’s like to juggle many different roles. She’ll share how she keeps so many balls in the air and how she accomplishes so much each day! She’...

Send Lauren a text! Drop of Zen ~ On this episode I will provide you with a short guided mediation to help you connect with gratitude or appreciation.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to...

Send Lauren a text! You might be surprised by the many life changing benefits that come from having a regular gratitude practice. It's free, only takes a few minutes a day and with Thanksgiving  just around the corner, it's the perfect time to start your own gratitude practice. I'll tell you how you can practice gratitude and share what research says it can do for you. If you would...

Send Lauren a text! Drop of Zen ~ On this episode I will provide you with a short guided mediation to help you inhale peace and relax deeply. This meditation is perfect to use before bed, a nap, or anytime you wish to feel more ease and relaxation.   This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psycholo...

Send Lauren a text! Are prestigious colleges the only surefire path to a successful career? What if there was a different, less stressful approach to guiding your teen through their college and career choices? Join us as I sit down with Sonia Cacique, a college and career counselor with more than 17 years of experience. Sonia will tell us what parents and teens should consider when choosing a coll...

Send Lauren a text! On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through connecting with your anxiety and observing it with neutrality and curiosity. Although we don't try to make anxiety smaller in this exercise, it will often decrease as a result of this meditation. Shhhhh....... don't let your anxiety know that.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended...

Send Lauren a text! Ever wondered how you can best support your children to be successful learners in school? On this episode I will share what I've learned as a mom and therapist working with kids and families. This includes how parents can start fostering the skills that kids will need for a successful future starting in elementary school. I'll use some examples of how I supported my o...

Send Lauren a text! On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a meditation designed to help you when you are having difficulty falling asleep.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care...

Send Lauren a text! Ever wondered what the difference is between a therapy dog, emotional support dog and service dog?  Abby Hill, Executive Director of Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs, is here to not only tell us the difference but also explain how these extraordinary four-legged friends play vital roles in their owners’ lives. Abby's shares how her experience as a Newtown community member...

Send Lauren a text! Feeling overwhelmed with the busyness of life? Take just a few minutes to connect with your breath in this guided Drop of Zen, a short guided mediation designed to help you feel more calm and grounded.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind....

Send Lauren a text! Would you like some more zen in your life? If the answer is yes, then this episode is for you! While I've been talking a lot about decluttering on some recent Your Zen Friend episodes, this episode is all about the items I would never think of parting with. Some of the things I will be talking about include: my favorite clothing item, a beverage I enjoy daily, my go to fac...