I am so glad that you are back with me and my amazing guest, Jayne Demsky.  So many of you have talked to me about school avoidance and how to navigate this, and we’re digging in deep this week! The good thing - there is hope! Jayne shares her story & why she’s so passionate about school avoidance, and why we can’t just “make them go.” Jayne talks about different therapy options like CBT & exposure therapy, the school’s role, underlying causes, & advocating for your child. We discuss how hard school refusal is on the parents & adults and why punitive consequences do not help. I ask Jayne what parents should do first when they start seeing school avoidance or refusal, and we finish by chatting about education reform & improving schools for kids and how parents can self-care during challenging times. Takeaways from the show What is school avoidance & school refusal?  What are the signs?  CBT & exposure therapy  The school’s role  Underlying causes  Advocating for your child  Why punitive consequences don’t work  When to intervene & what to do first  Self-care for parents For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Emotional Freight Train is REAL and can take us on wild rides - especially during the teen years, There is no better way to shut down communication with a young person than to come at them with all the emotion of the EFT. Listen to this week's solo show for solidarity, communication skills, and tips for staying off that train! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Dr. Shefali Tsabary, and we’re having a special conversation to celebrate Mother’s Day!Dr. Shefali tells me all about writing her book, “A Radical Awakening: Turn Pain into Power, Embrace Your Truth, Live Free” and how her divorce freed her up for a phenomenal, liberating transformation. Dr. Shefali shares about how we’re conditioned and indoctrinated from childhood and how women can lead the way away from that. We dig into owning your part of the dynamic in different relationships and how much work & courage accountability actually takes. I share a story about my marriage and my expectations, and we compare the difference between letting go and giving up. Dr. Shefali shares her wisdom on how we can challenge our obedience to culture and belief systems.  Takeaways from the show Dr. Shefali’s book: “A Radical Awakening: Turn Pain into Power, Embrace Your Truth, Live Free” Pain & grief from divorce  Seeing the life experiences that interrupt your plan as opportunities  Conditioning & indoctrination from childhood  Accountability & owning your part in relationship dynamics  Letting go of expectations for others you’re in relationship with  Giving up versus letting go Obedience to cultural standards  Challenging your belief systems For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is a solo show! Coming out you with a deep dive into the practice of being with what the universe throws your way. I share my own experience of this work and offer listeners tools and tips for personal growth and you move through what's hard.For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Nikita Burks-Hale.  Listen in on this fascinating conversation with Nikita! She tells me a bit about her company, Headphones and Crayons, and how she integrates voice and color. We talk about how voice isn’t just what you’re saying, but your vibe and energy, too. Nikita shares about how she uses coloring to amplify voice & calm at home, and how we need home to be a safe-space for kids to express themselves. Nikita shares a dark moment that and how that sparked her path to Headphones and Crayons. We dig into how coloring can be contemplative, meditative, and a great conversation starter, especially with teens. We wrap up our conversation talking about coloring as a family and/or during a family meeting, and Nikita tells us where we can get some of her coloring sheets and audio. Takeaways from the show Hearing & seeing voice  Voice isn’t just what you say  The power of using your voice  Home as a safe-space  Using coloring to amplify voice & calm at home  Positive Discipline, connection, & accepting self-expression at home  Coloring as meditation Creating and holding the space your child needs  Coloring as a family and/or during a family meeting For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is a solo show. I explore the practice of surrender, what it means to me, and how it fosters more room for our teens to show up as their fullest selves.Takeaways include: Gratitude for the journey Surrender as being with life as it unfolds What it means to let go of our narrative Trusting our teens are growing through what they're going through Letting our kids take the lead For more show notes, including full transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Dana Kay, a board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner, best-selling author, and the CEO & founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute.  Dana shares about her son’s ADHD diagnosis and how it launched her business & book, “Thriving with ADHD.” Dana talks about her ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids & reducing inflammation (which is beneficial for everyone, not just those with ADHD). She touches on the gut-brain connection, antibiotics, & your immune system. Dana suggests foods families should consider cutting out, time-saving tips for cooking, and how to pace these changes. Takeaways from the show Pros, cons, & side-effects of ADHD meds  Dana’s “Thriving with ADHD” book & her ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Reducing inflammation in the body  The gut-brain connection, antibiotics, & your immune system  ADHD diet suggestions Time-saving cooking tips  Making gradual changes For more show notes, including full transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s show is a solo show- the fifth of six in a series where Casey will dive deep into alternatives to punishment.Takeaways include: Navigating big behavior Searching for support The process of getting help for Rowan Holding energy of confident authority Novelty seeking Brain science behind risk taking Staying curious, connected, and calm Prioritizing taking care of yourself For more notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Brenda Zane, and we are digging deep into teen substance abuse. Brenda shares about her son’s drug misuse & what got her started in this work. We talk about teens who are exploring risky behavior and teens who are using drugs regularly/daily. Brenda shares tips for having uncomfortable (and ongoing) conversations about drug use with your adolescent and how to come from a place of curiosity (not judgment). We talk about why the confrontational, punitive approach does not work & to consider drug use as a solution for a problem you don’t know about. Brenda and I also dig into how to share information about drugs with your kids & how to stay calm when you’re freaked out. Brenda finishes up teaching me about fentanyl & when overdoses don’t look like what you’d expect.  Takeaways from the show Novelty seeking as part of teenage brain development Substance use & responding as a parent  Alcohol & marijuana use  Covid, anxiety, isolation, & devices affecting drug use  Experimenting vs. problematic use  Uncomfortable conversations & coming from a place of curiosity  Drug use as a solution for a problem you don’t know about  Confrontational, punitive approach does not work  Information as harm reduction  Information about fentanyl & overdoses For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s show is a solo show- the fifth of six in a series where Casey will dive deep into alternatives to punishment. Creating space for your teens Raising capable kids Baggage from relationship with your parents Working towards doing better for your kids Being curious and neutral Unconditional love does not equal being permissive Power struggle when saying no Treating teens with dignity and respect Holding an encouraging container For more notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices