Alright, I'm going to be straight with you. I've been watching this unfold for almost 20 years now, and I wanted to come in gently. I wanted to be cautious. But the time for that is done. It's time to raise the alarm about what smartphones and social media are doing to our kids. In this episode, I'm talking about screens. Smartphones, tablets, video games, the way we can doom scroll on the TV now the same way we do on our phones. We're seeing record-high numbers of depressi...

Ever found yourself in a heated exchange with your teen, feeling the tension build, your voice rising, and your body bracing for battle? What if I told you that there’s a way to dial back, find your calm, and show up as your best self, even if the conversation starts off on the wrong foot?In this episode, we’re diving deep into what happens inside us when your teen pushes back or refuses to follow the plan. The first step is recognizing and honoring your reaction.A lot of us avoid confli...

Struggle can be a powerful catalyst for growth. I’ve witnessed this truth not only in my own life but also in the lives of countless teens while working in wilderness therapy, residential treatment, and transitional and sober living. However, my time in wilderness therapy was particularly eye-opening. Seeing the immense challenges these teens faced made me realize just how fortunate I’ve been in comparison—how lucky I was not to have struggled as much as they did.“But through [my struggl...

“After a lot of attempts and a lot of failure, I did it.” - Jason DenhamIn this first episode, I’m peeling back the layers of my own journey—sharing the twists, turns, and tough moments that have shaped me into the person I am today. It’s a story of change, and as I’ve learned, change is a process, and it’s slow.Why am I sharing this? Because I see a little bit of myself in every struggling kiddo out there and a piece of you, the parent, in every moment of frustration or doubt. I’ve been ther...

This podcast is for parents who feel exhausted trying to reconnect with their child but are feeling stuck. Nothing you do seems to be working and you’re ready to dive deep, get vulnerable, and take on a different approach.Here, on the “The Reflective Parent” podcast, we start by looking at ourselves and begin to make small shifts for change. When we better understand ourselves, we are better equipped to engage with the family and its unique dynamics. Small changes in your own behavior and way...