raising teens Archives - www.thebrainymoms.com

The Sex Talk: Tips for Discussing Sex, Intimacy, and Consent With Your Kids with guest, Clint Davis, MS, LPC

December 14, 2023December 14, 2023 Amy Moore, PhD

On this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy and Teri welcome back marriage and family therapist and trauma expert Clint Davis for the third time. He’s appeared on two previous seasons of the podcast to discuss things like pornography and the dangers of social media for kids. Today, he joined us to discuss the topic of talking to your kids about sex and shares some wonderful insights from his new book, “Building Better Bridges: A Guide to Having Difficult Conversations that Can Save Our Children.”

Podcast

Raising Resilient Teens in an Era of Anxiety with guest Erica Komisar, LCSW

November 30, 2023November 30, 2023 Amy Moore, PhD

If you’re a parent of tweens or teens, you’ve probably wondered about the difference between “typical” teen angst—that is, normal worries, fears, and struggles associated with adolescence—and when there’s a deeper issue that might require talk therapy (or possibly, medication). Today, psychoanalyst and clinical social worker Erica Komisar joins us to share her experience and knowledge from more than 30 years in private practice. Hear what she has to say about identifying teens’ challenges and struggles, when to seek outside help, how to provide support at home, and the best circumstances to have deeper conversations with your teen. Listen as Dr. Amy, Teri, and Erica discuss everything from boundaries and flexibility to brain development and how parents can serve as the emotional regulators for their teens as they navigate the transition to adulthood.

Podcast

Help Your Teen Feel Connected, Competent, and Confident with guest Dr. Melanie McNally

November 16, 2023November 16, 2023 Amy Moore, PhD

If your teen is struggling with “big emotions” like anxiety, anger, frustration, or a lack of direction, we encourage you to listen this podcast episode where Dr. Amy and Dr. Jody interview licensed clinical psychologist and life coach Dr. Melanie McNally. We got some great take-aways about everything from self-awareness and awareness of others to self-regulation and setting goals and the role that parents can play in supporting their teen without grabbing the reins entirely. Don’t miss this episode with Dr. Melanie as she walks us through tips to help teens build vital skills to carry them through the transition to adulthood and beyond.

Podcast

Helping Your Teen To Choose Their Own Unique Path in an Academically Competitive World with guest Cindy Muchnick, M.A.

April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 Amy Moore, PhD

Community college? Gap year? Four-year private university? Today’s teens are facing overwhelming pressure to follow a traditional path from high school to college, often with little regard for their readiness, motivation, or interest. Cindy Muchnick, co-author of “The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen’s Wellness & Academic Journey in Today’s Competitive World” joined Dr. Amy and Sandy on the Brainy Moms podcast to share some advice on how to preserve your relationship with your teen while navigating a competitive academic environment. If you’re looking for insights on how to foster grit, resilience, and independence in your teen while also learning to listen to their feelings and fears, this episode will hit the spot! Combining her years of experience as a college admissions expert, high school teacher, and mother of four, Cindy offered some concrete strategies to help you navigate these crucial years and help guide your teen to THEIR preferred experience after high school.

Podcast

Managing Anxiety about School Shootings & Other Traumatic Experiences with guest Stacie Boyar, LMHC, MS Ed

July 19, 2022January 9, 2023 Amy Moore, PhD

With so many scary things happening in the world today, it’s easy to understand why kids are struggling with anxiety. On this episode of Brainy Moms, Teri and I interview licensed mental health counselor, Stacie Boyar, LMHC, MS Ed, who shares tips and specific strategies for managing anxiety. She’s uniquely qualified to give advice on this topic as a therapist in Parkland, FL who worked with teens from the Stoneman Douglas high school shooting.

We talk about effective therapies for anxiety like CBT and EMDR and also learn at-home breathing and grounding techniques that we AND our kids can use whenever we’re feeling stressed or anxious about anything at all. Join us for this fantastic conversation with the author of You’re Not the Boss of Me, a book for teens on conquering anxiety.

Podcast

A Radical Parenting Partnership with Your Teen – with author Lainie Liberti

July 12, 2022January 9, 2023 Amy Moore, PhD

On this episode of Brainy Moms, Dr. Amy and Teri interview Lainie Liberti, teen mentor and author of the book, Seen, Heard, and Understood: Parenting and Partnering with Teens for Greater Mental Health. Lainie shares a radical approach to relating to teens through a partnership parenting paradigm. Although unconventional, it’s an approach that promotes connection and cooperation with your teen. Based on ideas from her book, Lainie explains the benefits of knowing your teen’s love language, creating shared family values, and partnering in problem solving as a family. Join us for this conversation about a truly unique approach to raising teens.

Podcast

5 Things Parents of Teens Need to Know with guest Kim Duckworth

March 29, 2022January 9, 2023 Amy Moore, PhD

Wondering what you need to know to be a successful parent of a teenager? On this episode of Brainy Moms, Dr. Amy and Teri interview Kim Duckworth, author of the bestselling book, Parents, Are You Ready? The Practical Guide to Launching a Successful High School Student.

Kim shares 5 things that successful parents of teens should know including how to help your teen find their superpower—or their uniqueness. Kim’s an expert in college readiness and admissions and her tips are just what parents of teens—like we are—need to hear!

Podcast

Parenting Teenage Girls: Expert Tips from a Teen Life Coach with guest Sheri Gazitt, MA

January 4, 2022January 9, 2023 Amy Moore, PhD

On this episode of Brainy Moms, Dr. Amy and Teri interview teen life coach Sheri Gazitt. Coach Sheri talked to us about some difficult topics that parents and teens face like friendship issues, why friends are so important to them, social media and perfectionism, and why teen girls pull away from their moms. She shares the importance of knowing their love language and even gives us some insights into the science of the teenage mind. Her specialty is teen girls, but this episode is relevant for parents of teen boys as well.

Podcast

The Top 6 Episodes of 2021

December 28, 2021January 9, 2023 Amy Moore, PhD

Are you a new listener to our Brainy Moms podcast and want to know what you’ve been missing all year? Or maybe you’ve been listening since the beginning but wonder which topics everyone else liked the best. On this special year-end episode of Brainy Moms, Dr. Amy and Teri recap the 6 most popular episodes of 2021. We share which one had the most downloads, the key takeaways from each of those guests, and we even play a short clip from all 6 of those episodes. Join us to hear what you’ve missed and what should be next on your playlist!