Parenting Teens Through Anxiety // Dr. Kristin Valerius

In this episode of The Living Wholehearted Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Kristin Valerius, a pediatric psychologist and faith-filled leader, to talk honestly about parenting teens in an anxious world. Together, we explore how anxiety can be a signal of what we value most, why parents don’t need to rescue kids from every hard feeling, and how repair—not perfection—builds lasting connection. If you’ve ever wondered how to help your teen (and yourself) navigate big emotions with grace, resilience, and faith, this conversation will encourage and equip you.Key TakeawaysAnxiety as information – Anxiety isn’t just a problem; it reveals what we value and can guide us toward growth.The tipping point of anxiety – It becomes unhealthy when it blocks daily functioning or life-giving activities.Validation before solutions – Teens feel calmer and more open when parents reflect their emotions before jumping into advice.Repair matters more than perfection – Messing up is inevitable; owning it models humility, grace, and belonging.Parents must regulate themselves too – Self-care, honesty about limits, and modeling resilience are essential for healthy homes.Connection in their world – Entering your teen’s passions (even video games or music you don’t love) creates trust and closeness.Hold the long view – Parenting teens can feel unrewarding, but grace reminds us that growth is a process, not a final arrival.Website: www.sundstromclinic.com========================================================We LOVE that you’ve decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community. Go to livingwholehearted.com and sign up to receive our free leadership tips and updates delivered to you in our monthly newsletter. And, if you’re a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.  Until next time, be the leader you would follow! Grateful for you,Jeff & Terra To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to: INSTAGRAM@TerraMattson@Living_Wholehearted@MyCourageousGirls FACEBOOK@WeAreLivingWholehearted@MyCourageousGirls WEBSITESLivingWholehearted.comTerraMattson.com MyCourageousGirls.com RESOURCESShrinking the Integrity Gap Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in GraceDear Mattsons Helping Moms Raise Confident DaughtersSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/living-wholehearted-podcast-with-jeff-and-terra/donations

In this episode, we sit down with licensed counselor, author, and speaker Debra Fileta to explore what it truly means to heal from the inside out. Together, we unpack why our attempts at change often fail and how pausing, gaining insight, and facing our past can lead to lasting transformation. We talk about the deeper roots beneath our habits, how trauma resurfaces when life finally feels safe, and why triggers might actually be God’s invitation to heal. Join us as we offer a hope-filled, practical, and deeply faith-rooted conversation that will equip you to reset your life from the inside out.Key TakeawaysLasting change begins beneath the surface—true transformation requires addressing thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, not just behaviors.Pausing is powerful—silence and stillness create space to hear from God and gain deeper insight.Triggers are not setbacks—they’re signs of where healing is still needed, and God’s invitation to go deeper.Childhood wounds still shape adult behavior—healing comes when we invite Jesus into those early places of pain.Insight leads to alignment—when your thoughts, feelings, and actions align with God’s truth, deep healing follows.Spiritual maturity includes emotional maturity—leaders can’t afford to ignore their inner world.Shame stalls healing, but gratitude invites it—reframing struggles with grace opens the door to growth.Website: www.debrafileta.comInstagram: @debrafiletaFacebook: facebook.com/TrueLoveDatesTwitter/X: @DebraFiletaYouTube: Debra Fileta YouTube Channel========================================================We LOVE that you’ve decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community. Go to livingwholehearted.com and sign up to receive our free leadership tips and updates delivered to you in our monthly newsletter. And, if you’re a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.  Until next time, be the leader you would follow! Grateful for you,Jeff & Terra To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to: INSTAGRAM@TerraMattson@Living_Wholehearted@MyCourageousGirls FACEBOOK@WeAreLivingWholehearted@MyCourageousGirls WEBSITESLivingWholehearted.comTerraMattson.com MyCourageousGirls.com RESOURCESShrinking the Integrity Gap Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in GraceDear Mattsons Helping Moms Raise Confident DaughtersSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/living-wholehearted-podcast-with-jeff-and-terra/donations

As parents, we’re navigating a world of constant noise—externally from screens and schedules, and internally from emotional overload. In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Boyd, author of Turning Down the Noise, to talk about how overstimulation impacts both parents and kids, and how we can reclaim calm, connection, and emotional maturity in our homes. From recognizing early warning signs to creating healthy digital rhythms, this conversation offers both spiritual encouragement and practical tools for the journey.Key TakeawaysCatch overstimulation early. Notice signs before they lead to emotional blowups.Limits are a gift. Embracing them brings more peace and presence.Screens drain energy. Even background media impacts our brains.Connection over perfection. Simple rituals and shared interests go far.Model emotional regulation. Kids learn calm by watching us.Reduce noise, build resilience. Less input creates space for growth.Parent with grace. Shame isn’t helpful—start with compassion.Website: resilientlittlehearts.comInstagram: @resilientlittleheartsFacebook: Resilient Little Hearts========================================================We LOVE that you’ve decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community. Go to livingwholehearted.com and sign up to receive our free leadership tips and updates delivered to you in our monthly newsletter. And, if you’re a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.  Until next time, be the leader you would follow! Grateful for you,Jeff & Terra To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to: INSTAGRAM@TerraMattson@Living_Wholehearted@MyCourageousGirls FACEBOOK@WeAreLivingWholehearted@MyCourageousGirls WEBSITESLivingWholehearted.comTerraMattson.com MyCourageousGirls.com RESOURCESShrinking the Integrity Gap Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in GraceDear Mattsons Helping Moms Raise Confident DaughtersSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/living-wholehearted-podcast-with-jeff-and-terra/donations

In this episode, we dive into the messy, holy work of parenting through connection—not perfection. Together, we explore how to navigate emotional floods, create safe spaces for our kids to struggle, and why repair matters more than always getting it right. From toddlers to teens, we talk about how to show up as calm, connected leaders—even when we feel overwhelmed ourselves. Whether you're parenting young kids, raising teens, or healing your own inner child, this episode offers hope, practical tools, and a reminder that you're not alone.TakeawaysRepair is more powerful than perfection—kids don’t need us to never mess up, they need us to make things right.Emotional flooding blocks learning—when a child is overwhelmed, connection is the first step, not correction.Play is a child’s language—and a powerful tool for building trust and processing big feelings.Teen connection looks different—they need presence and curiosity, not pressure or lectures.Parents are thermostats, not thermometers—our regulation sets the tone in the home.Tech can’t replace presence—small shifts can help us re-center connection in daily life.God’s parenting is our model—He stays close and kind, even when we struggle.========================================================We LOVE that you’ve decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community. Go to livingwholehearted.com and sign up to receive our free leadership tips and updates delivered to you in our monthly newsletter. And, if you’re a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.  Until next time, be the leader you would follow! Grateful for you,Jeff & Terra To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to: INSTAGRAM@TerraMattson@Living_Wholehearted@MyCourageousGirls FACEBOOK@WeAreLivingWholehearted@MyCourageousGirls WEBSITESLivingWholehearted.comTerraMattson.com MyCourageousGirls.com RESOURCESShrinking the Integrity Gap Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in GraceDear Mattsons Helping Moms Raise Confident DaughtersSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/living-wholehearted-podcast-with-jeff-and-terra/donations

In this episode, we sit down with Josh and Jaelyn Harrel of Restored Living to unpack the powerful experience of their family’s 30-day media fast. We talk about what it revealed in their kids, their marriage, and their leadership. From rediscovering time freedom to learning to lead from a place of wholeness rather than hustle, this conversation is rich with practical insights and heartfelt encouragement. We also explore how their two-year journey in the Wholehearted Leadership Cohort shaped how they live, lead, and love—right where they are.Presence brings freedom: Time freedom isn’t something we earn—it’s something we reclaim when we’re present.Boredom is a gift to our kids: Without constant stimulation, children grow more resilient, creative, and emotionally aware.Healthy leaders embrace limits: True leadership is formed by knowing your wiring, honoring your season, and leading from the inside out.Transformation takes practice, not perfection: The media fast wasn’t flawless, but it shaped their family and rhythms in lasting ways.Seasons shape priorities: Embracing your current lane—whether that’s parenting or leading—brings peace and purpose.Experience changes more than information: Giving kids and leaders a new lived experience creates lasting transformation.Website: restoredliving.comInstagram: @restoredliving========================================================We LOVE that you’ve decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community. Go to livingwholehearted.com and sign up to receive our free leadership tips and updates delivered to you in our monthly newsletter. And, if you’re a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.  Until next time, be the leader you would follow! Grateful for you,Jeff & Terra To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to: INSTAGRAM@TerraMattson@Living_Wholehearted@MyCourageousGirls FACEBOOK@WeAreLivingWholehearted@MyCourageousGirls WEBSITESLivingWholehearted.comTerraMattson.com MyCourageousGirls.com RESOURCESShrinking the Integrity Gap Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in GraceDear Mattsons Helping Moms Raise Confident DaughtersSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/living-wholehearted-podcast-with-jeff-and-terra/donations

In this powerful conversation with Dr. Curt Thompson, we explore what it really means to move from imagination to incarnation—from abstract belief to embodied hope. Together, we reflect on how God reveals Himself through the arc of Scripture and how healing, trust, and transformation happen in the presence of real, loving relationships. Whether you’re wrestling with hope, longing for connection, or simply trying to receive love more fully, this episode is for you.TakeawaysGod’s story is one of increasing incarnation—His presence becomes more embodied over time.Hope is not instant; it’s formed slowly through process, pain, and presence.Healing often begins when we allow others to love us, even when it feels threatening.Confessional community is key to spiritual and emotional transformation.Love is the foundation, but hope and trust are practices shaped over time.We’re not changed by ideas alone—we need real people with real voices.The invitation to be known is both beautiful and uncomfortable, and that’s okay.Website:https://curtthompsonmd.comInstagram:@curtthompsonmdFacebook:Curt Thompson, M.D.Podcast: Being Known Podcast========================================================We LOVE that you’ve decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community. Go to livingwholehearted.com and sign up to receive our free leadership tips and updates delivered to you in our monthly newsletter. And, if you’re a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.  Until next time, be the leader you would follow! Grateful for you,Jeff & Terra To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to: INSTAGRAM@TerraMattson@Living_Wholehearted@MyCourageousGirls FACEBOOK@WeAreLivingWholehearted@MyCourageousGirls WEBSITESLivingWholehearted.comTerraMattson.com MyCourageousGirls.com RESOURCESShrinking the Integrity Gap Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in GraceDear Mattsons Helping Moms Raise Confident DaughtersSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/living-wholehearted-podcast-with-jeff-and-terra/donations

In this episode, we open up about the often hidden cost of leadership—especially in seasons of suffering. We reflect on how narrowing our relational circles, honoring emotional limits, and learning to trust God more deeply can become sacred tools for healing. Whether you're leading in a church, home, or organization, we share real stories and biblical truths that reveal how hardship doesn't disqualify us—it deepens us. Join us as we explore how to let our theology shape our reality, not the other way around. TakeawaysMargins Matter in Suffering: Protecting emotional and relational margins allows us to heal and lead well, especially during seasons of grief or burnout.Concentric Circles of Support: Shrinking your relational circle in hard times isn’t selfish—it’s wise stewardship of limited emotional energy.Suffering as a Trust Muscle Builder: God often uses pain not to punish, but to strengthen our ability to trust Him deeply and fully.Let Theology Shape Reality: When emotions feel overwhelming, grounding ourselves in who God is keeps us from spiraling into distorted beliefs.Jesus Modeled Relational Boundaries: Even Christ chose an inner circle and stepped away from the crowds, showing leaders how to steward their capacity.Trauma-Informed Leadership: Understanding how past wounds affect behavior is crucial for both personal healing and guiding others with compassion.No Shortcuts in Healing: Leaders are often tempted to move through pain quickly, but authentic transformation requires slow, intentional work.========================================================We LOVE that you’ve decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community. Go to livingwholehearted.com and sign up to receive our free leadership tips and updates delivered to you in our monthly newsletter. And, if you’re a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.  Until next time, be the leader you would follow! Grateful for you,Jeff & Terra To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to: INSTAGRAM@TerraMattson@Living_Wholehearted@MyCourageousGirls FACEBOOK@WeAreLivingWholehearted@MyCourageousGirls WEBSITESLivingWholehearted.comTerraMattson.com MyCourageousGirls.com RESOURCESShrinking the Integrity Gap Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in GraceDear Mattsons Helping Moms Raise Confident DaughtersSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/living-wholehearted-podcast-with-jeff-and-terra/donations

In this episode, we sit down with Cameron Horner to explore the depths of suffering, purpose, and the profound comfort found in Christ. Through his personal story of life-altering injury, Cameron shares how pain can shape perspective, deepen intimacy with Jesus, and become a prophetic voice within the body of Christ. We unpack the difference between inclusion and belonging, the theology of suffering, and how disability reveals what the Church might be missing. This is a conversation full of raw honesty, grace, and hope for anyone walking through loss or carrying unanswered questions.TakeawaysThe Fellowship of Suffering: Pain creates a unique space to experience intimacy with Christ, echoing Paul’s desire to share in Jesus’ sufferings.From “Why Me?” to “With Me”: Instead of easy answers, we’re invited to meet a Savior who suffers with us—not just above us.Disability as Prophetic Presence: Those with disabilities are not just recipients of ministry but voices that reveal what the Church is missing.Belonging vs. Inclusion: Inclusion offers a seat at the table, but belonging says, “We’re incomplete without you.”The Strength of Dependence: Embracing interdependence reflects the design of the body of Christ and challenges our culture’s idolization of independence.Mental Fortitude Through Trial: Physical limitations don’t limit spiritual depth—endurance forged in suffering often leads to extraordinary resilience.A Better Way to Comfort: Avoiding spiritual clichés opens the door for real empathy—being present in someone’s pain is often the most powerful ministry. Website: www.CameronHornerMinistries.org Instagram: @cameronhornerministries Facebook: Cameron Horner Ministries========================================================We LOVE that you’ve decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community. Go to livingwholehearted.com and sign up to receive our free leadership tips and updates delivered to you in our monthly newsletter. And, if you’re a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.  Until next time, be the leader you would follow! Grateful for you,Jeff & Terra To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to: INSTAGRAM@TerraMattson@Living_Wholehearted@MyCourageousGirls FACEBOOK@WeAreLivingWholehearted@MyCourageousGirls WEBSITESLivingWholehearted.comTerraMattson.com MyCourageousGirls.com RESOURCESShrinking the Integrity Gap Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in GraceDear Mattsons Helping Moms Raise Confident DaughtersSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/living-wholehearted-podcast-with-jeff-and-terra/donations