Let's Talk About Self-Harm - A Family Therapist's Story

In this conversation, marriage and family therapistJan Talen discusses the intricate dynamics of parenting and marriage. We talk about the importance of maintaining a strong connection between partners while navigating the challenges of parenthood. The discussion covers various topics, including the need for cooperative parenting, effective communication, conflict resolution, and the significance of teaching children about truth and trust. Jan shares insights on how parents can work togetheras a team to create a supportive environment for their children, ultimately leading to healthier family dynamics. In this conversation, Jan discusses the complexities of modern parenting, highlighting the importance of maintaining calmness during bedtime routines, balancing work and family life, and fostering emotional connections with children. Jan provides practical tips for parents to create a supportive environment, encourages open communication, and the importance of understanding and addressing children's fears and needs. Jan also spoke about the challenges of parenting teenagers, advocating for maintaining connections and guiding them towards responsible decision-making.Enjoy and let me know your thoughts :-)  

"Struggle is essential for personal growth andresilience."Frank & I discuss how we can best equip young people to become more resilient and to accept life's challenges.

In this episode, Frank and I discuss the increasing mentalhealth challenges faced by individuals today, particularly in the context of parenting and young people. We explore how societal changes, including the riseof social media and the 24-hour news cycle, contribute to anxiety and depression. The discussion highlights the importance of resilience in youth and the impact of parenting styles on children's ability to cope with life'schallenges. We discuss the challenges of parenting in the digital age,emphasizing the need for conscious awareness and proactive measures to protect children from online dangers. The conversation transitions into the importanceof education in shaping young people's futures and the necessity of fostering resilience and coping strategies. I hope you enjoy this episode and find it helpful.

The challenge of finding a meaningful connection in the age of swiping right.

Ayush and I had a fascinating conversation about all things Gen Z. We looked at the Generation born between 1997 and 2012 and asked what makes them so different from any other generation we’ve ever experienced. Ayush began by breaking their world down into four separate parts – the workforce, society, technology and romance. It was such an interesting conversation because, as the mother of two Gen Z daughters myself, I often hear people refer to this generation as snowflakes or lazy or even entitled. But what if we could take the time and truly try to understand why they’re so different and how we can help support them better, but also to discover what a gift they are to the world.  Enjoy the episode and let me know what you think.  😊

By supporting children's basic needs before pushing them academically results in better outcomes.

Nick is a former primary school teacher, here in the UK, he’s the founder of CHI Education – Creating Healthy Individuals and runs a Mental Health First Aid course for teenagers. Nick’s mission is to help young people develop self-confidence by taking control of their own mental wellbeing. Nick has won an award for his programme, has written four books so far on mindfulness and works with schools to help children build emotional resilience to give them the best starting chance in life. In this episode we talked about the education system and how it often fails those who need help the most. We also discussed how it could be redesigned to bring out the best in those children who’ve had a difficult start in life or aren’t yet ready to be pushed academically. We also spoke about the benefits of spending quality time outdoors learning kinaesthetically through doing creative things. I hope you enjoy the episode! 😊

Joanna is a hypnotherapist, medium, quantum channeller, and a mother. Growing up, Joanna felt lonely and misunderstood. She self-harmed and ran away from home hoping her parents would notice her, to simply love her. Joanna talks about how her refuge was her connection to the spiritual world which gave her solace when her mother walked away leaving Joanna, her brother and her father on their own. After three years, she reconciled with her mother and they were able to rebuilt their relationship and become close. In this episode, Joanna and I talked about her struggles growing up as a teenager of parents who didn’t know how to show her love. We talked about believing in a force greater than ourselves, receiving guidance and how to accept yourself as you are.

I last interviewed Richard in December 2021 when we were just emerging from the Covid-lock downs and now 3 years later, he’s returned to my podcast to talk to me about the latest what the latest research on substance misuse tells us. Richard is a retired addictions counsellor and has worked in treatment clinics with young people for many years. He describes the early warning signs parents need to look out for, how to have conversations with your child before they reach puberty, how the brain works and the negative effects of alcohol, drugs and vaping on the developing brain. This episode is for parents who want to take a more preventative approach to these issues by equipping themselves with the knowledge and tools necessary to ensure that their child stays safe. Listen now and enjoy!

In this episode, I speak to Thomas about neurodiversity and mental health. Thomas runs creative storytelling workshops for vulnerable people with disabilities, struggling with their mental health and those on the neurodiversity spectrum in a sensory-friendly environment. We spoke about the importance of creating inclusive communities where people who are perceived different don’t feel marginalised. I hope you enjoy the conversation!