Have you ever found yourself mindlessly scrolling through your phone, only to realize you've lost precious time you could have spent with your family? Do you notice a difference between your digital habits and those of your teenagers? JENNIE KETCHAM CROOKS is the founder of the West Coast Anxiety Clinic, a clinical licensed social worker, and an anxiety and OCD specialist. Prior to starting the West Coast Anxiety Clinic, she was the Director of Clinical Education at Seattle Anxiety Specialists and before that, the lead medical social worker at the Polyclinic. Jennie has been involv ..read more

Are you struggling to maintain harmony in your relationship while managing the mental load of parenting teens? Have you ever wondered what the most common sources of conflict are between parents when it comes to raising children? In this insightful episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens, Colleen O'Grady dives deep into the realities of parenting and its impact on relationships. Joined by Leonie Akhidenor they discuss the common conflicts parents face. Leonie Akhidenor is a certified relationship coach, property developer and consultant, part-time model and mother of two boys. Dubbe ..read more

Are you navigating the tumultuous tween years with your child and wondering what makes this stage so unique? Do you find yourself caught off guard by sudden emotional outbursts and unexpected behavior changes in your 9-14 year old? My guest today is an expert on tweens. Joann Schauf is the founder of Your Tween and You, an author and a seasoned speaker who specializes in parenting and adolescent coaching. She authors the blog, The Tween Times, and actively engages with parents through workshops and conferences. She holds a Master of Science in Counseling. Joann Schauf discusses the crucial pro ..read more

Moms, have you ever wondered how to protect your teen's mental health and foster a positive body image in the face of pervasive diet culture and social media pressures? In this episode, Colleen O'Grady talks with Marla Mervis Hartman, creator of "Love Your Body, Love Yourself." After experiencing years of dysfunction in relation to food, exercise, and body confidence, Marla transformed her life through the radical act of self-compassion and friending herself. She has since used her experiences to help empower women as they choose appreciation for their bodies, honor themselves through nourishi ..read more

How can you create a sense of adventure and belonging in your family, even when life gets messy? What are the essential values that help cultivate a healthy and connected family? In this episode I interview Julie and Chris Bennett, authors of Fighting for Family, The Relentless Pursuit of Building Belonging. The Bennetts share their journey of moving from Oklahoma to Los Angeles and how this adventurous leap, combined with facing personal challenges like Julie's battle with cancer, has shaped their family dynamics. Julie and Chris Bennett are the founders of Welcome Home Lifestyle which exists ..read more

Are you worried that technology is taking over your family life, especially with your tweens and teens? In this episode of the "Power Your Parenting" podcast, Colleen O'Grady hosts Erin Loechner, the author of "The Opt Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can't." Erin shares her journey from being a social media influencer to leading a low-tech lifestyle. Founder of global tech-free movement The Opt-Out Family, Erin Loechner is a former social media influencer who walked away from a million fans to live a low-tech lifestyle—and is now teaching others how to do the same ..read more

Are you wondering how to support your teen through the heart-wrenching experience of grief and loss? In this heartfelt episode, Colleen interviews award-winning writer and podcaster Clarissa Moll, who shares her personal journey of navigating grief after the sudden loss of her husband in 2019. Clarissa, a remarried widow and mother of seven, discusses her two upcoming books, "Hurt, Help, Hope" and "Hope Comes to Stay," which offer essential guidance for teens and younger children dealing with grief. First, she emphasizes the importance of understanding that grief manifests differently for each ..read more

Hey moms! Have you ever wondered if your teen or college student truly understands the value of money? Are they financially savvy, or do you often find them struggling to grasp the basics? Today’s episode is all about empowering you to help your teens become financially literate. With almost twenty-five years of experience as a financial advising professional, Jeffrey Panik, MSFS, CFP® knows that his job is to help clients strike a balance between living well today and planning for the future. Throughout his career, Jeff has worked with hundreds of families, individuals, and small businesses t ..read more

How can moms help their tweens and teens finish the year strong? Do you see your teens procrastinating? How can moms motivate their teens to study and do their best on their finals and AP exams? This episode is full of practical tips and advice to help YOU help your teen. Our guest today is Lisa Speransky. Lisa grew up in New York City, attending specialized public schools and Columbia University. Through years of her own experience as a well-known tutor and mentor in NYC, she came to understand how a tutoring relationship can be life-changing for a student and began expanding her company ..read more

Today we are going to discuss how to implement Reflective Parenting vs. Reactive parenting. In this episode we talk about what is a Reflective Parent and can teens be reflective. We explore the three basic biobehavioral systems: reward systems, mentalizing, and the stress/threat system and how understanding this empowers us to be better parents. Our guest today is Sheila Redfern PhD ,a Consultant Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist. She is currently a Head of Clinical Services for Family Trauma at Anna Freud, a children and families mental health charity in London, UK. Dr Redf ..read more