Ember Pilati is a life and relationships coach who loves lots of people who struggle with their mental health.   She shares valuable tips and simple, actionable tips to care for yourself so you can care for your loved ones better.   She shares a framework of caring for our mind, body and soul and why each step is so vital to our own physical and mental health.   Gratitude is a practice that can change your entire outlook and how writing down what we are grateful for and SAVORING that gratitude can change our brain chemistry. You will love this powerful episode with Ember's lovin ..read more

Welcome to the fight, like your mother podcast. I'm so glad that you are here.  I am sharing an episode today that I have been thinking about doing for a really long time.  And I haven't done it because I wanted a therapist. Slash expert who knows a lot about this to come on and talk about it because I haven't felt qualified to do so.  However lately it won't leave my brain.  And I've asked several therapists who said they don't feel qualified to come on and talk about it. So if they don't feel qualified, then.    I can do my own research and figure this out. So I ..read more

Does your child have challenging and sometimes rebellious and unsafe behaviors that have you desperate for a resource?  Are you feeling fearful and desperate?   This podcast could be your answer.  Today my guest Jessi Stringham shares a resource for parents that is free and really amazing.  It is a peer led support group that is extremely well organized and    From the Changes website: https://cpsn.org Changes Parent Support Network was incorporated in December 1996 and groups officially started meeting in January 1997. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization an ..read more

The trauma of “good mom syndrome” In this week's episode, we delve into the profound truths and challenges of parenting children with intense needs. The episode explores the concept of parenting trauma and the importance of acknowledging and validating the difficulties faced by parents in raising kids with unique challenges. Key Points: Toxic Positivity and Trauma: I address criticism received for acknowledging the traumatic aspects of parenting. Rejecting toxic positivity, the episode emphasizes the need to validate and openly discuss the challenges faced by parents. Studies on Moms Raisi ..read more

My guest today is Robyn Gobbel, therapist and parent educator. Robyn Gobbel, MSW, loves coffee, P!NK, and everything about the brain. Once (recently!) her teenager went ballistic on her for getting ANOTHER (glitter!) coffee mug in the mail. Robyn loves cultivating deep, resonant connections with anyone who is up for it, and is especially fond of all the grown-ups in the world who love and care for kids impacted by trauma- helpers, healers, educators, and parents. Her favorite thing ever (besides glittery coffee mugs) is teaching anyone who will listen to harness the power of neuroscience so th ..read more

The last time I chatted on this podcast was in April last year.  I chatted with two dear friends who I was planning a conference with.  We chatted about our lived experiences of having mental health challenges in our family and how much we needed support and couldn’t find it.   That was the kick off to sharing about our in person Fight like a Mother mental health conference in September.      I fully intended to continue regular podcasts and follow up about the conference etc…and it obviously did not happen.  Planning that conference was one of the brigh ..read more

This episode highlights our "why" for creating the Fight like a Mother mental health conference on September 16, 2023.   All 3 of us in the last decade have desperately needed more resources and a supportive community surrounding mental health and raising our kids.  You'll hear each of us sharing personal experiences about how community and support and knowing about resources has been essential in our ability to grow and thrive and understand how to move forward. This conference will provide support, understanding, resources, community and HOPE!  We will have classes for parents ..read more

What do you want Cheryl?  It's a question I was asked by a therapist that shifted my perspective significantly!  Many times we don't give ourselves permission to go for what we want or even allow ourselves to think about what we want. In the episode I share a recent experience of being brave and asking for what I wanted and it was a life changing experience and I plan to focus on living life how I want and choosing my actions and perspective even in the mundane tasks of life. So go have a listen and think about what you want?   Also if you are in Utah, or want to travel to Utah ..read more

 I was fortunate to be a guest on The Better Behavior podcast with Dr. Nicole Beurkens.  Dr. Beurkens is a champion of parents and families living with mental illness.  She is an amazing advocate and support to these families.  I was honored to be asked to be a guest because I have long admired her work.  If you are a parent raising a kiddo with extra challenges, this episode is for you.   In this episode, we are talk about an issue that isn’t covered or supported nearly enough: the current systems which are failing parents who are raising kids with mental health ..read more

In this episode I chat with therapist Brenna Brooks about the concept of a window of tolerance. The window of tolerance is when our nervous system is functioning well.  We can handle stress and big emotions.  Our pre frontal cortex is fully engaged so we can make good decisions, have good judgement and not be controlled by our stress or trauma. When we shift out of the window of tolerance we go to either hyper arousal or hypo arousal.  Our nervous system is sensing threat so it goes into fight or flight mode to protect us.  We have zero control when something is going to se ..read more