Parenting in the Trenches with Karen Peters

If you are a parent of a child in therapy or are considering it in the future, it may seem like a bit of a mystery what happens in that room when the door closes.  Chris offers us a look into the process of therapy that is informational and comforting.  As one who specializes in trauma therapies and serves a wide variety of clients, he helps to demystify some of the unknown.  Through this conversation, Chris gives us some insight into the practical aspects of what therapy might look like for our children. He also shares his trust in the wisdom and intuition of children working through trauma and explains how providing a safe, open environment and a strong connection is the most powerful tool that we have in helping children heal, not only in the therapist’s office but also in the family home.I’m grateful to Chris for having this conversation and he provided us with some great resources which are linked below.  https://www.treehousetraumacentre.com/The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation https://www.isst-d.org/https://drdansiegel.com/books/https://www.complextrauma.ca/And the earlier episode we mentioned of Parenting in the Trenches with Lisa Dion: https://www.my.thrive-life.ca/parenting-in-the-trenches-s8e3

Welcome to Part Two of this conversation!  In Part One, Dr. Lark and I set the stage with some discussion around the types and forms of Anxiety we are seeing in our kids and the clear need for us to help them so that they can learn to manage their Anxiety.  If you missed Part One, please go back and listen - Lark helps us understand Anxiety in a way that honors its complexity and nuance while simplifying some of the more difficult concepts that we can find confusing as parents watching our children struggle.Children are experiencing increasing rates of Anxiety and it is imperative that we provide them with help to stay connected and to work through their Anxiety. Unfortunately there’s no silver bullet to ease the worry and fears for our children, but there are many things we can offer them from connection and mindfulness to meeting their basic physiological needs that can bolster their ability to grow and build resilience.  Dr. Lark and I offer some tools and strategies in this episode that are known to be helpful.  We also paint a no fault, no guilt picture of why we are where we are, with our children experiencing Anxiety that may at times stem from our own.  In naming what is happening in this process we are not laying blame, but instead acknowledging the reality that we are all affected by stressors around us, and that the resulting Anxiety exists.  It actually can’t be avoided, and none of us are immune.  It’s part of the human experience.  Understanding the Anxiety we see in our Children is important so that we can support them and know when and how to reach out for additional help.  You are not alone, watching your kiddo in this hard space.  Here with you,Karen

 In this episode Lark and I set the stage with some discussion around the types and forms of Anxiety we are seeing in our kids; the possible roots of it, the manifestations of it, and the differences between as well as the commonalities of situational anxiety and Generalized Anxiety. This conversation offers insight into the current increasing overall state of Anxiety that we are seeing our kids experience on a massive scale due to the last few years of isolation, fear and stress that we have all lived through and continue to process as a global community.  The picture is not pretty, with Anxiety and Addition rates skyrocketing. We’re making an effort to look honestly at the reality of the situation, which enables us to foresee the challenges and offer hope through strategies based on connection which promote resilience.  This episode is sure to inform and hopefully clarify some things around Anxiety for parents with children struggling in this area.  For practical tools and common sense reminders, but sure to tune in next week to Part 2 when Lark and I dig into supporting our children through connection, co regulation and more.If you'd like to explore Dr. Lark's work, you can check that out here:https://www.larkeshleman.com

I’m really excited to share this episode with our community.  We are looking at Anxiety, Our Kids and School.  This is a topic so many of us have challenges around.  For many, our child’s anxiety and how it relates to and shows up at school is troubling, baffling and oftentimes anxiety provoking for ourselves.  If you are a parent of an anxious child or a professional who supports children in the classroom, this episode is very likely to resonate with you. We are joined by Shannon Sullivan, a School Counselor who has worked with the entire span of school aged children and has a wealth of knowledge and experience observing and supporting children in school with many challenges, including Anxiety.   Shannon insightfully explores with us anxiety in our kids and youth, how it shows up for them in their school environments, and what parents can do to support their children's mental health and collaborate effectively with educators.We are seeing growing anxiety in school aged children and conversations like this one are becoming increasingly important to have as we navigate this in our families and with our children’s schools.  The good news is that you are not alone in this, nor is your child.  There is help available for you and for them.  Some options you can explore include the listening ear of a parent who has been through something similar (peer support), school support staff, counselors, and other resources such as those listed below.    https://www.anxietycanada.com/https://familysmart.ca/https://www.my.thrive-life.ca/cbtforthefamily-courseAnd if you are an educator looking for supportive resources for the classroom, email [email protected] for more information about my custom made anxiety-reduction curriculum for grades 1 through 4. We'd love to support you in the incredible work you do with children and youth.Best,Karen

It’s difficult to put into words the depth of openness, vulnerability and realness with which our guest today shares his story - not just on this podcast episode, but in his work as an advocate for mental health and in his willingness to share his journey through grief and loss on a public platform. I am joined on this episode by Dylan Benson, a father, adventurer and photographer.  Dylan generously shares with us his story of loss, grief, mental health challenges and road to healing.  Through his experiences and journey toward wholeness, Dylan displays what we know to be true about processing grief and loss - that moving toward healing is done in safe spaces with safe others, and that integrating hardships into everyday life is what enables one to go on to live fully.Dylan’s honest and insightful portrayal of his life’s circumstances intertwined with his choices along the way is hope-filled.  His conviction that healing and moving forward require conversation and connection comes through loud and clear.  Reaching out to others who may be able to support you or offering a lifeline to someone else who may need support weaves a web of connection that is invaluable.  I hope you’ll take the time to listen to Dylan’s story. I’m grateful to him for spending his time with us to share it.  We can learn so much from the experiences of others.  If you find it helpful or inspiring, please pass it along to someone you know who might benefit from hearing it.  You can connect with Dylan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/betterwithadventure/Here are the resources he referred to:https://gtf-outside.com/pages/about-ushttps://campwidow.org/Walking alongside you on your journey,Karen