Active & Connected Families

Latest Episodes:

Cutting the Cord - Cell Phone Use in Schools Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

Although mentally, we might not be 100% ready for this yet, the new school year is around the corner, and we need to talk about it. The subject of going back to school is coming up more and more during therapy sessions, and today we're having a conversation about a frequently recurring subject: cell phones. More specifically: cell phone use in school for middle schoolers and teenagers.

Not only are we having a look at how our kids use their phones in school but, even more importantly, how we as parents respond to their messages. As parents, we think responding is going to be helpful. Our child needs us, after all. It's going to be a tough pill to swallow for many parents, but, most of the time, the opposite is true, and responding is not going to help your kid at all.

Whether you're ready to set boundaries from the beginning or you need tips to slowly move away from responding to your child's messages, today's episode is all for you.

Join in on the conversation on Facebook or Instagram (@VirginiaFamilyTherapy) and let us know what you think. We always love to hear from you!

Full show notes: http://www.podcasttherapists.com/episode/%pagename%/

Getting Your Kids Emotionally Ready for the Post-Pandemic School Year Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

This week we're coming in hot with a legitimate timeline for how to get your kid ready for the new school year. Last week we shared our thoughts and predictions for the post-pandemic school year; this week, we're translating all of that into actionable steps.

Like Amanda said: "I will not have a single backpack ready for my children, but I will have talked to them about all their anxiety and excitement for the school year because I sat down and did this. I'm thrilled."

Taking into account that every kid is different, handles situations differently, and has had their own personal experiences of life during the pandemic, we share how to find out how your kid is feeling about going back to school and how to prepare them while also letting them enjoy the summer. This year it'll be a bit different than usual but don't worry, we've got you covered.

Head over to our Facebook or Instagram page (@VirginiaFamilyTherapy) and let us know what steps you'll be taking. We always love hearing from you!

Full show notes: http://www.podcasttherapists.com/episode/getting-your-kids-emotionally-ready-for-the-post-pandemic-school-year/

What Can We Expect For the Post-Pandemic School Year? Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

It may seem a bit early to some, but more than ever, we already see anxiety about the upcoming school year come up in therapy sessions. This upcoming school year will be different, that's for sure, and everyone will deal with it in a different way. Based on what we see happening in both our clients and our own kids, we talk about the patterns we're already seeing and expect to see during the school year ahead.

The uncertainty kids have dealt with during the pandemic, the social interaction they've missed, the maturing they've gone through. All of it will have an impact on how our kids will go into the new school year. In today's episode, we talk about our predictions and how parents can help their kids if they're having a hard time. But let's also not forget how exciting it is for our kids to go back to school and how resilient they have been during the pandemic.

Of course, being parents ourselves, we also don't forget about the changes and anxiety parents will possibly encounter.

Next week, we'll be back with a plan for you all to get in place to get ready for the school year.

Join in on the conversation on Facebook or Instagram (@VirginiaFamilyTherapy). We'd love to hear from you!

Full show notes: http://www.podcasttherapists.com/episode/what-can-we-expect-for-the-post-pandemic-school-year/

How to Talk to Your Kids About Adult Drinking Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

Talking to your kid about your own drinking behavior often asks you to get very vulnerable as a parent. Being vulnerable is important for us too, and that's exactly what we do in today's episode. We have an open and vulnerable conversation about how to do exactly this: talking to your kid about adult drinking.

Even as therapists who talk about these topics to clients on a regular basis, we know it's different when it's your own drinking behavior you have to address to your own kid. We know, we've been there.

So, how do you explain that it's just adults who drink? Should you use the scare-tactic? How do you address different kinds of drinking and at what age should you start the conversation? What to do when you do overdrink in front of your kid? And how do you talk to your kid if alcoholism runs in the family?

Tune in and let us know your thoughts on Facebook or Instagram (@VirginiaFamilyTherapy). We always love to hear from you!

Full show notes: http://www.podcasttherapists.com/episode/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-adult-drinking/

Should Adults Drink in Front of Their Kids? Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Have you ever wondered if and how you should discuss your drinking with your kids? Or second-guessed whether your drinking behavior is still healthy? Join us in an open, honest, and non-judgmental conversation about healthy adult drinking and how to talk about it with your children.

As therapists, moms, and, well, just human beings who like to drink alcohol, we share our insights, the red flags to look out for, and the boundaries we've set for ourselves.

Should you discuss your drinking with your kids or hide it from them? What kind of drinking behavior should you expose your children to and when is it better to protect them from it? How can you distinguish between healthy and unhealthy drinking behavior? We discuss it all.

After listening to this week's episode, head over to Facebook or Instagram (@VirginiaFamilyTherapy) and join us in the conversation. We're excited to hear your stories and questions.

Be sure to join us next week, when we continue this conversation around how to discuss adult drinking with your kids.

Full show notes: http://www.podcasttherapists.com/episode/should-adults-drink-in-front-of-their-kids-part-1/

Mental Health for Athletes: An Interview with Michael Atunrase Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

For many kids and teenagers, playing sports becomes a big part of their life and even their identity. Knowing that anxiety and depression can increase during intense training periods, it's important to know as a parent how to support your child's mental health. Whether your child is still a preschooler or already in high school and dealing with the pressure of recruiting to get on a college team, today's guest will give you invaluable insights on how to keep your athlete mentally healthy.

Today's guest is Michael Atunrase, better known to some as Coach Mike. Michael is the founder and head coach of Resilience Fitness & Sports Performance Training and has even taken on the job to work with both Amanda and Sarah.

We talk about support systems, balance, identity, growth mindset, communication, vulnerability and so much more. After listening, head over to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter (@VirginiaFamilyTherapy) and let us know what you think. We'd love to hear from you!

Full show notes: http://www.podcasttherapists.com/episode/mental-health-for-athletes-an-interview-with-michael-atunrase/

How to Help Your Anxious Kids: An Interview with Samantha Sweeney, Ph.D. Jun 22, 2021

Show notes

We've been waiting a long time to share today's episode with you and we couldn't be more excited! Dr. Samantha Sweeney is one of Amanda's oldest friends and an expert on working with parents of anxious kids. She's a psychologist, author, educator and has a private practice where she works with kids, families, and adults.

Together with Melissa Kilbride, Sam wrote the book 'Working With Worry: A Workbook for Parents in How to Support Anxious Children' and on today's episode, she is sharing all about this must-have book and much, much more.

Tune in to hear Samantha's amazing insights and new strategies to help kids manage their own feelings and her answers to burning questions like 'Why do parents have so much power in their kids' anxiety?' And 'What do you do when one parent is on board with doing the work, but the other isn't?'.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on today's episode. Let us know on Facebook or Instagram (@VirginiaFamilyTherapy)

Full show notes: http://www.podcasttherapists.com/episode/how-to-help-your-anxious-kids-an-interview-with-samantha-sweeney-ph-d/

Endometriosis Impacts 10% of Folks with Uteruses: An Interview with Meg Allan Cole Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest is an incredible social justice activist and filmmaker and, yes, another one of Amanda's brilliant friends. In her short documentary 'Blood & Guts: Exposing Endo', Meg Allan Cole sheds light on a chronic illness called Endometriosis, which impacts one out of every ten folks with a uterus (girl or boy!). Despite its frequency, 64% of doctors admit they know very little about it, meaning we all need to learn more!

In today's episode, Meg Allan Cole highlights signs and symptoms of endo so that we all, especially listening parents, can have more awareness and help identify it in their kids. She also shares her difficult, yet not uncommon, search for care while doctors kept telling her it was all in her head. Meg's Endo community has been essential for her mental health, and she invited anyone listening to join her and her Endo Mission!

Thank you for tuning in to listen to this important episode. Let us know what you think on Facebook or Instagram (@VirginiaFamilyTherapy)

Full show notes: www.podcasttherapists.com/episode/endometriosis-impacts-10-of-folks-with-uteruses-an-interview-with-meg-allan-cole/

An Introduction to Anti-Racism and Equity Work with Nicole Osei, M.Ed., MSW Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

Today we bring in Nicole Osei,M.Ed., MSW, Anti-Racist Consultant and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Coach and one of Amanda's oldest and dearest friends (yes, my friend's are brilliant!). As three white women running a podcast and business, we want to make sure that we are doing our own anti-racist work everyday. Fortunately, Nicole agreed to record our conversation so you could hear her share her experience, enlighten us, and teach us about anti-racism and DEI. Nicole also gave us one of the greatest nuggets about anxiety and white supremacy that we have ever heard-- and I (Amanda) have used it in almost every therapy session since.

So take a listen to learn what Nicole thinks white parents should know, how we can work towards raising anti-racist children, and even what we can do at Virginia Family Therapy to run a better business.

This was recorded before the murder for Daunte Wright, but is being released early because more opportunity to listen to Nicole means more opportunity for everyone listening to do their own anti-racist work.

Thanks for listening to this one. It is important.

*To reach Nicole about her work as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant, you can contact her at nicole.osei@gmail.com.

How to Deal with Anxiety - Part 2 Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

Today, we talk about how we teach parents and children how to manage their anxiety when it gets high -- anywhere from 5 to 10 on our anxiety scale :) We talk about what high anxiety thoughts sound like in our heads, what happens to our body when we get anxious, and strategies we use to bring ourselves back down to baseline. We also discuss how anxiety has impacted us in OUR lives and the strategies that we have relied on the most (it's different for all of us!).

This is a GREAT podcast to share with your teenager to let them feel like they have more control over their own anxiety (without parents getting in the way).

Thanks for listening! And please contact us at www.virginifamilytherapy.com for more support. We now have offices in Charlottesville, Crozet, and Northern Virginia!

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