Stay ConnectedEver wish you had a zen friend? Someone who could help you ease your tween or tween’s anxiety, while also supporting you, so parenting was more peaceful?
Well good news, host Lauren Wolfe, a therapist and mom who’s made it through those anxious teen years is here to offer parents some zen!
A full-length episode comes out every Tuesday. And “A Drop of Zen,” a short guided meditation or a “Zen Bonus Boost,” a mini episode, come out every Friday.
Copyright: © 2022 Your Zen Friend
If you are a parent of a tween or teen you have probably been on the receiving end of eye rolls and attitude. You know, where you say something to your kid and in return they roll their eyes at you or give a snarky response like, ''whatever." On this episode we will talk about ways to respond to eye rolls and attitude that are helpful and the ways we often respond and why those responses are not so helpful.
This episode also includes the segment, "Connection Over Correction," where I'll tell you how my son and I recently had an interaction that included attitude but ended with connection and cooperation.
And stay tuned till the end of the episode for, "What's Bringing Me More Zen Lately," where I'll tell you about something that is bringing me more joy, peace or calm. And here's a hint, it has to do with a cartoon character from my childhood and how he is bringing me joy throughout my day.
I'd love to hear from YOU! Here's how to connect with me:
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend
Email me at: YourZenFriendPod@gmail.com
Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/
For information on Lauren's counseling services for kids, teens and families check out: https://www.laurencounseling.com/
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.
On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation based on author Kristen Neff's steps on taking a, "Self Compassion Break."
This meditation is perfect for days that are difficult. Whether you are dealing with stress at work, worry about a loved one or physically feel unwell, this mediation will help you to care for yourself in a loving way that is sure to have you feeling a little bit better.
For more information on Kristen Neff and her work on self compassion: https://self-compassion.org/
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.
On this episode, Zen Friend and fan favorite, Don Richards is back to talk interior design on a budget. We will talk about some common problem areas that can be challenging to make beautiful in homes. We will also talk about how to make your home work for you now instead of decorating for a fantasy self.
Ever wondered what your options are for an easy fix for a popcorn ceiling or mirrored closet doors? Is it ever a smart choice to refinish or DYI kitchen cabinets? Should you follow the Pinterest trend of using lots of matching baskets? Don answers all these questions and more!
And stay tuned till the end of the episode when Don makes an exciting announcement!
Don's Bio: Consumed by architecture, design, and home since childhood, Don graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia with a degree in Historic Preservation. For the last thirty years, his obsession with home has seen him in the worlds of interior design, visual merchandising, and real estate. A Litchfield County native, Don has designed spaces in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Florida, while vowing never again to work in NYC because of elevator constraints. Can a sofa be disassembled and put back together? The answer is yes. Should it be? LOL, the answer is no. He believes the key to a space being home is personality and quirk. Try and think outside the box with vintage and unique. Look toward the architectural style of the property and let that guide you. If you love it, it will usually work. Just no 75'' flat screens, please. Don is passionate about BLTs, turtlenecks, and his orange tabby, Ernest. Not necessarily in that order.
Connect with Don:
email: don@theshoppes.net
Find him at Middle Furniture and Home Design in Middlebury, CT: https://www.middleburyfurniture.com/
instagram: @dwrhomedesign
I'd love to hear from YOU! Here's how to connect with me:
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend
Email me at: YourZenFriendPod@gmail.com
Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/
For information on Lauren's counseling services, including her upcoming group counseling for children and teens check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.
On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a meditation for when you are feeling worried about your child. It can be helpful to sit with difficult emotions. I hope this meditation brings you some peace and calm.
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.
It is super challenging to parent a tween or teen who is experiencing symptoms of anxiety. On this episode I will break down common symptoms of kids who are experiencing anxiety and I'll let you know what behaviors kids often exhibit when they are feeling anxious.
I'll especially focus on one particular way that kids demonstrate that they are feeling anxious or worried. I'll tell you why this behavior is really difficult for parents and what you can do to help your child decrease it. And bonus..... decreasing this anxiety symptom will help you to feel less stressed and worried as a parent.
Segments included in this episode:
From My Therapist's Tool Box: Where I give a strategy that often helps my clients who I work with in my counseling private practice. On this episode I have a strategy that helps individuals dealing with worry or anxiety.
What's Bringing Me More Zen: Where I tell you what's bringing me more calm, peace or joy lately. On this episode I will tell you about an inexpensive treat that I asked for for Valentine's Day this year. It's really delicious and you're going to want to run out and Treat Yo' Self!
I'd love to hear from YOU! Here's how to connect with me:
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend
Email me at: YourZenFriendPod@gmail.com
Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/
For information on Lauren's counseling services for kids, teens and families check out: https://www.laurencounseling.com/
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.
On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation designed to you invite in stillness and silence.
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.
Using humor with your tweens and teens is a fun and effective way to connect! On this episode I'll give you suggestions for ways to use humor with your kids to make and keep connections. I'll also give you some examples for how you can use humor to reconnect after you and your child have had an argument or just feel disconnected.
For the second half of the episode, my daughter Leena will join me as we quiz each other on our knowledge of current day slang as well as slang from the 80's and 90's. We have a lot of fun as we give an example of how lighten the mood and use humor with your kids.
And stay tuned till the very end for our mic check blooper where Leena gets a little snarky with me. It was nice of her to demonstrate the ups and downs of parent and teen relationships, LOL!
I'd love to hear from YOU! Here's how to connect with me:
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend
Email me at: YourZenFriendPod@gmail.com
Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/
For information on Lauren's counseling services, including her upcoming group counseling for children and teens check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.
On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a mediation designed to help you to release some stress and tension and feel more calm and grounded. Enjoy!
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.
As a parent of a tween or teen your patience is tested on a regular basis! Gone are the days when your kids thought you were the most beautiful, amazing person in the world. Instead you get eye rolls and snarky comments and can often end your day feeling defeated.
On this episode I will tell you what you can do in order to help you stay calm, cool and collected with your kids. The strategies I share involves caring for yourself in a way that will give you more patience and allow you to feel more in control during this often difficult parenting stage. And stay tuned till the end when I give you a less conventional self care strategy in our segment, Self Care Suggestion, that you are sure to have fun with!
You can listen to this podcast wherever you listen to podcasts or here: https://www.laurencounseling.com/podcast
This episode mentions:
I'd love to hear from YOU! Here's how to connect with me:
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend
Email me at: YourZenFriendPod@gmail.com
Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/
For information on Lauren's counseling services for kids, teens and families check out: https://www.laurencounseling.com/
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.
On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short and very sweet mediation designed to help you to connect with yourself and feel more calm and grounded. This meditation is perfect to help you take a quick break during a hectic or stressful day. Enjoy!
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.
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