Raising Teens with Collett Smart

Krysten Bisby is an esteemed counselor and advocate for animal-assisted therapy, harnessing her extensive experience with animals to support mental health and well-being. With a background in competitive horse riding, she has drawn on her lifelong passion for animals, including her therapeutic partner Cruz, a certified therapy dog, to enhance her counseling practice. She is notably involved in para-dressage riding at an international level, working with riders who have disabilities. Furthermore, she has transitioned from being a teacher to a counselor, focusing on creating safe spaces for young people to discuss their concerns and work towards mental wellness. Krysten operates KB Counseling Collective and partners with organisations like Riding for the Disabled at Tall Timbers in Sydney to provide therapy incorporating animals.
Key Takeaways:
Krysten Bisby emphasises the importance of safe environments in therapy, crucially non-traditional approaches that involve animal companionship.
Animal-assisted therapy facilitates tangible benefits for emotional regulation, reducing anxiety, and developing social skills.
Pet therapy involves a certified partnership between handler and animal, requiring rigorous training and assessment.
Non-verbal communication and repetitive activities with animals significantly aid in engaging clients who struggle with verbal processing.
Activities with therapy animals can transform feelings of being 'different' or struggles into therapeutic experiences of social connection and emotional growth.
Notable Quotes:
"I think horses were kind of that escape and that time for me that I just felt a bit free really, being out in the paddock and riding."
"If there had just been someone at school that I could have talked to, or who could have said, ‘Hey, what's happening for you?’"
"Research shows that being around animals reduces cortisol, releases oxytocin, and has physical effects like lowering blood pressure and decreasing heart rate."
"For me, it's about equipping clients to have skills and strategies to manage themselves in everyday struggles."
"I think when you take away some of that focus of therapist with client and you add an animal, it's super regulatory, a calming presence."
Resources:
Visit KB Counselling Collective's Website
Visit KB Counseling Collective on Facebook for more information about Krysten Bisby's work.
Explore services at Riding for the Disabled at Tall Timbers in Box Hill.
Contact Krysten here for counseling inquiries in Sydney.
Join us by listening to the full episode for more insightful discussions about the healing power of animals in therapeutic settings. Stay tuned to "Raising Teens" for more episodes tapping into the well-being of young individuals.
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Key Points:
The "invisible load" involves the mental and emotional planning needed to keep a family running smoothly, disproportionately handled by mothers.
When recognised and verbalised, this load can be redistributed among the family, easing stress and fostering a more collaborative environment.
Collett emphasises how engaging teens in managing this load fosters their independence and reduces pressure on parents.
Small, strategic changes in task sharing can significantly lighten the invisible load, benefiting partners, parents, and teens alike.
Regular family meetings and the use of digital tools can help make the distribution of mental tasks more visible and equitable.
Notable Quotes:
"The mental load is what the air traffic controller does…constantly monitoring all the aircrafts, anticipating possible conflicts."
"When the invisible becomes visible, it's much easier to share."
"Our teens don't need us to manage everything; giving them responsibility can actually help them grow."
"No one feels alone in holding it all when the invisible load is shared."
"This isn't about withdrawing our care from our families…it's about adjusting as our family needs change."
Resources:
Connect with Collett Smart via her Instagram and Facebook for ongoing support and insights.

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Dr. Arne Rubinstein is a leading expert on rites of passage and adolescent development. As the founder of the Rites of Passage Institute, Dr. Rubinstein is devoted to creating transformational experiences for teenagers and communities. With over 30 years of experience, including a decade and a half as an emergency medicine doctor, he has a profound understanding of human development and the challenges young people face today. Dr. Rubinstein is also the author of "The Making of Men" and has significantly contributed to the field by working with schools globally and supporting over 500,000 people through his programs.
Key Takeaways:
A rite of passage is a guided process essential for successfully transitioning youth from childhood to adulthood, offering community support and shared wisdom.
Unstructured "rites of passage," such as schoolies, often involve risk and lack meaningful guidance, leading to potentially harmful outcomes.
Structured programs emphasise storytelling, challenge, vision creation, and recognition of unique gifts as critical components, providing a healthier and more profound transition experience.
Both teenagers and their communities, including parents and elders, benefit from engagement in rites of passage, promoting stronger, more supportive relationships.
Rites of passage are not limited to adolescence; they are valuable throughout life for managing transitions like leaving home, marriage, and aging.
Notable Quotes:
"I am convinced that every one of our children is going to go through a rite of passage. The question is, will that be a healthy rite of passage?"
"When we are creating rites of passage for our young people, we need to take into account that every child is different, and every child is born with their own unique gifts and talents."
"Instead of having elders in the community who are actually doing it for the benefit of the young ones, when they're doing it as a way of sort of staying on top of them, that's when it goes wrong."
"One thing, if we could teach girls to listen to their inner voice, that would really be impactful and important for those girls."
"Bringing out their gifts and their spirit. That's what rites of passage are about."
Resources:
Rites of Passage Institute
Dr. Arne Rubinstein's book: The Making of Men
Online Rites of Passage Leadership Training via the Rites of Passage Institute

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Hannah Gair StrongHER Side ebook - Available for free to listeners, providing tools and resources for mothers.
Hannah Gair became a foster mum at 23, then had a son born with Fragile X syndrome. She's now raising three kids and knows firsthand the "pressure cooker" reality of supporting families with children with disabilities. In this conversation, Hannah shares practical strategies for raising teens with additional needs while still connecting with your other kids, how the broader community can genuinely help struggling families, and why 70% of disability caregivers experience burnout. She also opens up about navigating divorce, rebuilding life as a single mum, and creating StrongHER Side—a community for the nearly one million Australian mums raising children with disabilities.
Key Takeaways:
Parental Advocacy: Hannah's journey emphasises the critical role of parents in advocating for children with disabilities, both in terms of education and day-to-day life.
Importance of Support Structures: Family, community, and specialised education play vital roles in supporting children with disabilities and their families.
Self-Care Strategies: Hannah underscores the necessity of finding personal time for self-care, which can range from exercise routines to quiet journaling moments.
Navigating Emotional Complexity: Addressing the emotional and logistical complexities of raising children with additional needs, and how empathy and vulnerability foster resilience.
Building Awareness and Empathy: Encouraging proactive interactions and openness with individuals with disabilities to foster an inclusive environment.
Notable Quotes:
"The best thing we can do as a mother is actually allow our children to reach their full potential."
"When somebody leans into their world and looks at her and displays empathy towards her and shows her support, then you're making her feel seen."
"He's trying to find a common place to have a conversation with you because majority of Aussies have a team that they follow."
"We are the product of our choices, and so it's being bigger than the most negative thought that you have."
"Every one of us want to feel seen. Every one of us are hardwired for connection."
Resources:
StrongHER Side Podcast - A podcast designed to support mothers raising children with disabilities.
Hannah Gair StrongHER Side ebook - Available for free to listeners, providing tools and resources for mothers.

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways:
Predictability Matters: Building a predictable environment can significantly reduce stress for neurodivergent teens as they start a new school year.
Collaborative Support Systems: Engage teens in their support planning, which increases their comfort and trust in their school environment.
Focus on Emotional Regulation: Prioritise emotional well-being over academic performance to help teens cope with sensory overload and daily pressures.
Understanding Over Fixing: Embrace a mindset of curiosity and understanding rather than trying to fix perceived problems in teens' behaviors.
Home as a Safe Space: Ensure home remains a haven for recovery and support after the school day, helping teens decompress effectively.
Notable Quotes:
"Predictability might look a little bit like getting back into sleep routines like we learned last week."
"The key is collaboration, not control."
"When school starts, it's easy to focus on their marks, but for our neurodivergent teens, emotional regulation really comes first."
"You don't need to turn your teen into someone else to help them succeed at school."
"When teens feel understood rather than managed, their stress drops and their capacity rises."
Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate
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