Trust Me Mom

• 26. Breaking the Silence: Mother's Journey Through Child’s Mental Health Crisis, Advocacy, and Recovery

  In this deeply moving episode of Trust Me Mom, Ekaterina Konovalova sits down with author and mental health advocate Liza Long, whose viral essay “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother” ignited a national conversation about children’s mental health. Liza later wrote a book, "the Price of Silence: A Mom's Perspective on Mental Illness" that is a valuable resource for parents and caregivers of children with mental illness. Liza opens up about the painful, complicated journey of raising a child with severe mental illness — from crisis, misdiagnosis, and violent outbursts to finding the right treatment, rebuilding hope, and eventually watching her son, who eventually transitioned to become a daughter, thrive.Together, they explore what most parents of neurodivergent or mentally ill children face in silence:🔹 the emotional toll on families and marriages🔹 the overwhelming burden of navigating the mental health system🔹 stigma, survival mode, and mom-guilt🔹 misdiagnosis, medication challenges, and safety planning🔹 the importance of community, support systems, and self-care🔹 rebuilding a life after crisisLiza also shares rare insight into her daughter’s transition, her ongoing advocacy work, and the message of hope she wants every struggling parent to hear: “Hang in there — it gets better.”00:54 — Welcome & Introduction01:55 — Meet Liza Long02:02 — “The Essay That Broke the Internet”02:17 — Newtown Tragedy & A Mother’s Breaking Point03:57 — Going Viral & Choosing Advocacy06:18 — The Hard Realities of Misdiagnosis & Cost07:15 — The Hidden Burden on Parents08:26 — When Parenting Feels Impossible09:34 — Impact on Families & Marriages11:51 — Raising Difficult vs. Easy Kids14:08 — “It’s Not Your Fault, Mom”15:51 — How Liza Survived the Darkest Years17:23 — The Diagnosis That Changed Everything19:59 — When Violence Isn’t a Choice21:01 — Safety Planning & Law Enforcement22:04 — How Long the Violent Phase Lasted22:49 — Stabilization & Transformation23:52 — Navigating Gender Identity25:47 — Religion, Community & Support27:24 — What Liza Would Tell Her Younger Self28:48 — Life After Crisis29:59 — One Hour That Saved Her Life31:32 — Final Message for Parents#MentalHealthAwareness #ChildMentalHealth #ParentingStruggles #TrustMeMom #LizaLong #BipolarDisorder #NeurodivergentKids #MentalHealthAdvocate #MomLife #ParentingSupport #YouAreNotAlone #YouthMentalHealth #TraumaInformed #SpecialNeedsParenting #MentalIllnessInTeens

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• 25. Why Most Couples Fail at Repair (and How to Do It Right)

  What if every conflict in your marriage or family was actually an invitation to grow? 💔In this honest and deeply human episode of Trust Me Mom, host Ekaterina Konovalova speaks with Jayson Gaddis about what it really takes to build lasting love, survive life’s challenges, and raise resilient kids. Jayson is the relationship expert, author of Getting to Zero, and founder of The Relationship School.Jayson opened up about his early struggles from emotional shutdown and risky choices in his 20s to transforming himself into a therapist, husband, and father who sees relationships as a spiritual path. He shares practical wisdom on conflict repair, emotional communication, financial strain, and even how a cancer diagnosis became a turning point in his growth.This is a must-watch conversation for anyone navigating love, parenting, or personal transformation — full of heart, humility, and hope. To learn more about Jayson, check out his website https://www.jaysongaddis.com/00:28 — Intro: Welcome & Jayson’s Story01:01 — “Maybe I’m the Problem”: Realizing the Pattern02:23 — Why Jayson Started The Relationship School03:06 — The Wild Years: Risk, Drugs, Pain, and the Search for Meaning04:58 — Becoming Authentic in Marriage05:35 — Why Marriage is the Hardest Relationship You’ll Ever Have06:25 — Balancing Space and Closeness in Relationships08:25 — The Art of Repairing Conflict12:30 — Common Mistakes Couples Make During Fights14:12 — How to Navigate Financial Struggles Together16:45 — Climbing Out of Failure and Self-Doubt17:25 — Jayson’s Health Scare: Lessons from a Cancer Diagnosis19:39 — Coping with Life’s “Zombie Attacks” - Building Resilience & Teaching Kids to Do Hard Things23:24 — Final Reflections & Takeaways#TrustMeMom #JaysonGaddis #Relationships #MarriageAdvice #ConflictResolution #Parenting #LoveAndGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #MarriageTips #RelationshipSchool #GettingToZero #SelfAwareness #ResilientKids #PersonalGrowth #TherapyTools #CommunicationSkills #ModernParenting

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• 24. Teen Anxiety - Here’s How Parents Can Truly Help

  Parenting a teenager can feel like walking on eggshells, especially when anxiety enters the picture. In this episode Ekaterina Konovalova spoke with Sophia Vale Galano, a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and author of Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Teen Cope with Worry.Sophia shared practical, compassionate strategies to help parents recognize anxiety, open up meaningful conversations, and model calm and emotional regulation without controlling or enabling their teens.You’ll learn:- How to tell normal stress from clinical anxiety- Why teens mirror their parents’ emotional energy- What to say (and what not to say) when your teen shuts down- How to navigate social media, body image, and comparison traps- Why self-care for parents is the foundation of calmer teensIf you’ve ever wondered how to truly connect with your anxious teen — this conversation will give you hope, insight, and practical tools to start today.To learn more about Sophia, check her website www.sophiagalano.com00:26 Introduction: Meet Sophia Vale Galano, author of “Calming Teenage Anxiety”01:19 Sophia’s journey: From career change to working with teens02:38 Why teen years are a pivotal moment for mental health03:06 How to recognize teenage anxiety vs. normal stress04:58 When to take a closer look at your teen’s behavior05:08 First steps for parents: Talking about anxiety early06:11 Conversation tips: How to ask open-ended questions07:54 When teens say “I don’t want to talk about it”08:52 Changing the setting: Why casual conversations work better10:18 Rebuilding trust when there’s a control history11:00 How parents can model emotional regulation13:09 Why teens notice parental behavior more than words14:35 Energy and emotional connection between parents and teens15:00 How parents’ stress affects their children17:33 When and how to seek therapy or outside support20:07 Different types of support beyond traditional therapy21:18 Overcoming control and trusting the process23:06 Teens in today’s world: Why social media changes everything24:02 Healthy social media habits for teens26:39 Dealing with comparison and body image28:20 Highlights from Sophia’s book: Self-examination for parents29:53 Leading by example: Modeling healthy emotional habits30:56 Parents’ invisible impact and long-term influence31:23 Finding joy and balance as a parent33:40 The line between helping and enabling35:23 Teaching resilience: Let teens “scrape their knees”36:31 Final advice: Be open, flexible, and patient36:56 Where to find Sophia’s book and connect with her#TeenAnxiety #ParentingTeens #MentalHealth #TrustMeMom #SophiaValeGalano #ParentingTips #AnxietyHelp #TeenTherapy #ParentingPodcast #CalmingTeenageAnxiety #MentalHealthAwareness #MindfulParenting #RaisingTeens

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• 23. Long-Distance Parenting: How to Stay Connected Across Miles

  When we hear the phrase long-distance relationship, we often think of romantic partners separated by geography. But what about long-distance parenting—navigating fatherhood or motherhood from miles away. In this episode of Trust Me Mom, I sat down with Jason Cercone, a podcaster, strategist, and devoted father, who shared his story of co-parenting his teenage daughter after separation—and later, after she and her mother moved six hours away.00:43 Navigating Long-Distance Parenting04:14 Maintaining Connection Across Distances08:19 Communication Strategies for Safety11:50 Coping with Emotions as a Long-Distance Parent16:00 Teaching Resilience and Self-Defense20:12 Instilling Work Ethic and Values22:00 The Importance of Communication in Co-Parenting#trustmemom #LongDistanceParenting #CoParenting #CommunicationStrategies #EmotionalChallenges #Resilience #WorkEthic #ParentingAdvice #FamilyDynamics #TechnologyInParenting #MaintainingRelationships

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• 22. Kids Do Well If They Can | Conversation with Dr. Ross Greene

  In this conversation, Dr. Ross W. Greene discusses the importance of understanding child behavior through the lens of frustration responses rather than traditional rewards and punishments. He emphasizes the need for parents to meet their children where they are developmentally and to engage in collaborative problem-solving strategies. The discussion also highlights the significance of effective communication and listening in addressing children's needs, as well as the broader implications for child psychology and advocacy.By listening to this episode you will learn that:• Rewards and punishments do not solve underlying problems.• Children's concerning behaviors are often frustration responses.• Meeting kids where they are is essential for effective parenting.• Developmental variability means each child is unique.• Collaborative problem-solving is more effective than unilateral decisions.• Listening to children is crucial for understanding their needs.• Non-compliance can provide valuable insights into a child's struggles.• Parents should focus on individual progress rather than comparisons.• Frustration responses indicate unmet expectations.• Advocacy for children's mental health is increasingly important.0:00 Introduction to Dr. Ross Greene1:30 The Problem with Rewards and Punishments4:00 Understanding Kids' Frustration Responses7:00 Ask Your Child What’s Making it Hard for Them to Meet Your Expectations. 10:00 Plan A, B, and C Explained15:00 Developmental Variability and Meeting Kids Where They Are18:00 The Power of Listening and Empathy18:59 Upcoming Book and Advocacy Efforts#ChildPsychology #ParentingTips #PositiveParenting #ChildDevelopment#EmpathyInParenting #CollaborativeProblemSolving #DrRossGreene #kidsdowelliftheycan #DevelopmentalVariability#drgreene

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