Chaos to Calm: Managing Your End-of-School Year Stress
Send Lauren a text! Is this time of year feeling absolutely insane for you as a parent? Between field trips, graduations, concerts, and athletic awards, these final weeks of school can push even the most organized families to their breaking point. In this episode, I'll share three essential tips to help you navigate this hectic time with more peace, joy, and calm—while supporting your anxious tween or teen.📻 Key Episode HighlightsWhy this time of year is the most overwhelming for families with tweens and teensHow anxiety escalates during stressful times and what that means for your childUnderstanding your child's "alarm system" and why it sounds louder than necessaryThree practical strategies to survive the end-of-school chaos with your sanity intactPermission to lower your parenting bar and embrace "good enough"How to lean into what you actually enjoy during this busy seasonCreative ways to let things slide temporarily and ask for help🏠 Resources for ParentsFor CT residents: Special wizard-themed courage workshops and mindfulness-based teen groups coming summer 2025 at Firefly Counseling and Wellness in Sandy Hook, CTAvailable before mid-July 2025💌 Let's Connect!Website: yourzenfriend.comEmail: yourzenfriendpod@gmail.comInstagram: @YourZenFriendPodJoin our private Facebook group: Your Zen Friend💛 If you're finding this podcast helpful, please share it with a friend—it's the best way to help the podcast grow in order to offer more free support to parents of anxious tweens and teens!Remember: Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is challenging, so take some time today (and every day) to do something kind for yourself! 💕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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19:33
Why Anxiety Treatment Seems To Fail: What Parents Need to Know
Send Lauren a text! Are you and your tween or teen struggling with anxiety treatment and wondering why it doesn't seem to be "working" right away? In this episode, I'll share the #1 misconception about anxiety recovery and help you understand what real healing actually looks like.✨ What's Bringing Me More ZenTune in till the end of the episode when I share how I incorporate Harry Potter themes into counseling and some upcoming themed events that could help your tween or teen experience how therapy can actually be fun!📻 Key Episode HighlightsThe big misconception about anxiety recovery: expecting to do feared things without feeling fearUnderstanding "Signal vs. Noise" when it comes to anxiety responsesHow to recognize real progress in anxiety treatmentRiding the Worry Hill framework for managing anxietyTwo practical tips for parents supporting anxious tweens and teens🏠 Resources for ParentsFor CT residents: Special Harry Potter themed events coming this spring/summer 2025 at Firefly Counseling and Wellness in Sandy Hook, CT: FireflyCounselingAndWellness💌 Let's Connect!Website: yourzenfriend.comEmail: yourzenfriendpod@gmail.comInstagram: @YourZenFriendPodJoin our private Facebook group: Your Zen Friend💛 If you're finding this podcast helpful, please share it with a friend—it's the best way to help the podcast grow in order to offer more free support to parents of anxious tweens and teens!Remember: Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is challenging, so take some time today (and every day) to do something kind for yourself! 💕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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32:25
Anxiety Red Flags: When to Seek Help for Your Anxious Tween or Teen
Send Lauren a text! Are you starting to notice signs of anxiety in your tween or teen and wondering if it might be time to get seek support? In this episode, I’ll share how to know when your child could benefit from working with a qualified therapist and help you feel more confident about what to do next.✨ What's Bringing Me More ZenTune in till the end of the episode when I share how an old TV show that's now streaming is bringing me joy!📻 Key Episode HighlightsUnderstanding and normalizing anxiety Recognizing when anxiety becomes overwhelmingSigns that indicate your tween or teen might need professional helpBrief overview of OCD symptoms. For more information on signs and symptoms of OCD check out Episode #123, Anxiety or Something More? A Parent's Guide to Recognizing OCD 🏠 Resources for ParentsFor CT residents check out my private practice which specializes in supporting children, teens and families dealing with anxiety and OCD: Firefly Counseling and WellnessDirectory for qualified therapists who treat OCD💌 Let's Connect!Website: YourZenFriend.comEmail: yourzenfriendpod@gmail.com Instagram: @YourZenFriendPodJoin our private Facebook group: Your Zen Friend💛 If you're finding this podcast helpful, please share it with a friend—it's the best way to help the podcast grow in order to offer more free support to parents of anxious tweens and teens!Remember: Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is challenging, so take some time today (and every day) to do something kind for yourself! 💕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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26:43
Drop of Zen ~ A Joyful Moment
Send Lauren a text! Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is challenging! This Drop of Zen, a short guided mediation, is designed to offer you support and self care. This mediation is perfect to do anytime you would like to connect with joy. Perfect for a mid day break or a morning exercise to help you feel positive and more joyful. 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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The Parent's Roadmap to OCD Treatment: Choosing a Therapist, ERP, and Home Support
Send Lauren a text! In this episode, I focus on how parents can find qualified therapists who treat OCD in children and teens, understand ERP therapy (the gold standard in OCD treatment) and support their child's recovery journey.✨ What's Bringing Me More ZenTune in till the end of the episode to discover my new favorite protein-packed snack that helps me through mid-day energy slumps! Click here to see where you can buy this snack for yourself 📻 Key Episode HighlightsFinding qualified OCD therapists with specialized trainingUnderstanding ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy - the gold standard in OCD treatmentPractical strategies for parents to support children with OCDEssential resources for families navigating OCD treatment⚠️ Finding Qualified OCD Therapists When seeking treatment for your child, look for specialists with:Experience with pediatric/adolescent OCD specificallyTraining in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)How to find a qualified therapist who specializes in treating OCD in children and teens:International OCD Foundation directory: https://iocdf.org/find-help/Insurance provider networksUniversity medical centers with OCD programsAsk your child's pediatrician for a referral💡 Understanding ERP TherapyThe therapist creates a hierarchy of feared situationsGradual exposure to anxiety-provoking situationsLearning to respond to intrusive thoughts and obsessionsLearning to resist compulsionsActive participation at home through homework assignmentsProgress over perfection - celebrating effort and successTemporary increase in anxiety is expected initiallyIncreased confidence and resilience over time🏠 How Parents Can Support Their ChildReduce accommodation of compulsionsAvoid offering reassuranceSupport ERP homeworkManage your own anxiety about your child's distress💌 Let's Connect!Website: https://www.laurencounseling.com/Email: yourzenfriendpod@gmail.com Instagram: @YourZenFriendPodJoin our private Facebook group: Your Zen Friend💛 If you're finding this podcast helpful, please share it with a friend—it's the best way to help the podcast grow in order to offer more free support to parents of anxious tweens and teens!Remember: Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is challenging, so take some time today (and every day) to do something kind for yourself! 💕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.
Ever 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.
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