Welcome to Podcast Therapists
This week we’re speaking directly to the teens.
If you’re dreading going to school, school feels empty, you’re feeling disconnected from friends or socializing and school in general are feeling hard, we want you to know that this is completely normal and you’re not alone.
Last week we shared the new term ‘pandemic flux’ with you. Remember: blunted emotions, spikes in anxiety or depression, and the need to make drastic changes in your life.
Our teens are particularly vulnerable to pandemic flux. That’s why this week we’re taking a deep dive into the effect of pandemic flux on our kids and particularly our teens.
We expect our kids to listen but they expect the same thing from us. And even though we might feel like we’re listening to them, to our kids it can feel like we’re not. The issue here is not that we’re not good listeners, it’s probably more that we’re not good at showing them that we’re listening.
Our kids are resilient. True comeback kids. Still, this specific time in the pandemic is a hard one for kids and parents alike. Why is that? And how do we help our kids around this pandemic?
Do you ever feel confused about how you are supposed to talk about your feelings as a parent? On the one hand, we are supposed to “shield” our children from the ups and downs of life and not talk about our feelings. On the other hand, aren’t we supposed to model healthy emotional expression and teach them that feelings are important?
Back-to-school meltdowns: they’re nothing new. But that doesn’t make them any easier. And (surprise, surprise!) after being out of school for so long due to the pandemic, we expect things to be a bit different than usual.
Pandemic parenting in 2021: the struggle is real. We know because we’re right there with you. With the school year starting soon, and so many things being unsure, everyone has their own concerns. Many people’s trauma from last year is being triggered again and pandemic parenting can become a struggle.
This week, coach Mike is back and he’s showing his perspective on Simone Biles’ Olympic performances and what lessons we can learn from them. Michael Atunrase is not only the founder and head coach of Resilience Fitness & Sports Performance Training, but he is also a mental health advocate. He shares our belief that mental health should be an equally important part of sports training, as are warm-ups, strength training, and cardio.
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.