In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, we sit down with Katie May, a licensed therapist, author, speaker, and the founder of Creative Healing—a multi-location teen support center in the Philadelphia area to discuss strategies for parenting teens with self-destructive behaviors.

This episode is a must-listen for moms of deeply feeling, highly sensitive teenagers who experience extreme emotional dysregulation and high-risk behaviors, offering practical strategies to move your household from a state of constant crisis into a place of calm and connection.

• Understanding why some teenagers are genetically hardwired to experience the world with raw, intense emotions, and why traditional parenting advice fails them.
  
• A clear breakdown of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), how it differs from traditional CBT, and why it is the gold standard for treating severe emotional reactivity and self-harm in teenagers.
  
• How a teen's emotional baseline can get trapped in an ongoing cycle of stress, and how parents can use environmental changes to help them "zero out" and calm down.
  
• Concrete advice on how parents can navigate the emotional grief of letting go of the parenting journey they expected so they can show up for the teen they have.
  

Highly sensitive teens often experience an accumulation of nervous system stress that never fully returns to baseline. Because they are easily triggered, they get re-activated before they can fully calm down, making minor incidents feel like major crises.

Katie May is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), author, speaker, and group practice owner who founded Creative Healing, a specialized center dedicated to supporting teenagers and their families. She specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and is passionate about giving parents the practical toolkits they need to understand their teen's intense inner world and foster long-term resilience.Connect With Katie May

• Katiekmay.com
• @katiekmay on IG
• Purchase Katie’s Book - You’re On Fire, It’s Fine

Resources From Your Host, Laura Ollinger

• Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
• Emotional College Prep for Teen Girls on July 14th, 2026: Register for Positively Healthy University
• Support the Show: Rate the Positively Healthy Mom podcast here!

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, we are breaking down the ultimate guide to college transition prep. We sit down with Lara Becker, founder of The Dorm Guide and author of The Dorm Room Guide, to cut through the consumer noise and focus on what your rising college freshman actually needs for a happy, healthy, realistic and budget-friendly move-in day.

Lara shares her expert, practical advice on navigating the emotional "senior summer" rollercoaster, stepping back to let your teen take the lead, and avoiding the over-shopping trap fueled by viral TikTok and Instagram dorm reveals.

• Why you should throw out standard retail packing lists and what the true essentials are.
• How to avoid the "Ritz-Carlton" dorm trend and style a functional, comfortable space without overspending.
• Understanding your teen's complex emotions and back-and-forth behavior before they leave.
• Practical ways to give your rising college student real responsibility before move-in day.
• Why a simple measuring tape is your best friend during college visits.

Whether you are feeling the emotional weight of letting go or just trying to figure out how to fit your life into an extra-long twin bed setup, this episode is the perfect antidote to back-to-school anxiety. Tune in for an honest, grounded conversation that balances the logistics of packing with the heart of parenting.

• Positively Healthy University - Right now she can handle her schedule, her grades, her responsibilities. What she's still building is the emotional toolkit she'll need when she's on her own. Enroll her in Positively Healthy University today!
• Connect On Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
• Let’s Work Together To Make Your Connection With Your Teen or Young Adult Joyful!
• Rate this podcast!

How do mirror neurons and parent co-regulation help de-escalate emotional outbursts and stress in teenagers?

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, we dive deep into the science of nervous system regulation, exploring how parents can use their own energetic presence to calm a dysregulated teen, while also providing practical mind-body tools to support competitive teen athletes through injury prevention and intense physical stress.

It is a must-listen for moms navigating high-stress seasons with their teenagers, academic or performance pressures, and the daily chaotic bursts of teen hormones.

Listen in as we sit down with Lisa Danahy, an MS in Yoga Therapy, BA in Psychology, and founder of the non-profit Create Calm, who specializes in evidence-based behavioral and emotional regulation.

• Why telling an upset teenager to "just calm down" backfires, and how to help them access actual nervous system resources instead.
• Understanding the neuroscience behind why emotions are contagious and how an adult's steady presence serves as a physical reflection for a teen's emotional reset.
• A breakdown of a 30-second somatic tool involving movement, body-shaking, and breathwork to instantly exit the primitive stress response.
• How teaching "intense sensation" practices builds physical endurance, prevents joint/bone wear-and-tear, and fosters deep peer communication in competitive sports.

Question: Why do big conversations with my teenager always seem to turn into explosive arguments when we are in the car?

Answer: When parents and teens pile into a car, they are bringing all the bottled-up stress of their respective days into a highly contained space. Because you are physically confined and unable to move or discharge that physical energy, trying to navigate heavy topics relies entirely on words and breath to force the stress out, making the environment literal kindling for an explosive interaction. It is much better to use the car as a low-stakes space for rambling, and save big topics for after you have physically moved and reset.

Lisa Danahy (C-IAYT, YACEP, MS) is a powerful educator, entrepreneur, and Hay House featured author. With an MS in Yoga Therapy, a BA in Psychology, and over 30 years as a school administrator and social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum developer, she is highly skilled at creating accessible, evidence-based training for emotional regulation and resilience. Her non-profit, Create Calm, has facilitated deep healing and mindful programming for thousands of students, teachers, and families across the country since 2016.

• Website: createcalm.org
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisadanahy
• Facebook: Create Calm Page
• Instagram: @create_calm_yoga & @yogalinilisa

Resources From Your Host, Laura Ollinger

• Emotional College Prep Session For Girls: Positively Healthy University
• Book A Coaching Call: Let’s Work It Out!
• Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching

Is your daughter struggling with friendship drama, and are you finding it hard not to jump in and "fix" it for her?

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, we sit down with Sheri Gazitt, a global friendship expert and founder of Teen Wise. Sheri brings over 30 years of experience in counseling psychology to help us deconstruct the "mean girl" narrative and understand the developmental roots of social conflict.

This episode is a must-listen for moms of teens and young adults who want to move from being a "White Knight" to a supportive consultant, fostering true independence and resilience in their daughters.

• The "White Knight" Trap: Understanding how stepping in to solve social problems can inadvertently rob your daughter of her independence and confidence.
• Deconstructing the "Mean Girl" Myth: Why most hurtful actions are rooted in a lack of social skills or curiosity rather than malice, and how to reframe this for your teen.
• Managing your "Emotional Backpack": How our own past social traumas can trigger overreactions to our teen’s struggles, and how to stay grounded.
• Scaffolding vs. Fixing: Practical strategies for supporting your daughter through conflict by setting boundaries and teaching communication skills rather than taking the wheel.

Question: How can I tell if I'm helping or "over-parenting" during a friendship dispute?

Answer: If you are contacting other parents or school officials before your daughter has tried to handle it herself, you might be in "fixer" mode. Helping means listening, validating her feelings, and brainstorming ways she can address the situation, rather than doing it for her.

Sheri Gazitt is a global friendship expert, speaker, and founder of Teen Wise. With a background in counseling psychology, she has supported thousands of girls and their families in navigating friendship struggles, social anxiety, and the emotional world of growing up. She is the author of Girl Drama Decoded, and her work helps parents understand what’s really happening beneath the surface of teen social dynamics. On a personal note, Sheri has been married for over 30 years and has three children in their 20s.

Connect with Sheri:

• Website: Teen Wise
• Instagram: @beteenwise
• Facebook: Be Teen Wise
• YouTube: Teen Wise
• LinkedIn: Sheri Gazitt

Resources From Laura Ollinger

• Book A Coaching Call: Let’s Work It Out!
• Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
• Rate this podcast!

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, we sit down with Shannon Weisblatt, a College Executive Function Coach with over 20 years of experience in education and special education. Shannon specializes in helping students master the "hidden curriculum" of college—time management, organization, and self-advocacy.

This episode is essential for moms of high school juniors and seniors who want to prepare their kids for independence, as well as parents of current college students who are struggling to keep their heads above water academically.

Key Conversations in This Episode:

• The Shift from Manager to Consultant: Why parents should begin "putting on the brakes" during junior year of high school to allow teens to practice autonomy before they leave home.
• Overcoming the Procrastination Loop: Practical strategies for students who are "stuck," including brainstorming sessions to reduce overwhelm and the power of starting an assignment for just five minutes.
• The Role of Natural Consequences: How to reframe a failed assignment or a poor grade as a "beautiful learning opportunity" rather than a catastrophe.
• Outsourcing the Prefrontal Cortex: Understanding the balance between supporting a student’s developing brain and accidentally "hovering" too much.

Question: When should parents start transitioning their role from "manager" to "consultant"?
Answer: Parents should ideally begin this transition during their child's junior year of high school to help them build independence before leaving for college.

Question: What are the best ways to help a college student who struggles with procrastination?
Answer: Effective strategies include breaking assignments into small steps (like a five-minute start rule), brainstorming paper ideas together to reduce overwhelm, and creating a visible plan for the week.

Question: How can parents help their teens learn from failure without being negative?
Answer: Instead of making critical statements, parents can ask open-ended questions such as "How does this make you feel?" or "What could you do differently next time?" to allow the teen to find their own solutions.

Guest Links: efcollegecoach.com
Find Shannon On Facebook
Find Shannon On LinkedIn

• Book A Coaching Call: Let’s Work It Out!
• Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
• Rate this podcast!

In this episode of The Healthy Mom, we sit down with Brooke Wagner. As the host of the Finding Hope on the Spectrum podcast, Brooke specializes in helping families navigate the complexities of autism and neurodiversity.

This episode dives deep into Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) and how shifting from "static" rules to "dynamic" thinking can transform a teen's ability to navigate the real world. This conversation is essential for moms of neurodiverse teens and young adults who feel like they are "tiptoeing" around their child and are ready to rebuild a connection based on guided participation rather than constant power struggles.

Key Conversations in This Episode:

• The Shift to Dynamic Intelligence: Why teaching neurodiverse teens to manage uncertainty is more important than teaching them to follow rigid rules.
• Restoring the Parent-Guide Role: How to move away from a "controlling" household dynamic and back into a healthy leadership position as a parent.
• Declarative Communication: The power of using "I notice" or "I wonder" statements to invite your teen into the thinking process instead of just giving commands.
• Redefining Success: Shifting the focus from behavioral compliance to long-term quality-of-life markers like meaningful employment and self-regulation.

Common Questions About Moms Of Teens and Autism/Independence:

Question: Why does my neurodiverse teen struggle so much with changes in their routine? Answer: Most traditional approaches teach "static" thinking—if X happens, do Y. However, the real world is "dynamic" and messy. By focusing on dynamic intelligence, we help teens learn to process uncertainty and non-verbal cues so they can adjust to changes in real-time rather than feeling overwhelmed by them.

Question: How do I stop my teen from "ruling the roost" without causing a total meltdown? Answer: It starts with "righting the ship" of the parent-child relationship. Through guided participation, you move away from being a "manager" who dictates every move and toward being a "guide." This helps the teen feel safe and competent, which naturally reduces their need to use controlling behaviors as a defense mechanism.

Brooke Wagner is an RDI® Program Certified Consultant, the founder and owner of Therapeutic Approach to Growth (TAG), and the host of the podcast Finding Hope on the Spectrum. With over 20 years of experience, Brooke is dedicated to empowering parents of individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental challenges. Her approach focuses on the Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) model, which emphasizes building the foundation of a guided relationship to foster emotional connection, flexible thinking, and long-term independence.

• Connect with Brooke on Instagram: @jessturner.coaching
• And on Facebook: Therapeutic Approach To Growth
• www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com
• www.tagforgrowth.com

Resources From Laura Ollinger

• Coaching: Let’s Work It Out!
• Connect On Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
• Rate This Podcast!

How can I be closer to my high-achieving teenager and improve our connection?

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, we sit down with Jess Turner, a burnout and sustainable performance coach who helps high-achieving women stop running on pressure and start building sustainable lives. This conversation is essential for moms of high-achieving teens who want to break generational burnout loops and foster a deeper, more vulnerable connection with their children through radical self-awareness.

• The Subconscious Parenting Audit: Learn how to ask your teen the "courageous question"—"How would you describe my beliefs?"—to uncover the hidden stories you may be accidentally passing down.
  
• Lighthouse vs. Tugboat Parenting: Discover why forcing your teen toward "shore" drains your battery and how standing stable as a "lighthouse" naturally attracts them to your regulated energy.
  
• The "Open Spaces" Mindset: A powerful metaphor for stress management for busy parents, shifting focus from the "poles" (problems) to the "open spaces" (solutions) to change your neurological results.
  
• Escaping the Time Scarcity Loop: How replacing "I have no time" with "I have an abundance of time" regulates your nervous system and stops energy-draining "doom scrolling".
  

The most effective way to handle intense topics is to talk while walking side-by-side. This "shared pack mentality" removes the ego-clash of face-to-face confrontation, and being in nature scientifically helps both the parent and teen feel calmer and more open-minded.

Burnout often stems from a dysregulated nervous system that burns through energy twice as fast. By practicing "sustainable performance" and viewing time as "luxurious" or "abundant," you maintain the calm needed to be present when your teen actually wants to talk.

Jess Turner is a high-performance and burnout coach who helps high-achieving women stop running on pressure and start building lives that actually feel sustainable. Her work focuses on changing the way people relate to success—shifting away from constant “doing” and toward clarity, energy, and systems that support real life. Originally from the UK and now based in the US, Jess is passionate about helping women model healthier definitions of success for the people watching them.

Connect with Jess on Instagram: @jessturner.coaching

Resources From Your Host, Laura Ollinger:

• Coaching: Let’s Work It Out!
• Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
• Rate this podcast!

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, we sit down with Michelle Gauthier, a professional life coach and host of the Overwhelmed Working Woman podcast who helps women transition from chaos to intentional living. This episode is a must-listen for high-achieving moms who feel buried by the "mental load" of managing careers, households, and the unique demands of raising teenagers.

• Stress vs. Overwhelm: Understanding why you lose the ability to think clearly when stressors become unmanageable.
• The "Recovering People Pleaser": Why high-achieving women struggle to say no and how to begin setting essential boundaries.
• Over-Functioning for Teens: How stepping back from managing your teenager's life builds their adult competence and restores your identity.
• The Love and Fit Test: A simple two-question framework to decide what earns a spot on your calendar and what stays off.

Why do I feel like I've lost my own identity now that my kids are older? Many moms tie their "enoughness" to helping their children function, often adopting their kids' hobbies and friends’ parents as their own friends. Reclaiming your identity starts with small, daily neuroplasticity exercises—focusing on things you enjoy (a smell, a song, a color) regardless of whether your family likes them.

How do I find "White Space" when my schedule is already packed? Creating white space isn't about finding extra hours; it's about shifting from "doing more" to intentional outsourcing and automation. By automating finances or hiring help for chores like laundry, you create the calm necessary to be truly present when your teen finally steps out of their room to talk at 10:00 PM.

Michelle Gauthier is a professional life coach who helps busy, overwhelmed women create a more calm and intentional life. A former corporate executive and current single mom of two, she walked away from a 20-year career to help hundreds of women navigate home and work life with ease. In her spare time, she enjoys the gym, reading self-improvement books, and watching her kids' sporting events.

Guest Links:

• Website: michellegauthier.com
• Instagram: @michellegauthiercoaching
• Podcast: Overwhelmed Working Woman
• Free Resource: What's Causing Your Overwhelm? Quiz

Connect with Laura:

• Free Webinar: Get Through May Without Losing Your Joy, Your Mind, Or Yourself
• Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
• Rate this podcast!