Teens: No Cap

Using Art & Play in Therapy with High-Risk Teens | Teens: No Cap Ep. 48

In this episode of Teens: No Cap, host Charity Chaffee, LMHC, sits down with board-certified art therapist and licensed counselor Lindsey Jonin to break down the transformative power of creativity in therapy. Many parents and even clinicians wonder: What is the actual difference between a certified art therapist and someone who just uses art activities in a session? Lindsey unpacks this hot topic, explains why there are no "universal meanings" for colors, and shares how to avoid assumption traps when looking at a teen's creative work. We also dive into: ✅Process over Product: Why your teen doesn't need to be a "fine artist" to benefit from art therapy. ✅Handling Pushback: How to talk to parents who think doing art in session isn't "real therapy". ✅Therapeutic Materials: Why fluid mediums like watercolor can actually cause dysregulation, and what to use instead. ✅Altered Books & Blackout Poetry: Cheap, accessible ways to introduce tactile creativity to teens. ✅Lindsey’s Journey: From struggling academically in high school to owning a successful private practice. Whether you are a provider looking to expand your toolkit, a parent trying to connect with your teenager, or a student interested in the field of art therapy, this conversation is packed with authentic, actionable insights. 🔗 Connect with Lindsey Jonin: 🙌Workshops & Consultation: http://abstractandaligned.com/ [http://abstractandaligned.com/] 🙌Clinical Practice & Supervision: Lilly Counseling and Art Therapy (Bordentown, NJ) 🙌Email: abstractandaligned@gmail.com [abstractandaligned@gmail.com] Join the Community: 🔗Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/] 🔗Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/] 🔗Like our Facebok Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757] 🔗Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about [https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about] 🔗Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/ [https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/] #arttherapy #TeenMentalHealth #TherapistPodcast #ParentingTeens #CreativeHealing #MentalHealthMatters

Do Coping Skills Actually Work? Harm Reduction & Self-Harm in Teens | Teens: No Cap Ep. 47

In episode 47 of Teens: No Cap, host and licensed Massachusetts mental health counselor Charity Chaffee tackles some of the most complex questions surrounding teen mental health. When dealing with high-risk behaviors, do coping skills actually work? Designed as a resource for both clinicians and parents, this episode dives deep into effective strategies for supporting treatment-resistant teenagers who have already been through various treatment facilities. Charity challenges the traditional approach of simply handing out a list of coping skills to "fix" a problem. Instead, she introduces her "negative 10 to positive 10" scale—where a negative 10 represents death—to help contextualize and understand the full range of teen coping mechanisms. Key Topics Covered in This Episode: 🚨Why stripping away a teen's existing coping mechanisms without understanding the root cause can be detrimental. 🚨How adults and professionals should react with curiosity instead of panic or shame when a teenager discloses self-harm. 🚨Applying a harm reduction philosophy to high-risk behaviors by focusing on making a situation just 1% better. 🚨Why natural hobbies, such as playing an instrument or joining a sports team, are fundamentally powerful coping skills. 🚨The importance of reframing relapse as a vital learning opportunity rather than a personal failure. Join the Teens Uncharted Community: 🔗Website & Mailing List: Visit https://www.teensuncharted.com/ [https://www.teensuncharted.com/] to stay updated on new recordings and announcements. 🔗For Parents: Join our free Facebook group [ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/] ] to access parent get-togethers, support, and trainings. 🔗For Therapists: Connect with our specialized Facebook community [ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/] ] for clinicians working with teenagers. 🔗Like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757] 🔗Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about [https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about] Don't forget to like, follow, and subscribe for more insights into navigating the teen years! #teenmentalhealth #SelfHarmAwareness #HarmReduction #ParentingTeens #TherapistTips #CopingSkills #TeensNoCap #TeenTherapy #MentalHealthPodcast #TreatmentResistantTeens

Deployment, Reintegration, & Masking: Inside the Minds of Military Kids | Teens: No Cap Ep. 46

Welcome back to another episode of Teens No Cap with your host, Charity Chaffee! In this episode, we sit down with Jason Kelley, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, to discuss the unique experiences and mental health challenges faced by teenagers in military families. Jason brings an incredible blend of lived and professional experience to our coffee chat. After serving in the military for 17 years and working in mental health for the latter half of his career, Jason opened his own practice, Your Way Therapy, where he focuses on military members, veterans, and their families. Today, we unpack the realities behind the "resilient military brat" stereotype, the hurdles of deployment and reintegration, and how to best support military families. In this episode, we discuss: ✨The Cost of Resiliency: While military children are known for being resilient, they often mask their true emotions or act as overachievers to keep their family stable during difficult times. ✨The Complexities of Deployment: Beyond just deployments, military kids face the stress of constant relocations, long hours, and temporary duty assignments (TDYs) that frequently disrupt their lives and friendships. ✨The "Reintegration" Phase: Jason explains that a deployed parent returning home is often harder on the family than the deployment itself, as everyone must adjust to shifted routines and changing family dynamics. ✨Parental Shame: The stay-at-home caregivers often struggle with feelings of shame or inadequacy when they can't manage their child's severe mental health issues on their own. ✨Advice for Therapists: Providers must take the time to understand military culture and avoid putting the service member on a pedestal, ensuring they equally recognize the profound sacrifices made by the family at home. Jason Kelley's Practice: https://ywtherapy.clientsecure.me/#home [https://ywtherapy.clientsecure.me/#home] Join the Teens Uncharted Community: Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/] Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/] Like our Facebok Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757] Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about [https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about] Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/ [https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/] #MilitaryTeens #TeenMentalHealth #MilitaryFamilies #TeensNoCap #DeploymentSupport #MilitarySpouse #TherapistTips #MentalHealthAwareness #MilitaryBrat #ChildPsychology

Guides Not Guards, Rethinking Consequences & Reframing Teen Rebellion | Teens: No Cap Ep.45

Welcome back to Teens: No Cap! In episode 45, licensed mental health counselor Charity Chaffee shares her top insights from day two of a specialized teen therapy conference. In this episode, we cover: 🎙️Rethinking Tech Use: Why it is more important to understand the how and why of a teen's screen usage rather than simply tracking their time limit. 🎙️Guides, Not Guards: Exploring presenter Chris Conley's concept of transitioning from managing your child to mentoring them as they grow into teens. 🎙️The Reality of Consequences: Why consequences should focus on steering teens in the right direction as a learning opportunity, rather than validating an adult's feelings about the behavior. 🎙️Reframing Rebellion: Understanding that what looks like rebellion is often just a teen's attempt to gain autonomy, build independence, and trust their own intuition. 🎙️The Power of Community: Why teen therapists need dedicated consultation spaces and how we are only as strong as our weakest link. Whether you are a clinician looking to evolve your skill set or a parent navigating high-risk behaviors, you deserve a community that understands this unique population. Join the Community: Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/] Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/] Like our Facebok Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757] Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about [https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about] Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/ [https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/] #teensnocap #TeenTherapy #ParentingTeens #TeenMentalHealth #TherapistCommunity #GuidesNotGuards #TeensUncharted

Inside the Teen Therapy Conference: Trauma, Resistance & Sports Culture | Teens No Cap Ep. 44

Hey everybody, welcome back to episode 44 of Teens: No Cap! I’m your host, Charity Chaffee, a licensed mental health counselor in Massachusetts who specializes exclusively in treating teenagers. In this episode, I’m coming to you straight from Pennsylvania after an exciting Day 1 at the Teen Therapy Conference run by Katie Kates May. It's been a long day and I am tired, but I couldn't wait to share my raw, bullet-point notes and biggest takeaways from today's incredible presentations! Here are some of the game-changing "nuggets of information" from today's experts: * Regulation & Safety: Regulation isn't always calm, and ensuring safety is the actual treatment. Before you can get regulation within a teenager, you have to establish regulation with them. * Reframing Trauma: Trauma is what happens in the nervous system, not just the incident itself. * The Truth About Resistance: Teen resistance is really just a data point, and it is actually a powerful developmental milestone for building autonomy. * Student Athletes: A massive 90% of athletes identify their coach as their biggest role model. Unfortunately, sports culture frequently normalizes emotion suppression. * High-Conflict Divorce & Policies: When managing high-conflict cases, providers must be brave, because being too risk-averse creates a barrier to competent care. Practice policies are the structure for your practice and are different from consents for treatment. * Self-Harm vs. Repetitive Behaviors: Body-focused repetitive behavior should absolutely be assessed, but it is not actually self-harm. * Shame & Secrecy: Shame is a relational wound, and secrecy functions as a supportive behavior. If a parent or therapist's response increases a teen's shame, it almost guarantees that their behavior will become more secretive. We have to remember that teens deserve their own specialized treatment category because they aren't just little adults, and they shouldn't be lumped in with children! Stay tuned for Part 2 next week after Day 2 of the conference! #TeenTherapy #MentalHealthCounseling #ParentingTeens #StudentAthletes #TraumaInformed #TeensNoCap #JerriChafee #TherapistTips #MentalHealthAwareness #TeenMentalHealth