Ep 6 | The Myth of Doing it All: Understanding the Mental Load of Parental Burnout

Ep 6 | The Myth of Doing it All: Understanding the Mental Load of Parental Burnout

Parenting has never been easy, but today’s parents are carrying more than ever before—and the weight is palpable. In this episode of You Only Know What You Know, hosts Beth Hope, LCSW, and Britt Teasdale sit down with Principal Family Therapist Heather Katz, LCSW, to discuss the difference between feeling overwhelmed and experiencing true parental burnout. From the invisible mental load of managing a household to the pressure of work, finances, and social expectations, they unpack why so many parents are running on empty—and why it’s not a personal failure.  Beth, Britt, and Heather break down how parental burnout differs from anxiety or depression, including the early emotional, physical, and relational signs to watch for. They also tackle unequal household responsibilities, boundary-setting in a culture that demands more from parents than ever, and how patterns like accommodation can keep family stress cycles going—along with practical strategies to help parents protect their energy and make changes that actually stick.  MEET THE GUEST: HEATHER KATZ, LCSW  Heather is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over twenty years of experience providing therapeutic services to children, teens, and adults. She supports individuals and families facing a wide range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Heather has developed deep expertise in trauma, PTSD, and relationship-based harm — including teen dating violence and intimate partner abuse. Her work has also included facilitating support groups for both survivors and perpetrators of abuse, working with military service members and their families, and leading trainings on domestic violence and family maltreatment.

Ep 5 | Parenting a Child with OCD: Turning Down the Volume

To many people, the word "accommodation" can sound clinical, but it actually describes something deeply human—like a parent watching their child suffer and doing whatever it takes to make that pain stop. Rearranging the house, answering the same question for the fourteenth time, waiting at the door until the lock has been checked one more time:. That overarching instinct is love. But that sort of accommodation can sometimes make OCD symptoms stronger — and that's not cause for guilt. It's something crucial to your child’s health: it’s information.     In this episode, Beth and Britt sit down with Katie Torres, LCSW, to explore what OCD looks like inside a family system — from the child experiencing it to the siblings who witness it and the parents trying to navigate it all. Katie brings sixteen years of clinical expertise and the grounded perspective of a mom of three to this essential conversation.

Ep 4 | They're Legally an Adult. You're Still Their Parent.

When your child turns 18, the relationship changes overnight — on paper. They’re legally an adult. They can make their own decisions. And yet, the worry, responsibility, and desire to help doesn’t disappear. In this episode, Beth and Britt sit down with Melissa Blitz, M.Ed., LCPC, Director, Center of Excellence and Greta Holt, LCSW, Principal Family Therapist, to explore what it means to parent at the edge of autonomy when a young adult is struggling with their mental health. Together, they talk about how to stay connected without overstepping, how to express concern without damaging trust, and what support looks like when you’re no longer in control of the decisions. The conversation also addresses a growing concern many families describe as “failure to launch.” Listeners will hear why today’s path to independence often looks different than it did in previous generations. → Click here to download the Parent Guide [https://hubs.ly/Q04bXqs50]

Ep 3 | When School Feels Impossible: The Why Behind School Anxiety, Avoidance, and Burnout

For many families, school anxiety doesn’t show up all at once. It may begin with a few difficult mornings, a stomachache before class, or a request to stay home “just this once.” Over time, those moments can grow into patterns of avoidance, anxiety, and stress that affect the entire family. In this episode, Beth Hope and Britt Teasdale sit down with Adam Honecker, LCSW, Director of Compass Health Center’s Adolescent PHP and IOP Programs in Chicago, to explore what’s happening beneath the surface when school starts to feel impossible. Together, they unpack the different reasons kids and teens may avoid school — including anxiety, social pressure, perfectionism, burnout, and the need for safety and connection — and how parents can begin to respond with understanding instead of fear. Throughout the conversation, they discuss how school avoidance can show up differently across ages, why physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches are often part of the picture, and practical ways families can support their child while building resilience and maintaining their own mental health.

Ep 2 | Screens, Scrolls, and Stress: Finding Digital Balance

Screens are everywhere — in our homes, our schools, and our children’s social lives. For many parents and caregivers, the challenge isn’t whether screens should be part of daily life, but how to help kids build a healthy relationship with technology. In this conversation, Beth Hope and Britt Teasdale sit down with Dr. Rachael Levine, Ph.D., LCP, the Director of Young Child Programs & Center of Excellence at Compass Health Center, to move the conversation away from fear and toward clarity. Together, they explore what we know about screen use, why it’s so hard for kids (and adults) to unplug, and how families can focus less on perfect limits and more on balance, awareness, and connection.