House of Hope KC: Parent Podcast

E11: Digital Boundaries, Pt. 2: Building a Technology ‘Contract’ With Your Hurting Teenager

While it may be easy to demonize technology as the root cause of a teenager’s challenges with their mental health, more often than not, the technology is more of a symptom or cover-up of the root challenges in a hurting teenager. In this episode, Tim Overby interviews the HOHKC Clinical Coordinator, Vicki Bartholomew and alumni parent, Brandon Moeller in this conversation about building a technology agreement with your teenager as you rebuild trust with your teenager in the realm of phone use, social media, and online behavior.

E10: Digital Boundaries, Pt. 1: How Vulnerable is My Teen When Online?

The explosion of social media and online activity mostly via the phone has been exponential in the last several years. How can parents even keep up with the litany of new social media apps available to teens? Is there an answer to keeping my teen safe online without simply taking their phone away until they are 18? Russ Tuttle from the STOP Trafficking Project joins Tim Overby for this crucial conversation on how parents can educate their own teens regarding the patterns of grooming online and the dangers of sextortion.

E9: Mind the Gap, Pt. 2: Bridging the Distance in Conflict Between Parent & Teen

With some understanding of how the teenage brain works and specifically when they are in an anxious or dysregulated state, Tim and Paul continue the conversation from the previous episode to unpack some practical tools of conflict resolution and having more substantive conversations with your teen. Pulling from “parts work”, Paul will share some wisdom for parents on how to pave the way to healthier communication with your teen by doing your own work first.

E8: Mind the Gap, Pt. 1: Considering the Impact of Trauma on the Teenage Brain & Communication

Why is it when you have conflict with your teenager it seems to get out of control so quickly? What is happening in their brain? What is happening in your brain? And how can you as the parent take a different approach in your response to your teenager when they are triggered? This is a major topic for every House of Hope family. HOH Staff Counselor, Paul Mills joins Tim Overby for this conversation on how a parent can grow their compassion in communication with their teenager without excusing their behavior.

E7: Starting at Square One: What to Look For in a Counselor For My Teen

When a parent knows that it is time to search for a mental health professional for their teenager, where do they start the process? What does a parent look for as they attempt to get their teen ‘in the door’ with a counselor? And how does a parent involve the child in that decision-making to find the best therapist for their unique trauma story? Join Tim Overby and special guest, Dr. Andrew Secor, Professor of Counseling at MidAmerica Nazarene University in this discussion about what parents should look for in their search for an outpatient counselor for your teenage son or daughter.