Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl

What the heck are CBT and DBT??? 😵‍💫

For a while, I genuinely had no clue. I don't think I'm the only teenager who's minorly (or majorly) confused by what these letters mean.

A quick Google search will reveal that these letters stand for "cognitive behavioral therapy" and "dialectical behavioral therapy". But for those of us who are still confused, this episode explains a LOT more about these therapies and how they can be used to help navigate stress, anxiety, OCD, depression, eating disorders, and so much more!

In this episode I am joined by Dr. Rebecca Skolnick, a licensed clinical phycologist and a co-founder of MindWell NYC, a group phycology practice in New York. Dr. Skolnick specializes in CBT, DBT, and exposure therapy, so she's the perfect person to explain what they are!

In this episode, you'll learn:

📕 The definitions of CBT and DBT
🔬 The science behind CBT and DBT
🤔How CBT and DBT are used
😱 The science behind exposure therapy
📚How to find resources to learn more CBT and DBT skills
🤹🏼 Some basic CBT and DBT skills for managing anxiety and body image

If you want to learn more CBT or DBT skills, stay tuned for more episodes with Dr. Skolnick, or check out "Conquering Anxiety: Science-Backed Tools for Teens with Dr. Rachel Hutt"!

Here are resources mentioned in the episode ->

MindWell's Recommended Books and Resources

MindWell NYC’s website:
www.mindwellnyc.com

MindWell NYC’s social media
Facebook

Instagram

Contact Balancing Act:

Email Moorea: [email protected]

Balancing Act Website
Instagram

DISCLAIMER: Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OUR SITE OR OUR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Anxiety is no fun—I think we all know that.

But did you know that there are many practical, scientifically proven skills you can use to effectively navigate anxiety?? 🤯

(And no, not just deep breathing or “taking a walk”.) 

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Rachel Hutt, a licensed clinical psychologist, Co-founder of MindWell NYC, and author of Feeling Better: CBT Workbook for Teens: Essential Skills and Activities to Help You Manage Moods, Boost Self-Esteem, and Conquer Anxiety. Dr. Hutt shares valuable insights and tools that you can start using right away to manage anxiety and to navigate other cornerstones of teen life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
🧑‍🔬 The science behind anxiety 

🔺 The basics of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) triangle  

And Foundational skills to:

🧊 Manage physical symptoms of anxiety (hello, mammalian dive reflex!) 

😰 Effectively "check the facts" and navigate anxious thoughts or catastrophizing  
🤓 Remind yourself of unique aspects of your identity (unrelated to school!)
👪 Navigate disagreements with family members 
👭 Handle anxiety surrounding relationships

🫢 Approach tough conversations with friends 

I LOVED recording this episode and was honestly *mind-blown* by some of the techniques Dr. Hutt shared. Plus, she explains the science behind these tips in such a cool, relatable way!

Here are resources mentioned in the episode ->

Dr. Hutt's Book:
Feeling Better: CBT Workbook for Teens: Essential Skills and Activities to Help You Manage Moods, Boost Self-Esteem, and Conquer Anxiety

MindWell NYC’s website:
www.mindwellnyc.com

MindWell NYC’s social media
Facebook

Instagram

Dr. Hutt’s Contact Information:

Email: [email protected]

Address: MindWell NYC

80 8th Avenue, Suite 600

New York, NY 10011

Phone: 646-809-5440 Ext. 503

Contact Balancing Act:

Email Moorea: [email protected]

Balancing Act Website
Instagram

DISCLAIMER: Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OUR SITE OR OUR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

“Stress can be healthy…” - Dr. Lisa Damour

Ummmm… what?

Stress is stressful and I don’t like being stressed!! 😤 

But I’ll trust Dr. Damour on this one - she’s the expert.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Lisa Damour, a clinical psychologist who specializes in the development of young girls and women. Dr. Damour has authored three New York Times bestsellers - Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers and hosts a podcast “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting”  - which all provide expert advice on how to help teenagers navigate the challenges of teenage years. And here’s a super cool fact: Dr. Damour to worked on Inside Out 2 to help it more accurately represent anxiety and puberty!!

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

🧘 Recover from stress so that it becomes growth-giving and not unhealthy 

🥲 Ask others for support 

🩷 Help loved ones who may be struggling 

🙅 Say “no” and set boundaries if you’re stretching yourself too thin 

🏫 Shift your mindset surrounding the stress behind college admissions

👪 Better navigate parental pressure

📚 Be strategic at school to do your best without overwhelming yourself

I learned so much from this episode and I hope you will too!

Here are some resources mentioned in the podcast:

You can find all of Dr. Damour’s books, resources, articles, podcasts, and social media accounts through her website

https://drlisadamour.com/

Contact Balancing Act
Email Moorea: [email protected]

Balancing Act Website
Instagram

DISCLAIMER: Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OUR SITE OR OUR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

This short episode explains the "what", "why", and "how" of Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage girl.

Being a teenage girl can be so overwhelming - and I would know because I'm a teenage girl!

Society is constantly bombarding us with so many contradicting and OVERWHELMING expectations detailing who we need to be in the world: from the structure of our faces, to the shape of our bodies, the way we act, the grades we get, the clothes we wear, the people we date, and so much more!!

Balancing Act is a supportive, validating, and educational community where it's okay to struggle. I'm not hosting this podcast because I claim to have it all figured out - because I really have no clue what I'm doing like 75% of the time!

But it's okay to have no clue!!

Balancing Act is a place where we can learn together, grow together, and support one another as we navigate teenage life together.

I hope this podcast can help you to feel a little less alone in your journey and struggles, and that you'll consider subscribing to the podcast and sharing it with a loved one if you think it could help them as well. 🫶

Contact Balancing Act:

Email Moorea: [email protected]

Balancing Act Website
Instagram

DISCLAIMER: Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OUR SITE OR OUR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Here's the trailer for Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl - a mental health and wellness podcast made for teens by a TEEN.

Being a teenage girl is hard. Like REALLY hard.

As teenage girls, it feels like society is constantly bombarding us with messages saying that we need to be beautiful but not vain or slutty; outspoken but not obnoxious; likable, agreeable, and independent but not bossy or b*tchy or loud; active on social media but not addicted; thin but not sickly thin; curvy but not too curvy; that we should love ourselves but not be self obsessed; that we need to be smart but not without a social life… and that's just scratching the surface.

It's no wonder that so many teenage girls feel overwhelmed by these contradicting and completely unrealistic expectations.

Hosted by Moorea, a teenage girl from New York, Balancing Act brings you weekly episodes to help you navigate life's balancing act and related challenges.

Moorea interviews guests to bring you relatable conversations, personal stories, and practical, expert advice to help you navigate and conquer the chaotic seas of teenage life.

We tackle topics relevant to teen life and struggles like:
- Mental health
- School
- Friendships
- Crushes
- Family life
- Parental pressure
- Eating disorders
- Body image  
- Athletics
- College admissions
- Sexuality
- AND SO MUCH MORE!! 

Moorea also aims to crush stigmas surrounding the lives and struggles of teenage girls. She's not afraid to ask guests the questions we all have (and look up on incognito mode) but really don't want to ask.

In her solo episodes, Moorea isn't afraid to speak openly about her personal struggles. To name a few, she's on medication for anxiety and depression, and has been battling an eating disorder since 6th grade.

Look - life's a balancing act and sometimes you fall on your face... but you are not alone.

DISCLAIMER: Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OUR SITE OR OUR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.