Teachers, coaches, and mentors influence far more than academics or athletic performance. The way they encourage, challenge, correct, and respond to mistakes can shape how kids see themselves for years to come.

In this episode, Mac Zambrano talks with John Crane about how trusted adults can build confidence, create healthy expectations, respond well to mistakes, and remind kids that performance matters, but performance does not define them. 

You’ll hear about:

• Why teachers, coaches, and mentors can have such a significant influence on a child’s mental and emotional health
• Why sports can become a “laboratory for life”
• How to separate a child’s identity from their performance
• The difference between healthy challenge and unhealthy performance pressure
• Why consistency and honesty build trust with kids and teens
• How favoritism can quietly undermine a team’s culture
• Why encouragement is especially important when correction is necessary
• How an adult’s apology can build rather than diminish credibility
• Ways parents, teachers, and coaches can work together instead of against one another
• The value of giving parents and coaches time to cool down before addressing conflict
• How adults can help kids set their own goals and navigate the difficult moments involved in reaching them, and
• Why the conversations that seem ordinary today may be remembered by a child decades from now

Kids may forget the score or assignment, but they rarely forget the adult who saw them, believed in them, and helped them through a difficult season. 

Need support for a child, teen, family, or the people you lead? Care to Change is here to help. Visit the Care to Change website to connect with our team, explore resources, or learn more about how we support individuals, families, schools, churches, and organizations. 

As a new school year begins, parents often find themselves balancing excitement, stress, and uncertainty. In this episode, April Bordeau sits down with Dr Scott Wyndham, Superintendent of Avon Community School Corporation, to discuss practical ways parents can help children thrive academically, emotionally, and socially throughout the school year. Drawing from his experience as an educator, superintendent, and father, Scott shares thoughtful, encouraging advice that every parent can apply, regardless of their child’s age. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why routines and consistent structure help children feel safe and prepared to learn.
• How a strong partnership between parents and teachers positively impacts student success.
• The importance of coaching older students toward independence instead of solving every problem for them.
• Warning signs that may indicate a child is struggling with their mental health, and when parents should take a closer look.
• Practical ways parents can reduce back-to-school anxiety without unintentionally increasing it.
• How allowing children to experience age-appropriate struggles builds resilience and confidence.
• Why encouraging teachers and expressing gratitude strengthens the home-school partnership.

Key Takeaways

• Build routines before school starts, especially healthy sleep habits.
• Introduce yourself to your child’s teacher early instead of waiting until a problem arises.
• Help older students practice advocating for themselves before stepping in as a parent.
• Watch for significant changes in behavior or withdrawal across multiple areas of your child’s life.
• Encourage your child with confidence rather than passing along your own anxiety.
• Give children opportunities to struggle, problem-solve, and recover from setbacks.
• Thank your child’s teachers. Small expressions of appreciation make a lasting impact.
• Slow down and enjoy this season. The days may feel long, but the years truly are short. 

Resources Mentioned

• If your child needs professional counseling, Care to Change offers compassionate, evidence-based mental health services for children, teens, and families.

Learn more at www.caretochange.org

Connect with Care to Change

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Care to Change Podcast and share it with another parent, educator, or caregiver preparing for the school year.

In this special episode of the Care to Change Podcast, we hand the microphone to two teenage girls for an honest conversation about what life really feels like today. Instead of adults talking about teens, we listened to them.

From the pressure to perform and the impact of social media to friendships, identity, faith, and the importance of feeling understood, this episode offers a refreshing look into the hearts of today’s teenage girls. Alongside therapist Sarah Wheeler, the conversation provides practical insight for parents, mentors, youth leaders, and anyone who wants to better support the next generation. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• What adults often misunderstand about today’s teens
• Why many teens “wear a mask” all day at school and why home becomes their safe place
• The hidden pressure of academics, sports, friendships, and managing an overwhelming schedule
• The real impact of social media, including comparison, validation, attention span, and belonging
• Why social media isn’t all bad—and why understanding it matters more than simply blaming it
• What helps teens feel emotionally safe enough to open up
• How parents can build trust through vulnerability, validation, and curiosity
• Practical ways adults unintentionally shut teens down—and how to avoid it
• Where teen girls often look for identity and why performance can become a trap
• How faith, healthy friendships, and supportive adults help teens remember their true worth
• Why this generation gives us hope and what adults are doing well that teens deeply appreciate 

 Takeaway

Teen girls aren’t asking adults to have all the answers. They’re asking for presence over perfection. When adults listen without immediately fixing, validate emotions without minimizing them, and create safe spaces for honest conversations, teens are far more likely to open up and thrive. Beneath the pressures they face is a generation hungry for authenticity, meaningful relationships, and lasting hope. 

Resources

If you or someone you love could benefit from counseling, our team at Care to Change is here to help. Learn more about our therapists, resources, podcasts, and services at www.caretochange.org. 

What are young men carrying beneath the surface today, and how can the adults in their lives help them thrive?

In this episode of the Care to Change Podcast, Mac Zambrano is joined by therapists Jared Jones and Trevor Williams, along with college student Nathan, for an honest conversation about the unique pressures facing young men today. Together, they explore the emotional, cultural, and spiritual challenges many young men experience, while offering practical encouragement for parents, mentors, coaches, pastors, and anyone investing in the next generation. 

You’ll hear about:

• The pressure young men feel to perform, succeed, and “have it all together.”
• How comparison, social media, and the fear of falling behind impact confidence and identity.
• Why many young men struggle to open up about their emotions and what keeps them silent.
• Practical ways parents and mentors can create safe, trusting relationships that encourage vulnerability.
• The importance of modeling healthy emotional expression instead of simply telling young men to “be strong.”
• How biblical masculinity differs from cultural expectations and why Christ provides the healthiest model for identity.
• Why authentic relationships, purpose, and connection are essential for helping young men flourish.

Whether you’re raising a son, mentoring a student, coaching a team, serving in ministry, or simply wanting to better understand the young men in your life, this conversation offers hope, practical wisdom, and encouragement.

Resources
To learn more about Care to Change Counseling Center or connect with one of our therapists, visit:
https://www.caretochange.org

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a parent, mentor, coach, teacher, pastor, or friend who is investing in the next generation. 

Hope & Identity for the Next Generation

How do you discover your purpose when the world keeps telling you who you should be?

Today’s young adults face constant pressure to have life figured out. They’re navigating social media comparisons, academic expectations, endless opportunities, and the fear of making the “wrong” decision. It’s no wonder so many feel stuck.

In this episode, Mac Zambrano sits down with youth pastor Deric Skinner to explore how purpose isn’t found in achieving more, but in understanding who you are and whose you are. Together, they discuss how identity, faith, and meaningful relationships provide a foundation that remains steady, even when circumstances change. 

Helping Young Adults Find Purpose .docx

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why so many young adults feel stuck when thinking about their future
• The unique pressures technology and social media place on this generation
• How comparison, busyness, and achievement can distort identity
• The difference between finding purpose through performance versus relationship
• Why identity must be rooted in something that doesn’t change
• Practical ways to discover purpose through faith, mentorship, and community
• How mentors, parents, pastors, and leaders can encourage the next generation
• Why seasons of uncertainty can become seasons of preparation rather than wasted time
• Biblical encouragement for anyone wondering what God has planned for their life 

Whether you’re a young adult searching for direction, a parent walking alongside your teenager, or a mentor investing in the next generation, this conversation offers hope and practical encouragement.

If you or someone you love is struggling with identity, purpose, anxiety, or life transitions, the counselors at Care to Change are here to help.

📍 Learn more or schedule an appointment at caretochange.org. 

Today's teenagers are growing up in a world unlike any generation before them. They're navigating constant technology, social media, academic pressure, questions about identity, and a future that often feels uncertain. While these challenges are real, there is also incredible hope.

In this episode, Mac Zambrano sits down with Melissa Echerd, Early Intervention Youth Advocate with the Avon Youth Assistance Program, to discuss what today's teens are really experiencing, what adults often misunderstand, and how parents, mentors, educators, and churches can become safe, trusted guides for the next generation. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

•  Why today's teens are often the "forgotten generation" 
•  How technology and social media are reshaping identity, relationships, and belonging 
•  The biggest questions young people are asking about their future 
•  Common mental health struggles including anxiety, overwhelm, isolation, and depression 
•  Why many teens lack healthy coping skills and practical life skills 
•  The warning signs adults shouldn't ignore 
•  How peers, family, online communities, and culture influence identity formation 
•  What helps young people feel emotionally safe and supported 
•  Why consistency, authenticity, and genuine relationships matter more than perfect advice 
•  Common mistakes adults make that unintentionally push teens away 
•  How boundaries and accountability actually help young people thrive 
•  The strengths this generation brings, including empathy, compassion, adaptability, and innovation 
•  Practical ways parents, mentors, teachers, and church leaders can encourage the next generation 

Melissa also shares why simply showing up, listening well, and becoming a trusted adult can make a lifelong difference in a young person's story.

Whether you're raising a teenager, mentoring students, leading a youth group, teaching in a classroom, or simply care about the next generation, this conversation offers practical insight and genuine hope.

Resources Mentioned

•  Avon Youth Assistance Program 
•  Care to Change Counseling 

If you or someone you love could benefit from counseling, our team at Care to Change would be honored to walk alongside you. Learn more at www.caretochange.org.

What makes a church community feel truly safe?

After exploring church hurt, healing, and healthy leadership throughout this series, we turn our attention toward hope. In this episode, host Mac Zambrano is joined by Jean Crane, therapist at Care to Change, and Pastor Ron Merrell of Connection Pointe Church to discuss what it actually takes to build communities where people experience safety, trust, growth, and belonging.

Together, they unpack the qualities that foster healthy faith communities, the role of authentic leadership, and practical ways every person can help create environments where people feel known, welcomed, and free to be honest.

In This Episode

• Why authentic vulnerability is the foundation of trust
• The difference between physical, emotional, and spiritual safety
• How healthy communities are built through consistency over time
• Why warmth and hospitality matter more than we often realize
• Balancing grace and truth in healthy relationships
• Green flags to look for in churches and small groups
• How curiosity and listening create emotional safety
• Practical ways every believer can contribute to a healthier church culture
• Hope for those rebuilding trust after experiencing church hurt

Memorable Quotes

Resources Mentioned

• The Anatomy of the Soul by Dr. Curt Thompson
• Connection Pointe Church
• Care to Change Counseling Center

Connect With Care to Change

If you're navigating church hurt, struggling to trust again, or simply looking for support as you pursue healing, we're here to help.

Visit www.caretochange.org to learn more about counseling services, resources, and upcoming podcasts.

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a reminder that healthy community is possible.

Church hurt can leave lasting wounds, but what if we focused not only on healing, but also on prevention?

In this episode of the Care to Change Podcast, host Mac Zambrano sits down with therapist Kyle Hopkins to discuss how pastors, ministry leaders, and church staff can cultivate healthier, safer church environments. Together, they explore common leadership blind spots, the role of accountability, and practical ways leaders can respond when harm has already occurred.

Rather than approaching church hurt through blame or fear, this conversation focuses on stewardship, humility, and intentional leadership that reflects the heart of Christ.

In This Episode we discuss...

• Common leadership blind spots that can contribute to church hurt
• Why communication and transparency matter more than leaders often realize
• What emotionally safe church cultures look like
• How leaders can respond when harm has already happened
• The difference between intent and impact
• Healthy accountability practices for church leaders
• Trauma-informed approaches to ministry
• Practical steps leaders can take to create safer environments
• Resources for continued growth and learning

Resources Mentioned

• 📖 Church Hurt Is the Worst Hurt by Herbert Williams IV and Natasha Williams
• 📖 After Church Hurt by Timothy St. John
• 🎙️ The Bible Project

About Care to Change

At Care to Change, we are passionate about helping individuals, families, churches, and leaders experience healing and growth. Whether you're navigating church hurt, seeking support for your congregation, or looking for training and consultation, our team is here to help.

Connect With Us

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a pastor, ministry leader, or friend. Together, we can create church environments that are safe, healthy, and life-giving.

Church hurt can leave deep wounds that impact trust, relationships, and faith. In this episode, counselor and previous pastor, Mac Zambrano and Sherry Follett, Life Coach and prior church staff member, share practical insight on the healing process, including the role of grief, common misconceptions about recovery, and how to begin rebuilding trust with God and others.

You'll learn why healing takes time, the difference between forgiveness and trust, how spiritual bypassing can cause additional harm, and three practical steps to begin moving forward. If you've experienced spiritual wounds, this conversation offers hope, encouragement, and a reminder that healing is possible.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Lord Is My Courage by K.J. Ramsey
• Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
• When the Church Harms God's People by Diane Langberg

Learn more at Care to Change.

Church hurt is a phrase we hear often, but what does it actually mean? For many people, the pain goes far beyond a difficult church experience. It can involve betrayal, spiritual manipulation, rejection, abuse of authority, or wounds that impact someone's relationship with faith, community, and even God.

In this episode, Mac Zambrano and April Bordeau explore what church hurt really looks like, why spiritual wounds can cut so deeply, and how people can begin healing without minimizing their experiences. Whether you've personally experienced church hurt or want to better understand someone who has, this conversation offers insight, validation, and hope.

Key Takeaways

Church hurt is real, and its impact can extend far beyond a specific congregation or leader. Healing often begins by honestly naming the wound, seeking safe support, and allowing space to process the pain without shame or pressure. While harmful experiences can distort a person's view of faith and community, healing and restoration remain possible.

Resources

If you are struggling with the effects of church hurt, spiritual abuse, or faith-related trauma, reaching out to a licensed mental health professional can be an important step toward healing.

Learn more about Care to Change and connect with a counselor at:
www.caretochange.org

Connect With Us

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may benefit from the conversation.

Because healing begins when we know we're not alone.