Hopestream: Parenting Kids Through Addiction & Mental Health

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
You've probably been there - that moment when something unexpected or horrible happens and you feel yourself reacting in a highly emotional way. It might be finding the stash of weed or empty vodka bottles, or you get the call from the police about your daughter's shoplifting escapade - whatever it is, it sets you into panic mode and you're not sure what to do.

This episode is a short but practical one to help you in those exact moments when the "thing" has happened and you need to handle it, but don't know how. I share a simple 5-step process you can follow to go from freak-out to in-control, taking as much time as you need or have.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Episode 41 with Julie Jarvis, Ph.D. - natural consequences and boundaries
• Episode 22 with Krissy Pozatek - boundaries and parenting skills
• Episode 5 with Paula Becker - don’t ignore the smoke signals
• Episode 46 with Dr. Nzinga Harrison - how to have a civil conversation about drugs with your teen or young adult child
• 5-Steps to Control image download (no email required)

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
If there's one topic that worries and frustrates parents everywhere, it's marijuana. Cannabis, weed, MJ, whatever you want to call it, when your teen or young adult child is using it, or using it too much, it's hard to know what to do.

This episode is a MUST-LISTEN for parents who are concerned about their child's marijuana use because Dr. Nzinga Harrsion breaks down the real deal for you, covering important topics like:

• the definitive answer to, "is marijuana addictive?"
• how your genetics contribute to your potential for addiction
• the scary difference between dispensary vs street marijuana (if nothing else, listen for this!)
• the cognitive, emotional and social impact of teen marijuana use
• the difference between the weed of the 70's, 80's and today and why it's so important to understand
• the impact of marijuana on kids with ADHD
• what the practice of harm reduction is and how a parent can use it with their son or daughter
• the physiological impact of various form factors of marijuana from smoking to vaping to edibles and CBD
• the truth about marijuana and psychosis
• the actual words you can use to open a conversation about marijuana with your child
• and much more

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Eleanor Health
• In Recovery Podcast
• Physicians for Criminal Justice Reform - Physicians advocating to eliminate the damaging health consequences that can result from negative interactions with the criminal justice system.
• Health in Her Hue - A digital platform connecting Black women to culturally competent healthcare providers, telehealth services, and health content.

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
Parenting a teen or young adult through substance use or addiction is a massive challenge, but layering on the complexity of a child who is questioning their sexual identity or openly part of the LGBTQ+ community can make it even more difficult. 

This episode is a must-listen for parents who are wondering how to approach their child with questions around sexuality and identity, or who have an openly gay or transgender child who’s also struggling with substance misuse or addiction. It’s complex, it’s confusing and it’s crucial to have this conversation.

Beck Gee-Cohen joined me for this enlightening conversation around gender, sexuality and substances and shared how his work at Visions Teen in Los Angeles is helping adolescents in the LGBTQ+ community. Listen in to hear:

• how Beck's family of origin and childhood impacted his use of substances during adolescence and his young adult life
• why LGBTQ+ teens and young adults often turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with their identity and sexuality in today's society
• why he credits his eventual sobriety for being able to work through suicidal thoughts and not follow through with them
• why it's important to recognize gender as a foundation to a person but also know it's a part of a bigger whole
• what Beck needed (but didn't get) from his family growing up as a gender non-conforming person to better cope with the stress
• what research shows about young people growing up in non-affirming homes vs affirming homes 
• how to make your home and yourself a safe place for a LBGTQ+ teen or young adult 
• ways parents can open a conversation about gender and sexual identity with their kids and their friends
• questions to ask if you're a parent searching for substance use treatment for your LGBTQ+ child

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Free parent support group meetings for LGBTQ+ youth & substance abuse
• You And Your Gender Identity (Dara Hoffman-Fox)
• Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Trans (But Were Afraid to ask) (Brynn Tannehill)
• The Transgender Teen: A Handbook for Parents and Professionals Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Teens (Stephanie Brill)
• Disclosure documentary
• HBO show Euphoria
• Netflix show Pose

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
Every once in a while something comes along and works, and you're shocked because life can feel like an endless series of failures when your teen or young adult child is misusing substances. When I found the CRAFT method of parenting a child in addiction, I was skeptical because it seemed too simple - but sometimes simple is what you need.

This episode will introduce you to one of the tools in the CRAFT method toolbox which is incredibly simple to incorporate into your day to day life and can significantly improve the overall tone and relationship with your son or daughter. 

I share a few practical scenarios where you can insert this tool even if you have a child in active addiction - whether they live with you or not. It's a short but effective 25 minutes - perfect for a dog walk or quick drive to the store.  

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Free CRAFT parent resources
• Positive Reinforcement chapter from 20-Minute Parent Guide by CMC: Foundation for Change
• Positive Reinforcement Video from CMC: Foundation for Change

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
Nearly every parent of a child who’s living in addiction has the same questions - 

• why do they keep taking drugs or drinking alcohol when it’s ruining their life, making them sick, killing their family, and pretty much everything in their life?
• why do they do things that are so high risk, and obviously have bad outcomes?
• should I keep helping him/her with things like rent and a phone? Won’t they get worse if I don’t?
• if I stop helping him/her will she or he think I don’t love them? (because that’s what they tell me!)
• what can I do if my son or daughter is addicted to drugs or alcohol?

In this 2-part season opener, you’ll hear a mind-blowing story of an all-American baseball star who goes from imagining a Major League Baseball career to being broke, addicted to heroin and cocaine, and stealing anything he could from his loving and caring parents.

Stacy Eakman, president of Eakman Construction in Seattle, WA generously opens up about his life, struggles with addiction, and his eventual path to sobriety. He answers the tough questions parents often have about their kids’ substance use. Stacy is a straight shooter, doesn’t spare us the truth (even when it hurts), and is an inspiration to anyone who believes their life isn’t worth anything because of their past and their addiction.

Listen in to both episodes of the launch of Season 2 of Hopestream for this inspiring story.

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
Nearly every parent of a child who’s living in addiction has the same questions - 

• why do they keep taking drugs or drinking alcohol when it’s ruining their life, making them sick, killing their family, and pretty much everything in their life?
• why do they do things that are so high risk, and obviously have bad outcomes?
• should I keep helping him/her with things like rent and a phone? Won’t they get worse if I don’t?
• if I stop helping him/her will she or he think I don’t love them? (because that’s what they tell me!)
• what can I do if my son or daughter is addicted to drugs or alcohol?

In this 2-part season opener, you’ll hear a mind-blowing story of an all-American baseball star who goes from imagining a Major League Baseball career to being broke, addicted to heroin and cocaine, and stealing anything he could from his loving and caring parents.

Stacy Eakman, president of Eakman Construction in Seattle, WA generously opens up about his life, struggles with addiction, and his eventual path to sobriety. He answers the tough questions parents often have about their kids’ substance use. Stacy is a straight shooter, doesn’t spare us the truth (even when it hurts), and is an inspiration to anyone who believes their life isn’t worth anything because of their past and their addiction.

Listen in to both episodes of the launch of Season 2 of Hopestream for this inspiring story.

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
Welcome to a wrap of 2020! This episode features snippets from 11 guests who, over the course of 2020 shared their knowledge, wisdom and stories for us to learn from. It's a long one so grab a cup of something warm and cozy and listen in to these amazing golden nuggets from Hopestream's first season:

Derek Bowles, Crossroads Academy @ 3:57
Carrie Wilkens, Beyond Addiction @ 11:49
Megan Megale, American Boy @ 22:56
Paula Becker, A House on Stilts @ 29:56
Will White, Summit Achievement Wilderness @37:46
Willow Rubin, Wonder @ 45:59
Dr. Patricia Conrod, PreVenture @ 51:28
Jenney Wilder, AllKindsofTherapy.com @ 1:03:00
Krissy Pozatek, The Parallel Process @ 1:16:30
Keith Murphy, Rutgers Univ. @ 1:26:08
Dr. Ayana Jordan, Yale Univ. @ 1:36:37

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
If you've spent any time learning ways to parent a child (adolescent or adult) who's experimenting with drugs or alcohol, or who's in active addiction, you've likely heard about the concept of setting and holding boundaries, and about letting natural consequences happen when your child makes a bad decision. But how do you actually do those things when they feel confusing and hard?

In this episode, I do a deep dive on these two strategies parents can use with Julie Jarvis,  a brilliant and compassionate psychologist who has seen just about everything when it comes to addiction and substance use. Julie is a consulting psychologist for CMC:FFC - the talented team who wrote the book Beyond Addiction which has helped my, and so many families, learn how to live and heal through addiction in the family. 

We do a deep dive into several difficult topics and provide insights including:

• What makes Dr. Jarvis so passionate about working with people when they’re struggling with addiction
• What is a parent’s role in the healing process when a teen or young adult child is misusing substances?
• How the parenting skills that help a child in active addiction can also work with a teen who’s just starting to experiment with substances
• Information on a hidden goldmine of resources parents can access free
• Real-world scenarios dealing with boundaries and natural consequences
• Boundaries - what they are, why they’re important, and how to use them in your family
• Why a balance of boundaries and control are important for teens and young adults to have
• Natural consequences - how they’re tied to boundaries, how to think about them, and how to live with them (it can be really hard)
• How brain development plays a role in your teen or young adult’s substance use and decision making
• The role of communication in making boundaries and natural consequences effective
• The role and importance of self-care for parents

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Center for Motivation and Change website with parent tools and resources
• Beyond Addiction book
• 20-Minute Parent Guide
• Parent Support: Free coaching and online groups via the Partnership to End Addiction

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
If the communication with your son or daughter who's misusing drugs or alcohol has broken down significantly, or if you're just trying to understand them better and are getting shut down with your attempts at talking, this is your episode.

Because our kids are stressing us out and living a dangerous lifestyle, we tend to focus all our communication on their problems and on trying to get them to change. Unfortunately, without some careful intention, we can actually shut down the chance that we'll have a healthy, productive conversation at all.

This episode provides practical help for parents to: 

• consider the information you need that will help build a healthier relationship with your son or daughter
• learn specific questions and types of questions to ask in order to naturally pull that information from your child
• recognize new ways to ask the questions for the best chance of having a valuable, healthy interaction

These skills don't necessarily come naturally so it's important to learn and then practice if you want to improve the communication in your home. 

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
The transition from high school to college is never easy and some teens get to this phase in life and stall or "bomb out" with emotional challenges like anxiety and depression, or use substances to cope with the stress and demands of college life. 

Parents can find themselves writing huge tuition checks for college semesters that may end up unfinished and questioning what to do with their young adult student who isn't thriving. It's a frustrating place to be when other kids seem to be doing fine and yours is barely making it through, but what options are there?

This episode will be a welcome dose of reality and hope for you if your student is unraveling as they leave high school, struggle in college or are just stalled altogether. 

Joanna is a consultant who specializes in these floundering young people, helping them navigate the path through higher education, which may not look like the stereotypical 4-years on a college campus. Joanna delivers a ton of value and information in our conversation, so listen in to hear:

• why some students are better off taking a year away from college to deal with their emotional or substance use issues
• why it's important and helpful to have someone who isn't the parent helping to work out a solution when college isn't working out
• 3  legal documents she recommends to all parents of college kids
• the 3 universal end-goals parents have when they engage with her in a consulting capacity
• the concept of bringing the floor up to meet a young adult rather than letting them fall to rock-bottom
• the question all parents have when they start working with her

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Lilley Consulting website (includes mental health forms and resources for parents of college-age kids)
• FERPA law
• The Campus Cure: A Parent's Guide to Mental Health and Wellness for College Students (Morris)
• How to Raise an Adult (Lythcott-Haims)
• Setting Boundaries® with Your Adult Children: Six Steps to Hope and Healing for Struggling Parents (Bottke)
• Success is Subjective podcast
• ARISE Intervention
• Love First 

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.