License to Parent with Trace Embry

Would you be willing to look foolishly old-fashioned, maybe even considered a religious freak, by the rest of your community to protect your kids from the physical, psychological and spiritual ramifications of such an epidemic? Today, our guest, Dr. Nicholas Kardaras helps us rethink our boundaries for the digital age as we discover the effects of screens on the still developing brains of our young children.

Dr. Nicholas Kardaras is an internationally renowned speaker, one of the country’s foremost addiction experts, the executive director of The Dunes rehab in East Hampton, NY, and the founder and executive director of Hamptons Discovery, a progressive adolescent treatment program. He is the former clinical professor at Stony Brook Medicine, he has also taught neuropsychology at the doctoral-level, and is the author of Glow Kids and How Plato and Pythagoras Can Save Your Life. He is a frequent contributor to Psychology Today and FOX News. He has appeared on the CBS Evening News, NPR, Good Day New York, and in Esquire, New York Magazine, and Vanity Fair.

The Need for Boundaries for the Digital Age

In today's program we learn from Dr. Kardaras:

Dr. Kardaras’ experience, research, books and credentials.

At what age we should allow our kids to use technology, and how much each day.

Developing brains affected by video game psychosis, screens on the brain and digital drugs.

What addiction disorders do to the brain’s frontal cortex, myelination and dopamine levels.

Education and technology; scientific research and truths on health and academia.

In the digital age, parents have the right to opt-out of using a digital platform in their child’s learning.

Picture provided by: publicdomainpictures.net

Would you be willing to look foolishly old-fashioned, maybe even considered a religious freak, by the rest of your community to protect your kids from the physical, psychological and spiritual ramifications of such an epidemic? Today, our guest, Dr. Nicholas Kardaras helps us rethink our boundaries for the digital age as we discover the effects […]

But, things have changed in the last six decades. Today, more and more, Christian parents are now turning to—and putting their faith in—the secular mental health paradigm. Our guest, Dr. Daniel Berger, helps us to determine if we are getting better results.

Dr. Daniel Berger is an experienced pastor, counselor, and school administrator, who has authored several books on Christian counseling, practical theology, education, and the history and philosophy of the mental health construct. Today, we discuss his book entitled Mental Illness: The Necessity for Faith and Authority. Currently, he oversees Alethia International Ministries (AIM) where he counsels, continues to write, and speaks around the country at various conferences and ministries. He and his wife, Oriana, have been married for 13 years, and together they have three children.

Mental Illness and Our Kids

If you are a believer, for you, my personal stance on the final authority for raising kids has got to be God and His Word. Without that premise, Christian parents are far more likely to suffer all the same things—in all the same ways—as the world suffers.

For example: if you think your kids should enjoy sex before marriage your counsel on prom night is more likely to be something like, “Don’t forget to use a condom Junior,” rather than “What time are you and I picking up your date?” And that is if you allow your kids to date or attend the prom at all.

Safe-sex or not, our kids’ chances of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or getting pregnant are absolutely zero if they remain true to God’s Word. Unfortunately, we all know Christian kids who’ve found themselves suffering all these same kind of things too, not because they were true to a biblical worldview, but because they were not.

Since the 1950s, the mental health field has become a major influence as to how we should raise our kids. Unfortunately, this influence has not only skewed how many—dare I say most—Christian families raise their kids today. However, it has also influenced how pastors and even so-called “Christian therapists” and child-psychologists view, teach and advocate parenting. We discuss this and more with our guest:

Who is Dr. Daniel Berger and what is his view on the mental health industry.

What is a construct and why is it important to me.

Why a sound premise is crucial.

The line of demarcation for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

What are psychiatric drugs and why they could be dangerous.

The relationship between morality, spirituality, and how it relates to mental health.

Is mental health simply morality.

Picture provided by: Dwight Burdette

But, things have changed in the last six decades. Today, more and more, Christian parents are now turning to—and putting their faith in—the secular mental health paradigm. Our guest, Dr. Daniel Berger, helps us to determine if we are getting better results. Dr. Daniel Berger is an experienced pastor, counselor, and school administrator, who has […]

Yet, it would seem that just the opposite has been true, especially as it relates to medications. Today our guest, Dr. Paul Meier, helps us determine if American teens need medication.

Dr. Paul Meier is a nationally recognized psychiatrist, founder, and medical director of Meier Clinics. Dr. Paul Meier has been a guest on numerous radio and television programs, including Oprah Winfrey. Dr. Meier continues to work at the Dallas area branch of Meier Clinics. He continues to write books and articles, and has authored or co-authored over 90 books that have sold more than eight million copies in more than 30 languages. In 2006, Dr. Meier was named as a Physician of the Year and honored at a reception by the President of the United States and Congress in Washington, D.C.

Do American Teens Need Medication?

Since the 1950s there’s been a tremendous increase in parenting research, in mental health research, research in the field of genetics, and even in the discovery and proliferation of mood-stabilizers and other medications. Yet, even with all these important discoveries and milestones, today’s parents are still dealing with an ever-increasing array of complex parenting issues and decisions—not the least of which is “when to medicate and when not to medicate” their kids.

Today, we will find out how "Blue Genes" aren’t so much the product of Junior’s fashion and dress code as they are the cause of his passion and the product of his genetic code. Do our kids really need to be “forever in blue genes?” 

It may be easy for a lot of people to think that Shepherds Hill Academy (SHA), and/or myself, is against medications simply because we often speak-out against their abuse. But, nothing could be further from the truth. We are not against meds for those who truly need them. To say otherwise is like saying: "I’m a racist because I share my concerns about fatherless homes in the inner-city."

At SHA, we sometimes put kids on a certain medication when needed, even though 70% of kids who come to SHA on bushel-loads of meds will leave med-free. I don’t think it makes me weird or crazy to wean kids off of meds they no longer need—or perhaps never needed in the first place. Still, I may get people—even after this program—charging us with being "anti-medication." And listen, I’m going to be asking our guest some very inquisitive and thought-provoking questions—probably play devil’s advocate a little bit. But, I think these are the topics and questions that a lot of parents are really wanting answers to. So, I’m looking forward to speaking with him about some of these things. In our program, we discuss:

Why I need medication.

About Dr. Meier's book "Blue Genes." 

Stories of how medication has helped families.

Symptoms that could merit medication.

How Shepherds Hill Academy works with teens on medications.

How do you know someone is in need of medications.

Picture provided by: Amanda Mills

Yet, it would seem that just the opposite has been true, especially as it relates to medications. Today our guest, Dr. Paul Meier, helps us determine if American teens need medication. Dr. Paul Meier is a nationally recognized psychiatrist, founder, and medical director of Meier Clinics. Dr. Paul Meier has been a guest on numerous […]

In the wake of it all, more and more residential treatment centers and schools dealing with troubled teens are cropping up all over America. Many parents are perplexed as to which facilities are legitimate and which are not. Some folks even question the merits of the industry as a whole. Our guest today provides guidance for parents seeking therapeutic boarding schools like Shepherds Hill Academy.

Our guest is Megan Stokes. Megan is currently the Director of Government and Public Relations for the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP). In February, 2017, she will reside as the Executive Director of NATSAP.

In her role as Director of Government and Public Relations for NATSAP, Megan helped pave the way for some of the policies that govern our industry. Some of her family members have been through wilderness programs, giving her a personal connection with NATSAP.

Select the Right Therapeutic Boarding School

Our American citizenry has strayed so far off the rails morally that young people—and even many parents—have no solid place to land their feet when it comes to moral authority or what the parent/child relationship should actually look like. And, as Scripture alludes to, this is affecting the mental and spiritual health of everyone—not just our kids. I mean, look at who we had running for president. That’s more indicative of the moral and mental health of the citizenry that voted them in than it is the actual candidates themselves.

Concerning postmodern thought, I have been crying from the house-tops for over 30 years about what I’ve been seeing happening as the result of the cultural revolution of the 1960s. It became obvious to me how it was going to impact the parent-child relationship. But, to guys like James Dobson, and Francis Schaffer before him, they saw this coming over 50 years ago. This chaos and illogic bled over into the mental health field also. In fact, it bled over into every aspect of America’s infrastructure—including education, government, entertainment, advertising, media—even the church—and of course, it’s darn sure affected our families.

Just the divorce rate alone is enough to negatively affect our kids. But, the logical progression of a postmodern worldview leads to chaos because it proposes that everyone does what’s right in their own eyes (both parents and kids). So, from chaos the logical declension is insanity, destruction, and then death. And that’s pretty much what we’re seeing today. I think I heard that teen suicide has just become the second leading cause of death for kids ages 15-19, just behind accidental death.

Discover in today's program:

How parents should properly search for a therapeutic boarding school.

What is NATSAP, and how can it help parents seeking placement.

Why therapeutic boarding schools are necessary.

What is the Miller Bill and how could it affect therapeutic boarding schools.

Why parents choose to send their teen to a therapeutic boarding school.

How NATSAP can help raise funds for the tuition of therapeutic boarding schools.

Picture provided by: Unsplash

In the wake of it all, more and more residential treatment centers and schools dealing with troubled teens are cropping up all over America. Many parents are perplexed as to which facilities are legitimate and which are not. Some folks even question the merits of the industry as a whole. Our guest today provides guidance […]

One of the more controversial values being trivialized by the culture is the stance on traditional marriage. Parents must provide their teens with the truth about homosexuality, and teach them why they shouldn’t be forced to forsake their traditional values.

Our guest today is Ciara Leilani. Her testimony is an incredible journey through homosexuality. At the age of fourteen she embraced a homosexual lifestyle. After twenty years she abandoned that style of living. Today she travels the country offering hope to people in need through the Kingdom Asylum Ministries. She is also the author of the upcoming book, You Shall Live and Not Die.

The Truth about Homosexuality

Same-sex attractions are popularized and blatantly flaunted in front of families through seemingly innocent television broadcasts, billboards, and in-store advertising. Currently, the premise that babies can actually be born hardwired for homosexually is unsustainable. What has proven sustainable is the way our culture has shaped our views on LGBT issues. Our conversation with Ciara will help you:

Get to know Ciara.

How to know if someone is able to leave the homosexual lifestyle.

Identify what is contributing to the over-sexualization of our kids.

Establish steps to overcome challenges the lifestyle presents.

What you should do if your teen says he/she is struggling with homosexuality.

How to discuss the topic with your family without ignoring it.

Why you should not separate yourself from your teen if he/she is struggling with homosexuality.

Picture provided by: Clker-Free-Vector-Images.

One of the more controversial values being trivialized by the culture is the stance on traditional marriage. Parents must provide their teens with the truth about homosexuality, and teach them why they shouldn’t be forced to forsake their traditional values. Our guest today is Ciara Leilani. Her testimony is an incredible journey through homosexuality. At […]