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In this Episode, Dr Ebi Oginni starts with a song-
“Talk to Me” to encourage teens to reach out for help. Dr Ebi, a pediatrician and singer-songwriter, interviews life coach and NLP practitioner Jenny Jarvis, who discusses shifting from shouty, sanction-based parenting to listening, allowing mistakes, and ensuring teens can tell the truth without fear of punishment, plus apologizing when parents get it wrong.
They explore how school environments can be traumatic, issues like phones in schools, the need for teachers to build trust and show respect, and criticism of shaming behavior systems.
Jenny suggests safe-teacher supports, consistent mental health resources, asking students what they need, and simple breathwork, and emphasizes hope and connection in suicide prevention, along with parental self-care.
00:00 Welcome To The Project
00:54 Song Talk To Me
02:53 Emotive Music Interlude
06:13 Meet Jenny Jarvis
07:29 Project Mission Explained
10:04 Teen Focus And School Change
11:02 School Trauma And Phones
13:34 Home Strategy Listen First
18:33 Mistakes And Consequences
22:13 Apologize And Teacher Respect
27:57 Rethinking School Discipline
31:47 Parenting Different Kids
33:17 Kindness Is Strength
35:06 Mental Health Disclosures
37:40 Hugs And Boundaries
40:11 Safe Teacher Network
42:24 Practical Coping Tools
44:31 Validating Teen Dreams
48:34 When Life Feels Hopeless
52:26 Breathwork And Listening
56:54 Self Care And Wrap Up
The episode of the Harmony and Healing Project explores why teens go silent when struggling and how parents can respond in ways that build safety rather than escalate disconnection.
Drawing on clinical experience with families and teens whose mental health declined to self-harm and overdoses, Dr Oginni explains common drivers of shutdown—emotional overwhelm, shame and fear of disappointing parents, fear of making things worse, and nervous system freeze—and how parental lecturing, pushing, withdrawing, or ignoring problems can undermine trust.
Practical guidance focuses on three shifts:
Beginning with parents regulating their own triggers and creating space for uncomfortable emotions.
Steps include removing pressure to talk immediately (sometimes using gentle deadlines), prioritizing connection before conversation, using softer entry questions, affirming safety without forcing disclosure, staying consistent after brush-offs, and quietly monitoring red flags to increase safety.
00:00 Teen Silence Signals
01:50 Why Parents Panic
03:26 What Teens Feel Inside
05:02 Emotional Overwhelm
06:40 Shame And Fear
11:21 Nervous System Freeze
13:27 Three Key Mindset Shifts
14:26 Regulate Yourself First
18:53 Connection Before Conversation
20:05 Practical Steps To Try
24:19 Watch For Red Flags
25:16 Faith Lens On Waiting
26:43 Silence Is A Season
28:29 Get Support And Wrap Up
Dr. Oginni, a pediatrician and mental health coach for teenagers and parents, challenges the belief that mental health struggles come from not praying enough or lacking faith, comparing it to how Christians treat physical conditions like asthma or diabetes. She explains that stigma in church spaces can prevent people—especially teenagers—from seeking help, and emphasizes that supportive conversations do not require professional training. She shares a formative experience with a teenager who had self-harmed and was hesitant to seek support from church leaders, which helped inspire the Harmony and Healing Project, including a podcast and music to support mental health. Using biblical examples—Elijah’s despair after a major victory, Job’s depression after losing everything and being blamed by friends, and David’s emotional processing through the Psalms—she highlights practical and spiritual approaches such as rest, food, honest prayer, journaling, supportive community, listening without judgment, and connecting people to professional help when needed. She references Brandon Lake’s experience with depression after touring and a scene from the film The Forge to normalize expressing anger and grief to God as part of healing. The episode also invites listeners to join her free community, the Emotionally Wealthy Family, mentions a forthcoming episode on mental health skills, promotes her upcoming course “Bridging the Gap” for youth leaders and educators, and offers coaching calls for parents and teenagers.00:00 Faith vs Mental Health Stigma00:49 Why Church Should Be Safe01:52 Mission and Host Intro03:07 Teen Choir Wake Up Call05:37 Mental Health Is Health07:06 Elijah After the Victory09:46 Stress and Self Care Skills12:19 Join the Family Community13:27 Bible Examples for Mental Health15:06 Elijah, going back to the basics and Support17:08 Job and Blame Free Listening20:36 David Psalms and Journaling22:06 Processing Anger in Prayer24:34 Wrap Up and Next Steps
In this episode, I speak to Jessen James about how shifting our focus is an important step in achieving resilience.
Jessen James is an Ex-Psychiatric Nurse Turned Entrepreneur specialising in Public Speaking, Communication Skills, Influence, Psychology, Sales and Marketing.
Having spoken all across the world, sharing the stage with giants such as Gary Vaynerchuk, Les Brown, Deepak Chopra, Eric Thomas & Dr John Demartini to name a few, Jessen founded The Professional Speaker School and has trained thousands of students globally to become world class communicators!
His deep understanding of human behavior and psychology, coupled with his 'no nonsense' approach, makes Jessen one of the most sought after speakers globally!
Summary
In this conversation, we explore the intersection of mental health and education, focusing on how to empower teenagers to overcome challenges and create safe spaces for communication. The discussion emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in achieving happiness and the need for supportive environments for young people.
Takeaways
Mental health is crucial for achieving goals.
Empowerment comes from allowing teenagers to make choices.
Creating safe spaces encourages open communication.
Teenagers need to feel valued and responsible.
Focus on interests to engage students effectively.
Parents should foster an environment of trust.
It's important to celebrate small victories in mental health.
Teenagers can turn challenges into life lessons.
Support from adults can change a teenager's perspective.
Happiness is a personal responsibility, not dependent on others.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Harmony and Healing
04:54 The Importance of Mental Health in Education
11:58 Empowering Teenagers to Overcome Challenges
21:10 Creating Safe Spaces for Communication
41:03 Final Thoughts on Personal Responsibility and Happiness
Keywords
mental health, teenagers, education, empowerment, safe spaces, communication, personal responsibility, happiness, support, healing
Intentional Parenting: How to Support Your Teen's Mental HealthIn this episode of the Harmony and Healing Project, Dr Ebi Oginni discusses how parents can influence their child's mental health positively through intentional parenting. The episode highlights various strategies and routines that parents can incorporate into their daily lives, including morning and bedtime routines, mealtime conversations, and emotional awareness activities. The host also addresses challenges parents might face, such as feeling inadequate due to their own upbringing, and offers resources like a supportive online community, a guide with family activities for mental health, and an assessment tool to help parents evaluate and improve their parenting skills. Listeners are encouraged to be proactive and intentional in their parenting to nurture their children's mental health and build resilience.00:00 Introduction: The Influence of Parenting00:57 The Importance of Intentional Parenting04:20 Addressing Parental Inadequacy06:50 Breaking Negative Cycles09:25 Community Support for Parents10:51 Intentional Parenting Strategies13:43 Daily Rhythms and Routines18:15 Handling Big Emotions22:54 Resources and Tools for Parents27:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In this episode of the Harmony and Healing Project, listeners are introduced to strategies for prioritizing self-care to better support their children's mental health.
Dr Ebi Oginni interviews Dr. Ann Hester, a double board-certified physician, to explore the principles of lifestyle medicine.
Dr. Ann Hester is a double board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine, syndicated columnist, CNN-featured health expert, and creator of the PTR Reset™. As a health coach and online course creator, she develops evidence-based programs that empower busy professionals to take control of their well-being and build lasting vitality. She is also a speaker and podcast host dedicated to redefining how we think about health.
Key topics include the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, the importance of reducing stress, the role of nutrition and exercise, and mitigating daily toxin exposure. Resources such as a free online mini-course and additional guides are also shared to help families implement healthy lifestyle changes.
00:00 Introduction: Refill Your Emotional Cup
00:49 Welcome to the Harmony and Healing Project
01:27 Self-Care Strategies for Parents
04:03 Interview with Dr. Anne Hester: Lifestyle Medicine
07:09 Understanding Lifestyle Medicine
10:55 The Power of Nutrition and Gut Health
19:05 Managing Stress for Better Health
23:38 Exercise: Small Steps for Big Impact
27:20 Avoiding Toxins in Daily Life
30:49 Conclusion: Resources and Final Thoughts
Join the emotionally wealth family on skool here
Download the harmony at home Guide
The Power of Journaling: Enhancing Mental Health for Teens and ParentsIn this inaugural episode of the Harmony and Healing Project, host Dr. Ebi introduces the benefits of journaling as a mental health skill, particularly for children and teenagers. The show features emotive music and a detailed conversation with Claire McPherson, a coach and advocate for mental health awareness. Claire shares her personal journey and insights on mindset, offering practical advice on how journaling can be a tool for emotional regulation, resilience, and self-awareness. Dr. Ebi and Claire discuss various journaling techniques, the importance of community support, and the significance of addressing emotions openly. The episode aims to equip parents and teenagers with strategies to improve their mental health and build emotional resilience.
00:00 Introduction to Teen Emotions and Journaling
01:19 Welcome to the Harmony and Healing Project
02:04 Opening Song: Someday
02:42 Guest Introduction: Claire McPherson
07:08 Claire McPherson's Journey and Insights
12:25 The State of Teen Mental Health Today
16:03 Building Community Support for Teens
20:28 The Importance of Processing Emotions
24:04 Personal Stories and Emotional Expression
26:46 Self-Reflection and Emotional Toolbox
30:23 Balancing Parental Expectations and Reality
31:08 Personal Reflections on Parental Perfection
32:27 The Evolution of Mental Health Awareness
33:27 Introducing the Toolbox: Journaling
33:43 Misconceptions About Journaling
34:55 Exploring Different Journaling Techniques
38:08 Resources for Parents and Children
40:48 Journaling for Emotional Clarity
47:50 Gratitude Journaling and Its Benefits52:43 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
In this episode of the Harmony and Healing Project, host Ebi Oginni, a teen mental health coach and pediatrician, provides critical strategies and tools for parents to support their teenagers' mental health.
Ebi discusses the importance of addressing mental health issues early and offers practical steps, including how to
-communicate effectively with your teen,
-join supportive communities like the Emotionally Wealthy Family,
-and utilize resources such as the Strong Minds, Brave Hearts coaching program.
She also underscores the significant role parents play as first responders in their children's mental health, and shares powerful personal stories and statistics to highlight the urgency of the topic.
Tune in to learn how to create a nurturing and supportive environment for your teen.00:00 Welcome to the Harmony and Healing Project00:42 Understanding the Crisis Point01:40 Empowering Parents: A Roadmap01:56 A Personal Story from Paris03:25 The Role of Parents in Teen Mental Health03:54 Mental Health in the African Community05:02 Shocking Statistics on Teen Mental Health06:08 Building a Supportive Community07:28 Effective Communication with Your Teen09:35 The Four W's of Addressing Suicidal Thoughts11:01 Discover Your Teen Connection Style12:07 Encouraging Open Conversations13:35 Introducing the Strong Minds, Brave Hearts Program14:53 Upcoming Topics and Closing Remarks
Summary
In this episode of the Harmony and Healing podcast, Ebi Toun shares a poignant story about a mother who, after a long night in the emergency department with her sick child, learns that her concerns were manageable at home. This narrative serves as a springboard for discussing the often-overlooked importance of mental health alongside physical health. Ebi emphasizes that while minor physical ailments can often be treated at home, neglecting mental health can lead to more significant issues if not addressed early. The podcast aims to empower parents, particularly those navigating the challenging teenage years, by providing them with the tools and knowledge to support their children effectively.
Ebi outlines the podcast's mission to create a supportive community for parents, offering insights into essential skills such as self-awareness, resilience, and gratitude. She also highlights the therapeutic power of music as a means for teenagers to express their emotions. The conversation is framed within a context that respects both scientific understanding and personal faith, aiming to alleviate the pressures of parenting and foster a sense of connection and support among listeners.
Keywords
mental health, parenting, teenage years, resilience, self-awareness, music therapy, pediatrician advice, emotional support, Harmony and Healing, Ebi Toun
Takeaways
Our physical health is as important as our mental health.
Minor illnesses can often be managed at home, but mental health needs attention.
Parents often feel ill-equipped to handle mental health issues in their children.
The teenage years can be both exciting and challenging for parents.
Music can be a powerful tool for healing and expression.
Titles
Navigating Teenage Turbulence: A Parent's Guide to Mental Health
Empowering Parents: The Harmony and Healing Journey
Sound bites
"Part of our job is to educate."
"Welcome to the Harmony and Healing podcast."
"You do not have to do this alone."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Mental Health Awareness
02:42 The Importance of Parental Education
04:42 Navigating Teenage Challenges
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