The Parenting Couch

It’s not easy being a parent in a world of TikTok and bubblegum-flavoured vapes! To help guide them through the teenage years, Rachel & Sarah invited Dr Jo Prendergast onto The Parenting Couch to get her top tips for supporting teens towards a healthy headspace.

Parenting a tween or teen can come with a whole range of challenges - from depression and anxiety, through to self harm and eating disorders. If you're navigating (or about to navigate) this parenting stage, this interview with psychiatrist Dr Jo Prendergast is packed full of useful tips - from how to build a strong relationship with your teen, through to what to do if you child is self harming.

• How to be a safe base for your teen
• What questions to ask your teen that get more than a one-word answer
• Why talking in the car or via text message can work!
• How the 'drop & run' technique (rather than a TED talk!) can be effective for providing advice
• Tips to build a strong relationship with your teen
• Why a being a calm parent is so important - and that self-care for mums is still important when you have a teen
• Why it’s important to listen & validate their feelings - and not always problem-solve
• Signs of depression in teens & what to do if you teen is depressed
• Self harm - the huge rise in cases, and what to look out for

About Dr Jo Prendergast

Dr Jo Prendergast is a parent, psychiatrist, and stand-up comedian. Over the course of her career, she has worked with children, teens and adults in a wide range of settings in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. She moonlights as the comedian Jo Ghastly and tours her solo comedy show The Cool Mum internationally.

She is passionate about tackling big subjects in a lighthearted way. Dr Jo is also the mother of two young adults, recently graduating from parenting teens herself.

"When Life Sucks" covers everything from anxiety, depression, trauma and eating difficulties, to understanding neurodivergence and gender identity. The book is a first-aid manual for some of life’s toughest challenges. It’s not easy being a parent in a world of TikTok and bubblegum-flavoured vapes, but When Life Sucks gives you the practical tools to help make your life a little lighter and to support your teen towards a healthy headspace.

As a parent herself, Dr Jo knows how hard it can– especially when a teen communicates only in eye rolls and grunts!

Support Services

• Lifeline (Crisis support and suicide prevention): 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 46 36
• Mensline: 1300 78 99 78
• Suicide call back Service:  1300 659 467
• National Indigenous Critical Response Service: 1800 805 801

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In the latest episode of The Parenting Couch podcast, Rachel and Sarah talk with Katie Parker from Bloomfully... who has created an incredible online program for tween girls called 'I Believe In Me'. Katie opens up about her passion for helping girls to bloom, and her insights for how parents can support their daughters.

Tween girls have a lot to deal with... friendship issues, changing bodies, social media, school pressures and more. In recent years, there's been a huge increase in anxiety and depression from this age group, and as parents we want to be able to do whatever we can to support them through tough times. 

In this episode of The Parenting Couch podcast, Katie Parker from Bloomfully shares her advice for some of the big situations that your daughter might experience:

• Dealing with bullies and exclusion: When friends are mean and drama starts - what is the best way to handle it?
• Mental health: What can we do to support our child's mental health, particularly if they are suffering from anxiety or depression?
• Identity: Why girls should strive to find their own passions and direction, and not be a follower.
• Hard times: How you can help your daughter through failures, disappointments and hard emotions ? 
• Negative self-talk: How can tweens stop the negative self-talk and stop the comparison game? 
• Building Confidence: How you can build lasting confidence in your tween daughter, to help her now and in the future? 
• Family routines: Why family routines are important... even with older children!

Meet Katie Parker

Katie is the President & CEO of Bloomfully and has a passion for building the confidence of young girls, tweens and women.

Her mission is to help them grow above the comparing, the criticism, and the self-doubt that are plaguing girls. She honestly believes EVERY girl and EVERY woman is remarkably unique and needed in this world.

Katie is married to Matt Parker of Album Surfboards and they live in Orange County, CA with their six children. In the Summer they surf and in the Winter they snowboard. Family and faith are at her core and the blooming businesses are an extension of that foundation. She is the CEO & creator of Singers Company, I Believe in Me, and Bloomfully, companies that focus on building the confidence of girls of all ages.

As she watches the world become ever more complex to navigate for girls, she longs to help them stay grounded/rooted yet willing and able to bloom wherever they may be in the world. She hopes Bloomfully will help girls believe in their gifts, encourage them to grow and motivate them to share with the world. The world needs strong minds, and strong hearts in strong girls.

I Believe In Me is a life-cheering online adventure for tweens that gives real tools to create a happy school life! This time of life can be tricky and through weekly episodes, video tutorials and fun interactive online events we focus on promoting positive mindset and individual growth for each member. Girls can join ANY time and enjoy the program at their own pace.

Essential Details

• Website: bloomfully.com
• Online Program: Register your child into I Believe In Me

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Financial stress is real, and it has a huge impact on our happiness. When we're stressed about money, our relationships with our partners are strained, we're not as patient with our children and our physical and mental health is impacted. If we can take control of our financial wellbeing and reduce the stress, the benefits are huge. And it's just the smallest changes in the way with think about money use money and hold onto money that can make a profound change to our future.

In this episode, Rachel and Sarah chat to Financial Planner Canna Campbell about how we can build, manage and protect our money. Canna is also known as Sugar Mamma, and has her own YouTube Channel with over 125k subscribers and 9 million video views! Although she now lives 'on the other side of the bridge'. she grew up on the North Shore and attended Abbotsleigh.

Canna shares her top tips for getting through these tough financial times, as well as tips about how we can set ourselves up for the future.

• Why you need to do a budget
• What household expenditures will give you the biggest savings
• Tips for savings on your weekly grocery shop
• How you can get a better deal from your utility providers
• Call utility providers to see if you can get a better deal
• Why you should call your bank or the debt helpline if you are really struggling
• Easy ways to bring in extra money
• Flexible jobs for mums that you can do at the weekend or at nights
• Why you should pay your bills on a regular basis
• How important it is to have Emergency Money, and how much should you have set aside?
• Can you cut back on insurance costs?
• Is a Financial Planner worth it?

Meet Canna Campbell

Canna Campbell is a Financial Planner and published author, with extensive experience spanning across corporate banking, boutique wealth management, television, radio, keynote speaking, podcasting and digital and social media production.

Canna established her financial planning firm, ‘SASS Financial Services’, in 2007. She founded the financial media platform, ‘SugarMamma.TV’, in 2015 providing accessible financial education to everyday people who may feel intimidated and confused by personal finance.

Canna has been featured in The Sydney Morning Herald, Vogue, The Huffington Post, Mamamia, Yahoo, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail, as well as 2GB, Sunrise and The Morning Show on Channel Seven.

Essential Details: SugarMamma.TV

• Podcasts: SugarMamma's Fireplay | How Do They Afford That?
• Books: Mindful Money | The $1000 Project
• Follow: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook

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Do you feel like you never have enough hours in the day? Do you feel guilty about not baking organic muffins? Are your overwhelmed by an inbox that never seems to go down? Help is at hand. Kate Toon shares her insights about why you need to lower your expectations and banish the idea of being the 'perfect' parent. 

Most parents just want to earn a decent income and have time to read their kids a bedtime story without having a meltdown in the process. But the juggle is real!

In this episode, Rachel and Sarah are joined on The Parenting Couch podcast by award-winning business mentor and digital marketing coach, Kate Toon... who has been running her own business from home since becoming a mother 14 years ago.

This podcast is for any mum who feels overwhelmed by the endless 'to do' list... whether you run your own business, juggling a paid job or trying to do it all at home. It's a refreshing and animated conversation about why women need to reduce their expectations and realise that they don't need to do it all, packed with practical tips about sharing the workload.

'6 Figures in School Hours: How to run a successful business (and still be a good parent)'

Most parents don’t want to build a global empire or make a gazillion dollars a year. They just want to earn a decent income and have time to read their kids a bedtime story without having a meltdown in the process. Yes, we know running a business can be rewarding. However, it can also seep into every life crack, eat up your energy and leave you exhausted, stressed and snapping at your small humans.

In 'Six Figures in School Hours', award-winning digital marketing coach and business mentor Kate Toon shares practical and doable tips for parents to run a successful business, make serious money and not burn themselves to a frazzle in the process.

First, you will examine your business goals and measure your why against your desires for family life; then, discover passive income ideas and ways to involve the family in your business life in an enjoyable way; finally, find out how to turn that six-figure profit dial up or down depending on the compromises you’re willing to make.

Throughout the book are tools and tactics to manage your money, be more productive and focus on what matters, along with inspiring stories from other successful business parents who know exactly how it feels. Click here to buy the book.

About Kate Toon

Kate Toon is an award-winning entrepreneur and parent to one human and one fur baby. From her humble backyard shed on the Central Coast she masterminds an ambitious business universe, helping thousands of other humans to build their own version of success through digital marketing and business know-how. Kate is a renowned speaker, mentor, educator and podcaster.

She’s been named Australia’s Most Influential Small Business Woman (2022), one of Australia’s Top 50 Small Business Leaders (2022), and Businesswoman of the Year and Training & Education Provider of the Year at the national My Business Awards (2020).

She’s also the founder of CopyCon and The Digital Marketing Collective Conference, and a resident expert on Kochie’s Business Builders.

In her spare time, Kate is often found taking Gym selfies and rollerskating, much to the embarrassment of her teenage son.

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Does your baby hate tummy time, suffer from reflux or have trouble breastfeeding? Have you noticed that your child is developing bad posture from using screens? Did you know that all kids should be screened for scoliosis? Dr Tori Wright from Vivid Health Chiropractic shares some of the reasons why you might want to consider chiropractic care for your child (and why it's a lot more gentle than you might think).

In this episode of The Parenting Couch podcast, Rachel and Sarah chat with Dr Tori Wright, Chiropractor at Vivid Health in Hornsby, about some of the reasons why you might want to take your child to a chiropractor.

If you've got a baby and have troubles with breastfeeding, reflux, sleep or tummy time, Tori explains some of the reasons how chiropractic care could help them to thrive.

She also looks at the big issues of kids and screens, and how use of tablets and phones is impacting kids' development. Tori shares her tips for helping to manage screen time and what to do if you think your child's posture is suffering.

About Dr Tori Wright

Dr Tori Wright is the Principal Chiropractor at Vivid Health Chiropractic in Hornsby, and is passionate about treating pregnant women, babies, and children of all ages.

Dr Tori attended RMIT University in Melbourne. She completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chiropractic and a Masters of Chiropractic with Distinction. Dr Tori has also completed a postgraduate diploma in Paediatric Chiropractics.

Tori was introduced to chiropractic after experiencing pancreatitis and suffering from middle back pain. She had such wonderful results from her chiropractic care at the time that she chose it as her career path. So impressed with her own results, Tori delved into the Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT) as post graduate training. After practising in multiple SOT clinics, Tori opened her own Practice in 2014.

Dr Tori is committed to educating her community on the benefits of chiropractic care and can regularly be found chatting to schools, preschools, mothers' groups, hospitals and various groups about their health and wellbeing with chiropractic needs.

Tori juggles her busy chiropractic career and her young family with more energy than most. As an open-minded practitioner, Tori regularly works with varying practitioners to achieve her patients' goals.

Essential Details: Vivid Health Chiropractic

• Address: Suite 719, 1C Burdett St, Hornsby NSW 2077
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 9476 6888
• Website: Vivid Health

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Are you curious about changing your relationship with alcohol? Whether you want to cut back, moderate, take a break or quit for good, putting down the bottle isn't easy. But help is at hand! Ange Chappel is a North Shore Mum who has recently launched a life-changing app called Mind The Sip – helping thousands of people re-evaluate the role of alcohol in their lives.

Has a nightly wine crept into the bedtime routine with the kids? Do you try to not drink during the week, only to binge at the weekend? If you feel like alcohol has become a problem and you want to do something about it, this inspiring interview with Ange Chappel from Mind The Sip will help you take a step in the right direction.

Ange joins Rachel and Sarah on The Parenting Couch podcast to share her top tips for cutting back on alcohol, including:

• Listen to sober curious podcasts.
• Stock the fridge with alcohol-free alternatives.
• Don’t stop socialising – head out with a drinks plan and clear intention.
• Play the tape forward and imagine yourself leaving as fresh as you arrived.
• Become acquainted with “Quit-Lit” - a genre of literature for the sober curious.
• Journal your moods & triggers and celebrate your wins.
• Pop a guided mediation on to get out of your head and re-centre.

About Ange Chappel

Ange Chappel is the Founder of Mind The Sip & Certified Recovery Coach. Driven by a desire to find a solution that focuses on moderation rather than strict sobriety, Ange took the initiative to create Mind The Sip — an innovative alcohol reduction app.

Through her work as Founder of Mind The Sip, Ange aims to inspire individuals to reassess their relationship with alcohol, improve their wellbeing, and unlock a brighter, more balanced future. Providing a platform that counts alcohol-free days, promotes moderation, and encourages long-term change.

Ange’s unwavering commitment and dedication to helping others make her a driving force in the field of alcohol reduction. Her vision and passion continue to make a profound impact on the lives of individuals seeking a mindful and healthier approach to drinking.

Mind The Sip

Mind The Sip is a mindful drinking app to help you reassess your relationship with alcohol. It provides you with the tools and resources to cement a lifestyle free from hangovers, regrets and excess expense. Their mission for all members is to drink mindfully and within the health guidelines, with it being your ultimate choice whether you wish to go all the way to zero.

• Download Mind The Sip app
• Follow Mind The Sip on Instagram or Facebook

Ange Recommends

• Alcohol Explained – William Porter
• Higher Sobriety – Jill Stark
• A Happier Hour – Rebecca Weller

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Have you ever heard about a 'Democratic School', but not sure how a school following this model of education actually works? In this week's episode of The Parenting Couch, Rachel & Sarah talk to Wendy Pettit from Currambena Primary School in Lane Cove to understand what makes a Democratic Education so special.

Democratic Schools promote learning in a cooperative environment in which decision making and authority is shared between students and the teacher. In this interview, Wendy from Currambena Primary School in Lane Cove shares the how the schools run and the benefits of this approach to students.

• What is a 'democratic school'?
• How is a democratic school different to a more traditional school?
• Does the syllabus follow the NSW Curriculum?
• How does it work with children helping to make the rules?
• Why might some parents hesitant to enrol their child in a Democratic school?
• Is it a fee-paying school?
• How are the students who graduate from Currambena different to other kids?
• What high schools do students typically move onto after finishing Year 6?

Currambena Primary School and Preschool is a democratic school based on Sydney’s Lower North Shore that offers truly child-centred, play-based education for both pre and primary school children.
Established in 1969, they have long been recognised as a leader in innovative educational thinking. At Currambena, they deliver a holistic approach to learning which focuses on developing a child’s skills for life as well as high academic standards.

• Address: 205 Longueville Road, Lane Cove
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 0417 447 227
• Currambena School website

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Want to know how to be a GREAT parent? Not a half-baked parent. Not a ‘good-enough’ parent. A great parent? Dr Justin Coulson joins Rachel & Sarah on The Parenting Couch podcast to share his insights into a revolutionary parenting style that will transform the way you 'parent' your kids.

About Dr Justin Coulson

Dr Justin Coulson is the co-host of the popular TV program Parental Guidance, which has just launched a second season on Channel Nine, and Australia's top ranked parenting podcast, The Happy Families podcast. He is author of four other bestselling family and parenting books: 21 Days to a Happier Family, 9 Ways to a Resilient Child, 10 Things Every Parent Needs to Know and Miss-Connection. 

Justin and his wife, Kylie, have been married since the late 1990s and are the parents of six daughters. Together they host the number 1 parenting podcast in the country and run the Happy Families network.

https://www.happyfamilies.com.au/

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When exercise feels impossible, Lizzie Williamson makes it easy. Whether you’re brushing your teeth, waiting for the kettle to boil or hanging out the washing, Lizzie's Two Minute Moves are all about making energy-boosting movement part of your everyday.

We all know that we should be moving more, but sometimes it can feel impossible to find the time or motivation to even get started. In this episode of The Parenting Couch podcast, Lizzie inspires Rachel and Sarah with her abundant energy and enthusiasm about the importance of moving.

Lizzie Williamson has spent over a decade helping women to get their bodies, energy and confidence back. 

Lizzie shares her inspiring true story of how she used movement to lift herself out of post natal depression. Her mission is to inspire others to stopping the excuses and reap the benefits of a happier, healthier more energised life. It starts with two minutes!

• Why it's not as simple as just saying "why don't you just exercise?"
• How Post Natal Depression made everything seem impossible
• Why it took her so long to see a GP about her Post Natal Depression
• The vital importance of putting on your own oxygen mask before assisting others
• Why we need to get over Mother Guilt for doing things for ourselves
• How to get started moving... it takes just two minutes!

About Lizzie Williamson

Dubbed by the US media as ‘the excuse-buster from Down-Under’, Lizzie Williamson is the founder and author of Two Minute Moves, Keynote and TEDx speaker, certified personal trainer and a regular fitness presenter on morning television with her work featured on Good Morning America and the Today Show.

Through her fun, interactive sessions and energiser breaks, Lizzie inspires her audiences to integrate micro movement breaks into their day so they can be their most focussed, energised and happier selves.

She has got hundreds-of-thousand attendees around the world stretching, moving and dancing at conferences featuring President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Tony Robbins & The Dalia Lama.


Want to get to know Lizzie Williamson?

• Visit Lizzie Wiliamson's website
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Subscribe to Two Minute Moves on YouTube
• Buy Lizzie Williamson's 'Two Minute Moves' book

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If you’re buying or selling property at the moment, you’re probably getting lots of opinions and advice from well-meaning friends and family. So how do you know whose advice to follow? In this episode, local Buyers Agent Henny Stier shares her expert answers to some of the most common real estate myths to help you sort fact from fiction.

Does a swimming pool really add value to a property? Is a north-to-rear property the only type to consider? Do you always pay more at auction?

There are so many Real Estate myths that circulate… so how do you know what advice to follow?

Henny Stier is a North Shore Buyers Agent and the co-founder of OH Property Group in Sydney. She has bought hundreds of homes across Sydney’s North Shore on behalf of her clients, so understands the local property market inside out.

In this episode, Henny gives her insights into some of the most common Real Estate Myths… clearly explaining right from wrong. These real estate myths include…

• Is real estate really about location, location, location?
• Is North-to-rear really that important?
• You always pay more at Auction
• Solicitors are always better than Conveyancers
• It is cheaper to renovate than to knock down rebuild
• Stay away from Heritage-listed houses or Conservation streets
• Off-markets are always good buying
• You should avoid bushfire prone land
• A swimming pool adds value to a property

About Henny Stier

Henny is the co-founder and Principal Buyers Agent at OH Property Group.

Henny is well-known for her knowledge and passion for property, her great instincts and sound advice, her meticulous attention to the smallest of details and her ability to extract valuable information from all kinds of sources to help her clients secure the property of their choice. Diligent and extremely responsive, Henny is infinitely willing to go the extra mile for her clients and always has their best interest in mind. Her significant experience in building, renovating and managing properties is a great asset to her clients.

A respected, straight talking property expert, Henny is sought after by the media to discuss various real estate topics and to dispel myths in her typical no-nonsense style.

Essential Details: OH Property Group

• Visit OH Property’s website
• Follow OH Property on Facebook
• Read testimonials in the North Shore Mums Directory

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