Send Lauren a text!

I've changed things up a little on this episode with the help of Sonia Casique from the College and Career Ready Podcast! Tune in to hear Sonia interviewing me on the difference between stress and anxiety, how you can recognize symptoms of anxiety in your kids and teens and what to do if you have a child dealing with anxiety.

But first I'll share with you what my go to recipe has been when one of my kids needs a baked good for an event. And I'll tell you how I recently attended my very last high school event..... ever! As my son nears his high school graduation.

Sonia's Bio: 
Sonia is the host and producer of the College and Career Ready Podcast and the founder of DiscoverU. 

Sonia is actively bridging the gap between education, college and the careers of today. Sonia helps high school and college students make college and career connections early in their education journey. She helps students with character development, identity, self-advocacy, career connections and real life skills.  

She has dedicated her career to empowering the next generation as a passionate school counselor, career coach, and education leader. With unwavering determination, she strives to supply parents and students with the confidence and resourcefulness they need to navigate the complexities of planning for college and building successful careers.

Her unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of the next generation is evident in every interaction she has and every resource she seeks.

Connect with Sonia:
Podcast: www.CollegeCareerReady.org/PODCAST

Website: https://collegecareerready.org/join

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-cacique-8ab31b253/

I'd love to hear from YOU! Here's how to connect with me:

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

For information on Lauren's counseling services, including her upcoming group counseling for children and teens check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.

Send Lauren a text!

On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation designed to help you feel more calm and relaxed. 

This is a great meditation to do anytime you would like to feel calmer whether that's taking a short break from your day or at night as you prepare to go to sleep. 

Enjoy! 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.

Send Lauren a text!

***Heads up that this episode contains some fears that I had as a child that could be frightening to young children. Please consider listening to this episode away from young, listening ears.

On this episode I share my experience as a child growing up with anxiety. From the fears I had to some of the negative ways having constant anxiety affected me, I'll get candid. I'll also share what it's been like raising a child with anxiety. I'll talk about how this brought back my own anxiety and how I learned to be present to support my child, even when it was difficult to do. 

I also share an announcement on this podcast. I will tell you what to expect in the future from Your Zen Friend and how the podcast is and isn't changing.

I'd love to hear from YOU! Send me a question and I might answer it in an upcoming solo episode. Here's how to connect with me:

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

For information on Lauren's counseling services for kids, teens and families check out: https://www.laurencounseling.com/

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.

Send Lauren a text!

On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation designed to help you let go of your thoughts and to dos and relax deeply in this moment. 

This is a great meditation to do anytime you would like to relax or need to take a short and nourishing break in your day.

Enjoy! 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.

Send Lauren a text!

This episode is a short and hopefully sweet one! I'm here to let you know what's been going on in my life lately and what I'm currently doing to create a little calm amidst the chaos.

And............I'll announce that a change is coming for the podcast! 

I'll be back with a full length podcast episode on Tuesday, June 11th. Be sure to check in then to hear all about my upcoming podcast changes! 

***Get the FREE handout, "How to Get Your Teen (or Tween) Talking to You:"  yourzenfriend/tips

I'd love to hear from YOU! Send me a question and I might answer it in an upcoming solo episode. Here's how to connect with me:

• Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend
• Email me at: [email protected]
• Find me on instagram @YourZenFriendPod

For information on Lauren's counseling services for kids, teens and families check out: https://www.laurencounseling.com/

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.

Send Lauren a text!

On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation designed to help you check in with yourself. This meditation will help you to connect with how you are feeling and identify what it is you need right now. 

This is a great meditation to do as a midday break. 

Enjoy! 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.

Send Lauren a text!

If you have more than one child then you are probably familiar with sibling rivalry. Many brothers and sisters regularly argue and even physically fight. When is it healthy and when is it a problem? When does sibling rivalry become something more significant and when and how should a parent take action? Dr. Amy Meyers is here to answer these questions and more!

On this episode Dr. Amy Meyers will tell us what sibling rivalry looks like, how it is beneficial and when it crosses the line and becomes sibling abuse. Never heard of the term sibling abuse? You are not alone! While this a term you might not be familiar with (I wasn't) Dr. Meyer's tells us how it is the most common form of abuse. She will also tell us some signs to look for if you think your children's sibling rivalry might be sibling abuse and how you can intervene to help your children, whether they are the one being harmed or doing the harm.

Dr. Amy Meyer's Bio:
Dr. Amy Meyers, PhD, LCSW is a psychotherapist trained in psychoanalysis at The National Psychotherapy Association for Psychoanalysis. She is also a professor at Molloy University and received her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in social work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and CUNY Graduate Center at Hunter College. Dr. Meyers has 30 years of practice experience and has taught in higher education for 18 years. She is an expert on sibling abuse and has published and presented nationally on the topic. She maintains a private practice in NYC . She is the host of the podcast “What Would Dr. Meyers Do?” which focuses on clinical issues and countertransference.

Listen to Dr. Meyer's Podcast, What Would Dr. Meyers Do, wherever you find your podcasts or here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/what-would-dr-meyers-do/id1653652017

Also connect with Dr. Meyers on her website: https://www.amymeyersphd.org/

***Get the FREE handout, "How to Get Your Teen (or Tween) Talking to You:"  yourzenfriend/tips

I'd love to hear from YOU! Here's how to connect with me:

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

For information on Lauren's counseling services for kids, teens and families check out: https://www.laurencounseling.com/

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.

Send Lauren a text!

On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation designed to help you give yourself a nourishing break. This meditation will help you to tune into yourself, relax deeply and identify what you need from yourself as you return to your day. 

This is a great meditation to do in the morning or as a midday break. 

Enjoy! 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.

Send Lauren a text!

If you have noticed more push back, less cooperation, more snarkiness and disrespect from your kids lately, you are not alone! On this episode I'll tell you why kids experience an increase in symptoms of anxiety in the months of May and June. I'll tell you how those anxiety symptoms often show up and I'll tell you how you can take some simple steps to support your kid while they are feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

As a parent you might also be feeling anxious or overwhelmed during this time of year. I'll tell you how offering the same support to yourself as you offer your kids can help you to feel more calm and grounded too.

At the end of the episode I'll tell you what's bringing me more zen. Here's a hint, it's something my dogs are a big fan of!

***Get the FREE handout, "How to Get Your Teen (or Tween) Talking to You:"  yourzenfriend/tips

Mentioned on this episode, The Holderness Family/Maycember video. It’s super funny and relatable! Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8_IszUUAkw

I'd love to hear from YOU! Here's how to connect with me:

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

For information on Lauren's counseling services for kids, teens and families check out: https://www.laurencounseling.com/

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.

Send Lauren a text!

On this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation designed to help you connect to yourself. 

We all get caught up in our to dos. It's easy to become disconnected from ourselves. Taking a few minutes to connect with our bodies and our hearts and emotions is a great way to tend to ourselves throughout the day and can help us to  have more self awareness and feel calm.

Enjoy! 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.