The transition to high school can often be an emotional rollercoaster for both parents and their children.

The question submitted from our community for this episode was:

Both of my kids have now entered high school, and it feels like a lot of change and a massive transition for all of us. It almost feels like a loss, and I keep thinking that it's all happening too fast. Do other people feel this way?

In this episode, we were joined by Vania Sukola, a feminist psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and consultant, in discussing the challenges and transitions that parents face when their children enter high school.

Vania also shared:

✅ The importance of taking care of oneself, re-parenting, and finding resources to navigate difficult situations
✅ Rite of passage and their importance in navigating significant life transitions
✅ How to embrace the cycle of grief and emotions associated with parenting transitions
✅ How to navigate changes intentionally by aligning actions and decisions with your core values and rituals as a family
✅ How Vania fosters connection with her kids

Vania Sukola is an award-winning Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, and facilitator. For over 20 years, Vania has been providing support to people who have experienced trauma due to gender-based violence and abuse.

In 2015, Vania started a private practice focusing primarily on reproductive mental health, especially birth trauma, the transition into parenthood, and the intersection of former trauma that impacts the journey into parenthood.

As a Feminist Therapist, Vania believes you are the expert in your life, and she uses a trauma-informed anti-oppression framework.

Vania works from a relational and integrative approach as a therapist, mainly pulling from somatic and emotion-focused styles of therapy. She is also a mother to 2 children and loves chocolate. There is always room for chocolate.

CONNECT WITH VANIA SUKOLA:

📍 Website: https://vaniasukola.ca/
📍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vania_sukola
📍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therapywithvania

CONNECT WITH RAMP:

📍 Website: https://drinkramp.com/
📍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkrampco
📍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkrampco/
📍 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drinkrampco

Do you have teen-related questions? Drop them on SpeakPipe at www.speakpipe.com/parentingteens

— — —

The content and opinions on this podcast are for informational or educational purposes only and do not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.

Do you love RAMP! Functional Nutrition Products for tweens & teens? Our generous affiliate program allows you to earn cash and help families!

Sign up today: https://drinkramp.refersion.com/affiliate/registration

How do you support anxious children without reinforcing their anxiety?

It's natural to want to alleviate your child's distress, but sometimes, the well-intentioned actions we take can inadvertently perpetuate their anxiety.

In this episode, a concerned mother shared her experience of her 13-year-old daughter's escalating anxiety. She asked:

"My 13-year-old has always been a bit anxious, but things have recently escalated, and we find ourselves turning our lives upside down to make sure she feels safe. For example, she texts me and calls me from school at least six to seven times to check in, and I want to be there for her, but I also need to get my own work done. What can I do? Help!"

We want our kids to thrive in their environments, and that's why we sat down with Dr. Zia Lakdawalla, Founder of Foundations for Emotional Wellness (FFEW), a clinical psychologist and mom of three young kids, to offer valuable insights to help parents break the cycle of accommodation and empower their children to manage their anxiety more independently.

In this interview, we will unpack:

✅ Understanding the nature of anxiety

✅ Identifying patterns of anxiety

✅ Managing kids anxiety

✅ Learning emotion regulation

✅ What is an accommodation, and how does it affect an anxious child

✅ The process of co-regulation and emotional coaching

✅ How to provide proper accommodations to anxious kids

✅ How Dr. Zia fosters connection in her own family and children

Dr. Zia Lakdawalla obtained her B.A. in Psychology from McGill University, followed by a Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

She has worked across various mental health settings, including community mental health, private practice, day treatment programs and hospitals.

She is the director of Foundations for Emotional Wellness, where she maintains her own private practice. She conducts parenting groups and workshops, and delivers talks and training on various mental health issues.

CONNECT WITH DR. ZIA LAKDAWALLA:

📍 Website: https://ffew.ca/

📍 Instagram: @foundations4emotionalwellness

📍 Facebook: @foundationsforemotionalwellness

📍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zia-lakdawalla-75059b154/

CONNECT WITH RAMP:

📍 Website: https://drinkramp.com/

📍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkrampco

📍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkrampco/

📍 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drinkrampco

Do you have teen-related questions? Drop them on SpeakPipe at www.speakpipe.com/parentingteens

— — —

The content and opinions on this podcast are for informational or educational purposes only and do not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.

Do you love RAMP! Functional Nutrition Products for tweens & teens? Our generous affiliate program allows you to earn cash and help families!

Sign up today: https://drinkramp.refersion.com/affiliate/registration

Back-to-school season is a time of mixed emotions for many parents and teenagers.

In this episode, we're taking a break from interviewing experts and instead reflecting on our own experiences as parents during the back-to-school season.

Tune in to hear our candid conversation and see if our experiences resonate with you as we cover topics like:

✅ Parental feelings and emotions and the challenges of back to school
✅ Missed developmental stages
✅ Balancing independence and guidance
✅ Teen mental health
✅ Accepting change and unique parenting journeys

CONNECT WITH RAMP:

📍 Website: https://drinkramp.com/
📍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkrampco
📍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkrampco/
📍 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drinkrampco

Do you have teen-related questions? Drop them on SpeakPipe at www.speakpipe.com/parentingteens

— — —

The content and opinions on this podcast are for informational or educational purposes only and do not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.

Do you love RAMP! Functional Nutrition Products for tweens & teens? Our generous affiliate program allows you to earn cash and help families!

Sign up today: https://drinkramp.refersion.com/affiliate/registration