Dr. Leigh Weisz is the Founder of Coping Partners, a mental health clinic. As a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice, she was on staff and affiliated with The Family Institute at Northwestern University for several years. She has experience working with children, adolescents, families, and individual adults in areas such as child and adolescent family therapy, grief and loss, and relationship issues.

Dr. Weisz earned her graduate degree in clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology with a specialty in children and families. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and Spanish from the University of Michigan, having graduated with honors. Dr. Weisz has practiced in community mental health, hospitals, and outpatient family medicine practice settings.

It's easy for parenting to become a calendar-management job: practices, homework, carpools, reminders, meals, screens, and one more thing that needs to get done. Underneath all of that busyness is a quieter question many parents carry: how do we raise kids who are not just successful, but kind, grounded, and capable?

According to Dr. Leigh Weisz, a child psychologist and parent of two, the answer starts with aligning what parents say they value with what children experience day to day. She explains that kindness, resilience, and independence are built through ordinary moments: asking targeted questions at dinner, inviting kids to help with household work, letting them feel disappointment, and resisting the urge to rescue them too quickly. When parents model their values, let kids contribute, and step back enough for them to grow, children begin to see themselves as helpful, capable people who can handle life's ups and downs.

In this episode of The Coping Podcast, Dr. Leigh Weisz discusses how parents can raise kind, grounded, and capable kids. She explains why values need matching daily behaviors, how modeling kindness shapes what children absorb, and why chores and family contribution build confidence. Dr. Weisz also shares advice on stepping back so kids can face discomfort, practice independence, and grow.

Dr. Danielle Doucette is the Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Partner at Midwest Counseling & Diagnostics, an organization that provides specialized behavioral therapies and psychological services in the Chicago area. As a licensed clinical psychologist and a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS-S), Dr. Doucette is recognized for her expertise in exposure and response prevention for OCD, radically open dialectical behavior therapy (RO-DBT), and evidence-based treatments for anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. She is also involved in public health and has contributed to prominent publications on mental health topics.

Some teens seem to glide through adolescence with perfect grades, packed schedules, and spotless behavior. On the surface, everything looks fine — admirable, even. What happens when the traits that make a teen "successful" also keep them silently struggling, unable to share what's really going on?

According to Dr. Danielle Doucette, a clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral therapies, many high-achieving teens aren't acting out at all; they're turning inward. She believes these teens often rely on extreme self-control, rigid routines, and emotional reserve to manage their anxiety. Drawing from her experience working with adolescents who fit this "overcontrolled" profile, Dr. Doucette explains that their perfectionism and strong academic or athletic performance can disguise deep loneliness, fear of vulnerability, and escalating internal distress. She emphasizes that helping these teens soften, open up, and connect with others can be life-changing, not because it alters who they are, but because it allows them to thrive rather than simply cope.

In this episode of The Coping Podcast, Dr. Leigh Weisz is joined by Dr. Danielle Doucette, Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Partner at Midwest Counseling & Diagnostics, to discuss how to support perfectionistic, high-achieving teens. They explore the hidden struggles of overcontrolled adolescents, the signs that often go unnoticed, and why traditional DBT doesn't always meet their needs. Dr. Doucette also gives advice on practical skills teens can use to build more meaningful relationships.

Dr. Marcie Faust is the Principal of South Park Elementary School, where she leads a team dedicated to fostering innovative teaching practices and supporting student well-being in Deerfield, Illinois. In her role, she creates learning environments to empower, support, and prepare students for the future. Dr. Faust also has experience as an early childhood program director, director of innovative learning, classroom teacher, and technology coach.

Kids are growing up in a world filled with more uncertainty, stimulation, and pressure than ever before. Many parents instinctively try to smooth every bump in the road, but what if those tough moments are exactly what children need to grow stronger? How do we know when to step in and when to step back?

According to Dr. Marcie Faust, an educational leader who spends her days supporting students and guiding families, the answer starts with letting children sit with their discomfort. Drawing from her experience working closely with both students and parents, she explains that children build resilience when adults offer a calm presence and thoughtful coaching rather than fixing problems for them. Her "power of the pause" approach encourages parents to resist the urge to rescue and instead model steady reassurance. In her view, these everyday moments lay the groundwork for emotional regulation and confidence that lasts far beyond elementary school.

In this episode of The Coping Podcast, Dr. Leigh Weisz is joined by Dr. Marcie Faust, Principal of South Park Elementary School, to discuss helping children build resilience through discomfort. They explore how parents can practice pausing, how letting kids handle small challenges strengthens emotional regulation, and the importance of fostering independence at home and school. Dr. Faust also shares advice on navigating peer conflict without over-involvement.