In this episode of The Parenting Reset Show, Tess Connolly, LCSW, sits down with teen coach and educator Will Kirsop to talk about something every parent wants for their teen: a sense of direction and purpose.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why purpose matters for your teen’s mental health, motivation, and academic success.

• How a clear sense of purpose can help reduce stress, anxiety, and disconnection.

• A powerful tool called “Life Crafting”—and how it can guide your teen toward meaningful goals.

• How to use Appreciative Inquiry to spark deep, positive conversations with your tween or teen.

• Why open communication, compassion, and curiosity are key when parenting through this stage.

• How to support your teen’s transition to independence with confidence and clarity.

This episode gives parents practical tools and science-backed strategies to help their teens feel more connected, focused, and hopeful about their future.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage

02:25 Understanding Purpose in Teen Development

09:45 The Role of Appreciative Inquiry

13:52 Practical Strategies for Parents

20:08 Fostering Purpose for Academic and Mental Health Benefits

21:32 The Importance of Purpose in Teen Development

24:36 Life Crafting: A Pathway to Meaningful Goals

27:17 Navigating Career Choices and Future Planning

30:59 Challenges of Transitioning to Independence

33:52 The Role of Compassion in Parenting

40:44 Gratitude and Reflection in Coaching

Find out more about Will Kirsop here 👉Many Roads | Teen Coaching

⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families

⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)

📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 30-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session : https://calendly.com/mindfulkidsandfamilies/30min

In this episode of the Parenting Reset Show, Tess Connolly, LCSW interviews Sabrina Yavil, a former beauty industry executive turned entrepreneur, who shares her journey of creating Grime, a clean personal care brand for preteens and teens. Sabrina discusses the challenges of finding safe and effective products for her three boys, the battles over bath time, and her motivation to develop a solution that meets the needs of kids while ensuring their safety. The conversation highlights the importance of self-care, the complexities of product ingredients, and the journey of entrepreneurship in the beauty industry. In this conversation, Tess Connolly and Sabrina Yavil discuss the challenges of parenting, particularly around hygiene and self-care for children. They explore innovative products designed to simplify these routines, the importance of fostering independence in kids, and the impact of early hygiene habits on self-esteem. Sabrina shares her journey in developing clean beauty products and emphasizes the significance of ingredient awareness for children's health. The discussion also touches on family dynamics, gratitude, and personal growth.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sabrina Yavil and Grime

07:40 Sabrina’s Journey in the Beauty Industry

12:07 The Challenge of Finding Safe Products for Kids

18:14 Navigating Bath Time Battles with Kids

21:31 Creating Grime: A Solution for Preteens and Teens

25:09 Innovative Hair Care Solutions

26:44 Navigating Parent-Child Hygiene Habits

28:57 empowering Independence in Self-Care

30:51 The Importance of Early Hygiene

32:20 Creating a Cool and Inviting Bathroom Environment

33:39 Product Development Journey

37:55 Gratitude and Family Dynamics

38:14 Ingredient Awareness and Safety

44:51 Reflection on Family and Personal Growth

Find out more here 👉 https://gryme.co/

Also available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/2803CB03-9DF5-413C-A8DC-921906B7D7A9

20% off: CODE: PARENTINGRESET20

OR LINK: https://gryme.co/discount/ParentingReset20

⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families

⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)

📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 30-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session : https://calendly.com/mindfulkidsandfamilies/30min

Effective Screen Time Management for Teens

In this episode, I’m excited to share a conversation I had with Kristina Nation on Brave Bold TV called “Kick Your Teen's Troubles to the Curb”!

We dive into the challenges of managing screen time and social media use among teenagers—something so many parents struggle with.

I share my insights as a clinical social worker and parent coach on how to create a tech reset agreement, set healthy boundaries, and encourage better digital habits.

We also discuss the impact of social media on mental health and the importance of family activities to reduce screen dependence.

Tune in for practical advice and strategies to help foster better communication and connection within your family!

⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families

⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)

📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 30-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session : https://calendly.com/mindfulkidsandfamilies/30min

Join host Tess Connolly, LCSW, for an enlightening conversation with Kristina Saelee, a parent coach specializing in helping families navigate the challenges of raising teens struggling with depression.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

⭐ Kristina shares her personal journey and how she became a parent coach focused on supporting families dealing with teen depression.

⭐ How to recognize signs of depression in teens, including significant behavioral changes and emotional shifts.

⭐ Practical steps parents can take when they notice mood and behavior changes in their teen.

⭐An overview of Kristina’s five-step program for supporting parents and teens through this journey.

⭐Insight into potential causes of depression, emphasizing both internal and external factors.

⭐Tips for parental self-care to stay resilient while supporting a teen.

⭐Skills and strategies to equip parents and teens with tools for coping and healing.

⭐Identifying and replacing unhealthy coping mechanisms with healthier alternatives.

⭐Balancing technology use with boundaries and fostering open communication.

⭐The importance of holding boundaries while remaining supportive through challenging times.

⭐Kristina is most grateful for the relationship that she has with her daughter now after travelling through their journey.

Find out more about Kristina Saelee here 👉 Life and Relationship Coaching | Empowered Parenting | United States

⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families

⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)

📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 30-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session : https://calendly.com/mindfulkidsandfamilies/30min

Join host Tess Connolly, LCSW, for a deep dive into parenting strategies with Dan Leibowitz M.A, M.S, an expert in educational consulting and executive function coaching. Discover how our own behaviors as parents shape our children’s success, and learn practical tips to set them up for middle school and beyond.

⭐ Dan shares his journey into educational consulting and executive function coaching and how he helps families.

⭐ Tess and Dan explore how parental stress impacts parenting patterns and creates ripple effects in children’s behavior.

⭐Dan discusses how parents improving communication, interactions, and physical spaces can help children show up as their best selves.

⭐ Tess and Dan talk about neurodiversity, what it means, and how neurodiverse children benefit from tailored learning approaches.

⭐ They emphasize the importance of building executive function skills early rather than waiting until problems arise later in life.

⭐Dan explains the three components of his model for understanding and improving executive function.

⭐Tess and Dan share actionable ways to set children up for success from a young age.

⭐Dan introduces the self-regulation model and how parents can apply it to improve family dynamics and support their children.

⭐Dan is most grateful for his friendship with Tess and being on her podcast and sharing his work.

Find out more about Dan Leibowitz here 👉 Innovative Learning Services | coach | Kentfield, CA, USA

⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families

⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)

📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 30-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session : https://calendly.com/mindfulkidsandfamilies/30min

Join host Tess Connolly, LCSW, for an engaging conversation with Michael Anderson a family therapist, coach for men overcoming pornography addiction, children’s author of the Jungle Tails series (focused on children’s mental health), and father of three.

⭐ Michael tells us about himself and how he got into the work that he does helping parents heal from past trauma in order to help heal family connections with their children.

⭐ Tess and Michael discuss stats and talk about how big a problem this is in men’s lives and when it goes from being ok to being an addiction.

⭐The conversation covers strategies for couples to address pornography addiction, rebuild trust, and move forward positively.

⭐ Michael explains how partners of those struggling with addiction can recognize that the behavior often stems from personal trauma, not their own inadequacies.

⭐ Michael outlines the challenges men often face in their journey to overcome addiction.

⭐Michael shares an example from a client of how their addiction began and why his client turned to pornography to help listeners understand more about why people can become addicted.

⭐Michael offers three actionable tips for overcoming addiction and fostering healthier habits.

⭐Tess and Michael emphasize the importance of personal healing and its ripple effects on family connections, parenting, and relationships.

⭐Michael is most grateful for becoming a girl Dad after having two boys (who he is also grateful for) and getting to know her and becoming a better father and a better man.

Find out more about Michael Anderson here 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-anderson-44ba36ba/

Find Michaels books here 👉www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2BGH6YQ

⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families

⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)

📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 30-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session : https://calendly.com/mindfulkidsandfamilies/30min

Join host Tess Connolly, LCSW, for an insightful conversation with Jeff Nelligan who is the father of three boys and a well-known commentator in the world of American parenting. His most recent book is the 2nd edition of “Four Lessons from My Three Sons – How You Can Raise Resilient Kids,” in which he outlined his parenting techniques and the path of his sons through childhood and adolescence to the U.S. Naval Academy, Williams College, and West Point.

⭐ Discover how Jeff’s life experiences and lessons as a father inspired him to write his parenting books.

⭐ Tess and Jeff explore the importance of having a parenting strategy and being intentional in your journey as a parent.

⭐ Hear Jeff’s practical strategies for raising resilient kids and his thoughts on challenging societal norms in parenting.

⭐ Learn about the four simple yet powerful attributes Jeff emphasizes: personal courtesy, sustained confidence, grinding resilience in adversity, and ambition.

⭐ Tess shares examples from her own parenting journey with her son and Jeff offers insights from raising his sons, highlighting how these values can be taught in different ways.

⭐ Get insights on supporting children through challenges and helping them push past obstacles they face in life.

⭐ Tess and Jeff discuss ways to inspire ambition in children and nurture their drive for success.

⭐ Jeff is most grateful for his three sons and his strategy and his fortitude to keep to his strategy along the journey.

Find out more about Jeff Nelligan and purchase his book here 👉 NELLIGAN BOOKS

⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families

⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)

📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 30-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session : https://calendly.com/mindfulkidsandfamilies/30min