Overpowering Emotions Podcast: Helping Children and Teens Manage Big Feels

Delve into the heart of mindful parenting with our enlightening podcast episode featuring Dr. Lauren Pasqua, a clinical psychologist specializing in children and families experiencing intense emotions and behaviors. We unpack the pivotal role of family dynamics in nurturing resilience, with a deep dive into how dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can offer practical strategies for parents. Discover how validating experiences, embracing a dialectical mindset, and employing DBT skills can enhance emotional intelligence and resilience in both parents and children. We provide actionable insights for fostering a home environment where every family member thrives. Listen now to transform your approach to parenting with mindfulness and resilience at its core. About Dr. Lauren Pasqua: Dr Pasqua is founder and executive director of Connections Child & Family Center in Northwest Houston. With 15+ years of experience, Dr. Pasqua, a licensed clinical psychologist, and her team of experienced clinicians provide counseling and evaluations for children and families locally and across Texas. To address a public health crisis of higher than national average suicide rates in the local county, Dr. Pasqua led her team to create an adherent DBT program for teens and families; the first and only one in Northwest Houston. This unique program focuses on intensive outpatient support for teens with significant behavioral and emotional dyscontrol. Dr. Pasqua and her team are on a mission to help parents build a validating environment to support their teen in healthy coping and mental resilience. Check out these Resources https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Teen-Who-Intense-Emotions/dp/1626251886https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Teen-Who-Intense-Emotions/dp/1626251886 Families can get immediate access to a webinar on basic DBT skills for parents. https://exceptional-author-7245.ck.page/6e50b3656b Get in touch with Dr. Pasqua connectionsfamilycenter.com https://www.instagram.com/connectionscfc/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-pasqua-psy-d-9858511a/ Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today on Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline and special guest Katie Farinas talk about the power of mindful parenting. They explore how living by example can profoundly influence our children's understanding of a good life. They discuss the art of teaching through action, emphasizing the significance of demonstrating resilience, compassion, and mindfulness in our daily lives. Learn how to set powerful examples for children and equip them children with the tools they need for emotional intelligence, resilience, and a deep appreciation for life. About Katie Farinas: Katie is a mom, seasoned nurse, a yoga teacher and host of the podcast, Mom On The Verge. Katie has been passionate about all things health and wellness from a young age. And after her own experiences, she was forced to examine the impact our mental health has on our physical health and how intimately those two things are connected. Get in touch Katie Farinas kafarinas@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/momonthevergepodcast Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

I know I said I would be going into coping strategies, but there is a lot of work for adults. I left off last episode talking about how important self-care is before we can hope to effectively help children. For this part of our resilience journey, I want to focus on the things we can do to support ourselves and kids. Because if we’re doing good kids will do good too. To kick us off, special guest Katharine Manning discusses the crucial but often overlooked aspect of self-care for those who dedicate themselves to supporting others through distress. Discover why caring for others can significantly impact your own mental and physical well-being and explore effective strategies for safeguarding your health while being a steadfast support system. This episode sheds light on balancing aiding loved ones in need and ensuring you don't neglect your well-being, highlighting the importance of self-care practices that can protect you from long-term health challenges. This is an important episode with invaluable insights into how to care for yourself first to be more effective and compassionate in helping others. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today on Overpowering Emotions, based on questions Dr. Caroline has received on the subtle maladaptive coping strategies that can hinder kids’ resilience, she revisits the delicate balance between caring for children and enabling growth by exploring the subtleties of maladaptive coping and the importance of promoting independence in our kids. Discover the traps many adults fall into, from over-protectiveness to rescuing children from natural consequences, and learn how these well-intentioned actions can inadvertently hinder kids’ development of resilience, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence. Dr. Caroline offers practical tips for supporting children in learning from their experiences, managing their emotions, and developing a strong sense of self-confidence and accountability. Don’t miss this important episode as we navigate parental guidance and explore effective strategies for raising confident, independent, and emotionally intelligent children. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today’s episode of Overpowering Dr. Caroline dives deep into the essence of our emotional makeup with guest expert Cedric Bertelli. They explore why certain emotions cling to us and how we can effectively resolve them to regain control of our well-being with Emotional Resolution® (EmRes). Discover the limitations of traditional talk therapy and learn why conventional emotional regulation strategies might be hindering your emotional resilience. Learn more about emotional patterns and the innovative EmRes method, offering listeners a path to overcome debilitating emotional patterns for lasting emotional regulation. Tune in to help your kids transform their relationship with emotions and move towards emotional healing and empowerment. About Cedric: Cedric is the Founder and Director of Emotional Health Institute (EHI), a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of human life by tapping into the revolutionary technique of Emotional Resolution®, which helps with trauma healing and emotional well-being. Cedric has been fine tuning the EmRes process since 2009, training a wide demographic that includes therapists, social workers, mental health practitioners, educators, and HR professionals. Get in touch! Website: https://www.emotionalhealthinstitute.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedric-bertelli 68286224/https://www.cedricbertelli.com/sales-page Research article about EmRes: https://www.journal.cqaedu.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/02-Quantum-Science-Approach-to-Emotional-Resolution-in-the-Vital-Energy-Body-By-Gayathri-Shylesh-1.pdf Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today on Overpowering Emotions I discuss distinctions of emotion-focused and problem-solving-focused coping mechanisms and how they can help kids effectively manage their emotions and face life's challenges with confidence. I revisit the foundational concepts of these coping strategies but also provide practical ideas on fostering self-awareness and emotional regulation in everyday life and helping them figure out which coping strategies they need to use in a given situation. This episode is important for developing a versatile emotional toolbox. Tune in to help your children navigate their emotions and challenges, setting them up for success and well-being throughout their journey in life. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today on Overpowering Emotions, I discuss problem-focused coping strategies. When used effectively, this is a vital approach to help our children and teens navigate life's challenges with resilience and effectiveness. I discuss the benefits of problem-focused coping, the pitfalls to avoid, and how to cultivate this skill. I share real-life examples ranging from teens overcoming study avoidance to resolving personal conflicts and go through the step-by-step process. Learn how problem-solving can empower children and teens by instilling a sense of control and self-efficacy while also fostering emotional well-being, resilience, and positive behaviours. Don’t miss out – this episode will offer lots of ideas to enhance kids’ coping toolbox. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today on Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline explores the essential life skill of coping with emotions, focusing on the delicate balance between emotion-focused and problem-solving-focused coping strategies. In this journey of resilience, we delve into the adaptive versus maladaptive approaches to handling life's emotional rollercoasters. Discover why emotions, even those we might shy away from, are crucial to our human experience and how we can navigate through them with grace and resilience. We dissect the subtle, often overlooked coping mechanisms that, though may offer temporary relief, can hinder long-term emotional well-being. From the pitfalls of avoidance and distraction to the virtues of accepting and expressing our feelings, this episode offers new insights for anyone looking to foster emotional intelligence, resilience, and a healthier approach to coping with life's challenges. Whether for ourselves or guiding our children, learn how to embrace healthier emotion-focused strategies for a more balanced and emotionally fulfilling life. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today on Overpowering Emotions I turn my focus to coping mechanisms. Through a compassionate lens, we explore the importance of building a solid foundation to help children and teens build the crucial skills for managing anxiety, stress, and big emotions, while also nurturing resilience. I also discuss the significant role of coping skills in building resilience, tackling the challenges of maladaptive coping mechanisms, and laying the groundwork for a healthier, more resilient future. Tune in to empower the young individuals in your life with the tools to navigate life's challenges effectively. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today on #OverpoweringEmotions, listen in to my conversation with inspiring Naomi Reilly, a brain injury survivor who channeled her harrowing experience into becoming a beacon of change in children’s mental health and education reform. Listen in to hear about Naomi's powerful story of personal triumph, her advocacy for inclusive education, and her actionable strategies for fostering resilience in children. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom. Tune in to be empowered by Naomi's resilience and learn how to cultivate a mindset of growth and positivity in children. And be sure to check out all her FREE resources she talks about on the show: https://textpledge.us/teacher-resources/ Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Welcome to another episode of Overpowering Emotions. Over the past two weeks, Dr. Caroline introduced emotional intelligence, why it is so important for our children's overall well-being and future success, and the key skills they need to develop to strengthen their emotional intelligence. Today, Dr. Caroline is jumping into the practical strategies for nurturing and improving emotional intelligence in children and teens. Building emotional intelligence is about equipping children with the tools to recognize, understand, manage, and express their own emotions, as well as empathetically respond to the emotions of others. In this episode, she shares lots of ideas to achieve this. Be sure to tune in and choose at least one strategy to focus on this week to help strengthen children and teen’s emotional intelligence! Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today on Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline discusses the critical competencies essential for children's emotional development. Emotional self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy are examples of a few key components of emotional intelligence, and they play a pivotal role in fostering resilience in children and teens. Listen in to learn more and why they are crucial for children's success in life. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today on Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline continues the #JourneyofResilience by exploring Emotional Intelligence (EI) and its profound impact on children. Discover how EI empowers children to navigate the challenges of school, peer relationships, and everyday emotions with confidence. Through different stories, Dr. Caroline illustrates how children with high EI can thrive even in the face of adversity. Explore the pivotal role of EI in developing key skills while fostering empathy, strong social connections, and a positive self-image, laying the foundation for unwavering resilience. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Adversity in a child's life can play a significant role in fostering resilience and long-term success. When children face adversity, such as family problems, academic difficulties, or personal setbacks, it can have several positive effects on their development. In this powerful episode of Overpowering Emotions, we can see this adversity in action as we delve into the extraordinary life journey of our guest, Suraj Ethirajan. From growing up in Kuwait during the Gulf War to pursuing aerospace engineering dreams in the United States, Suraj’s life has been a rollercoaster of challenges and opportunities. Challenges and opportunities that we know are so critical for building resilience. This interview highlights the incredible resilience that has fueled Suraj’s success and how it can inspire all of us to overcome life's obstacles. There are several lessons for helping our children and teens strengthen their resilience you don’t want to miss out on, including:  Finding Support: The importance of our children learning how to seek and accept help from others during challenging times. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. As you will see from Suraj’s story, life is a team sport, and the people who support us play a crucial role in his journey.  Adaptability: The importance of strengthening their willingness to change and grow. We see Suraj’s ability to adapt and pivot when faced with unexpected obstacles, such as changing career paths, which highlights his resilience.  Creating a Safe Environment: Creating a safe space for oneself and others, allowing for open communication and trust-building is essential to foster resilience and collaboration. About Suraj Suraj Ethirajan is a career coach and founder of Grounow, helping tech professionals enhance their skills, become more employable, and achieve the rewards they deserve. He coaches both corporates and individuals, customizing the coaching they need and providing role-playing exercises to prepare them for the real world. He helped secure significant compensation increases for his clients and assisted them in overcoming their self-doubts, cognitive biases, and toxic work challenges. Being a refugee during the Kuwait invasion in 1990 shaped his life perspective. How to connect with Suraj Email: suraj@grounow.com. Website: www.grounow.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/@grounow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grounow?mibextid=D4KYlr Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

On Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline continues the #JourneyofResilience2024. What makes some children adept at bouncing back and even thriving from challenges while others in the same situation struggle? It's more than just natural tenacity; resilience is a complex interplay of skills, behaviours, and environmental influences. Dr. Caroline discusses how resilience manifests through a variety of traits, from the power of humour in coping to the critical role of problem-solving abilities. Discover the profound impact of autonomy, social competence, and having a sense of purpose. Learn how these traits not only help children navigate the immediate hurdles of childhood but also lay the groundwork for a resilient adulthood. Whether you're a parent, educator, or simply interested in child development, this episode offers valuable insights into nurturing the resilient warriors of the future. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Today on Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline continues the #JourneyofResilience2024 by discussing the foundational building blocks of resilience and how parents, schools, and communities can collaboratively nurture resilience in children and teens. From creating a safe and stable environment to fostering autonomy and independence, she covers the essential elements that contribute to resilient behaviour and a growth mindset. As always, this episode is a must-listen for anyone invested in guiding children towards a resilient, confident, and adaptable future. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Join us in the latest episode of Overpowering Emotions - the first of #JourneyofResilience2024. To start this journey, Dr. Carline talks about how moving beyond the conventional view of simply bouncing back from adversity and ensuring children thrive. Discover the multifaceted nature of resilience, encompassing emotional, psychological, social, and physical aspects. She discusses key frameworks to provide a comprehensive understanding of resilience. She also shares stories about how resilience manifests in the real world, leading to emotional growth, new skills, and a sense of purpose. Tune in to understand why resilience matters in every aspect of life and how it's a learned ability that we can all foster. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of resilience and its profound impact on children's and teens' lives. Be sure to check out her resource (a reflective dialogue guide). By regularly engaging in reflective dialogue, you can help children internalize the process of learning from adversity, laying a strong foundation for developing resilience. https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/reflectivedialogueguide/ Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

In this recast episode of Overpowering Emotions, as we continue our series on parental traps that exacerbate children's anxiety, I discuss conditional safety learning. I first discuss the generalizability of fears and how learned fears - even those not consciously remembered - can significantly influence a child's perception of safety and danger. Using relatable examples, like a fear of dogs stemming from an early bite or anxiety about visiting the dentist after a painful experience, I illustrate how our brain forms associations that contribute to anxiety. These associations often generalize, leading to broad, pervasive fears that extend beyond the initial trigger. This is where the concept of conditional safety learning becoms crucial. That is, where safety is understood only in specific contexts or in the presence of certain cues. This type of learning is highly context-dependent and does not generalize, posing challenges in treating anxiety effectively. I emphasize the importance of cultivating a sense of unconditional safety in children. I discuss strategies for breaking the cycle of 'yeah, buts' in safety learning and how to encourage a broader, more resilient understanding of safety that isn't tied to specific conditions or contexts. Listen in to gain insights into the complexities of fear and safety learning in children and how to approach these challenges to foster a healthier, more adaptable response to anxiety-provoking situations. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

In today's recast episode of Overpowering Emotions, I wanted to readdress the often-overlooked realm of safety behaviours and their impact on anxiety, especially in children and teens. Learn about how these behaviours, while seemingly helpful in the short term, can paradoxically worsen anxiety over time by reinforcing the belief that certain situations or feelings are unbearable without certain actions or objects. I discuss the subtle nuances of safety behaviours, from seemingly harmless acts like wearing a toque with built-in headphones to more overt actions like avoiding social interactions. The episode highlights the importance of distinguishing between healthy safety measures and those that perpetuate anxiety in safe situations. This is an important episode as I dive into the this complex web of avoidance, reassurance-seeking, and misattributed safety that traps many individuals in a cycle of anxiety. Join me as I help unravel the intricacies of these safety behaviours, offering insights and strategies to recognize and address these patterns in children and teens. This episode is a crucial listen for anyone seeking to understand and effectively manage anxiety, breaking free from the confines of safety behaviours to embrace a more empowered and resilient approach to life's challenges. In today's episode we look at safety behaviours and how they make anxiety worse. Essentially, safety behaviours are things children and teens do to feel a little safer and/or less anxious. The problem is, these behaviours reinforce the anxiety story that they can't handle the situation or the discomfort anxiety brings. Therefore, in any work we do, we must ensure there aren't safety behaviours impeding progress in managing anxiety. Be sure to download the safety behaviour handout (https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/safetybehaviours) to use with your anxious children and teens! Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

In today's episode, I continue back on the traps we fall into that inadvertently worsen children's anxiety. In today's recast, we focus on the counterintuitive concept that striving for relaxation can actually amplify anxiety. We unpack the paradox of 'trying' to relax when anxious and why making relaxation the goal can be problematic. In this episode, I discuss how emphasizing the reduction of anxiety may reinforce negative perceptions of anxiety as intolerable and needing to be fixed. Such attitudes can lead to a fear of anxiety, setting children up to view normal anxious feelings as failures, thus perpetuating a cycle of worry and hopelessness. Learn why controlling emotional responses, particularly in children, is not only unrealistic but can also be counterproductive. I explore strategies for managing anxiety, focusing on tolerance and understanding of anxious feelings as a normal, manageable, and integral part of the human experience. Tune in to learn why we need to shift the focus from eliminating anxiety to empowering kids to manage and tolerate it. I also have a FREE webinar for mental health professionals to learn more about the common mistakes we make that stall children's progress in managing anxiety. Be sure to check it out (https://koru-learning-institute.thinkific.com/courses/avoidingcommonmistakeswithanxiety) if you want to learn other ways we could be making anxiety worse. Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/