The Parent Hope Podcast

In this first Real Questions, Grounded Reflections episode, Jenny and David Brown slow down the conversation following the Parent Hope interview with Dr. Marshal Ballantine Jones. Together, they explore questions many parents are carrying: Is my child okay after what they’ve seen online? How do I talk about sexualised content without shame or panic? Is it too late to reset boundaries? With honesty, steadiness, and hope, this conversation offers grounded principles—not quick fixes—reminding parents that calm leadership, balanced love, and non-reactive boundaries can turn even painful moments into opportunities for growth. Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

When children are exposed to confronting sexualised online content, parents can be left reeling—worried about the impact, unsure what to do next, and tempted to jump into control mode. While Australia has now rolled out age restrictions for children and social media, much of the damage has already been done, leaving many families trying to work out how to respond. Yet children recover best when the adults around them restore their own steadiness first. When parents can respond calmly and with clarity, they create the secure space children need to make sense of what happened and re-establish healthy attitudes to sex and intimacy. In this episode, we speak with Dr Marshall Ballantine-Jones, a leading specialist in online sexualisation education with more than 25 years of experience supporting children, youth, and families. As CEO of DigiHelp Publishing, Marshall designs school-based programs that address the realities of online behaviour with honesty, compassion, and practical strategies. Together, we explore: This conversation offers reassurance for parents who feel overwhelmed, replacing fear-driven reactions with grounded confidence. Instead of trying to control every risk, parents can learn to steady themselves—so their children can recover well and continue developing with hope and resilience. Links https://digihelp.io/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshall-ballantine-jones-2096a933a/ 6 Principles for Parenting in a Porn Culture: https://resistministries.org/parents/ Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

In setting the tone for this repost, Jenny Brwon highlights why she thinks this conversation endures: Phil Klever’s long-term research shows that the most resilient families aren’t defined by perfect parenting but by steady, self-directed goals that anchor parents over the years. She underscores how small, thoughtful steps — rather than quick fixes — help parents stay less reactive, more connected, and more grounded in their role. Phillip Klever has conducted a remarkable 20-year study of 50 couples and their multigenerational families and has written 7 peer-reviewed journal articles about the study. https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-klever-8b360927/ Research https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Phillip-Klever Key article https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00120.x Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

In opening this repost, Jenny Brown highlights this episode as a standout for its clarity and compassion. Briony Scott’s reminder to see teens as emerging adults rather than fragile problems resonates deeply with parents feeling pressure to diagnose every wobble. Jenny lifts up the episode’s central idea: that parents can reduce anxiety — their own and their teen’s — by trusting development, staying thoughtful, and avoiding the contagious panic that often clouds adolescence today. Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/brionys/?originalSubdomain=au SMH article https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/briony-scott-the-surprising-sex-talk-sydney-s-most-respected-principal-gives-her-students-20241114-p5kqpd.html Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

In introducing this repost, Jenny Brown points to Dr Anne-Maree Bickerton’s lighthouse metaphor as one of the most transformative ideas for parents facing intense distress. She reflects on how the shift from fear-driven responses to calm, connected presence can immediately change the emotional climate. Jenny emphasises that steadiness — not control — is a parent’s greatest asset during moments of self-harm or heightened emotion. To watch the video mentioned – This is an excellent resource! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_B61YifyrM To read about the safety first model https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/anzf.1055 for more papers: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Annemaree-Bickerton-28411169 Dr Bickerton is the co-developer of the training: STAYING CONNECTED WHEN EMOTIONS RUN HIGH. Upcoming Workshops: https://www.islhd.health.nsw.gov.au/services-clinics/family-and-carer-mental-health-program-0/staying-connected-when-emotions-run-high Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

As Australia begins new social media age restrictions, many parents are feeling the pressure to tighten control or worry about what this shift will mean for their children. In this repost of Reclaiming Calm Leadership in the Digital World, Jenny Brown invites us to take a different starting point: effective leadership begins with managing ourselves, not our children. This episode offers a steady, practical perspective on staying calm, clarifying our values, and guiding our family thoughtfully through digital change. New Blog: https://parenthopeproject.com.au/australia-social-media-age-16-parenting-guide/ Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

The holidays can bring out our best—and our most anxious—selves. Therapist and author Dr. Kathleen Smith (True to You; Everything Isn’t Terrible) will join Jenny Brown to discuss staying kind and self-defined when those predictable family tensions rise. How can parents handle sensing disapproval, differing values, and “helpful” relatives without losing themselves—or their sense of humor? Dr. Smith draws on family systems thinking to share examples of managing one's own anxiety, showing up with more emotional maturity in front of our kids, and staying connected without falling into people-pleasing. Indeed, you can respect your family and stay true to yourself this holiday season. Quote: To live a life that is truer to you, it’s useful to understand the ways you lose self—the capacity to think and act as an individual—in a relationship system. Maybe you like to keep your relationships light and superficial, using distance to avoid any tension. Maybe you end up overfunctioning, directing everyone so you feel steady. Perhaps you’ve been quick to triangle other people into conflict, unsure of your own thinking. Smith, Dr Kathleen. True to You: A Therapist's Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself (p. 150). Books: https://kathleensmithwrites.com/books/true-to-you/ https://kathleensmithwrites.com/books/everything-isnt-terrible/ Newsletter – over 11,000 subscribers https://theanxiousoverachiever.substack.com/ Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

Grandparenting can be a gift—or a point of tension—depending on how generational differences are navigated. In this episode, Jenny Brown speaks with two special guests, Selden Illick and her daughter-in-law Alison Illick, about the subtle and powerful dynamics between grandparents, parents, and children. Drawing on Bowen family systems theory, they explore how patterns of anxiety, closeness, and loyalty ripple through three generations, and what differentiation looks like as adult children step into parenthood while their parents become grandparents. Listeners will hear real stories of family life and discover how understanding family systems theory can help shift well-meaning interference into meaningful support, so that the presence of grandparents strengthens, rather than strains, the family system. Parents will gain practical insight into setting boundaries, preserving their authority, and fostering healthier connections with grandparents while reducing tension at home. Selden Dunbar Illick founded the Princeton Family Center in 1987 based on Murray Bowen’s natural systems theory and is now Trustee Emerita of its educational branch. She has served on the Florida Family Research Network board and is active in the New England Study of Bowen Theory. Formerly in private practice in New Jersey and Florida (1983–2004), she now consults in Massachusetts, helping people apply Bowen theory to family, work, and social systems. A frequent presenter on the impact of unresolved childhood patterns, she recently contributed a chapter on emotional attachments and chronic illness in Death and Chronic Illness in the Family: Bowen Family Theory Perspectives. Alison Illick lives in New Haven, Connecticut with her husband, Christopher, and their four sons. A former New York City public school teacher with degrees from Columbia University, she later supported her husband’s medical practice in various roles. In recent years, she has studied Bowen theory at the Princeton Family Center for Education and the Bowen Center in Washington, DC. Alison finds the framework a valuable way to understand family and work systems and focuses on managing herself within them—an interest first sparked in college and later encouraged by her mother-in-law, Selden. Links Selden as a previous guest on our podcast https://parenthopeproject.com.au/podcasts/grandparenting-relationships/ The Princeton Family Center, New Jersey https://www.princetonfamilycenter.org/ Selden speaking on relevant topics https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=921333534908389 Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

As parents, our worries can quietly slip onto our children’s shoulders. But what if there’s another way? This Mental Health Month (in our State: NSW), the Parent Hope Podcast explores how parents can support children’s well-being by first steadying themselves. Jenny Brown, founder and director of the Parent Hope Project, and Lauren Errington, executive Director of The Family Systems Institute, draw on Bowen Family Systems Theory to unpack how parental worry - often inflamed by mental health messaging - can be projected onto kids and how parents can step out of those cycles. We’ll look at: * The 3 steps of projection: scanning, labelling, treating * How social messages about children’s mental health fuel worry * The difference between internalised worry and externalised conflict * Practical steps for leading with clarity instead of guilt Join us this Mental Health Month to discover how shifting from worry to hope can free both you and your child to grow with resilience. Jenny Brown bio link: https://parenthopeproject.com.au/about-us/ Lauren Errington bio https://www.thefsi.com.au/about/our-team/lauren-errington/ Find a Parent Hope Clinician https://parenthopeproject.com.au/find-a-parent-coach/ Lauren and Jenny’s recent article: Bowen family systems theory and practice: Illustration and critique revisited May 2024 Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (ANZJFT) 45(1) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381014808_Bowen_family_systems_theory_and_practice_Illustration_and_critique_revisited Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Briony Scott, renowned educator and advocate for young people, to unpack the growing tendency to pathologise normal teenage emotions. Are we too quick to label sadness as depression or worry as anxiety? Briony explores how this rush to intervene can sometimes do more harm than good—and what parents can do instead to raise emotionally resilient children. From navigating girlhood emotions to tackling toxic masculinity , this episode is an essential conversation for every parent raising teens today. Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/brionys/?originalSubdomain=au SMH article https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/briony-scott-the-surprising-sex-talk-sydney-s-most-respected-principal-gives-her-students-20241114-p5kqpd.html Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

This episode explores how parents can become confident, empowered partners in their child’s education. Through insights from an educator and head of student wellbeing, we unpack the real challenges both parents and teachers face when trying to connect—and what helps bridge the gap. You'll hear practical strategies for building trust, improving communication, and creating a shared sense of purpose between home and school as part of a broader commitment to student wellbeing. Jenny Brown in conversation with Lisa Chalmers : Director of Health & Wellbeing at Barker College. Lisa Chalmers is the Director of Health & Wellbeing at Barker College. Lisa’s role involves cultivating a whole-school approach to student and staff wellbeing, fostering a holistic, supportive and healthy School environment. Developing and implementing comprehensive health and wellbeing programs that cater to the diverse needs of students, staff, and the broader school community and serve to enable excellence, an environment where students and staff thrive, and families are engaged to work in partnership with the School. See Barker’s Parent Institute, which is for any parent, not just those in their school community. All are welcome. Parent Institute - The Barker Institute Home - The Barker Institute Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

How do you help teens to raise their own awareness to the impacts of their screen addictions and to motivate them to stop doing it if they're refusing or denying that the phone's the problem? In this follow up episode (see Episode 5), Vicki Wilkins and Jenny Brown respond to questions sent in at the end of a recent webinar. They offer practical advice, urging listeners to consider a shift from reactivity to presence - focussing on setting digital boundaries, rooted in values and not panic. If you're a parent, teacher or caregiver, this short episode will help round out the session from earlier this month, offering wisdom and healthier digital habits, through relationship-first leadership. Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

In this timely episode, facilitator Vicki Wilkins interviews Dr. Jenny Brown — founder of the Parent Hope Project — to explore how parents and educators can reclaim calm, confident leadership amidst the chaos of the digital age. Rather than focusing on fear-based data that leaves parents feeling overwhelmed or caught in rigid control efforts, Dr. Brown offers a refreshing perspective: real influence starts with self-management, not child-management. Through insights and practical examples from Differentiation-Based Parenting, she guides listeners in considering a shift from reactivity to presence—learning how to set digital boundaries rooted in values, not panic. Listeners will learn: Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver, this episode offers grounded wisdom for nurturing healthier digital habits through relationship-first leadership. Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

Bridging the Gap: Parents Relating Positively to their Child’s Mental Health Service In this episode, Jenny Brown and Dr Annemaree Bickerton explore how parents can effectively engage with mental health clinicians supporting their children. We discuss what parents can expect in terms of involvement, the different types of involvement that empower parents as key contributors to their child’s recovery, and how shared information builds trust. The episode also addresses the challenges parents may face, such as feeling intimidated by expert authority, and offers practical tips on how to ask for meaningful collaboration. Finally, we touch on the limitations of the medical model in mental health care and why a more relational, inclusive approach benefits families. Dr Bickerton is the co-developer of the training: STAYING CONNECTED WHEN EMOTIONS RUN HIGH. Listen to a previous episode with Dr Annemaree https://parenthopeproject.com.au/podcasts/staying-connected-when-emotions-run-high/ And read this blog: https://parenthopeproject.com.au/time-to-de-medicalise-childrens-mental-health-2023/ For professional training, go to: https://parenthopeproject.com.au/training-for-professionals/ Train to use the Parent Hope Manualised Program, a research-based clinical intervention for those working with parents, families and in children’s mental health. Support overwhelmed parents to address their own self-regulation, to support their children’s wellbeing. The manualised program provides a map for parents to discover ways they can change their part in dynamics to support their young person’s development of self-regulation, balanced relationship connection and independence. Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

In this episode, we explore a modern parenting paradox: how to be a supportive parent without overdoing it. Joining us again is researcher and family systems therapist Phil Kelver from Kansas, USA, sharing insights from his 20-year study of 50 families. Together, we unpack his fascinating research about the effects of over-investing in our children, how parents can spot the subtle signs of doing too much, and what it takes to find a healthier balance in today's high-pressure parenting culture. A thoughtful, eye-opening conversation for anyone navigating the fine line between care and control. We explore: What the data reveals about over-investment and its impact on both kids and parents Subtle signs that you might be overdoing it—and how to spot them in your daily life Practical insights to help you stay engaged without becoming enmeshed The real-world pressures making it hard for parents to step back, and how to navigate them with confidence Whether you’re a parent, educator, or just curious about the changing dynamics of modern family life, this episode offers thoughtful reflection and guidance on finding that elusive middle ground. Tune in for a conversation that’s honest, research-informed, and full of takeaways to help you parent with clarity—not anxiety. Phillip Klever has conducted a remarkable 20-year study of 50 couples and their multigenerational families and has written 7 peer-reviewed journal articles about the study. https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-klever-8b360927/ Research https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Phillip-Klever Key article https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00120.x Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

Discovering that your child is self-harming is understandably fear- inducing for any parent. Drawing on Bowen family systems theory, PHP invites parents to consider first how they are responding when safety fears are raised – rather than focusing on the details of the self-harm and diagnoses. In this podcast Jenny Brown interviews leading Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Annemaree Bickerton about parenting when a child is self-harming. They cover some of these questions: What are the different ways parents might respond to a child’s cutting? How can we make sense of young people’s self-harm? What do you think it helps for parents to be aware of? How can parents contribute to a child's safety without removing their child’s agency? What are your thoughts on helpful parent and young person conversations about suicide risks? Previous podcast with Annemaree Bickerton: https://parenthopeproject.com.au/podcasts/staying-connected-when-emotions-run-high/ To watch the video mentioned – This is an excellent resource! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_B61YifyrM To read about the safety first model https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/anzf.1055 for more papers: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Annemaree-Bickerton-28411169 Dr Bickerton is the co-developer of the training: STAYING CONNECTED WHEN EMOTIONS RUN HIGH. Upcoming Workshops: https://www.islhd.health.nsw.gov.au/services-clinics/family-and-carer-mental-health-program-0/staying-connected-when-emotions-run-high Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

Goal setting – how parents setting applicable goals helps a family to function In this first episode of 2025, Jenny Brown interviews Philip Klever, a clinician and researcher from Kansas City in the USA. Philip describes his research and what it reveals about the variations in what goals parents set and together they explore how goal settings and principles are connected for parents. In the Parent Hope programs, parents are asked to consider their principles when deciding on their position. Jenny asks the question: how are principles and goals related and are applicable goals related to parents being aware of their job description? Philip Klever has conducted a remarkable 20-year study of 50 couples and their multigenerational families and has written 7 peer-reviewed journal articles about the study. https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-klever-8b360927/ Research https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Phillip-Klever Key article https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00120.x Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

In this rebroadcasted episode, from Season 2 Episode 7, Jenny is back in the hosting seat with guest Dan Papero. Dr Jenny Brown draws on Dan’s rich experience as a Bowen family systems scholar, teacher and clinician. They explore how our families are both the seedbed for symptoms and a garden of recovery. They explore how parents can contribute to their family becoming a garden for the sustainable growth and flourishing of its members – including its children. This conversation builds on Dr Papero’s keynote addresses at the 21st Family Systems Institute Conference. https://www.thefsi.com.au/ About the Guest: Dan Papero is a senior faculty member from the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington, DC. Learn more about Dan’s and his work here: https://www.thebowencenter.org/ https://www.thebowencenter.org/faculty-bios/daniel-papero Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

In this Rebroadcast of Season 2, Episode 5, the tables are turned! Michelle Varcoe, interviews Dr Jenny Brown to discuss: To hear more about Michelle go to Season 2 Episode 4 or see links below. About Dr Jenny Brown: Dr Jenny Brown has over 35 years of clinical experience in child, couple, and family health. Her primary clinical and research interest has been in Child and adolescent mental health and parent’s involvement in treatment. This has been reflected in her publications, conference and workshop presentations and her PhD research on parents’ experience of their child’s mental health treatment. The Parent Hope project has been developed from this critical research. Jenny’s most recent book is Facilitating Parents’ Agency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Helplessness to Hope – published by Cambridge Scholars. https://parenthopeproject.com.au/about-jenny-brown About Michelle Varcoe: Michelle is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has worked across various Child and Adolescent Mental Health teams within NSW Health, and has extensive experience in supporting families who have a child/adolescent presenting with moderate-severe mental health issues https://thefsp.com.au/parent-programs https://thefsp.com.au/michelle-varcoe/ Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

Recent studies have found that several of these programs not only failed to help young people but also made their mental health problems worse. Jenny shares some thoughts about this and links it to the Bowen family system ideas of how focusing on a problem in a person can actually project or amplify that problem. Note: some of the research quoted is discussed in this NY Time article by Darby Saxbe professor of psychology at the University of Southern California https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/18/opinion/teenagers-mental-health-treatment.html# Here is an example of a study that Jenny refers to in this episode. The journal Behaviour Research and Therapy: Behaviour Research and Therapy Volume 169, October 2023, a study of 1,071 Australian teenagers who were observed from 2017 to 2018. Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600 Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600