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In Episode 53 of Teens: No Cap, host Charity Chaffee sits down with therapist Alyssa Desroches to explore the intersection of neurodivergence, trauma, and EMDR therapy in teenagers. They dive deep into why "high-performing" and high-masking neurodivergent teens are often missed, the vital difference between oppositional behavior and nervous system overwhelm, and how compounded "small t" traumas impact a teen's daily life.
Alyssa shares her expertise as a virtual therapist across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, specializing in neurodivergence, high performance, burnout, and complex trauma. Together, they explain why EMDR can be incredibly effective and fast-acting for teens compared to adults, and how teens uniquely build safety and resources in therapy—often centering around the powerful theme of "freedom".
In this episode, we cover:
✨Spotting Neurodivergence: How autism and ADHD frequently go under the radar in high-performing teens, often presenting as extreme exhaustion or emotional shutdown at the end of the day.
✨Behavior vs. Nervous System: How to differentiate between a teen making an oppositional choice and an involuntary nervous system reaction.
✨EMDR for Teens: Why EMDR often works faster for teenagers, taking advantage of their brain plasticity to build a healthy foundation before adulthood.
✨Creative Resourcing: How EMDR resourcing looks different for teens, shifting away from peaceful landscapes and focusing on objects, role models, or symbols of independence like a first car.
✨Care Collaboration: The importance of properly preparing parents for shifts in their teen's behavior during EMDR processing.
✨Provider Teamwork: How specialized therapists can effectively collaborate with a teen's primary talk therapist to tackle recurring behavioral themes and stuck points.
Follow Alyssa:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/alyssa-desroches-neurodivergent-burnout-newington-ct/1223593
Alyssa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedoftruthcounseling/
Website: https://seedoftruthcounseling.com/
Join the Teens Uncharted Community:
Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/
Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/
Like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757
Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/
#teentherapy #Neurodivergence #EMDR #AutismInTeens #ADHD #TeensNoCap #CharityChaffee #MentalHealthPodcast #TraumaTherapy #ParentingTeens -
Welcome back to another episode of the Teens: No Cap! In Episode 51, host Charity Chaffee sits down with Laura Chackes, a psychologist and owner of the Center for Mindfulness and CBT in St. Louis, Missouri. Laura specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs).
In this important conversation, we explore the heavily stigmatized and under-recognized world of BFRBs. Laura sheds light on how parents and clinicians can identify these conditions, reduce client shame, and implement effective, compassionate treatment strategies.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:
✨What are BFRBs?: Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors include hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking (excoriation disorder), and other behaviors like cheek or nail biting.
✨The Hidden Struggle: Teens often experience intense shame and go to great lengths to hide their BFRBs using clothing, makeup, or fake eyelashes.
✨BFRBs vs. Self-Harm: While self-harm generally involves an intent to cause pain to regulate emotions, BFRBs are typically self-soothing or stimulating behaviors where the harm caused is unintentional.
✨What Not to Say: Telling a teen to simply "stop" their behavior is entirely ineffective and will likely only increase defensiveness or secrecy.
✨Approaching Treatment: Effective therapy starts with mindfulness and self-compassion to manage the shame before trying to change the behavior itself.
✨Redefining Recovery: The goal of BFRB treatment is not necessarily complete cessation of the behavior, but rather managing it so it no longer disrupts the teen's life.
Connect with Laura Chackes:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/laura-chackes-saint-louis-mo/66259
https://www.instagram.com/laurachackes/
Facebook Support Group: Search for "Overcoming Skin Picking and Hair Pulling Help for BFRBs".
Join the Teens Uncharted Community:
Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/
Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/
Like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757
Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/
#TeensNoCap #LauraChackes #BFRB #SkinPicking #HairPulling #Trichotillomania #Dermatillomania #TeenMentalHealth #TherapistResources #ParentingTeens #SelfCompassion -
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Are you struggling to connect with your teenager, or wondering why they seem totally shut down? In Episode 50 of Teens: No Cap, we dive deep into the unfiltered reality of teen mental health and how families can break cycles of generational trauma.
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we sit down with licensed social worker Tatyana White to explore what really goes on in therapy sessions with kids ages nine and up. She shares her authentic approach as a queer person of color and mom , explaining why being a "yes person" simply doesn't work with teenagers. We tackle heavy topics like the compound stress placed on parentified children , the importance of holding parents accountable for behavior changes , and why "radical acceptance" is sometimes the only way forward in difficult environments. Plus, you'll hear practical tips for building communication, like using Disney movies to talk about feelings and creating a "Dictionary of Me" with your kids.
Connect with Tatyana White:
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/tatyana-white-moorestown-nj/1447705
Instagram: @thrivingwithtaty
Join the Teens Uncharted Community:
Clinicians Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/
Parents Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/
Facebook Page: Like Us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757
Skool Community: Join us in Skool https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about
Instagram: Follow us @teens.uncharted https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/
#TeensUncharted #TeenMentalHealth #ParentingTeens #GenerationalTrauma #Parentification #FamilyBoundaries #TeenTherapy #ParentingAdvice -
Welcome back to another episode of Teens: No Cap! In Episode 49, host Charity Chaffee, LMHC, sits down with Sarah Evert, LICSW, a clinical social worker and private practice owner based in Minnetonka, MN. Both Charity and Sarah are fiercely passionate about specializing exclusively in adolescents, and they break down exactly why teens require a completely different therapeutic approach than adults or younger children.
In this episode, we dive into:
🎧Why traditional 9-to-5 therapy scheduling doesn't work for busy, burnt-out high schoolers balancing sports, jobs, and AP classes.
🎧How the "pressure and release" method of training wild Mustangs perfectly mirrors the journey of parenting and building trust with teenagers.
🎧The importance of collaborating with parents instead of treating therapy like an "us vs. them" battle.
🎧Why practicing unconditional positive regard—and allowing teens to unmask, even if it means swearing in session—builds essential trust.
🎧Charity’s signature "-10 to +10" scale for harm reduction and helping high-risk teens shed shame around their choices.
🎧Sarah's creative interventions, including using customized music playlists to help teens process messy breakups and grief.
🎧Reframing the pressure of "practice makes perfect" for students, because perfection is just an opinion.
Connect with our Guest:
Sarah Evert operates her private practice in Minnetonka and maintains a thoroughly vetted mental health provider referral list for families in Minnesota. https://www.instagram.com/s.e.e.psychotherapy/
https://seepsychotherapy.com/
Join the Community:
Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/
Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/
Like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757
Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/
#TeenTherapy #MentalHealthPodcast #TeensNoCap #ParentingTeens #HarmReduction #SocialWork #AdolescentTherapy #LICSW #LMHC #MentalHealthAwareness -
In this episode of Teens: No Cap, host Charity Chaffee, LMHC, sits down with board-certified art therapist and licensed counselor Lindsey Jonin to break down the transformative power of creativity in therapy.
Many parents and even clinicians wonder: What is the actual difference between a certified art therapist and someone who just uses art activities in a session? Lindsey unpacks this hot topic, explains why there are no "universal meanings" for colors, and shares how to avoid assumption traps when looking at a teen's creative work.
We also dive into:
✅Process over Product: Why your teen doesn't need to be a "fine artist" to benefit from art therapy.
✅Handling Pushback: How to talk to parents who think doing art in session isn't "real therapy".
✅Therapeutic Materials: Why fluid mediums like watercolor can actually cause dysregulation, and what to use instead.
✅Altered Books & Blackout Poetry: Cheap, accessible ways to introduce tactile creativity to teens.
✅Lindsey’s Journey: From struggling academically in high school to owning a successful private practice.
Whether you are a provider looking to expand your toolkit, a parent trying to connect with your teenager, or a student interested in the field of art therapy, this conversation is packed with authentic, actionable insights.
🔗 Connect with Lindsey Jonin:
🙌Workshops & Consultation: http://abstractandaligned.com/
🙌Clinical Practice & Supervision: Lilly Counseling and Art Therapy (Bordentown, NJ)
🙌Email: [email protected]
Join the Community:
🔗Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/
🔗Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/
🔗Like our Facebok Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757
🔗Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about
🔗Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/
#arttherapy #TeenMentalHealth #TherapistPodcast #ParentingTeens #CreativeHealing #MentalHealthMatters -
In episode 47 of Teens: No Cap, host and licensed Massachusetts mental health counselor Charity Chaffee tackles some of the most complex questions surrounding teen mental health. When dealing with high-risk behaviors, do coping skills actually work?
Designed as a resource for both clinicians and parents, this episode dives deep into effective strategies for supporting treatment-resistant teenagers who have already been through various treatment facilities. Charity challenges the traditional approach of simply handing out a list of coping skills to "fix" a problem. Instead, she introduces her "negative 10 to positive 10" scale—where a negative 10 represents death—to help contextualize and understand the full range of teen coping mechanisms.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:
🚨Why stripping away a teen's existing coping mechanisms without understanding the root cause can be detrimental.
🚨How adults and professionals should react with curiosity instead of panic or shame when a teenager discloses self-harm.
🚨Applying a harm reduction philosophy to high-risk behaviors by focusing on making a situation just 1% better.
🚨Why natural hobbies, such as playing an instrument or joining a sports team, are fundamentally powerful coping skills.
🚨The importance of reframing relapse as a vital learning opportunity rather than a personal failure.
Join the Teens Uncharted Community:
🔗Website & Mailing List: Visit https://www.teensuncharted.com/ to stay updated on new recordings and announcements.
🔗For Parents: Join our free Facebook group [ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/ ] to access parent get-togethers, support, and trainings.
🔗For Therapists: Connect with our specialized Facebook community [ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/ ] for clinicians working with teenagers.
🔗Like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757
🔗Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about
Don't forget to like, follow, and subscribe for more insights into navigating the teen years!
#teenmentalhealth #SelfHarmAwareness #HarmReduction #ParentingTeens #TherapistTips #CopingSkills #TeensNoCap #TeenTherapy #MentalHealthPodcast #TreatmentResistantTeens -
Welcome back to another episode of Teens No Cap with your host, Charity Chaffee! In this episode, we sit down with Jason Kelley, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, to discuss the unique experiences and mental health challenges faced by teenagers in military families.
Jason brings an incredible blend of lived and professional experience to our coffee chat. After serving in the military for 17 years and working in mental health for the latter half of his career, Jason opened his own practice, Your Way Therapy, where he focuses on military members, veterans, and their families. Today, we unpack the realities behind the "resilient military brat" stereotype, the hurdles of deployment and reintegration, and how to best support military families.
In this episode, we discuss:
✨The Cost of Resiliency: While military children are known for being resilient, they often mask their true emotions or act as overachievers to keep their family stable during difficult times.
✨The Complexities of Deployment: Beyond just deployments, military kids face the stress of constant relocations, long hours, and temporary duty assignments (TDYs) that frequently disrupt their lives and friendships.
✨The "Reintegration" Phase: Jason explains that a deployed parent returning home is often harder on the family than the deployment itself, as everyone must adjust to shifted routines and changing family dynamics.
✨Parental Shame: The stay-at-home caregivers often struggle with feelings of shame or inadequacy when they can't manage their child's severe mental health issues on their own.
✨Advice for Therapists: Providers must take the time to understand military culture and avoid putting the service member on a pedestal, ensuring they equally recognize the profound sacrifices made by the family at home.
Jason Kelley's Practice: https://ywtherapy.clientsecure.me/#home
Join the Teens Uncharted Community:
Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/
Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/
Like our Facebok Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757
Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/
#MilitaryTeens #TeenMentalHealth #MilitaryFamilies #TeensNoCap #DeploymentSupport #MilitarySpouse #TherapistTips #MentalHealthAwareness #MilitaryBrat #ChildPsychology -
Welcome back to Teens: No Cap! In episode 45, licensed mental health counselor Charity Chaffee shares her top insights from day two of a specialized teen therapy conference.
In this episode, we cover:
🎙️Rethinking Tech Use: Why it is more important to understand the how and why of a teen's screen usage rather than simply tracking their time limit.
🎙️Guides, Not Guards: Exploring presenter Chris Conley's concept of transitioning from managing your child to mentoring them as they grow into teens.
🎙️The Reality of Consequences: Why consequences should focus on steering teens in the right direction as a learning opportunity, rather than validating an adult's feelings about the behavior.
🎙️Reframing Rebellion: Understanding that what looks like rebellion is often just a teen's attempt to gain autonomy, build independence, and trust their own intuition.
🎙️The Power of Community: Why teen therapists need dedicated consultation spaces and how we are only as strong as our weakest link.
Whether you are a clinician looking to evolve your skill set or a parent navigating high-risk behaviors, you deserve a community that understands this unique population.
Join the Community:
Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/
Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/
Like our Facebok Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757
Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/
#teensnocap #TeenTherapy #ParentingTeens #TeenMentalHealth #TherapistCommunity #GuidesNotGuards #TeensUncharted -
Hey everybody, welcome back to episode 44 of Teens: No Cap! I’m your host, Charity Chaffee, a licensed mental health counselor in Massachusetts who specializes exclusively in treating teenagers. In this episode, I’m coming to you straight from Pennsylvania after an exciting Day 1 at the Teen Therapy Conference run by Katie Kates May. It's been a long day and I am tired, but I couldn't wait to share my raw, bullet-point notes and biggest takeaways from today's incredible presentations!
Here are some of the game-changing "nuggets of information" from today's experts:
Regulation & Safety: Regulation isn't always calm, and ensuring safety is the actual treatment. Before you can get regulation within a teenager, you have to establish regulation with them.Reframing Trauma: Trauma is what happens in the nervous system, not just the incident itself.The Truth About Resistance: Teen resistance is really just a data point, and it is actually a powerful developmental milestone for building autonomy.Student Athletes: A massive 90% of athletes identify their coach as their biggest role model. Unfortunately, sports culture frequently normalizes emotion suppression.High-Conflict Divorce & Policies: When managing high-conflict cases, providers must be brave, because being too risk-averse creates a barrier to competent care. Practice policies are the structure for your practice and are different from consents for treatment.Self-Harm vs. Repetitive Behaviors: Body-focused repetitive behavior should absolutely be assessed, but it is not actually self-harm.Shame & Secrecy: Shame is a relational wound, and secrecy functions as a supportive behavior. If a parent or therapist's response increases a teen's shame, it almost guarantees that their behavior will become more secretive.We have to remember that teens deserve their own specialized treatment category because they aren't just little adults, and they shouldn't be lumped in with children!
Stay tuned for Part 2 next week after Day 2 of the conference!
#TeenTherapy #MentalHealthCounseling #ParentingTeens #StudentAthletes #TraumaInformed #TeensNoCap #JerriChafee #TherapistTips #MentalHealthAwareness #TeenMentalHealth
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Welcome back to Teens No Cap! I'm your host, Charity Chafee, a licensed mental health counselor specializing in teens and their families.
Today, I am absolutely jazzed to welcome Jamie Roberts to the show! Jamie is a California-based LMFT who specializes in working with neurodivergent teens and young adults (ADHD, autism, learning differences, and anxiety). She joins us to discuss her incredible new book, Neurodiversity for Teen Girls, and share her own journey of receiving a late diagnosis of AuDHD in her thirties.
In this episode, we dive deep into:
✅The Diagnostic Gap: Exploring why 80% of autistic girls do not receive a diagnosis by age 18.
✅The Phone Battery Analogy: A highly relatable update to the traditional "spoon theory" that helps teens effectively communicate their daily energy levels.
✅Redefining Self-Harm: Why we need to start viewing self-harm as a form of "pain regulation" for dopamine-deprived brains.
✅Harm Reduction Strategies: How to implement "distract and delay" techniques to keep teens safe, rather than relying on abstinence-only approaches that don't work.
✅Finding Yourself in Fiction: A look at the six crystal-named archetypes in Jamie's book (like Citrine, Onyx, and Emerald) that help neurodivergent teens feel seen and understood.
Resources & Links Mentioned:
✨Jamie's New Book: Neurodiversity for Teen Girls [https://a.co/d/04DEEBbR]
✨Jamie's First Book: Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1638783829]
✨Neuroaffirming Clinical Trainings: Check out Neuropebble! [https://www.linkedin.com/company/neuropebble-corp/posts/]
✨Follow Jamie Everywhere: @NeuroDivergentTherapist [https://www.instagram.com/neurodivergenttherapist/]
✨ Visit Teens Uncharted Website: https://www.teensuncharted.com/
✨ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/
#Neurodiversity #AutismInGirls #ADHD #HarmReduction #TeenMentalHealth #TeensNoCap #ParentingTeens #JamieRobertsLMFT -
Working with teenagers isn't the same as working with children or adults. Because of their unique brain development, teenagers are their own distinct clinical subspecialty.
In Episode #40 of Teens: No Cap, licensed mental health counselor Charity Chaffee breaks down the critical standards of care required for working effectively with adolescents. If you want to offer better scaffolding and support to your teen clients and navigate family dynamics with confidence, these are the practices you need to implement.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
✨Parent Involvement: Why treating a teen in a vacuum doesn't work and how to include regulated parents at regular intervals.
✨The Intake Process: The importance of holding completely separate intake sessions for teens and parents.
✨Customized Paperwork: Why teens need their own tailored intake packets and policies written in language they can understand.
✨Wraparound Support: How attending school meetings (like IEPs and 504s) gives you a greater sense of the landscape your clients face.
✨Clear Boundaries: Setting firm, written policies for texting, outside contact, and mandated reporting.
✨Tracking Progress: Using quarterly check-in forms to give teens a safe, alternative way to disclose difficult behaviors like self-harm.
Connect & Learn More:
Website: https://www.teensuncharted.com/
Provider Community: Join our free Skool community for professionals who love working with teens
https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about
Upcoming Training: Join the Harm Reduction Training on April 10th
#teentherapy #MentalHealthCounselor #TeensNoCap #StandardsOfCare #TherapistTips #AdolescentMentalHealth #ClinicalPractice #PrivatePractice #TherapistCommunity #ParentingTeens -
Welcome back to Teens No Cap! In episode 39, we are tackling a heavy but crucial topic for March, which is Self-Harm Awareness Month. Self-harm is still a very taboo subject today, and there are many misconceptions about what it actually is. As a licensed mental health counselor specializing in high-risk teens, I want to share a different perspective on how we approach and treat self-injury.
Here is what we cover in tonight's episode:
💡We expand the definition of self-harm beyond traditional cutting or burning to include disordered eating, substance abuse, and high-risk sex practices.
💡We discuss how self-harm is often an attempt to manage an internal state and self-preserve through means the person has control over.
💡I explain why asking a teen "why" they self-harm is unhelpful because it puts them in a state of defense and forces them to justify their coping skills.
💡We explore the alternative of asking "what is that like for you?" to foster collaboration and curiosity.
💡I break down why telling someone to "just stop" ignores the reality that the behavior has become a predictable, comforting friend to them.
💡We look at recovery through the lens of micro-steps, focusing on building behavioral scaffolding rather than expecting overnight healing.
💡We discuss how relapse is a normal part of the process and a learning opportunity, not a failure.
If you are a clinician treating teens, don't forget to join the free school community for monthly case consultations and private practice building sessions.
Don't forget to like, follow, and subscribe!
#TeensNoCap #SelfHarmAwarenessMonth #HarmReduction #TeenMentalHealth #TherapyForTeens #MentalHealthCounseling #ParentingTeens #HighRiskTeens #TherapistLife -
Is your health journey impacting your teen’s body image?
In Part 2 of our deep dive into GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic and Wegovy), Charity Chaffee, LMHC, and Dr. Emily Gordon, Psy.D., explore the complex "spiderweb" of parenting while on a weight-loss journey. As GLP-1s become a cultural movement, many parents are left wondering: Should I tell my teenager?.
In this episode, we discuss the "Great Untangling"—the process of separating your health decisions from your teen’s developing identity. We cover how to handle accusations of hypocrisy, why "do as I say, not as I do" fails with observant teens, and how to maintain family rituals when your eating habits change.
In this episode, we discuss:
✨The Narrative Shift: Why it’s safer for your teen to get the story from you than from an AI or Google.
✨Developmental Risks: Why GLP-1s are a different conversation for a developing teen brain versus an adult.
✨Family Rituals: How to keep the "connection" at the dinner table even if your appetite has changed.
✨Body Positivity vs. Acceptance: Helping teens navigate a culture preoccupied with thinness while making your own health choices.
✨Authentic Parenting: Being "messy and grey" instead of perfect to deepen your relationship.
About Our Guest:
Dr. Emily Gordon is a licensed psychologist (MA, VT, CT, FL) specializing in adolescents, young adults, and eating disorder prevention.
#GLP1 #ParentingTeens #BodyImage #Ozempic #Wegovy #EatingDisorderPrevention #TeensNoCap #DrEmilyGordon #MentalHealth #BodyAcceptance #WeightLossJourney -
Happy Friday! In this episode of Teens No Cap, host and licensed mental health counselor Charity Chaffee dives deep into the "lens" she uses in her specific practice: Harm Reduction.
Many parents and providers struggle with the shift between childhood and teenhood, often defaulting to a demand for compliance. Charity explains why a "hard no" often backfires and how shifting the locus of control from compliance to support can actually keep your teen safer.
In this episode, we cover:
📌What Harm Reduction Is (and Isn't): It’s not about condoning high-risk behavior; it’s about safety, problem-solving, and keeping the conversation open.
📌The Power of 1%: How micro-changes and "analytical improvements" lead to long-term growth and success.
📌Autonomy vs. Secrecy: Why providing "scaffolding" prevents teens from "claming up" or engaging in dangerous behaviors in secret.
📌Radical Acceptance: Facing the reality of consequences (like STIs, pregnancy, or substance use) without living in a world of denial.
📌The Change Process: Understanding the cycles of collapse, learning, and growth.
"Your kid is going to fuck up. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when." Learn how to be the source of support they need when it happens.
Connect with Charity:
If you’re a parent or provider interested in learning how to apply harm reduction to your work or home life, reach out!
https://www.teensuncharted.com/
https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/
Subscribe for more episodes on navigating the uncharted waters of teenhood.
#TeensNoCap #HarmReduction #ParentingTeens #TeenMentalHealth #AdolescentTherapy #CollaborativeParenting #MentalHealthCounselor #TeensUncharted #ParentingTips #Scaffolding -
Is it "all in their head," or is something else going on?
In this episode of Teens: No Cap, Charity Chaffee sits down with Destiny Davis, LPC, CRC, a specialist in counseling people with physical and mental disabilities. Together, they dive deep into the pervasive issue of chronic illness in teenagers—an often invisible struggle that is frequently misidentified as "just anxiety."
In this episode, we discuss:
✨The Diagnosis Gap: Why it takes an average of 7 to 10 years for many (especially females) to receive a proper diagnosis.
✨The Power of Validation: Why believing your teen’s symptoms (like chronic stomach pain) is the first step to preventing further trauma.
✨Parenting with Distress Tolerance: Learning how to manage your own fears so you can better advocate for your child in school and medical settings.
✨ACT for Chronic Illness: How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps teens separate their identity from their symptoms and live a value-driven life.
✨Medical Gaslighting: Destiny shares her personal story of growing up with a parent dismissed by the medical system and how that shaped her career.
About Our Guest:
Destiny Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor based in Atlanta, GA. She specializes in working with individuals navigating the intersection of mental health and chronic physical conditions.
Website: https://www.thechronicillnesstherapist.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.chronicillnesstherapists/
Follow and Visit Us:
Website: https://www.teensuncharted.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/
#ChronicIllness #TeenMentalHealth #ParentingTeens #InvisibleIllness #MedicalGaslighting #TherapyForTeens #ACTTherapy #DisabilityAwareness #MentalHealthMatters -
Welcome to our Valentine's Day chat on all things teen relationships! Whether you are a parent supporting your teen's first relationship or navigating the preteen dating years, this episode is for you.
It can be tempting for parents to say, "No dating until college!". However, if teens don't date now, they often end up navigating their first serious relationships in college without the supervision, guidance, or feedback of a parent. In this episode, we discuss why teen relationships shouldn't be dismissed, but rather viewed as the groundwork and foundation for future adult relationships.
In This Episode, We Cover:
✨The Danger of Abstinence-Only Dating: Why forbidding teens from dating means they miss out on learning healthy dynamics while they still have a safety net.
✨The "Fall in Love and Be Done" Myth: How media like The Summer I Turned Pretty and My Life with the Walter Boys sets unrealistic expectations that love is simply found, rather than actively maintained.
✨Defining the Code Words: How to help teens break down vague words like "trust" into actionable concepts like consistency, transparency, and communication.
✨The Power of Neutrality: Why parents must remain neutral and curious, avoiding the trap of either demonizing a teen's partner or glorifying them as "perfect".
✨Teen Couples Counseling?: Why addressing conflict resolution, needs, and attachment in teen relationships could prevent them from routinely needing to heal trauma in their 20s and 30s.
Connect with Us:
Instagram: @teens.uncharted
Website: www.teensuncharted.com
www.raisingvibrance.com
#TeenRelationships #ParentingTeens #TeenMentalHealth #TeensNoCap #ValentinesDay #DatingAdvice #TeenTherapy #HealthyRelationships #TrustAndCommunication #ParentingTips -
In this powerful episode, Haley Moss—autistic attorney, author, and neurodiversity advocate—joins Teens Uncharted for a deep conversation about autism, neurodivergence, and supporting teens through self-discovery and advocacy.
We explore:
🔹 The pressure to constantly achieve and how to enjoy the journey
🔹 Navigating autism and neurodiversity in school, work, and relationships
🔹 Parenting teens with empathy, flexibility, and acceptance
🔹 Disability neutrality vs. the “superpower” narrative
🔹 How to advocate for yourself and your teen in IEP meetings and beyond
🔹 The importance of community, communication, and self-acceptance
Whether you’re a teen exploring your own neurodivergence, a parent learning how to support your child, or an educator wanting to create more inclusive spaces—this episode is packed with insight, validation, and hope.
Connect with Haley Moss:
https://haleymoss.com/
Teens Uncharted Platform:
www.teensuncharted.com
📢 Subscribe for more honest conversations about teens, mental health, and growing up in today’s world.
#TeensNoCap #Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #TeenMentalHealth #NeurodivergentTeens #ParentingTeens #IEP #DisabilityAdvocacy #AutismAwareness #HaleyMoss #TeensUncharted #InclusiveParenting #SelfAdvocacy #TeenTherapy #ActuallyAutistic #DisabilityNeutrality -
What do you do when your teen says they don't want to go to college? In this episode, host Charity Chaffee talks with Cathy Tallone, founder of The Non-College Blueprint: Finding Futures That Fit. They discuss how to navigate this pivotal decision without shame, build a practical and fulfilling alternative path, and support your teen's confidence, values, and network.
Cathy shares her personal journey, the "stackable skills" approach, and actionable steps for parents feeling lost or anxious about their teen's future beyond traditional education.
In this episode, we cover:
🔹Why the "college or bust" mindset is outdated
🔹How to respond when your teen rejects the college path
🔹The 3 key pillars for building a non-college future: Values, Confidence, and Networking
🔹Real-world examples of alternative paths and "stackable skills"
🔹Reducing parent anxiety and rebuilding the parent-teen relationship around this choice
Connect with Cathy Tallone:
Email: [email protected]
Free Facebook Group: Non-College Teens
Book a complimentary call or explore coaching packages
Follow Teens Uncharted:
@teens.uncharted
www.teensuncharted.com
Timestamps:
00:00 Preview & Intro
01:05 Cathy’s Intro & The Non-College Blueprint
06:23 The Problem with the "College Blueprint"
11:10 Building a Bridge Instead of Shame
18:21 How Parents Should Respond
23:37 The 3 Pillars: Values, Confidence, Networking
34:50 Expanding Options Beyond Trades
44:27 A World of Opportunities Without a Degree
51:55 Purpose Building & The Boy Mom Perspective
55:50 How to Work with Cathy & Closing
#TeensUncharted #NonCollege #ParentingTeens #AlternativeCareer #TeenMentalHealth #FuturePlanning #Homeschool #Worldschool #ParentingAdvice #LifeCoach #EducationAlternatives #TeenSupport #CollegeAlternatives #SkillsOverDegree #GenZ #Parenting -
In this important first installment of a two-part series, Dr. Emily Gordon returns to Teens: No Cap to discuss the rise of GLP-1 medications and their impact on teen mental health, body image, and eating behaviors. We dive into the history of these drugs, their shift from diabetes treatment to widespread weight loss use, and the serious risks they pose for adolescent development.
🔍 In this episode, we cover:
➡️The origins of GLP-1 medications and how they work
➡️Why they are becoming so popular—and what’s being overlooked
➡️The dangers of malnutrition, emotional disconnection, and long-term health effects
➡️How teens and parents can navigate conversations about weight, medication, and self-worth
➡️The importance of slowing down and making informed decisions—not quick fixes
This conversation is essential for parents, caregivers, and anyone concerned about the mental and physical well-being of teens in today’s “quick-fix” culture. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll dive deeper into how to talk about food, body image, and self-acceptance.
👥 Guest: Dr. Emily Gordon
🎙 Host: Charity Chaffee, LMHC
📌 Episode: 32 | Teens No Cap
💬 Join the conversation in the comments below:
Have you or your teen been affected by the rise of GLP-1 medications? What questions do you have about their use and impact?
📢 Subscribe and hit the bell 🔔 so you don’t miss Part 2 of this critical discussion!
#GLP1 #TeenMentalHealth #EatingDisorderAwareness #BodyImage #ParentingTeens #MentalHealthPodcast #TeensNoCap #DrEmilyGordon #WeightLossMedication #TeenHealth #InformedConsent #EatingDisorderRecovery #Psychology #AdolescentDevelopment #HealthyTeens -
🤔 It's the tough question every parent and educator wrestles with: Is your teen's IEP setting them up for success, or is it holding them back?
In Episode 31 of Teens: No Cap, host Charity Chaffee sits down with Monica Trost—a school psychologist, educational psychologist, and parent advocate—for a raw, honest conversation about the fine line between support and enabling in special education.
We get real about:
✅ The purpose of an IEP & when it’s truly necessary
✅ How to tell if accommodations are helping vs. creating learned helplessness
✅ Empowering your teen to self-advocate in IEP meetings
✅ Navigating school avoidance with empathy & high expectations
✅ The emotional journey for parents—addressing grief, fear, and hope
✅ What doesn't belong in an IEP (and how to change it)
✅ Preparing your teen’s IEP for the transition to college
Monica shares her dual perspective as a professional in the system AND a mom of two children with disabilities, offering practical strategies and heartfelt clarity.
👥 Connect with Monica Trost:
https://www.preparedparentadvocate.com/
🔔 Subscribe + hit the bell for new episodes every week!
💬 We want to hear from you! Have you faced this "helping vs. enabling" dilemma? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
#TeensNoCap #IEP #SpecialEducation #ParentAdvocate #SchoolPsychologist #TeenMentalHealth #IEPMeeting #Neurodiversity #SchoolAvoidance #ParentingTeens #EducationAdvocacy #HonestTalk - Visa fler
