Teen Savvy Coaching
Helping teens and the adults who care for them to thrive
If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the kitchen, staring at your child’s homework meltdown and thinking, “What on earth is actually happening here?”—you’re in good company. In our latest episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and I sat down with clinical psychologist Dr. Eryn Krueger for a deep, practical, myth-busting conversation about …
Parenting teens and substance use has changed dramatically in the last decade. Today’s teens are navigating vapes that look like flash drives, marijuana products with far higher potency than past generations ever encountered, and gas-station synthetics like kratom that are shockingly easy to get. The result is a landscape that feels more complex—and more confusing—than …
When most parents think about their teen’s development, they picture emotional ups and downs, shifting friend groups, or maybe the battle over sleep and screen time. But what if some of your teen’s current struggles trace back to something as simple as how they used their mouth as a toddler? In this week’s Parenting ShrinkWrapped …
This week on Parenting Shrink Wrapped, we talked with Dr. Rebecca Vickers, a pediatrician who blends conventional and functional medicine to help kids truly heal. After years of practicing traditional pediatrics, Dr. Vickers began to notice a troubling trend: kids are sicker than they used to be. Allergies, anxiety, ADHD, and chronic digestive issues are …
If your teen is dreading school—or you’ve started getting those “stomachache” texts every morning—here’s something important to remember: it might not be your teen that’s broken. It might be the system. In this week’s episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and I talked with Rebecca Luhm and Tonya Gardner from Fusion Academy in …
Halloween might look like candy and costumes on the surface, but parenting through Halloween offers a surprisingly rich snapshot of our kids’ growth—and our own. When my children were small, I was the one steering the ship: planning the route, managing meltdown and candy consumption, and creating the costumes (When he was two, my son …
There are few words that make a parent’s stomach drop faster than sexual trauma.It’s a topic none of us ever want to face in our families, and yet, as our guest Dr. Courtney Glickman, founder of The Collective Healing Center in Annapolis, reminded us, it’s far more common than most realize. In our latest Parenting …
Raising bicultural kids is both a gift and a challenge, and it can shape the way teens see themselves and the world around them. In a recent episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa and I sat down with licensed clinical counselor and life coach, Maria Winters, to talk about her experience raising her children in …
Grief and parenting are two words we don’t usually put together, but the truth is—they belong in the same sentence. Every family encounters grief, whether it’s through the death of a loved one, divorce, a move, a pet passing away, or even milestones like your teen leaving for college. And as parents, we’re left wondering: …
Let’s be honest—parenting judgment is everywhere. At the playground. In the school pickup line. Even at Dunkin’ Donuts. And whether you’re the one handing it out or the one on the receiving end, it never feels good. In our latest Parenting Shrink-Wrapped episode, Melissa shared a story you might find all too familiar. Her 5-year-old …
If you have a high school senior in your house, there’s a good chance you’re feeling the weight of college applications right alongside them. Essays, deadlines, recommendations, test scores—it’s enough to make even the most organized family feel like they’re living inside a pressure cooker. But here’s the truth most parents don’t realize: applying to …
As parents of teens, we know this stage of life brings new opportunities—and new responsibilities. One big milestone that often comes up? Babysitting. Whether your teen is eager to start earning money, gaining independence, or just helping out neighbors and family friends, it’s natural to wonder if they’re truly ready. In this week’s episode of …
Parenting teens with clarity isn’t about having the perfect script—it’s about knowing when to pause, when to check yourself, and how to hand kids the agency they crave. In our latest Parenting Shrink Wrapped episode, Melissa and I talked with social worker and founder of The Betty Center, Christa Welch, who shared hard-earned wisdom on …
Back-to-school tips for elementary kids can make the difference between a smooth transition and weeks of stress—for both children and parents. In our latest Parenting Shrink Wrapped episode, Melissa and I sat down with child therapist and school counselor Jennifer Ruef to talk about what really happens in the elementary years, from kindergarten all the …
When I was in 7th or 8th grade, my middle school librarian decided to make an “All About Middle School” video for incoming 5th graders—a behind-the-scenes peek at the excitement (and terror) of grades 6–8. This was the ’80s, so she lugged around a video camera roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase, popping into …
When it comes to high school back to school tips, one thing is certain—there’s no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Whether your teen is a confident senior, a pressure-packed junior, an easygoing sophomore, or a wide-eyed freshman, each grade comes with its own quirks, challenges, and opportunities. In this week’s episode of the Parenting …
College drop-off is supposed to be the finish line, right? You did the visits, survived the applications, filled out the FAFSA, bought the XL twin sheets. You waved through tears as the dorm room door closed behind your now-officially-an-adult kid. But then the texts start coming. “I think I picked the wrong school.”“My roommate is …
What does it mean to be a “good” parent when your body—or mind—just isn’t cooperating? In this week’s episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, we sit down with psychologist Dr. Katie Lawless to talk about what it’s really like to navigate parenting with chronic illness. Katie lives with cystic fibrosis and brings both clinical wisdom and …
If parenting triggers—like finding laundry on the floor, a missed homework assignment, or a teenager’s “I got it” shrug—ever make you lose your cool, you’re not alone. In this week’s episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa and I unpack what’s really going on when minor parenting moments become major meltdowns. Spoiler: it’s usually not about …
If your child refuses to wear jeans, can’t sit still at dinner, or melts down over seemingly minor transitions, you’re not alone—and it might not be behavioral at all. In the latest episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, we explore how occupational therapy for kids can be a powerful (and often overlooked) tool to support emotional …
Understanding what ADHD kids wish their parents knew is the key to unlocking more compassion and more connection. Helping to have fewer power struggles. With Part 2 of our ADHD series on the Parenting Shrink Wrapped podcast, we dig into the real-life parenting challenges that come with raising neurodivergent kids. We discuss how a few …
ADHD in kids is one of the most commonly discussed—and commonly misunderstood—diagnoses in parenting today. If your mental image of ADHD involves a fidgety, blurting, can’t-sit-still kind of kid, you’re not wrong… but you’re not seeing the whole picture. In the latest episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, child psychiatrist Dr. Melissa Wellner and I take …
If your teen’s eye roll makes you feel irrationally furious, or their silence sends you spiraling into shame, you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. These moments might be revealing how trauma affects parenting, especially when old wounds resurface in everyday interactions with your child. In a recent episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, we had the …
If you’ve ever found yourself snapping at your teen over something small—only to later think, Why did I overreact like that?—you’re not alone. Many parents are carrying emotional baggage from the past that’s quietly influencing how they respond today. That’s where EMDR therapy for parents comes in. This powerful, evidence-based approach helps reprocess unresolved trauma …
