Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

Parenting Anxious Teens: How to Build Confidence Instead of Fear | Dana Colthart

Does your teen avoid challenges, shut down under pressure, or constantly seek reassurance? It can be hard to know whether they're simply nervous or struggling with anxiety—and many of the ways parents naturally try to help can actually make anxiety worse.

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with licensed clinical social worker Dana Colthart, who specializes in treating OCD, anxiety, panic disorders, and eating disorders, to discuss practical strategies for supporting anxious teens. Together, they explain why avoidance strengthens anxiety, how parents can validate their teen's fears without reinforcing them, and what it really takes to build resilience and confidence. If you're tired of watching your teen struggle and wondering how to help without making things worse, this episode offers expert guidance and actionable tools.

 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

How to recognize when your teen's anxiety has become avoidance—and why that matters

Why reassurance and accommodation often make teen anxiety worse instead of better

How to validate your teen's fears while helping them build confidence through discomfort

Simple parenting strategies that support resilience without increasing anxiety

 

🎧❤️ ENJOYING THE SHOW?

Don't keep it to yourself! Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review to help other parents find the support they need. Your feedback helps me create even more episodes filled with practical tips for you and your family! Thanks so much for your support! 🙏💫

🔔 Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss another solution-packed episode! 🙌

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Cognitive Diffusion

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

 

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST: Dana Colthart

Website: https://www.danacolthart.com

Practice: Clear Light Therapy New Jersey

 

CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: Dr. Cam Caswell

Website: askdrcam.com

Instagram: @DrCamCaswell

TikTok: @the.teen.translator

YouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

Facebook: @DrCamCaswell

 

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 Understanding Teen Anxiety and Avoidance

02:54 The Role of Diagnosis in Treatment

05:42 Identifying and Addressing Avoidance Behaviors

08:36 Mistakes Parents Make in Supporting Anxious Teens

11:20 The Importance of Communication and Support

14:18 Navigating Self-Defeating Thoughts

17:02 The Power of Diffusion Techniques

20:02 Building Patience and Understanding

22:46 Managing Urgency and Expectations

25:32 Creating a Safe Space for Recovery

28:30 The Role of Parental Support in Treatment

31:23 Final Thoughts and Resources

 

ABOUT THE SHOW

The Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach, this podcast offers practical parenting strategies, expert advice, and real-world insights to help you build a stronger relationship with your teen and support their emotional growth.

Whether you're struggling with teenage behavior or looking to improve communication, each episode provides actionable tips to make parenting teens easier and more rewarding. Perfect for both new and seasoned parents, this podcast helps you build the confidence to handle teen challenges and thrive together.

#theteentranslator #drcamcaswell #parentingteenswithdrcam #TeenAnxiety #MentalHealth

Helping Your Teen Navigate Sex, Relationships, and Growing Up Without Shame

Talking to your teen about sex is one of the conversations many parents dread—but avoiding it can leave teens turning to friends, social media, or pornography for answers. So how do you have honest conversations without making everyone want to disappear?

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with Amy Lang, M.A., sexuality educator, parent educator, and author of Sex Talks with Tweens, to discuss how parents can replace fear and awkwardness with confidence and connection. Amy shares practical strategies for talking about consent, pornography, LGBTQ+ support, body autonomy, and sexual health in ways teens can actually hear. Whether you're wondering when to start these conversations or how to recover after saying the wrong thing, this episode will help you build trust while preparing your teen for healthy relationships and safer decision-making.

 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• Why preparing your teen for healthy relationships works better than trying to prevent sexual activity

• How to talk about consent, pornography, birth control, and healthy sexuality without creating shame

• Practical conversation strategies that help teens actually listen—and keep coming back with questions

• How supporting LGBTQ+ teens and creating a judgment-free home improves safety, trust, and emotional wellbeing

 

🎧❤️ ENJOYING THE SHOW?

Don't keep it to yourself! Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review to help other parents find the support they need. Your feedback helps me create even more episodes filled with practical tips for you and your family! Thanks so much for your support! 🙏💫

🔔 Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss another solution-packed episode! 🙌

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Amy Lang

Website: https://birdsandbeesandkids.com

Book: Sex Talks with Tweens

Amaze.org: https://amaze.org

Body Drama by Michele Slee

Raising Teens Who Talk to You (Happily Family)

 

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST:

Amy Lang, M.A.

Website: https://birdsandbeesandkids.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdsbeeskids

Facebook: https://www.askdrcam.com/parenting-teens-podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach, this podcast offers practical parenting strategies, expert advice, and real-world insights to help you build a stronger relationship with your teen and support their emotional growth.

Whether you're struggling with teenage behavior or looking to improve communication, each episode provides actionable tips to make parenting teens easier and more rewarding. Perfect for both new and seasoned parents, this podcast helps you build the confidence to handle teen challenges and thrive together.

#theteentranslator #drcamcaswell #parentingteenswithdrcam #SexEducation #HealthyRelationships

 

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR PARENTS OF TEENS

Shift from preventing sex to preparing your teen for healthy relationships. When parents focus on education instead of fear, teens are more likely to make thoughtful, informed decisions.

Make sex talks short, frequent, and judgment-free. Small conversations over time build trust far better than one overwhelming "big talk."

Teach healthy relationships—not just the mechanics of sex. Help your teen recognize respect, communication, boundaries, and consent before they begin dating.

Don't let pornography become your teen's sex educator. Open conversations about unrealistic expectations, consent, and intimacy give teens healthier perspectives.

Your relationship with your teen is your greatest protective factor. Teens who feel accepted and supported are far more likely to ask questions, seek help, and make safer choices.

Does it feel like you're constantly competing with your teen's phone for their attention? Many parents worry that endless scrolling is replacing curiosity, conversation, and meaningful family connection. But what if getting your teen off their phone isn't about taking technology away—it's about giving them something more engaging to move toward?

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with award-winning children's book author, literacy advocate, and youth motivational speaker Ty Allan Jackson to explore practical ways parents can help teens rediscover curiosity, build stronger relationships, and develop interests beyond screens. Together, they discuss why phones aren't the real enemy, how to create healthy screen time boundaries without constant conflict, and simple strategies that make teens actually want to spend more time connecting with you. If you're looking for realistic ways to reduce screen time while strengthening your relationship with your teen, this episode is packed with practical, encouraging advice.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE
How to reduce teen screen time without creating constant power struggles

Why building connection with your teen is more effective than trying to control their phone use

How to spark curiosity and encourage reading by connecting with your teen's existing interests

Simple ways to create healthy technology boundaries while strengthening your parent-teen relationship

 

🎧❤️ ENJOYING THE SHOW?

Don't keep it to yourself! Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review to help other parents find the support they need. Your feedback helps me create even more episodes filled with practical tips for you and your family! Thanks so much for your support! 🙏💫

🔔 Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss another solution-packed episode! 🙌

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Ty Allan Jackson Website: https://www.tyallanjackson.com

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST: Ty Allan Jackson
Website: https://www.tyallanjackson.com

Instagram: @TyAllanJackson

Facebook: Ty Allan Jackson

X: @TyAllanJackson

CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: Dr. Cam Caswell
Website: askdrcam.com

Instagram: @DrCamCaswell

TikTok: @the.teen.translator

YouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

Facebook: @DrCamCaswell

EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 Reconnecting with Curiosity: The Challenge of Screens

02:54 The Power of Literacy: A Personal Journey

05:50 Building Connections Beyond Screens

09:00 Finding the Right Book: A Path to Engagement

11:49 Fostering Relationships: The Key to Communication

14:55 Balancing Screen Time: Setting Boundaries

18:02 Leveraging Interests: Making Connections Through Play

21:00 The Importance of Joy: Being a Playful Parent

ABOUT THE SHOW
The Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach, this podcast offers practical parenting strategies, expert advice, and real-world insights to help you build a stronger relationship with your teen and support their emotional growth.

Whether you're struggling with teenage behavior or looking to improve communication, each episode provides actionable tips to make parenting teens easier and more rewarding. Perfect for both new and seasoned parents, this podcast helps you build the confidence to handle teen challenges and thrive together.

#theteentranslator #drcamcaswell #parentingteenswithdrcam #ScreenTime #TeenParenting

Co-parenting is challenging enough when both parents are working together. But when you're dealing with a narcissistic co-parent—or someone who constantly turns parenting into a competition—it can leave you feeling exhausted, second-guessing yourself, and worried about your child's well-being.

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Kibby McMahon, CEO of Kula Mind and expert in personality disorders, to discuss practical strategies for navigating one of the most difficult parenting dynamics. Together, they unpack why narcissistic co-parents thrive on power struggles, how to stop getting pulled into the drama, and what you can do to protect your child while maintaining your own peace of mind. If you're tired of defending yourself, feeling manipulated, or wondering how to create stability for your child despite a difficult co-parent, this episode offers actionable tools and much-needed reassurance.

 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

How to recognize narcissistic co-parenting behaviors and avoid getting trapped in endless power struggles

Why the Gray Rock technique can help you respond to a narcissistic co-parent without escalating conflict

How to set healthy boundaries and communicate effectively when collaboration feels impossible

What parents can do to protect children from unhealthy parenting dynamics and build resilience

 

🎧❤️ ENJOYING THE SHOW?

Don't keep it to yourself! Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review to help other parents find the support they need. Your feedback helps me create even more episodes filled with practical tips for you and your family! Thanks so much for your support! 🙏💫

🔔 Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss another solution-packed episode! 🙌

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Gray Rock Communication Technique

 

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST: Dr. Kibby McMahon
Website: https://coolamind.com

Instagram: @dr.kibby

Podcast: A Little Help for Our Friends

 

CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: Dr. Cam Caswell
Website: askdrcam.com

Instagram: @DrCamCaswell

TikTok: @the.teen.translator

YouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

Facebook: @DrCamCaswell

 

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 Navigating Co-Parenting with a Narcissist

01:10 Meet Dr. Kibby McMahon

02:50 What Narcissism Really Is

05:21 Why Narcissistic Dynamics Become a Competition

09:14 How to Stop Getting Pulled Into the Fight

10:50 The Gray Rock Technique Explained

15:05 Using Collaborative Communication

18:17 Handling Different Parenting Styles

20:56 Helping Kids Navigate Two Households

23:02 Making Requests That Actually Work

25:34 Can Kids Develop Narcissistic Traits?

28:35 Avoiding the Counter-Reaction Trap

30:42 Final Advice for Parents

32:16 Resources and Closing Thoughts

 

 

ABOUT THE SHOW
The Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach, this podcast offers practical parenting strategies, expert advice, and real-world insights to help you build a stronger relationship with your teen and support their emotional growth.

Whether you're struggling with teenage behavior or looking to improve communication, each episode provides actionable tips to make parenting teens easier and more rewarding. Perfect for both new and seasoned parents, this podcast helps you build the confidence to handle teen challenges and thrive together.

#theteentranslator #drcamcaswell #parentingteenswithdrcam #coparenting #narcissisticabuse

Grief in teens rarely looks the way parents expect. Instead of tears and open conversations, it often shows up as irritability, withdrawal, risk-taking, or emotional distance. That can leave parents wondering whether their teen is grieving at all—or how to help if they are.

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with grief expert and Master Certified Life Coach Krista St. Germain to unpack what grief really looks like in adolescents and why many common approaches to helping grieving teens can unintentionally make things harder. Together, they explore the latest understanding of grief, the impact loss has on the brain and body, and practical ways parents can support their teens through difficult life transitions and losses. Whether your teen is grieving the death of a loved one, the loss of a friendship, a major life change, or simply the challenges of growing up, this conversation will help you feel more confident supporting them with compassion and understanding.

 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

Why grief in teenagers often looks like typical adolescent behavior and how to recognize the hidden signs

The Dual Process Model of Grief and why the traditional five stages of grief are outdated

What parents should say—and avoid saying—to support a grieving teen

How modeling healthy emotional expression helps teens build resilience and emotional intelligence

🎧❤️ ENJOYING THE SHOW?
Don't keep it to yourself! Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review to help other parents find the support they need. Your feedback helps me create even more episodes filled with practical tips for you and your family! Thanks so much for your support! 🙏💫

🔔 Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss another solution-packed episode! 🙌

 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

Why teens naturally pull away from parents during adolescence — and what it actually means for your relationship

How emotional safety and nervous system regulation improve communication with teenagers

The parenting shift that helps teens become more independent, responsible, and emotionally resilient

Practical ways to build stronger family relationships without control, pressure, or constant conflict

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Dual Process Model of Grief (Stroebe & Schut)

Post-Traumatic Growth Research

The Widowed Mom Podcast

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST: Krista St. Germain

Website: https://coachingwithkrista.com

Podcast: The Widowed Mom Podcast

Instagram: @lifecoachkrista

YouTube: KristaSt-Germain

Facebook: CoachingwithKrista

 

CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: Dr. Cam Caswell

Website: AskDrCam.com

Instagram: @DrCamCaswell

TikTok: @the.teen.translator

YouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

Facebook: @DrCamCaswell

 

EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 Understanding Grief in Teens

02:57 Krista's Personal Journey with Grief

05:51 Outdated Beliefs About Grief

08:53 The Dual Process Model of Grief

12:04 Navigating Grief as Parents

15:00 Recognizing Grief in Teenagers

17:53 The Importance of Shared Grief Experiences

18:41 Navigating Emotions as Parents

20:00 Supporting Grieving Children

22:31 Empowering Children Through Grief

24:41 Believing in Resilience

26:49 Trusting the Process of Growth

30:42 Finding Meaning in Hardship

 

 

ABOUT THE SHOW
The Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach, this podcast offers practical parenting strategies, expert advice, and real-world insights to help you build a stronger relationship with your teen and support their emotional growth.

Whether you're struggling with teenage behavior, communication challenges, anxiety, motivation, or emotional well-being, each episode provides actionable tips to make parenting teens easier and more rewarding. Perfect for both new and seasoned parents, this podcast helps you build the confidence to handle teen challenges and thrive together.

#theteentranslator #drcamcaswell #parentingteenswithdrcam #TeenGrief #ParentingThroughGrief