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HEALTHY FAMILY CONNECTIONS addresses the many dilemmas facing parents, couples and kids, offering out of the box solutions that empower listeners to confidently meet their parenting challenges. Being a family in our era is challenging under the best of circumstances. Parents contend with a culture in transition and competing ideas for parenting. Neil Brown, author of parenting hit “Ending the Parent-Teen Control Battle,” is a master family therapist with a talent for providing clarity amidst ...
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In this episode, Neil responds to a Mom whose young teen son reports that shoplifting is okay, as long as it’s from large corporate stores. Neil helps this family unify their approach to include both positivity and accountability. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast: h…
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Episode Description: In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a Caroyln Hax column in which a desperate mom wants advice for dealing with her hostile 17 year old son. Mom is divorced and her son has been living mostly with his father, who just passed away. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy F…
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In this podcast, Neil and Robin explore generational sources of self-destructive behavior, how best to understand it, and most importantly, how to heal it. Learn how to invite gratitude into healing generational trauma. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Podcast: http://neild…
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In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a Mom wanting to know the best ways to talk with her teen daughter about sex. Mom sees that dating is on the horizon and wants to be prepared. Neil and Robin approach the subject with the goal of raising healthy empowered teens, and they discuss the best ways parents can encourage their teen's participatio…
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In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a dad who wants Neil to decide which parent has the right idea, him or his wife. Dad sees his teen daughter as normal and doesn’t want to enforce his wife’s limits while Mom wants daughter held to higher standards. Neil explains how these polarized positions are triangulating and confusing their daughter a…
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In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a husband and father struggling with why he isn’t being listened to or appreciated in his own family. Neil offers a powerful yet simple way to think of and build empathy skills, a missing ingredient for this husband/father. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The H…
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In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a woman who's frustrated that a positive approach isn’t working with her kids and she’s ready to return to her older parenting model of getting angry and bawling them out when they’re not behaving. Neil supports the idea that saying your truth is a good thing, and shows how being truly authentic includes b…
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In this podcast Neil and Robin respond to a woman whose daughter threatens to quit going to college, or harm herself when her parents don’t give her what she wants. Neil names this syndrome as Hostile Dependency and offers this mother clear guidelines and the healthy path forward. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future e…
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In this podcast, Neil and Robin respond to a question from Patricia, whose daughter is isolating more and more and seems to possibly be depressed. Neil provides insight into what may be happening and a path for getting the right kind of help for this family. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy F…
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In this podcast Neil and Robin respond to a woman on a quest to get healthy, who wants to have a stronger voice with her husband. She's struggling with how her husband fights with their college age son and wants the pattern to change. Neil and Robin explore the many reasons things need to change, and they offer this inquiring wife and mother a way …
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In this podcast, Neil, along with co-host Robin, reviews a question that Amy Dickenson responded to in her column at the end of December entitled, "Texas native should go home again." Neil provides insights into what can lead to family estrangement and offers support for people who may find themselves dealing with estrangement or family dysfunction…
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Episode Description: In this podcast, Neil and co-host Robin respond to a mother who reports having debilitating anxiety. She's just been informed by the school that her son has not been going to classes and is failing his senior year. Mom is aware that her son is a competitive gamer with significant success, and she wants to address the school res…
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In this podcast, Neil and co-host Robin discuss three ways of being: self-oriented, self-centered and other-centered. Neil provides insight into how each of us is probably a little or a lot of each in our lives depending on our circumstances. But the most effective and mature way of being is self-oriented, and Neil gives us the ability to develop t…
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Episode Description: In this podcast Neil, along with co-host Robin, respond to a mother whose adult child has moved back home. This young adult makes chronic demands on her mother’s time. And while wanting to be the focus of her mother’s world, this adult child is rude and unhappy with Mom's efforts. This calls for a radical change in the relation…
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Episode Description: In this podcast, Neil, along with cohost Robin Holland, responds to a mom struggling with two resistant teens and their weekend father. The theme of self-doubt takes center stage, and Neil and Robin offer a way to shift into a new mindset and action plan. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episod…
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Episode Description: This podcast is part two in a series providing the most effective way to end chronic relationship struggles. Neil and Robin do a refresh on part one from last week, and then offer a simple 2-step approach for having others listen and support your needs, too. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future epi…
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Episode Description: What do you do when you’re struggling in a relationship and almost anything you say, ends up in an argument? Neil explains how the pattern is the same in many different situations, what to do about it, and why it works. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections …
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Episode Description: What do you do when your adopted young adult child can’t take care of themselves, you don’t want to put them out on the street, and you’re out of options? Neil, along with co-host Robin, respond to this mother’s dilemma, and discuss how adoption conditions and accurate assessments will impact child development. But all is not l…
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Episode Description: This episode responds to a mom who was hoping for a better school year with her now 15 year old ADHD son. But it’s the same old story of getting him to do his work, deciphering excuses, and withdrawing privileges. In this episode, Neil and Co-Host Robin explore the difference between trying to understand what’s wrong with a you…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to a mother who is confused about whether or not to require her 13 year old daughter and 9 year old son to visit or stay with their father. While it’s clear from Mom that neither child feels emotionally safe, supported or even wanted by their father, she has felt compe…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, responds to a therapist looking for ways to deal with dads who expect their kids to do what they're told -- and become angry when they don’t get the response they expect. Neil shares his best strategies. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episod…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to a woman concerned about her living situation with her partner and his young adult daughter. The daughter is not working or going to school, and has chased away other girlfriends of her father. Neil and Robin discuss the phenomenon of pathological enmeshment: what it…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, responds to a Mom whose 17 year old son doesn’t want to talk to her, and wants to move out as soon as he turns 18. This podcast explores the cultural elements of parenting as well as ways to interpret the expressions of teenagers and the opportunities for personal growth and h…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, responds to a therapist looking for guidance about when to send or not send a depressed or anxious teenager to school. Neil clarifies the roles of parents, doctors, therapists, school personnel, and most importantly, an empowered role for the youth. Neil adds that the skills i…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, discuss a New York Times article by Matt Richtel. It’s titled 10 Psychiatric Drugs While in High School, And She Was Far From Alone. The discussion looks at the medicalization of emotional issues and mental health, and explores ways to create a mentally healthier society for o…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to questions from a mom concerned that her efforts to offer advice to her adult children has led to hurt feelings and misunderstandings. Mother is Indian and reports that advice giving from elders is expected. Neil and Robin offer a new way for this mom to think about …
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to questions from a mom about her ADHD son who resists parental limits, stays up late on devices and overall, is going in the wrong direction. Neil offers a model that focuses on helping the youth grow his executive functioning skills and seeks to build a parent/youth …
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to a Mom, rightfully concerned that her 16 year old daughter is giving cannabis to her 14 year old son. Daughter is on probation, yet Mom can’t get support from probation or law enforcement to hold her accountable. Neil and Robin discuss what a healthy juvenile probati…
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Episode Description: In this episode, Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to questions from a mom about her young adult son who's been diagnosed with depression and OCD. This young man is on medication and getting counseling, but is not engaging with the family or doing anything productive. Neil offers that the situation is entirely hopeful…
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Episode Description: In this episode, Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to a mother who is very worried about her anxious and depressed 15 year old daughter. She doesn’t want to add to her stress, but is concerned that her daughter is not moving forward. Mom has had anxiety all her life and wants her daughter to learn the coping skills sh…
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Episode Description: In this episode, Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to questions from a mom about her teenagers’ anger towards their parents. Neil and Robin provide insight into adolescent behavior and provide perspective and recommendations to address their specific behaviors. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to a mother who is concerned that her well functioning 16-year-old daughter has suddenly become oppositional. Neil and Robin help this mother see her daughter’s behavior in a more empathetic way and give her some ideas and skills for moving forward. Have a question for…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to a mother who is worried about her 17-year-old son who is easily provoked and makes violent threats against other kids. Together, Neil and Robin discuss the origins of such destructive behavior, what treatment options would be most effective, and what the parents can…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to a counselor needing guidance for how to work with parents who refuse to accept that their teenager’s gender identity has transitioned from male to female. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion on a future episode of The Healthy Family Connections Po…
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Episode Description: In this episode, Neil, along with his co-host Robin, responds to a widow who is left to manage her relationship with her abusive adult son on her own. Before answering her questions, Neil and Robin address the tragedy in Uvalde, TX and the trauma this brings across the US. Neil offers the mother a set of goals, including gettin…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, responds to a husband wondering what to do about the lack of connection and affection in his marriage. He and his wife have three children and demanding careers, so being tired and busy is understandable. But counseling, and having some dates, hasn’t changed anything. This inv…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, responds to a mom who is wondering if she should send her graduating son to college or not. Although he was accepted, he shows no enthusiasm or motivation, and Mom is needing to push him to graduate. He sees a counselor but nothing is changing. Neil and Robin give Mom a way to…
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Episode Description: In this episode, Neil along with his co-host Robin, respond to a mother struggling with her 17 year old daughter. Mom, who is divorced and remarried, has full custody of her daughter and has a second child with her current husband. Mom requires daughter to do her schoolwork before she gets her privileges and feels frustrated th…
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In this episode, Neil, along with his cohost Robin, respond to a mom concerned about her 30 year old daughter who asked for help getting out of an "emotionally abusive relationship" with a boyfriend, and then did a "turnaround" and decided to stay with him. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion as a future episode of The Healthy Fa…
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Episode Description: In this episode, Neil, along with his co-host Robin, responds to a stepmom wondering what to do about her 14-year-old stepson. The courts have awarded the father and her full custody of the stepson and his sister. But the stepson remains withdrawn, uncooperative, and unproductive. Neil and Robin offer recognition for the challe…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, respond to a mother wondering what to do about her verbally abusive husband. A lot of friends and family are telling her to get divorced, but she knows her husband has his good points and is hoping for a better solution. Neil offers a way to shift the burden of the decision on…
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Episode Description: In this episode Neil, along with his co-host Robin, responds to a mother wondering what to do about her young adult daughter. Seemingly out of nowhere, her daughter has multiple complaints, uses a lot of psychobabble labels against Mom, they fight, and daughter moves out. Have a question for Neil? Submit it now for discussion o…
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In this episode, Neil is joined by co-host Robin Holland. Together they respond to a Mom who does everything in the home for her husband and three young teens. Mom grew up in a family where everyone pitched in and can’t understand why the family she’s raising is so separated and disconnected. Her kids are good kids and doing well, so Mom wonders if…
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In this episode, Neil responds to a Mom whose teen son does the minimum, treats his parents disrespectfully, won’t do a chore, and takes all his parents' support for granted. Neil is joined by business associate and parent of young adults Robin Holland to discuss this situation and bring a parental perspective.…
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In this episode, Neil responds to a Mom who’s 22 year old daughter is living at home and wants her parents to fund her idea to start a food truck business. Mom is very frustrated with her daughter’s messiness and disrespectful behavior while Dad is more positive and giving. As Indian parents, they struggle with their daughter not taking advantage o…
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In this episode, Neil responds to a Mom struggling with her 14-year-old over homework. Neil shows Mom how to recruit her son into a collaborative approach and offers that to effectively help this family, a therapist needs to address two critical areas.
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In this episode, Neil responds to a dad whose wife complains that he doesn’t support her. No matter how much he does to support her, it’s never enough. Dad wants to know how to convince his wife that he does support her and that she should be more positive.
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In this episode, Neil responds to a mom who wants to enjoy a trip with her young teen daughter, and not struggle with getting her daughter off of her device. Neil shares what he’s learned from the book The Shallows, by Nicholas Carr and his clinical experience and then offers his guidance.
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In this episode, Neil responds to a Dad whose wife is angry that he won’t support her limits and expectations of their teenagers. Dad feels Mom is too angry and critical in her style and he wants to enjoy his kids. He feels his wife isn’t open to negotiation.
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In this episode, Neil responds to a mother whose teen daughter has anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder. Even though her daughter is in an intensive outpatient program and Mom and Dad are in the parent education and support groups, Mom can’t get anyone to address long standing family dynamics. Neil helps Mom see the bigger picture and addres…
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