
Hope For Parents With Struggling Teens
This podcast provides support and guidance for parents dealing with struggling teens, covering topics such as defiance, anxiety, and depression. Each episode offers expert insights and practical tools to rebuild connection and peace at home. The host, Brandon Joffe, LCSW, brings professional expertise to help parents feel less alone and more empowered.
Episodes

Joy, Influence, Meltdowns, and the Power of Gratitude
Send us Fan MailWe explored the difference between defiant tantrums and meltdowns rooted in genuine emotional pain, why validation matters, and how parents can support a child without getting pulled into the chaos. We also discussed the surprising parenting trap of trying to make children understand, the four ways parents actually influence their kids, and why influence is far more important than

Interview With Tiffany Sumner, Parenting Profound Autism
Send us Fan MailMost parents of profoundly autistic children feel overwhelmed, hopeless, and confused, but what if there’s a way to find peace and purpose amidst the chaos? Brandon Joffe, a licensed therapist with over 20 years of experience, shares a powerful story of resilience and faith that will change how you view your journey. In this heartfelt episode, Brandon speaks with Tiffany, a mother

When Parenting Isn’t Working, Do Nothing (And Why That Helps)
Send us Fan MailParenting can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and at times… impossible.In this episode, I share a real moment from a recent parent group that hit home for a lot of people—the idea that sometimes doing less is actually what creates change.We get into: The hidden role fear and guilt play in parenting Why trying harder often makes things worse The difference between reacting and resp

What These Psychological Terms Actually Mean (And Why It Matters)
Send us Fan MailBrandon Joffe discusses the misuse of psychological labels like trauma, abuse, gaslighting, and others, emphasizing the importance of precise language for effective understanding and healing. He highlights how mislabeling can hinder accountability and change, especially in therapy, relationships, and parenting.key topicsMisuse of psychological languageDifference between trauma and

Why Our Mental Health Culture Isn’t Actually Helping Kids Get Better
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Brandon Joffe discusses the current state of mental health culture and its impact on youth. He argues that despite increased awareness and resources, many children are not improving and may even be getting worse. Brandon emphasizes the need for a shift from a culture of validation and comfort to one that prioritizes resilience, competence, and the ability to n

What is a Loving Response?
Send us Fan MailSummaryIn this conversation, Brandon Joffe, LCSW, discusses the concept of a 'loving parent response' and how it can be applied in various challenging parenting situations. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining healthy boundaries, responding to children's frustrations with love rather than anger, and the distinction between loving and enabling responses. Throug

The Line Between Explaining and Enabling
Send us Fan MailIn this podcast episode, Brandon Joffe, LCSW, discusses the delicate balance between enabling and teaching children. He emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries without over-explaining, which can lead to enabling behaviors. Joffe shares insights from his practice, illustrating how constant nagging and explaining can create unhealthy dynamics and codependency. He advises pare

Trauma vs. Adversity: Why the Distinction Matters
Send us Fan MailIn this thought-provoking episode, we delve into the nuanced world of trauma and the consequences of mislabeling everyday experiences as traumatic. Join us as we explore how this mischaracterization can affect mental health, relationships, and personal growth. Our expert guests share insights on distinguishing genuine trauma from challenging experiences, offering listeners a cleare

Parenting and Social Skills: You Don’t Get to Opt Out Without Consequence
Send us Fan MailIn this insightful episode of "Hope for Parents," host Brandon Joffe delves into the profound impact parents have on their children's social development. Through engaging narratives and expert insights, Brandon discusses how parents' social behaviors—whether confident or awkward—serve as powerful models for their kids. He emphasizes the importance of self-awaren

Giving Kids Too Much Say
Send us Fan MailSummaryIn this conversation, Brandon discusses the complexities of parenting in a world where children often have too much say. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining authority without resorting to control, the dangers of empowering children in conflictual situations, and the necessity of consistent parenting to foster emotional safety. Brandon advocates for a balanced approac

The Parenting Void
Send us Fan MailBrandon walks us through what a parent can do when they’ve seemingly tried everything: reasoning, reward systems, punishments, calm talks, and “I” statements. None of it worked because the child doesn’t believe there is a problem. Brandon explores what happens when a parent runs out of strategies, begins eliminating what isn’t working, and is left with a parenting void. But this is

Aligning Your Morals and Values
Send us Fan MailBrandon opens up about the connection between mental health and living in alignment with our morals and values. He explores how our internal compass, shaped by upbringing, experience, and personal beliefs, can either ground us or leave us feeling lost when ignored. Brandon breaks down the difference between morals and values, explains how misalignment can lead to emotional distress

Trying Again This Father’s Day
Send us Fan MailBrandon reflects on what it means to lead as a dad in today’s world, especially in the chaos of co-parenting, fractured relationships, or the quiet ache of feeling disconnected. While fatherhood is often defined by the roles of provider and protector, Brandon offers a deeper and more honest perspective: presence over perfection, influence over control. A father’s choices carry a la

Let the Storm Pass
Send us Fan MailBrandon returns to share powerful insights into what’s really happening when your child’s storm of emotions hits the moment they walk through the door. He explains why children often save their biggest emotions for home, the one place they feel safe enough to let go. Brandon breaks down the emotional shift that happens after a long day of holding it together and why attempts to “te

When School Becomes a Power Struggle
Send us Fan MailBrandon unpacks the emotional and relational toll of constantly managing a child’s academic responsibilities. He explains why nagging may lead to short-term compliance, but rarely builds long-term accountability or a strong parent-child connection. Instead, it often results in resentment, codependency, and burnout on both sides. Brandon challenges the belief that parents are respon

The Many Sides of Mother’s Day
Send us Fan MailBrandon opens up about the deep complexity of motherhood on Mother’s Day. He honors both the visible strength of nurturing mothers and the unseen weight many carry in silence. Drawing from his own experience with a grounded partner and an intuitive mother, Brandon reflects on how their examples shaped not only his personal values but also the foundation of what he teaches at Inspir

Why Fidgets Don’t Fix It
Send us Fan MailBrandon takes a closer look at the booming fidget toy industry and asks a tough question: Are they helping or hurting? Often recommended for managing ADHD, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation, fidget toys seem like an easy solution. But Brandon challenges that idea. He shares research and real-world stories suggesting these tools may do more harm than good. They can reinforce unhe

EMDR Under the Microscope
Send us Fan MailBrandon dives into the complex and controversial world of EMDR—Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing—a therapy originally developed for PTSD that has surged in popularity in recent years. He unpacks the origins of EMDR, its early focus on war veterans and trauma survivors, and the gap between what the science supports and how the therapy is currently being taught and practi

The Seduction of Why
Send us Fan MailBrandon explores one of the most common traps in therapy and personal growth—the seduction of "why." It feels cathartic to connect the dots between past experiences and present struggles, but he challenges the idea that understanding alone leads to healing. Drawing from clinical insights and real client experiences, Brandon explains how getting stuck in a rediscovery loop

Leading Without Losing Yourself
Send us Fan MailBrandon assesses what it means to lead your family without losing yourself in the process. He challenges the traditional view of parental leadership as control, offering instead a grounded, emotionally intelligent approach rooted in humility and discernment. Brandon explores the difference between emotional leadership and emotional control, emphasizing that leadership isn't ab

Healing Starts with You
Send us Fan MailBrandon sheds light on the power of personal responsibility in healing from trauma, adversity, and mental health struggles. He introduces the idea that just because these challenges aren’t our fault, they are still ours to manage. Through real-life examples, he examines how unprocessed pain can impact parenting, relationships, and self-worth, often leading to cycles of codependency

When Parenting Styles Clash
Send us Fan MailBrandon uncovers the complexities of parenting when styles clash, exploring the tension between nurturing and structured approaches and how these differences create friction between parents and impact their children’s development. Through real-life examples, he highlights the importance of consistency, communication, and emotional regulation—both in how parents engage with their ki

Detach from Chaos, Compartmentalize Stress
Send us Fan MailBrandon discusses the power of detaching emotionally from the chaos and compartmentalizing stress. He explores how parenting a strong-willed child can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. Brandon explains why some kids push emotional buttons to gain control and how parents unknowingly reinforce these behaviors by engaging in arguments. He offers strategies for reclaiming peace at

Encouraging Personal Agency
Send us Fan MailBrandon explores how parents can foster personal agency in their children. He explains how parents often unintentionally enable their children by providing endless resources without clear boundaries, which leads to resentment on both sides. Parents feel frustrated by their child's lack of responsibility, while children become dependent and resistant to change. He emphasizes th

Redefining Self-Love
Send us Fan MailBrandon analyzes the real meaning of self-love, challenging the surface-level messages that dominate social media. He breaks down why true self-love requires honesty, self-discipline, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths. Through personal insights and real-life examples, he explores how embracing both our strengths and limitations leads to lasting transformation. True s

Beyond the Bully and the Victim
Send us Fan MailBrandon takes a deep dive into the complexities of bullying, challenging the traditional narratives that paint a clear-cut picture of victims and aggressors. He explores how bullying is often a layered issue, influenced by personality dynamics, social skills, and even family patterns. Rather than focusing solely on the damage, Brandon emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, pe

Finding Community and Building a Network
Send us Fan MailBrandon breaks down the importance of building a strong community and network for both parents and children. He explores how family identity, social connections, and resilience are all connected, emphasizing that friendships and networks grow through effort and consistency. Brandon shares insights on navigating social struggles, pushing past rejection, and modeling healthy relation

Food Refusal
Send us Fan MailBrandon tackles the challenge of food refusal and how it impacts family dynamics. He shares strategies for maintaining consistency and setting healthy boundaries around meals, even when faced with complaints or resistance. Brandon emphasizes the importance of involving children in meal planning, cooking, and cleanup to foster a sense of pride and responsibility. By turning mealtime

The Myth of Bottling It Up
Send us Fan MailBrandon takes a closer look at the popular idea of “bottling things up” and why it doesn’t align with how human emotions work. Emotions aren’t like pressure cookers—they’re far more nuanced. Brandon unpacks how unresolved conflicts, unhealthy patterns, and unspoken boundaries often drive emotional struggles, not simply holding feelings in. He explains how the push to constantly exp

Saying No While Staying Supportive
Send us Fan MailBrandon dissects the delicate balance of saying no to your teens while staying supportive. He breaks down how saying no with compassion and consistency can foster accountability and problem-solving. Brandon highlights how parents can validate their teen’s feelings, even when disagreeing with their choices, by offering support. He emphasizes the value of stepping back to allow teens

Trust Between Parents and Teens
Send us Fan MailBrandon navigates the delicate balance of trust between parents and teens, focusing on the complexities of teen honesty. He addresses why teens often lie—whether to protect themselves or avoid conflict—and how parents’ reactions can sometimes unintentionally reinforce dishonest behavior. Brandon highlights the importance of setting clear boundaries, being mindful of how questions a

School Refusal
Send us Fan MailBrandon shares his expertise on addressing school refusal, bullying, and children's deeper social struggles. He emphasizes the distinction between true bullying and everyday adverse life situations. Brandon explores the importance of equipping children with social skills and coping strategies through role-playing, sports, and volunteer opportunities. He also highlights the nee

The Impact of Sports on Families
Send us Fan MailBrandon analyzes the powerful impact sports can have on family dynamics, highlighting both the benefits and the challenges. He examines how youth sports teach invaluable lessons in teamwork, commitment, and physical health, while also addressing the toll excessive involvement can take, such as financial strain and sibling resentment. Brandon explores how the growing obsession with

ADHD or Just Being Human?
Send us Fan MailBrandon breaks down the complexities of ADHD, exploring what it truly means to live with the condition. With ADHD diagnoses on the rise, he unpacks the challenges of overdiagnosis, overprescription, and the critical importance of meeting accurate diagnostic criteria. Drawing a clear line between everyday struggles with focus and the pervasive, life-impairing realities of ADHD. He a

Why Teens Lie and How to Respond
Send us Fan MailBrandon unpacks why teens lie—whether it’s fear, disagreement, or simply wanting to avoid inconvenience—and how parents can respond effectively without taking it personally. Lying is a challenge nearly every parent faces, but it doesn’t have to define your relationship with your teen. He explores practical strategies for navigating dishonesty with curiosity rather than judgment, se

The Addict Inside
Send us Fan MailBrandon uncovers the journey of addiction recovery and its profound impact on parenting. For parents overcoming addiction, the challenge goes beyond sobriety to confronting the "addict inside" and reclaiming their role as caregivers. This episode offers practical tools to recognize ego-driven behaviors, let go of instant gratification, and redefine the roles of protector

A Purpose-Driven Life
Send us Fan MailBrandon examines the often-underestimated power of purpose in mental health and personal growth, showing how even small, daily actions can become transformative steps toward healing. For many, finding purpose can be challenging when facing depression, anxiety, or low motivation, yet these small steps can help shift us from a self-focused mindset to one of connection and contributio

Parent-Child Communication
Send us Fan MailBrandon explores the dynamics of parent-child communication, focusing on the significant impact that voice and tone have on relationships. He discusses the differences between stern, mean, and permissive voices, emphasizing the importance of effectively using a stern voice without crossing into being mean. Listeners will gain insights into assessing their own communication patterns

Debunking Dopamine Addicton
Send us Fan MailBrandon dives into the misconceptions surrounding "dopamine addiction" and "dopamine cleanses," shedding light on the deeper science of addiction. He explains that while popular trends offer quick fixes, addiction is rooted in complex neurological pathways that make recovery challenging and relapse tempting. Brandon explores how substances and unhealthy behavior

The Diagnosis Dilemma
Send us Fan MailBrandon tackles the changing landscape of mental health care, emphasizing the crucial role that accurate diagnosis plays in effective treatment. He addresses the shift in how new therapists are trained, noting that many now enter the field without a solid foundation in theory or diagnostic skills. Brandon stresses the importance of establishing a baseline to distinguish between lif

Resilience with Zack Collie, AMFT
Send us Fan MailBrandon sits down with Zack Collie, AMFT, to explore Zack’s extraordinary journey of resilience and perseverance. At just 15, a diving accident left Zack paralyzed from the neck down, forever changing his life. Faced with this profound challenge, Zack chose a path of resilience, ultimately finding purpose as a therapist. Together, Brandon and Zack discuss the feeling of being “stuc

Building a Healthy Routine
Send us Fan MailBrandon analyzes the essential role of routines in mental health, focusing on the dangers of overbooking and underbooking our lives. He explains how many individuals and families tend to overbook every moment—to ensure their kids get ahead, make more money, or secure future opportunities. This constant hustle often leads to increased anxiety and stress, causing a neglect of the six

Let Your Child Fail
Send us Fan MailBrandon emphasizes the delicate balance between enabling and supporting a child, stressing that allowing kids to experience failure is essential for their growth. He encourages parents to step back from constant interference and let natural consequences teach important life lessons, such as managing schoolwork and developing executive functioning skills. By doing so, children learn

The Cycles of Family Dynamics
Send us Fan MailBrandon introduces the concept of cycles that shape parent-child relationships, including navigating the “cycle of why,” where children challenge rules out of defiance rather than curiosity. He offers practical advice on maintaining authority without falling into constant justification and examines co-parenting dynamics, where differing values can lead to power struggles that child

Codependency and Independence
Send us Fan MailBrandon shares insights on the intense dynamics between parents and children facing explosive anger and codependency. He highlights how parents often justify extreme reactions to their child's behavior, which can fuel a cycle of frustration and resentment, especially as children seek independence. Brandon emphasizes the importance of eliminating yelling, using disengagement te

Justice, Grief, and Identity
Send us Fan MailBrandon assesses key themes that resonate deeply with parents: justice, grief, and identity. He discusses how parents often feel the need for fairness when their efforts go unrecognized, especially in co-parenting dynamics, and how letting go of that need for justice can bring peace. Grief is another core theme, as every season of parenting involves letting go and adapting, whether

Bring Balance to Your Life
Send us Fan MailBrandon addresses the challenges of parenting a struggling child and how it can overshadow the needs of the entire family and yourself. He highlights the importance of balancing your life through the 6 pillars—mental health, relationships, physical health, career and education, spirituality, and hobbies—and how focusing exclusively on one child can be counterproductive. He also exa

Parenting a Problem Child While Supporting Siblings
Send us Fan MailBrandon tackles the challenges of raising a "problem child," focusing on managing temper tantrums and establishing effective boundaries. He shares proactive strategies for navigating the emotional ups and downs of adolescence, particularly for children who struggle with self-soothing and exhibit reactive behaviors when not engaged in stimulating activities. Brandon also d

Self-Care Through Boundary Setting
Send us Fan MailBrandon dives deep into the power of self-care and boundaries in parenting. Instead of trying to change your children, who may be struggling with their own challenges, he urges you to focus on your own health and well-being. By doing so, you can create a healthier environment that encourages your children to thrive. Setting boundaries isn’t about punishment or reward but about prot

Stick to the Plan
Send us Fan MailBrandon examines why parents often struggle to maintain healthy relationship practices, especially during challenging times. When crises arise—whether it's grades, substance use, or mental health issues—it's easy to revert to old, ineffective habits out of frustration or fear. He discusses the importance of having a plan and sticking to it, even when things get tough. Rat

Be Honest with Yourself
Send us Fan MailBrandon delves into the critical role of honesty in parenting. He explores how being truthful about decisions, motivations, and family dynamics can profoundly impact children's development. Examining past choices and their consequences highlights the importance of daily self-reflection and transparency about temperament and limitations. He also discusses the challenges of mana

The 90/10 Rule
Send us Fan MailBrandon explores why many parents fixate on setting boundaries, emphasizing the need to first understand what they can and cannot control. Instead of relying solely on boundaries, parents should focus on connecting with their children through patience and open-mindedness. Using the 90/10 Rule—spending 90% of the time connecting and only 10% correcting—parents can engage more effect

Failure to Launch
Send us Fan MailBrandon tackles the growing issue of "failure to launch," where young adults struggle with independence, creating stress and resentment in families. Learn how setting healthy boundaries and focusing on your well-being can support your child's growth and family harmony. He also emphasizes that parenting is a journey best navigated with community support—it's not

Healthy Boundaries for a Balanced Life
Send us Fan MailBrandon explores the challenges of parenting a defiant child and emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries. He explores how parents can team up effectively even amidst meltdowns and defiant behaviors, and why disengagement and silent consistency can bring calm to chaotic situations. Discover actionable strategies for protecting your peace without sacrificing your well-being,

Contentment without Resentment
Send us Fan MailBrandon dives into the complex world of parent-child relationships, focusing on strategies for repairing and nurturing a connection with a child who seems distant or wants to cut ties. He touches on overcoming parental fears by understanding the purpose of boundaries for long-term contentment without resentment. This episode highlights the value of persistence, consistency, and hea

Food Addiction and Grief
Send us Fan MailBrandon explores food addiction, boundaries, and grief in parenting. He explains that addiction behaviors can persist without substance use and stresses the importance of setting firm boundaries to avoid enabling. Parents should focus on healthy behaviors, consistent boundaries, and not basing their actions on their child’s reactions. Grief can affect behavior but shouldn't ch

Passing on Morals and Values
Send us Fan MailZack Collie is an Associate Marriage Family Therapist who has been working at Inspired Resolutions for a year. He has an Instagram @theparalyzedtherapist. He was in a diving accident at 15 years old that left him wheelchair-bound. This event led him down the path of becoming a therapist to help others. Zack is also newly married and has taken on the role of stepdad. What’s the diff

The Laundry Issue!
Send us Fan MailOur guest is a mother whose child has been on a different path from most. She has been attending our parenting group for many years. She gives a history of her journey with her son and their progress in rebuilding and maintaining their relationship. We talked about how she could stop doing the things that didn’t work without her child making the changes she wanted him to make. She

The Yelling Challenge
Send us Fan MailWhat if we as parents challenged ourselves to stop yelling. Well Pat has become a social media sensation doing just that and putting it out there for everyone to see. In this episode we explore some parenting dynamics that can be frustrating and often lead to yelling. If it worked we would all see that in our children. Yelling has its place in parenting, but is often an unhealt

Parenting Pinocchio
Send us Fan MailToday my guest is pastor Kyle Zimmerman from Orange Friends Church, who recently gave a Sunday message that I feel applies to parenting struggling teens.Whether you believe there’s a God or follow Christianity or not, you’re going to get some good wisdom out of his insight about boundaries, parenting, and the definition of real love.Pastor Kyle used an illustration from the story o

New Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis
Send us Fan MailWelcome back to Hope for Parents with Struggling Teens. Today we’re joined once again by Brittany Johns, LMFT to talk about some recent trends in the mental health world and a few of the dynamics we’ve been seeing recently in many families of struggling teens.We address some new diagnostic terms that are growing in popularity, as well as a couple of phrases that aren’t actually rea

A New Discussion About Body Image
Send us Fan MailOn today’s episode, I got to talk with Asha Bhattacharya, who was crowned Miss Anaheim when she was 18 and has been using her platform to spread awareness about mental health ever since.I used to think all pageants were focused on beauty, and all pretty much the same, and I know I’m not the only one who will benefit from hearing how Miss America and other pageants actually work, an

Hope For Dealing With Teens And Suicide
Send us Fan MailWelcome back to the Hope for Parents with Struggling Teens podcast!My guest today is an incredibly inspiring woman named Annette Craig. Annette founded my favorite non-profit in the world: The With Hope Foundation Annette lost her daughter Amber to suicide extremely unexpectedly in 2005, when Amber was just 14. Now, With Hope, The Amber Craig Memorial Foundation is actively educati

The Truth About Gas Lighting
Send us Fan MailToday’s episode is all about gaslighting. This term has become very popular in our culture over the last decade, and I’ve noticed that not everyone is using it in the same way. “Gaslighting” was Merriam-Webster’s most searched word of 2022, and has taken a prominent role online as people attempt to describe things like deceit, feeling discredited, being misrepresented, and more. T

3 Parent Relationship Basics
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I want to talk about the three basic rules to the parenting relationship.Number one: stop what doesn’t work. Getting rid of practices that aren’t bearing fruit seems like a no-brainer, but however obvious it may be, it can be hard to do. Sometimes we can be operating in defaults and habits that have been around for years, and ceasing these activities and approaches

Boundaries II
Send us Fan MailThis episode it all about boundary setting.The topic of setting healthy boundaries is a significant part of my practice. When done correctly, it can be a game changer in many challenging parenting dynamics.Many parents have heard of and tried setting boundaries, but it’s common to begin the boundaries journey with some misconceptions about what they do and why they’re important. It

A Parenting Presentation For Orange Lutheran High School
Send us Fan MailFirst, I address the subject of doing what works. Some of us can continue to do things that aren’t working because we believe it’s the right way to parent, that it SHOULD work, or that maybe it is somehow secretly working. Common approaches that often don’t work are: nagging, repeating, yelling, criticizing, and sometimes even the punishment and reward approach. Instead, we want to

Addiction and My Teen: What Can I Do?
Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Hope for Parents with Struggling Teens podcast, we’re going to tackle the heart-wrenching and all too familiar topic of substance use and addiction.Today I’m talking with Brittany Johns AMFT. Brittany carries valuable expertise from her years of experience helping teens through substance abuse and addiction.What can you do to help your teen who is using? Some

Setting Boundaries
Send us Fan MailWelcome back to the Hope for Parents with Struggling Teens podcast, a resource for parents who want to learn what really works in relationships with struggling teens.Have you ever set a boundary with someone, and then that person just wouldn’t respect it? Well, guess what - that wasn’t a proper boundary. There’s a common misunderstanding about boundaries floating around right now,

Getting Your Teen Help
Send us Fan MailYou are not alone if you don’t know where to go or what to do in order to get your child the help he or she needs. There is so much information on what to do and how to do it that it can be overwhelming. In a way, it seems like there are countless options and at times it seems that there is no help for what your family is struggling with. Get some answers and better navigate get

Putting The Relationship First
Send us Fan MailWhen we first have a kid most of us dreamt about their future, how we were going to protect them, and how we were going to make sure that we start off correctly with not too much but just enough parenting intervention. Often our desire for them to have a successful and happy future leads us to parenting behaviors that do not put the relationship first. The lessons and the parenti
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