College Is Fine, Everything's Fine - #58 From High School to College: A Guide to Navigating Shifts in the Parent-Child Relationship with Drs. Annalise Caron and Suzanne Allen

#58 From High School to College: A Guide to Navigating Shifts in the Parent-Child Relationship with Drs. Annalise Caron and Suzanne Allen

02/25/25 • 37 min

Saying goodbye to your parents is often the last thing most college students are thinking about when they tackle their “to do” list before moving in on campus. In an earlier episode, we sat down with college students who shared their experiences with relationship shifts at home. In this week’s episode, we sit down with not one, but two expert psychologists to explore the challenges and growth opportunities that arise for the parent-child relationship when young adults head off to college. They provide valuable insights for both parents and students on how to maintain strong, supportive relationships during this transitional phase. In this episode we will touch on:

Communication challenges between college students and parents
The importance of discussing expectations early
Navigating the balance between autonomy and dependency
Tips for students and parents to communicate better, using strategies like DEAR MAN
How to build support networks for parents during the college transition

Resources:

Drs. Annalise Caron and Suzanne Allen’s group private practice in Westport, CT

https://cbtwestport.com/

The Parenting Pair Website:

https://www.theparentingpair.com/

Want to share your story, give us feedback or offer up an episode idea? Reach out! We'd love to hear from you.

Insta: @collegeisfinepodcast
Tik Tok: @collegeisfinepodcast
Email: [email protected]
Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner

Communication challenges between college students and parents
The importance of discussing expectations early
Navigating the balance between autonomy and dependency
Tips for students and parents to communicate better, using strategies like DEAR MAN
How to build support networks for parents during the college transition

Resources:

Drs. Annalise Caron and Suzanne Allen’s group private practice in Westport, CT

https://cbtwestport.com/

The Parenting Pair Website:

https://www.theparentingpair.com/

Want to share your story, give us feedback or offer up an episode idea? Reach out! We'd love to hear from you.

Insta: @collegeisfinepodcast
Tik Tok: @collegeisfinepodcast
Email: [email protected]
Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner

Previous Episode

#57 Microdose on DBT’s DEAR MAN: Mastering the Art of Asking for What You Want with Dr. Sameena Groves

In today’s microdose episode, we dive deep into one of the most powerful tools in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – the DEAR MAN skill. We welcome Dr. Sameena Groves, a clinical psychologist and DBT expert, to explore how this assertiveness technique can help navigate tough conversations, set boundaries, and communicate effectively during your college years (and beyond).

Dr. Groves walks us through the steps of DEAR MAN, which is an acronym for:

Describe: Lay out the facts without judgment.
Express: Share how the situation impacts you emotionally.
Assert: Ask for what you want or say no to something you don’t want.
Reinforce: Explain why the other person might benefit from meeting your request.
Mindful: Stay focused on the issue at hand, without being swayed by distractions or defensive responses.
Appear Confident: Deliver your request with a calm, firm, and neutral tone, even if you're not feeling 100% confident.

Dr. Sameena Groves is a cognitive-behavioral therapist in private practice in New York City, Westchester and the Zoomsphere. She helps Type A adolescents, college students and adults develop new ways to strive for a great life while doing (slightly) less, practicing self-kindness, and questioning the code of hustle culture. She believes that good therapy consists of teamwork, trying things outside of your comfort zone, being kind to yourself, and enjoying the bumpy process of personal growth. She takes her cues from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, two approaches favored by the team at College is Fine. Fun Fact: Dr. Groves and Dr. Olivo met during postdoctoral training at the NYU Child Study Center and built a private practice together over a decade ago!

Dr. Sameena Grove's private practice: https://www.cityandcountrycbt.com/

Want to share your story, give us feedback or offer up an episode idea? Reach out! We'd love to hear from you.

Insta: @collegeisfinepodcast
Tik Tok: @collegeisfinepodcast
Email: [email protected]
Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner

Next Episode

#59 Microdose on DBT's G.I.V.E. Skill: How to Build and Maintain Healthy Relationships in College

In this week's microdose episode, we sit down to discuss the G.I.V.E. skill from DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), which helps individuals build and maintain positive relationships. Whether you are navigating a conflict with your roommate, trying to make new friends, or wanting to build a better relationship with your parents, the G.I.V.E. skill can help increase the likelihood that others will view you positively after your interactions with them. The skill involves four key components:

being Gentle

acting Interested

being Validating

using an Easy Manner

Stay tuned for our next microdose episode on learning how to maintain your self-respect in relationships.

Want to share your story, give us feedback or offer up an episode idea? Reach out! We'd love to hear from you.

Insta: @collegeisfinepodcast
Tik Tok: @collegeisfinepodcast
Email: [email protected]
Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner

College Is Fine, Everything's Fine - #58 From High School to College: A Guide to Navigating Shifts in the Parent-Child Relationship with Drs. Annalise Caron and Suzanne Allen

Transcript

I'm Dr. Sarah Olivo and I'm Dr. Liz Seidler and you're listening to College is Fine. Everything's fine.

All right, we are so excited to see these two. Um, you guys can't see them potentially because this is a podcast. We've got some, two lovebirds sitting here. They're joining us from one microphone. Ha ha ha ha ha. Um, no, but just kidding. They are, they're, they're a pair, but they're actually. Uh, parenting pair, they're two psychologists with so much advice to give.

We have Dr