The Reflective Parent: Parenting Strategies to Improve Communication And Build a Strong Relationship With Your Teen and Family - 1. The Story Behind My Passion for Helping Families

1. The Story Behind My Passion for Helping Families

08/23/24 • 37 min

The Reflective Parent: Parenting Strategies to Improve Communication And Build a Strong Relationship With Your Teen and Family

“After a lot of attempts and a lot of failure, I did it.” - Jason Denham

In this first episode, I’m peeling back the layers of my own journey—sharing the twists, turns, and tough moments that have shaped me into the person I am today. It’s a story of change, and as I’ve learned, change is a process, and it’s slow.

Why am I sharing this? Because I see a little bit of myself in every struggling kiddo out there and a piece of you, the parent, in every moment of frustration or doubt. I’ve been there, on both sides of the equation, and I want you to know that there’s hope.

It’s incredibly challenging to get someone to let go of what they feel is the solution. I’ve been that someone, clinging to the belief that I had all the answers, only to discover that real growth requires letting go and embracing the unknown. That’s what I want to explore with you throughout this podcast—how we, as parents, can make those small shifts that lead to big changes at home so you can build a strong relationship with your family.

In this episode, you’ll hear my story. Not just to get to know me better, but to see how the struggles I faced mirror the challenges your teen might be going through right now. I’ll also share how understanding my own past has given me the tools to help families like yours strengthen their connections, improve their communication, and navigate the sometimes rocky road of raising teens.

So, let’s dive in. Together, we’ll explore parenting strategies to help you keep your family unit strong, build bridges instead of barriers, and guide your kids as they grow into the amazing people they’re becoming. It all starts with understanding—and I’m here to help you find that understanding within yourself.

⭐Looking for individualized support? Book your free consultation now. https://awakenedshadow.com/#appointments

👋 Don’t be a stranger! Come and say hi on Instagram @theattachmentcoach

You can support this podcast by:

Leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts
Subscribing to the show on your favorite listening platform

I'd love to hear from you! Whatever it is that comes up for you after listening to today's episode, please share it with me in a text message!

“After a lot of attempts and a lot of failure, I did it.” - Jason Denham

⭐Looking for individualized support? Book your free consultation now. https://awakenedshadow.com/#appointments

👋 Don’t be a stranger! Come and say hi on Instagram @theattachmentcoach

You can support this podcast by:

Leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts
Subscribing to the show on your favorite listening platform

I'd love to hear from you! Whatever it is that comes up for you after listening to today's episode, please share it with me in a text message!

Previous Episode

Trailer - Welcome to The Reflective Parent!

This podcast is for parents who feel exhausted trying to reconnect with their child but are feeling stuck. Nothing you do seems to be working and you’re ready to dive deep, get vulnerable, and take on a different approach.
Here, on the “The Reflective Parent” podcast, we start by looking at ourselves and begin to make small shifts for change. When we better understand ourselves, we are better equipped to engage with the family and its unique dynamics. Small changes in your own behavior and way of thinking will have a big impact on your family dynamics, your relationship with your partner, and even the behavior of your teen or pre-teen. When you change, they change, and you’ll see them adopt better strategies that align with your family value system.

I’m your host, parent coach Jason Denham. With nearly 20 years of experience in family dynamics, including 14 years living with adolescents and 2 years managing sober living for adults, I’ve worked with diverse personalities and diagnoses in families across the globe. My background spans wilderness therapy, residential treatment, transitional living, foster care, and sober living. Since 2021, I’ve been a parent coach and continue to support families, drawing from my own experiences with recovery, ADHD, and epilepsy. These insights help me provide practical tips and actionable parenting strategies for those families facing similar challenges.

“The Reflective Parent” podcast is a place where parents like you can come to seek community, connection, confidence and competence in deepening your family relationships, increasing your peace, feeling less exhausted, and more motivated to teach.

In this podcast, you can expect to learn about topics like:

Building a strong relationship with your family;
Setting boundaries and limits;
Showing up to teach and guide;
Screen hygiene or screen misuse;
How to deal with a lying or disrespectful teen;
Improving communication with your teen and family;
Teen drug and screen addiction;
Teens struggling with Autism, ASD, ODD, or ADHD;
Teen mental health issues;
And much more.

Bring your most challenging questions and your most courageous, vulnerable self as you learn with other parents, because together is better and you are not alone.

I'd love to hear from you! Whatever it is that comes up for you after listening to today's episode, please share it with me in a text message!

Next Episode

2. How Struggles Shape You and Your Teen, And How They Shaped Me

Struggle can be a powerful catalyst for growth. I’ve witnessed this truth not only in my own life but also in the lives of countless teens while working in wilderness therapy, residential treatment, and transitional and sober living.

However, my time in wilderness therapy was particularly eye-opening. Seeing the immense challenges these teens faced made me realize just how fortunate I’ve been in comparison—how lucky I was not to have struggled as much as they did.

“But through [my struggles], I was able to grow quite a bit. And so can these young humans who are really struggling with a lot of areas of their lives” - Jason Denham

In this episode, I’m diving into some key experiences that shaped my understanding of how you, as a parent, can better support your teen. We’re not just talking about the everyday parenting strategies here - we’re talking about creative problem-solving. We’ll explore how stepping into your teen’s shoes, even when it’s hard to understand where they’re coming from, can make a significant difference.

We’ll also discuss how slowing down to celebrate those tiny victories can make all the difference in your relationship with your teen and your family.

In this episode, we’ll discuss some practical steps to get you started:

Family agreements: Why letting your teen have a say in family decisions can transform your family dynamics.
Understanding the body’s response: What happens inside us when family tension rises, and how we can manage it.
Self-care for parents: The importance of carving out time to restore your nervous system, so you can show up with renewed energy to build a strong relationship with your family.
The power of movement: How physical activity can help your teen open up emotionally.
Letting go: Why it’s crucial to allow your teen to tackle problems on their own, rather than solving everything for them.
Screen Time: The impact of screen usage on our brains, and what that means for our teenagers.

Each of these topics plays its own role in understanding how we can better connect with our teens, helping them grow into resilient, capable adults. Let’s dive in!

⭐Looking for individualized support? Book your free consultation now. https://awakenedshadow.com/#appointments

👋 Don’t be a stranger! Come and say hi on Instagram @theattachmentcoach

You can support this podcast by: