Your Parent Coach by Mel White

In today’s episode of Your Parent Coach, I’m joined by Leora Aksman-Glosz and Oriana Blanco from reconnect 2thrive — two deeply experienced practitioners who bring over 35 years of combined experience supporting children, families, and educators.This conversation is a beautiful reminder that parenting isn’t about fixing behaviour and it’s about understanding what sits underneath it. This episode is for parents who want to understand their children more deeply, feel less alone in the hard moments, and be reminded that connection is built through small, consistent & human moments.You can find Leora and Oriana at reconnect2thrive:Website: https://reconnect2thrive.com.au/Instagram & Facebook: @reconnect2thriveIf this episode resonated with you, please share it with another parent who might need it, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations.If you want to be on an episode or request a guest email - mel@melwhiteparentcoach.com

In this very timely episode of Your Parent Coach, I’m joined by Melbourne-based conscious parenting mentor and mindfulness practitioner Kavita Patidar. As a mother of two, Kavita brings a deeply intuitive, grounded, and compassionate lens to raising children in a world filled with screens, social media, and constant digital noise.Together, we explore how to protect childhood, nurture emotional resilience, and build a stronger inner world in our kids, one that isn’t shaped by algorithms but by connection, presence, and creativity.With school holidays approaching, this conversation couldn’t come at a better time. Kavita shares practical tools, rituals, screen strategies, and creative alternatives that help families slow down, reconnect, and reclaim the magic of childhood.Listen before December 10th! The Social Media Delay is coming - be prepared on how to support your tween/teen.Link to join our Whatsapp support group for Mum's for FREE: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EgoNS8qkcPR1LPVFKXJINHFollow me on IG: @melwhiteparentcoach & @yourparentcoachpodcast

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Veronique Elefant-Yanni, a clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience supporting children, parents, and families worldwide. Dr. Veronique introduces her transformative 3D Human Therapy™ framework, a holistic model that helps parents understand the emotional dynamics driving their child’s behaviour, without over-pathologising.She explains why anger in teens is often misunderstood, how early-life circumstances shape emotional development, and why reconnecting with our internal world is key to resilience — for both parents and their kids.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe two-brain model: your thinking brain vs. your gut-feeling brainWhat “affects” are and how they shape your daily experience every 250 millisecondsWhy teens experience such big emotional waves, especially angerHow birth experiences, early attachment, and environmental stressors contribute to emotional patternsWhy changing your perception (not the past) is the real work of healingHow meditation, presence, and simple daily practices rebuild internal safety and emotional regulationThe four tools of Dr Veronique’s Program: Free Breathing (1-minute reset), Daily Small Pleasure, Green Walks in nature, 20 minute daily meditation as hygiene for the mindWhy naming your emotions aloud helps diffuse angerHow parents can model emotional awareness to help their teens feel more grounded and safeWhat it means to become psychologically independent — and why this is the foundation of freedom🔗 Download Dr Veronique’s Free GuideGet her 30-page guide “3D Human Therapy: A User Guide to Who You Are”👉 http://www.psychologyexperts.online/3DActionable TakeawayStart with one tool today — a 1-minute breathing reset, a mindful coffee, a short walk in nature, or a few minutes of meditation. Change doesn’t happen all at once, but it does happen when you return to yourself, again and again.Final MessageYou have the power to shift your emotional world and in doing so, you shift your family’s. Awareness, presence, and compassion create the foundation for deeper connection with your teen.If you enjoyed this episode please leave a rating :)

In today’s powerful conversation, I sit down with Mark Yeowell from Digital Tweens, a leading expert on children’s early smartphone use, to unpack the real impacts of giving tweens their first phone. Drawing on his UNSW doctoral research and 30+ years in education, Mark shares what actually changes for kids when they step into the digital world and why he calls this stage Digital Puberty.We explore the unexpected challenges parents face (spoiler: it’s not the “big scary” online harms), the rise of the scroll hole, feelings of overload, and the self-described “addiction” tweens experience as they navigate online spaces for the first time.Mark also introduces his incredibly helpful DRIVER framework — a practical, parent-friendly guide to delaying, restricting, staying involved, keeping visibility, educating, and role-modelling when it comes to your child’s digital life. Whether your child is asking for their first smartphone, already has one, or you're trying to wind things back, this episode will empower you with strategies, insights, and the confidence to be the digital parent your child needs.In This Episode, We Cover:The surprising wellbeing and developmental impacts of a child’s first smartphoneWhy Digital Puberty is just as significant as physical pubertyHow the “scroll hole” develops — and what parents can doThe overwhelm of group chats and constant notificationsPractical ways to reduce conflict during the transition to smartphone ownershipThe DRIVER framework for setting up healthy digital habitsWhy it’s never too late to reset boundariesWhat schools and communities should be doing to support digital wellbeingDriver:Delay – Wait until you are confident your child is ready for a device, they actually need it, and you can actively support and guide them.Restrict – Set and maintain clear boundaries. As your child consistently demonstrates responsibility and capability, gradually relax them.Involved – Stay engaged and show genuine curiosity about your child’s digital world. Ask questions and use technology together to really understand what they’re doing online.Visibility – Keep devices in shared spaces (not bedrooms) and ensure online activity is open and transparent, allowing you to monitor, guide, and support them.Educate – Explicitly teach your child digital literacy and digital citizenship skills, along with strategies to manage technology’s impact on their wellbeing.Role model – Demonstrate the digital behaviours you want your child to adopt. They’re watching and learning more from what you do than what you say.Links Mentioned:Digital Tweens: www.digitaltweens.com.auDigital Tweens on Facebook, LinkedIn & InstagramSubscribe to Mark’s weekly blog updatesIf you loved this episode…Please rate, review, and share it with another parent. Community matters — we’re stronger when we learn together.Follow me on socials @melwhiteparentcoach for daily insights, scripts & tools.

In this episode of Your Parent Coach, I’m talking about one of the most powerful shifts you can make in your parenting, moving from criticism and control to collaboration and curiosity.If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Why won’t they just listen?” or “Why isn’t what I’ve taught them working anymore?” — this episode is for you. I dive into what’s really going on inside your teen’s developing brain and why pushing harder often backfires.I’ll share practical examples and simple scripts to help you replace power struggles with real conversations. You’ll learn how to invite your teen into the process, build trust, and guide them through those tricky moments, without losing your boundaries or your cool.You’ll discover:Why criticism often feels like control to your teen (even when it’s coming from love).How collaboration helps your teen feel safe, seen, and heard.Language shifts that instantly change the tone of your conversations (like replacing “but” with “and”).The question I want you to ask yourself in every challenging moment: “What would collaboration look like here?”Collaboration is one of the key pillars of The Curious Parenting Method™, and in this episode, I’ll show you how this approach not only transforms communication with your teen but also strengthens your long-term relationship built on trust, respect, and connection.Because parenting teens isn’t about being the boss — it’s about being their guide, their leader, and their safe place to land.Key Takeaways:Criticism creates defence; collaboration creates safety.Teens are wired for independence, our job is to guide, not control.Curiosity builds bridges where criticism builds walls.When you stay curious, you open doors instead of closing them.Links & Resources:Connect with me on Instagram: @melwhiteparentcoachLearn more at www.melwhiteparentcoach.com

This week, I’m joined by the incredible Alisha Wood, high school teacher, teen wellbeing advocate, and founder of Mentoring Young Minds, a Sydney-based tutoring and mentoring company that’s redefining what support for young people looks like.I loved this chat because Alisha’s mission aligns so strongly with mine: to remind both parents and teens that marks don’t define you, and that when a child feels seen, safe, and supported, anything is possible.We talk about what led Alisha to start Mentoring Young Minds, how she balances academic tutoring with wellbeing support, and what she’s learned from mentoring students who’ve struggled with school refusal, anxiety, and self-doubt.You’ll also hear about her Head Start to High School program, designed to help kids transition smoothly from Year 6 to Year 7, especially those who are neurodivergent or find big changes overwhelming.This conversation is full of warmth, honesty, and hope — and it’s a beautiful reminder that success doesn’t have just one path.In This Episode, We Chat About:The teachers who inspired Alisha to become an educator.How COVID revealed the gaps in student wellbeing support.What it looks like to truly meet kids where they’re at.Why wellbeing should always come before academics.The real story behind Mentoring Young Minds’ approach.How to help your child navigate school transitions with confidence.Why ATARs don’t define your child’s future — or their worth.Connect with Alishamentoringyoungminds.com.auInstagram: @mentoring.young.mindsConnect with MelFollow @melwhiteparentcoach on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for more conversations that help parents and teens truly understand each other.Listen to Your Parent Coach wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, review, and share this episode with another parent who needs to hear that there’s always another way.

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Your Parent Coach, I sit down with licensed therapist and teen expert Katie K. May, founder of Creative Healing Teen Support Centres and author of You're on fire, it's fine. Katie has helped thousands of teens navigate depression, anxiety, and self-harm and today, she joins me to share her insights on how parents can best support their highly emotional teens.We unpack what it really means to parent a “Fire Feeler” - a teen who feels deeply, reacts intensely, and often struggles to regulate big emotions. Katie shares practical, compassionate tools for parents to move from frustration and confusion to empathy and connection.In This Episode, We Discuss:What inspired Katie to write You're on fire, it's fine and why this message is needed more than everThe concept of “Fire Feelers” and how reframing your teen’s sensitivity can change everythingWhy well-intentioned comments like “Relax” or “You’re just tired” can make things worse — and what to say insteadThe power of Radical Acceptance and how it transforms the parent-teen dynamicPractical ways to stop emotional escalation before it spiralsCommon misconceptions about teen emotions and how to see your teen’s behaviour through a new lensHow parents can stay calm, grounded, and emotionally regulated in the heat of the momentRebuilding trust and connection after a rocky patch and why letting go of the “fixer mentality” is keyWhy You’ll Love This Episode:If you’re a parent who feels like you’re walking on eggshells around your teen, this episode is your guide to stepping into compassion, calm, and curiosity. Our conversation is both validating and practical offering real-world tools to help you parent with understanding instead of urgency.Connect with Katie K. May:You’re on Fire, It’s Fine: Effective Strategies for Parenting Teens with Self-Destructive BehaviorsInstagram: @katiekaymayVisit Katie's website for free resources: https://www.youreonfireitsfine.com/Connect with Mel White:www.melwhiteparentcoach.comInstagram: @melwhiteparentcoach

In this episode, I sit down with Wayne Holdsworth, founder of SmackTalk, to talk about transforming grief into action, the importance of real human connection, and how we can all play a part in saving lives through better listening.We cover:Wayne’s personal journey and how the tragic loss of his son Mac sparked the SmackTalk missionWhat a “real conversation” looks like in moments of pain and crisisThe rising threat of sexual extortion (sextortion) and its connection to youth mental healthChallenges and lessons in spreading suicide prevention educationThe power and purpose behind UNPLUG24 — 24 hours off social media on 24 October 2025How listeners can get involved, support the cause, or just do better with the people around themUPCOMING Event – UNPLUG24 (24 October 2025)Wayne’s charity, SmackTalk, is calling on people across Australia (and beyond) to step away from social media for 24 hours on Friday, 24 October 2025 — as a day of reflection, reconnection, and awareness-raising.➡️ Sign up and learn more at: https://www.unplug24.smacktalk.com.auWhether you fundraise or just take the break, your participation helps fund SmackTalk’s vital education programs to combat sexual extortion and suicide. smacktalk.com.auResources & Links:SmackTalk website: www.smacktalk.com.auLifeline - 13 11 14Beyond blue - 1300 224 636Content Warning:This episode discusses suicide, loss, bullying, and sexual extortion. If you or anyone you know is in crisis, please reach out to Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), or other mental health support services.