Episodi

  • 217. What Dads Wish Moms Knew About Fatherhood and Parenting With Jeff Hittner

    217. What Dads Wish Moms Knew About Fatherhood and Parenting With Jeff Hittner
    Oct 20 2026
    Dads are struggling with fatherhood in ways we don't see as moms, and maybe he doesn't have the words to tell you.As moms, it can be easy to feel like we're carrying the emotional weight of parenting, especially when our kids are struggling. We may have strong ideas about how things should be done, and when our partner approaches parenting differently, it can feel frustrating, confusing, or even like we have to take over.But what if there's more going on underneath the surface?In this conversation, I’m joined by Jeff Hittner, founder of Ambitious Dads, who has spent years talking to fathers about their experiences as parents. After interviewing more than 200 dads, Jeff has uncovered some of the unique challenges fathers face, including the pressure to be a provider, the lack of role models and community, and the difficulty many men have finding safe spaces to talk honestly about their fears and struggles.We also talk about something I know so many of us can relate to: co-parenting when you and your partner come from completely different backgrounds. Our childhood experiences, our wounds, and even something as simple as how we were raised around food or screens can shape what we believe good parenting looks like. And when we're both convinced our way is the right way, it can be incredibly difficult to step back and make room for another approach.For me, this conversation was a beautiful reminder that fatherhood isn't about having all the answers, and neither is motherhood. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do for our families is become curious about what's underneath our own reactions, give each other room to grow, and remember that we're all learning as we go.In this episode on fatherhood & what dads need, we discuss:Why so many dads struggle to talk about the hard parts of fatherhoodThe pressure fathers can feel to define their worth through providingWhy dads need community and safe spaces to talk about parentingHow our own childhood experiences influence the way we parentWhy co-parenting can be so challenging when two parents have different parenting philosophiesWhat can happen when fear turns into control in parentingHow moms can better understand and support the dads in their familiesWhy vulnerability, humility, and repair are such important parts of fatherhood and parentingHow letting your kids see you learning and making mistakes can actually be a giftWhy you don't have to be a perfect parent to be a good oneMore about Jeff HittnerJeff Hittner is a leadership expert, executive coach, and the founder of Ambitious Dads. After interviewing more than 200 fathers, Jeff saw the same challenge again and again: ambitious men feel pulled between two lives, the career they’re building and the family they don’t want to miss.Through the Ambitious Dads Podcast and his coaching practice, Jeff helps fathers stop treating work and home as competing worlds. His work gives men the tools, frameworks, and community to lead as the same man in every room: one man, one engine.By treating fatherhood as the ultimate leadership lab, Jeff helps men become more grounded, more capable, and more aligned leaders everywhere.Check out the Ambitious Dads website and sign up for the newsletter.Listen to the Ambitious Dads Podcast here.Looking for support?🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.comYou can support the show by:→ Leaving a review→ Subscribing to the show→ Sharing it with another parent!And remember parents, the change begins with us.
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    44 min
  • 216. There Is No Easy Way Out: Parenting a Teen or Young Adult After Treatment

    216. There Is No Easy Way Out: Parenting a Teen or Young Adult After Treatment
    Oct 13 2026

    Your child is looking for the easy way out. And maybe you are as well.

    If you're parenting a teen or young adult after treatment, you may know the feeling. Your child has worked through treatment, but now they're talking about drinking instead of using drugs, experimenting with a different substance, or finding a way to manage their pain without truly addressing what's underneath.

    You find yourself wondering, Didn't we already go through this? Why can't they see what's happening?

    In this episode, Seth and I talk about the difficult reality of parenting a teen or young adult after treatment. We explore why substance use can continue to show up in different forms, what unresolved pain might have to do with it, and how easy it is to believe that one more solution will finally make everything better.

    And then there's our own part as parents.

    Because as much as we want our kids to stop hurting, we also want to stop hurting ourselves. We want to avoid the confrontation, the anger, the discomfort of holding a boundary, or the fear of watching our child struggle. Sometimes, we hope our teen will change so we don't have to look at what we might need to change ourselves.

    That doesn't mean you're a bad parent. I've been there, too. I know how deeply you want to help your child, and how tempting it can be to make the discomfort go away. But what if growth, for you and your child, requires something different?

    There is no easy way out. And that doesn't mean there isn't hope. It means we have to be willing to look at what's underneath the behavior, recognize what belongs to us, and allow our kids to experience the discomfort that comes with growth.

    In this episode on parenting a teen or young adult after treatment, we discuss:

    • Why teens and young adults may substitute one substance for another after treatment.
    • The underlying pain, trauma, and emotional discomfort that can drive substance use.
    • Why treatment is an important beginning, not necessarily a complete solution.
    • The temptation to search for a quick fix, including new treatments or medications.
    • How parents can fall into the trap of looking for an easy way out themselves.
    • The importance of recognizing your own role in the family dynamic.
    • Setting boundaries while allowing your teen or young adult to experience the discomfort of life.
    • Why growth requires ongoing work, patience, and a willingness to face what feels uncomfortable.


    Looking for support?

    🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

    🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

    🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.


    Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.com


    You can support the show by:

    → Leaving a review

    → Subscribing to the show

    → Sharing it with another parent!


    And remember parents, the change begins with us.
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    23 min
  • 215. Helping a Teen with Addiction Without Enabling Them With Former Struggling Teen Thomas Henderson

    215. Helping a Teen with Addiction Without Enabling Them With Former Struggling Teen Thomas Henderson
    Oct 6 2026

    Your teen is struggling with addiction and you’re terrified that helping them might actually be making things worse. What do you do?

    In this episode, I’m joined by Thomas Henderson, a former struggling teen who began using substances at just 11 years old and eventually found himself caught in a cycle of addiction, relapse, treatment, and recovery. Today, Thomas works with families and uses his own experience to help parents and kids navigate some of the same challenges he once lived through.

    Thomas and I talk honestly about the incredibly difficult line between supporting your teen and enabling them. His parents loved him deeply and never stopped believing in him, but there were also times when their support allowed his addiction to continue. Eventually, they had to make the terrifying decision to completely cut off financial support and communication and let Thomas experience the consequences of his choices.

    From a parent’s perspective, that kind of boundary can feel impossible.

    How do you step back when your child is hurting?
    How do you hold onto hope without rescuing them?
    And how do you know when helping has crossed into enabling?

    Thomas shares what those choices felt like from his side of the story, including what he remembers about his parents’ unconditional belief in him, what finally helped him take ownership of his recovery, and why he believes reconnecting with yourself is such an important part of lasting change.

    In this episode on helping a teen with addiction without enabling them, we discuss:

    • Thomas’s journey from early substance use to addiction and recovery
    • How parents can unintentionally enable a teen’s addiction
    • The difference between supporting your teen and rescuing them
    • Why Thomas’s parents eventually had to draw a hard boundary
    • What it felt like for Thomas when his parents stopped financially supporting him
    • How consequences can sometimes create the pressure needed for change
    • Why parents need to hold onto hope, even when their teen has given up on themselves
    • How treatment, wilderness, nature, mentors, and community shaped Thomas’s recovery
    • What Thomas wants parents of struggling teens to understand about addiction and ownership


    More about Thomas Henderson

    Thomas got sober in 2020 after years of addiction and rebuilt his life from an RV in the California desert. Today, he is a family manager and coach at Not Therapy Coaching where he uses his experiences to help others build resilience, purpose, and lasting change. He's also an ultramarathon runner, breathwork facilitator, and entrepreneur.

    Learn more about Not Therapy on their website.


    Looking for support?

    🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

    🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

    🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.


    Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.com


    You can support the show by:

    → Leaving a review

    → Subscribing to the show

    → Sharing it with another parent!


    And remember parents, the change begins with us.

    🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

    How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

    Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups
    I hope to see you there!
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    1 ora e 6 min
  • 214. When Your Expectations Become Pressure: A Struggling Teen’s Perspective With Justin Levine

    214. When Your Expectations Become Pressure: A Struggling Teen’s Perspective With Justin Levine
    Sep 29 2026
    You want the best for your teen. You want them to succeed, make good choices, and build a life they can be proud of. But what happens when the expectations you have for your child start to feel like pressure to them?If you’re anything like me, you might be thinking right now, “But I don’t expect my kid to become a doctor!” And neither did I. But parental expectations and pressure can be much more subtle than that. Sometimes they show up in the activities we encourage, the questions we ask. the future we picture for our kids, or even in our definition of what “success” should look like. I’ve had to look at this in my own parenting, too, and today’s conversation gave me plenty to think about.In this episode, I’m joined by Justin Levine, who was once a struggling teen in treatment, dealing with severe anxiety and OCD while also trying to keep up with the expectations he felt around school, running, and his future. Today, he works as a coach and mentor for teens and young adults, helping them build confidence, independence, and a sense of purpose.Justin gives us something I think every parent of a struggling teen can benefit from hearing: the perspective of the kid who was actually living it.We talk honestly about parental expectations and pressure and how difficult it can be to tell the difference between encouraging your teen and unintentionally taking over the steering wheel of their life.For Justin, one of the biggest turning points came when he realized that some of the goals he was working toward weren’t actually his own. His experience offers a powerful perspective for parents: sometimes, giving your teen more ownership doesn’t mean giving up on them. It may be exactly what allows them to finally find their own motivation.We also talk about what can happen when a teen enters treatment without truly being ready to engage in the work, why simply “checking the boxes” isn’t the same as changing, and how family dynamics can contribute to disconnection on both sides.If you’ve ever felt afraid of what might happen if you loosen your grip a little, this conversation offers a perspective you’ll want to hear.In this episode on parental expectations and pressure, we discuss:How anxiety, perfectionism, and OCD can hide behind high achievementWhy your teen’s behavior may not tell you the whole story of what’s happening internallyWhen an activity that once brought your teen joy becomes another source of pressureThe complicated dynamic that can happen when a parent is also a coachKnowing when to encourage your teen and when to step backWhy simply “doing the work” in treatment doesn't necessarily mean your teen is ready to changeThe difference between completing treatment and actually engaging in the processHow parental expectations can unintentionally create pressure and disconnectionThe importance of letting your teen develop goals that actually belong to themHow Justin eventually repaired and strengthened his relationship with his parentsThe role a mentor can play between therapy, treatment, and everyday lifeHow a trusted person outside the parent-child relationship can help a struggling teen move toward independenceMore about Justin LevineJustin Levine is the Founder and Head Coach of Strive to Thrive Coaching, a coaching practice dedicated to helping adolescents, emerging adults, families, and athletes build confidence, independence, and purpose. Justin's perspective is both professional and deeply personal. As a teenager, he attended wilderness therapy and residential treatment himself. That experience inspired him to return to the field—not as a client, but as a mentor, researcher, and clinician—eventually serving as Director of Neuro Health at Telos Residential Treatment Center before founding Strive to Thrive Coaching to provide the kind of support he wishes had been available after leaving treatment.Learn more at → https://strivetothrivecoaching.orgLooking for support?🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.comYou can support the show by:→ Leaving a review→ Subscribing to the show→ Sharing it with another parent!And remember parents, the change begins with us.🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups I hope to see you there!
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    46 min
  • 213. Rebuilding Connection With Your Struggling Teen: Why You Might Need to Stop Trying So Hard

    213. Rebuilding Connection With Your Struggling Teen: Why You Might Need to Stop Trying So Hard
    Sep 22 2026

    You’re trying so hard to repair what’s been broken, to rebuild trust, and feel close again with your teen or young adult. So when they pull away, it can feel almost impossible to not try harder.

    But what if trying harder to reconnect is actually making this very connection harder?

    In this episode, Seth and I have a very honest conversation about rebuilding connection with your struggling teen or young adult, and how difficult it can be to practice what we teach when the person we love is the one who’s struggling.

    Seth shares what it’s like to support a struggling family member and realize that, despite knowing all the “right” things to do, there are moments when there is simply nothing more within your control. We talk about the guilt that can come with that realization, the urge to fix things, and the painful truth that you can care deeply about someone without being responsible for their choices.

    I also share a recent experience with my own son. After a difficult conflict, I found myself wanting to reach out, talk things through, and repair the relationship. But underneath my attempts to connect was something I didn’t initially recognize: anxiety. I had an agenda. I wanted him to open up, reconnect, and let me know what he was feeling.

    Once I realized that, I was able to slow down, let go of what I thought should happen, and simply be present with him.

    And something surprising happened: when I stopped pushing for connection, he began moving toward it himself.

    Rebuilding connection with your struggling teen doesn’t necessarily mean finding the perfect words or having the perfect conversation. Sometimes, it means creating enough safety for your teen to come toward you in their own time and in their own way.

    In this episode on rebuilding connection with your struggling teen or young adult, we discuss:

    • Why trying harder to connect can sometimes create more distance
    • The difference between offering connection and trying to make someone connect with you
    • How guilt can make you feel responsible for another person’s choices
    • What it really means to “hold space” for your teen or young adult
    • Why safety requires letting go of judgment and your agenda
    • How your energy, tone, and way of being can affect connection
    • Why slowing down can be more helpful than pushing for a conversation
    • How connection can look different for you and your child
    • Recognizing the small ways your teen may already be reaching for connection
    • Why accepting what your teen or young adult is able to give right now can help rebuild trust and connection
    • The importance of noticing your own patterns and emotional reactions
    • Why rebuilding connection takes time, practice, and plenty of imperfect moments


    Looking for support?

    🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

    🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

    🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.


    Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.com


    You can support the show by:

    → Leaving a review

    → Subscribing to the show

    → Sharing it with another parent!


    And remember parents, the change begins with us.

    🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

    How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

    Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups
    I hope to see you there!
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    32 min
  • 212. After Treatment Comes Real Life: Part 2 of Harrison Paletti's Story of College, Relapse, and Finding His Way Back

    212. After Treatment Comes Real Life: Part 2 of Harrison Paletti's Story of College, Relapse, and Finding His Way Back
    Sep 15 2026
    🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups I hope to see you there!What happens when your teen leaves treatment, goes to college, and suddenly has more freedom than they’ve had in years? For Harrison Paletta, the answer wasn’t a straight line, and his story is an important reminder that relapse after treatment doesn’t mean everything has been lost.In Part 2 of Harrison’s story, he takes us through the college years that followed residential treatment. In a way, college gave him exactly what he had been missing: close friendships, a sense of belonging, independence, good grades, and a life that felt exciting and normal again. But that freedom also came with drinking, smoking weed, experimentation with other substances, and eventually two arrests and a suspension from school.For parents, it can be hard to make sense of this kind of journey. Your teen may be doing well in some areas while struggling significantly in others. They may make progress, then make choices that scare you. They may relapse after treatment and still go on to build a meaningful, successful life.Harrison’s story offers a candid look at what relapse after treatment can actually look like and why a setback doesn't necessarily mean your teen is back where they started.He also shares what happened next: how his parents responded, the natural consequences he experienced, how he eventually returned to college, and why he ultimately decided he needed a completely different environment after graduation. Today, Harrison uses his own experience to mentor young people coming out of treatment and preparing for the challenges of college and adulthood.For parents, there’s an important message woven throughout his story: your teen’s progress may not be linear, and your job isn’t to keep your hands on the wheel forever. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to step back, setting appropriate boundaries, and allowing your young adult to experience the consequences of their choices.In this episode on relapse after treatment, we discuss:What happened when Harrison went to college after residential treatmentHow freedom, friendships, and college culture influenced his substance useWhy relapse after treatment doesn't always look the way parents expectThe surprising ways Harrison's friends supported him despite also partying with himHow his parents approached him when they learned about his substance useHarrison's experience with two arrests and being suspended from collegeThe natural consequences his parents set after he had to come homeWhy Harrison chose to return to college after his setbackHow his relationship with his parents changed as they learned to take their hands off the wheelWhat eventually led Harrison to leave New York and return to the treatment community that had helped himWhy he now believes young people need support and mentorship after treatment. Not just while they're in itWhat parents can realistically expect from their teen's journey after treatmentMore about Harrison PalettaAround the age of 14, I began experimenting with weed and alcohol. By the age of 16, experimentation turned into daily use, and my behavior became completely unhinged. At 17, I was transported to a wilderness therapy program. Afterwards I was sent to a residential treatment center. Nine months later I went home and soon began falling into my old habits. Although my drug use escalated, I managed to get accepted into college. Things got worse there, and eventually I was arrested and suspended from school. After spending some time back home, I wanted to make a change and moved to Utah to pursue a healthy lifestyle. After making a major shift and embracing healthy living, I went back to work in the same residential treatment center I had been to as a kid. I returned to school to finish my undergrad studies and began my pursuing a master's degree in Social Work. Now, I share my story with the hope of uplifting the next generation of youth who are experiencing similar struggles.You can contact Harrison for teen mentoring at harrison@lifestrategiesmentors.com or by calling him at 914-648-0504.Learn more about Life Strategy Mentors here.Looking for support?🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.comYou can support the show by:→ Leaving a review→ Subscribing to the show→ Sharing ...
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    1 ora e 1 min
  • 211. A Struggling Teen's Perspective: How Harrison and His Parents Worked Together for Change - With Harrison Paletta

    211. A Struggling Teen's Perspective: How Harrison and His Parents Worked Together for Change - With Harrison Paletta
    Sep 8 2026
    🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups I hope to see you there!What if you could sit down with your struggling teen and hear what was really going on inside their head? In this episode, Harrison Paletta gives us that rare perspective.When Harrison was a struggling teenager, he was using substances, getting into trouble, pushing boundaries, and becoming increasingly disconnected from his parents. From the outside, it could have looked like he simply didn't care about the consequences. But from Harrison's perspective, there was so much more going on.In this episode, Harrison joins me to share his story from the other side of the parent-teen relationship. He talks openly about what it felt like to be shamed and misunderstood, why he desperately wanted his parents to listen to him, and how feeling unheard contributed to an increasingly difficult family dynamic.Harrison's story takes us through wilderness therapy, residential treatment, coming home, relapse, and eventually college. But what's especially powerful is hearing how his relationship with his parents changed along the way.They didn't suddenly find the perfect response that made everything better. Instead, they gradually began changing the dynamic between them. They learned to listen, respond differently, allow Harrison to experience consequences, and perhaps most importantly, create enough trust for him to be honest about what was really happening.In this episode on a struggling teen's perspective, we discuss:What Harrison wishes his parents had understood when he was strugglingWhy shame and punishment sometimes created more disconnectionWhat “I don't care” actually meant for HarrisonHow feeling heard and respected changed his relationship with his parentsHarrison's experience going to wilderness therapy and residential treatmentThe challenges of leaving treatment and returning homeWhat happened when Harrison relapsed after treatmentHow honesty changed the dynamic between Harrison and his parentsWhy relapse doesn't necessarily mean your teen is back at square oneThe difference between controlling your teen and influencing themHow Harrison's parents gradually shifted their approachWhy mentorship can be so valuable for a struggling teen after treatmentMore about Harrison PalettaAround the age of 14, I began experimenting with weed and alcohol. By the age of 16, experimentation turned into daily use, and my behavior became completely unhinged. At 17, I was transported to a wilderness therapy program. Afterwards I was sent to a residential treatment center. Nine months later I went home and soon began falling into my old habits. Although my drug use escalated, I managed to get accepted into college. Things got worse there, and eventually I was arrested and suspended from school. After spending some time back home, I wanted to make a change and moved to Utah to pursue a healthy lifestyle. After making a major shift and embracing healthy living, I went back to work in the same residential treatment center I had been to as a kid. I returned to school to finish my undergrad studies and began my pursuing a master's degree in Social Work. Now, I share my story with the hope of uplifting the next generation of youth who are experiencing similar struggles.You can contact Harrison for teen mentoring at harrison@lifestrategiesmentors.com or by calling him at 914-648-0504.Learn more about Life Strategy Mentors here.Looking for support?🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.comYou can support the show by:→ Leaving a review→ Subscribing to the show→ Sharing it with another parent!And remember parents, the change begins with us.🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups I hope to see you there!
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    1 ora e 8 min
  • 210. Relapse Is Imminent, But Your Teen Isn’t Back at Square One

    210. Relapse Is Imminent, But Your Teen Isn’t Back at Square One
    Sep 1 2026

    🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

    How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

    Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups
    I hope to see you there!


    You see old behaviors showing up again and your first thought is, “Oh no. Are we back here again?”. When you’ve worked so hard to support your struggling teen, a relapse, or even the return of an old pattern, can feel terrifying. Believe me, I know. It can bring back anxiety, urgency, and the instinct to jump in, fix things, or make sure everything is okay.

    But relapse doesn’t mean that all the progress is gone. It doesn’t mean you’re back at square one.

    In this episode, Seth and I have a deeply honest conversation about relapse, setbacks, and what happens when life gets messy again. I even share a very recent experience in my own family that brought old patterns back to the surface and reminded me that doing the work doesn’t create a life free from difficult emotions, conflict, or uncertainty.

    Instead, the work gives you something much more valuable: the ability to recognize what’s happening, sit with discomfort, manage your own anxiety, and choose how you want to show up.

    Because relapse is imminent in the sense that none of us are robots. Old patterns can resurface. Anger can show up again. Avoidance can return. Relationships can become difficult again. And when that happens, it doesn’t mean you’re back at square one.

    It means you’re human.

    In this episode on how relapse is imminent, we discuss:

    • Why relapse and setbacks don’t mean that your previous progress has disappeared
    • What happens when old patterns resurface in your family
    • How your anxiety can influence a struggling teen who is already overwhelmed
    • Why sometimes the most supportive thing you can do is give your teen space
    • How shame and embarrassment can cause your teen to isolate
    • The difference between being present for your teen and trying to rescue or fix them
    • Why your problems may not disappear, but your ability to handle them can change
    • How to recognize the difference between facts and the stories your anxious brain is creating
    • What it means to witness your teen without needing them to change or repair immediately
    • Why taking care of yourself is essential when you’re supporting a struggling teen


    Looking for support?

    🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

    🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

    🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.


    Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.com


    You can support the show by:

    → Leaving a review

    → Subscribing to the show

    → Sharing it with another parent!


    And remember parents, the change begins with us.

    🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

    How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

    Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups
    I hope to see you there!
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    35 min