Krysten Bisby is an esteemed counselor and advocate for animal-assisted therapy, harnessing her extensive experience with animals to support mental health and well-being. With a background in competitive horse riding, she has drawn on her lifelong passion for animals, including her therapeutic partner Cruz, a certified therapy dog, to enhance her counseling practice. She is notably involved in para-dressage riding at an international level, working with riders who have disabilities. Furthermore, she has transitioned from being a teacher to a counselor, focusing on creating safe spaces for young people to discuss their concerns and work towards mental wellness. Krysten operates KB Counseling Collective and partners with organisations like Riding for the Disabled at Tall Timbers in Sydney to provide therapy incorporating animals.

Key Takeaways:

• Krysten Bisby emphasises the importance of safe environments in therapy, crucially non-traditional approaches that involve animal companionship.
• Animal-assisted therapy facilitates tangible benefits for emotional regulation, reducing anxiety, and developing social skills.
• Pet therapy involves a certified partnership between handler and animal, requiring rigorous training and assessment.
• Non-verbal communication and repetitive activities with animals significantly aid in engaging clients who struggle with verbal processing.
• Activities with therapy animals can transform feelings of being 'different' or struggles into therapeutic experiences of social connection and emotional growth.

Notable Quotes:

1. "I think horses were kind of that escape and that time for me that I just felt a bit free really, being out in the paddock and riding."
2. "If there had just been someone at school that I could have talked to, or who could have said, ‘Hey, what's happening for you?’"
3. "Research shows that being around animals reduces cortisol, releases oxytocin, and has physical effects like lowering blood pressure and decreasing heart rate."
4. "For me, it's about equipping clients to have skills and strategies to manage themselves in everyday struggles."
5. "I think when you take away some of that focus of therapist with client and you add an animal, it's super regulatory, a calming presence."

Resources:

• Visit KB Counselling Collective's Website
• Visit KB Counseling Collective on Facebook for more information about Krysten Bisby's work.
• Explore services at Riding for the Disabled at Tall Timbers in Box Hill.
• Contact Krysten here for counseling inquiries in Sydney.

Join us by listening to the full episode for more insightful discussions about the healing power of animals in therapeutic settings. Stay tuned to "Raising Teens" for more episodes tapping into the well-being of young individuals.

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Key Points:

• The "invisible load" involves the mental and emotional planning needed to keep a family running smoothly, disproportionately handled by mothers.
• When recognised and verbalised, this load can be redistributed among the family, easing stress and fostering a more collaborative environment.
• Collett emphasises how engaging teens in managing this load fosters their independence and reduces pressure on parents.
• Small, strategic changes in task sharing can significantly lighten the invisible load, benefiting partners, parents, and teens alike.
• Regular family meetings and the use of digital tools can help make the distribution of mental tasks more visible and equitable.

Notable Quotes:

1. "The mental load is what the air traffic controller does…constantly monitoring all the aircrafts, anticipating possible conflicts."
2. "When the invisible becomes visible, it's much easier to share."
3. "Our teens don't need us to manage everything; giving them responsibility can actually help them grow."
4. "No one feels alone in holding it all when the invisible load is shared."
5. "This isn't about withdrawing our care from our families…it's about adjusting as our family needs change."

Resources:

• Connect with Collett Smart via her Instagram and Facebook for ongoing support and insights.

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

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Hannah Gair StrongHER Side ebook - Available for free to listeners, providing tools and resources for mothers.

Hannah Gair became a foster mum at 23, then had a son born with Fragile X syndrome. She's now raising three kids and knows firsthand the "pressure cooker" reality of supporting families with children with disabilities. In this conversation, Hannah shares practical strategies for raising teens with additional needs while still connecting with your other kids, how the broader community can genuinely help struggling families, and why 70% of disability caregivers experience burnout. She also opens up about navigating divorce, rebuilding life as a single mum, and creating StrongHER Side—a community for the nearly one million Australian mums raising children with disabilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Parental Advocacy: Hannah's journey emphasises the critical role of parents in advocating for children with disabilities, both in terms of education and day-to-day life.
• Importance of Support Structures: Family, community, and specialised education play vital roles in supporting children with disabilities and their families.
• Self-Care Strategies: Hannah underscores the necessity of finding personal time for self-care, which can range from exercise routines to quiet journaling moments.
• Navigating Emotional Complexity: Addressing the emotional and logistical complexities of raising children with additional needs, and how empathy and vulnerability foster resilience.
• Building Awareness and Empathy: Encouraging proactive interactions and openness with individuals with disabilities to foster an inclusive environment.

Notable Quotes:

• "The best thing we can do as a mother is actually allow our children to reach their full potential."
• "When somebody leans into their world and looks at her and displays empathy towards her and shows her support, then you're making her feel seen."
• "He's trying to find a common place to have a conversation with you because majority of Aussies have a team that they follow."
• "We are the product of our choices, and so it's being bigger than the most negative thought that you have."
• "Every one of us want to feel seen. Every one of us are hardwired for connection."

Resources:

• StrongHER Side Podcast - A podcast designed to support mothers raising children with disabilities.
• Hannah Gair StrongHER Side ebook - Available for free to listeners, providing tools and resources for mothers.

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways:

• Predictability Matters: Building a predictable environment can significantly reduce stress for neurodivergent teens as they start a new school year.
• Collaborative Support Systems: Engage teens in their support planning, which increases their comfort and trust in their school environment.
• Focus on Emotional Regulation: Prioritise emotional well-being over academic performance to help teens cope with sensory overload and daily pressures.
• Understanding Over Fixing: Embrace a mindset of curiosity and understanding rather than trying to fix perceived problems in teens' behaviors.
• Home as a Safe Space: Ensure home remains a haven for recovery and support after the school day, helping teens decompress effectively.

Notable Quotes:

• "Predictability might look a little bit like getting back into sleep routines like we learned last week."
• "The key is collaboration, not control."
• "When school starts, it's easy to focus on their marks, but for our neurodivergent teens, emotional regulation really comes first."
• "You don't need to turn your teen into someone else to help them succeed at school."
• "When teens feel understood rather than managed, their stress drops and their capacity rises."

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

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Lisa Maltman brings sleep health education to thousands of Australian teens and parents. She reveals why 70% of teens aren't getting enough sleep, tackling technology designed to keep them scrolling, packed schedules treating sleep as leftover time, and sleep disorders mistaken for ADHD.

Collett and Lisa discuss the "Can't Sleep vs Won't Sleep" framework, social jet lag from weekend sleep-ins, and why tired teen drivers are as impaired as drunk drivers. You'll hear practical tools like family sleep diaries, Connor's story of misdiagnosed sleep apnoea, and why "revenge bedtime procrastination" steals everyone's rest. Real solutions for tired teens.

Key Takeaways:

• Sleep is foundational for physical health, mental well-being, and academic and athletic performance.
• Around 70% of teens fail to get adequate sleep, largely due to technology and time management issues.
• Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can profoundly impact behavior and mental health; professional help is available and recommended.
• Maintaining consistent sleep schedules, even on weekends, can help mitigate "social jet lag" in teenagers.
• Parents can model good sleep habits and assist teens in understanding the importance of adequate rest by engaging in open conversations about sleep.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Sleep impacts so much, and ironically, the time I was working for a sleep company, I developed insomnia."
2. "Elite athletes will actually get someone to come in and talk to them about how improving their sleep will give them the competitive edge."
3. "The logical part of our brain's not really working, so we just go: 'whatever', and that cycle can continue."
4. "Because when you're tired, it is the same as being over the limit with alcohol."
5. "My biggest hope is that they all completely understand the impact that sleep has on their physical health, mental health, and performance."

Resources:

• The Sleep Connection: Lisa Maltman’s initiative, offering programs focused on educating students, parents, and corporations about sleep health.
• Woolcock Medical Institute: Leaders in Breathing and Sleep Research

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

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Collett Smart wraps up the year with one of her most honest episodes yet. After taking time away from the podcast, she's back to share what really happened during her break – and it's not the polished story you might expect.

In this vulnerable ep, Collett opens up about the reality of juggling her work as a psychologist, caring for elderly family members, and keeping her marriage strong after three decades together. She's refreshingly honest about not getting everything right and the importance of hitting pause when life demands it. For parents trying to balance caring for teens whilst managing their own challenges, Collett's candid reflections will resonate.

This episode isn't just about Collett's personal journey – it's about the power of community and the impact your stories have had on families across Australia. Collett shares heartfelt feedback from listeners and how your questions and experiences have shaped the podcast into something truly meaningful.

But here's the exciting bit: Collett reveals what's coming in 2026. The new season kicks off in the first quarter with impressive guests, insightful mini-episodes, and answers to your burning questions about raising teenagers. She's calling on parents, educators, and caregivers to keep sharing their stories because this podcast thrives on the wisdom of the village raising teens together.

It's a genuine conversation about nurturing responsible, happy young adults whilst looking after yourself in the process.

Have a great end of the year Raising Teens Family!

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Collett sits with the host of Troubleshooting (a podcast for the 20-35 year olds for all things technology) and discuss the social media ban which has come into effect recently.

Key Takeaways:

• Legislative Impact: Australia's new laws ban under 16-year-olds from accessing many social media platforms, intending to offer kids more time for childhood development away from digital distractions.
• Platform Responsibility: The legislation places responsibility on big social media companies to ensure compliance, threatening fines for continued underage access.
• Balanced Approach: Colette advocates for the careful balance between digital interaction and real-world activities essential for kids’ growth, promoting delayed technology exposure.
• Community Alternative: While online communities serve as a meaningful outlet for many young people, especially in rural areas, the challenge is to find or create those networks safely outside digital confines.
• Parental Support: These laws support parents in setting boundaries, fostering conversations about screen time, and promoting mindful technology use among adults and children alike.

Notable Quotes:

• "I really just want to also kind of end with saying, I see this as an opportunity to give children time to be children."
• "The social media giants, they are the ones who will face a penalty… if they don't take steps to prevent underage accounts."
• "It's now part of the law… it gives parents another tool to help their children delay social media use."
• "There has been this enormous shift in my own family of the way phones are used, technology is used and social media has been used."
• "It's not that we are just banning social media, we are actually encouraging a delay."

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

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Key Takeaways:

• Parents should model emotional regulation and prioritize checking in on their own mental health to support their children effectively.
• Engage in open yet age-appropriate dialogues with children, allowing them to process their emotions and ask questions about the crisis.
• Limit media consumption to protect mental health, as repeated exposure to distressing news can exacerbate anxiety and fear.
• Maintain normalcy through regular activities while providing psychological first aid to comfort and reassure children.
• Seek professional help promptly if a child exhibits prolonged signs of distress, leveraging community resources like helplines.

Notable Quotes:

• "It's very normal to feel overwhelmed at this stage, even as adults."
• "This is an opportunity to teach our children that we are all part of one world and that we actually all need to help each other."
• "Your children will learn how to deal with emotions and these events by watching how you approach it."
• "We can give them that kind of psychological first aid for where they are there and then with you."
• "Please consider seeking professional support. Get support from Helplines, Lifelines, Beyond Blue Childline."

Resources:

• Beyond Blue: Website
• Lifeline: Website
• Colette Smart's Professional Profiles: Website | Instagram | Twitter

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.