CTC Of Greater Downingtown - Podcast Details

Shows

Parent to Parent54. DASD & CTC Parent Speaker Series: Power of ParentsToday’s episode is the audio from our Spring DASD & CTC Parent Speaker Series focused on how much influence parents really have - even if it feels like we don’t! Join us to learn more about how you have the power to help your child make smarter, safer choices. Your influence can save lives ... perhaps even your child's. Our featured speaker, Beth Bruton from Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems, is sharing MADD’s Power of Parents® program which empowers parents of middle school and high school students to have ongoing, intentional conversations about the dangers and consequences of underage drinkin...2025-04-0847 min

Parent to Parent53 - Smarter Parents with Deni TobinTalking about sexual health is so much more than just going over how reproduction works. Relationships, safety, personal boundaries, porn (more than half of kids have seen porn by the time they are 13!) and so many other topics are related! That is why we are so thankful to talk with Deni Tobin, the Violence Prevention Education Supervisor at our partner the Crime Victims Center of Chester County. Deni facilitates CVC’s “Smarter Parents” program that empowers parents to talk to their kids of all ages about sexual health and development. Deni shares key points of the program including: how to kee...2025-03-1953 min

Parent to Parent52. What is California Sober? With Be a Part of the ConversationWhat does it mean to be California Sober? Marijuana or cannabis is available in so many forms now: edibles, tinctures, vaping oils, and dry leaf. It is also becoming more acceptable as a substance of use. Today we have Kim Porter and Bob Lamb from our partner Be A Part of the Conversation here with us to talk about this California Sober trend as well as harm reduction, how using high THC products is not the same as marijuana from the past, and the mental health risks that come with cannabis use including an overall sense of apathy. We...2025-02-1154 min

Parent to Parent51. Meet the DASD Elementary School Prevention SpecialistsOur DASD Helpers are back on the podcast today! This is part two of our two-part series, and Sarah Brooks returns this time with several of her Prevention Specialist staff that work in the elementary school buildings: Erin Connolly, LCSW, C-SSWS, CYT (Lionville and Shamona Creek Elementary); Rena Davis, LSW (Bradford Heights and Pickering Creek Elementary); Laura Sirico, LSW, MEd, HSV, C-SSWS (East Ward and Springton Manor Elementary); and Natalie Martinez, LSW, HSV (Beaver Creek and Uwchlan Hills Elementary). We learn about the role Prevention Specialists play in the K-5 buildings, how they support students and when and for...2025-01-0940 min

Parent to Parent50. Meet the DASD High School Prevention SpecialistsWe have more DASD Helpers on the podcast today! The first of a two part series, Sarah Brooks returns with several of her Prevention Specialist staff that work in the high school buildings: Matt McFadden, MSS, LCSW (Downingtown West High School), Jocelyn White, MEd, LPC, (Downingtown West High School) and Jennifer Stull, MA, LPC (STEM). We learn about the role Prevention Specialists play in their buildings, how they support students and when and for what parents can reach out to them for help. We also discuss trends they are seeing in students and how they help students during the s...2024-12-0341 min

Parent to Parent49. Cultivating Happiness with Selena MorresiHow can we increase our happiness? Selena Morresi, from Caron Treatment Centers, is here with us today to talk about where we are with our baseline happiness, the barriers to getting happy and ways to support increasing our happiness levels. Selena explains to us what “miswanting” is and how it impacts happiness–and the things that make us miswant. We also discuss the hedonic baseline and helper’s euphoria (what now?!), the universal love of Costco, and ways to cultivate happiness FOR REAL in our daily lives. Join us! Things we mentioned in this episo...2024-11-1447 min

Parent to Parent48. How to Be Ok When Our Loved Ones Are NotYou are only as happy as your happiest kid, the saying goes–this quote came up in this conversation and we discussed why this is a terrible quote! Today we have Maggie Burchill with us from Caron Treatment Centers to discuss strategies to be ok when we have a partner, child or other family member or friend going through a difficult time like substance use disorder or mental health challenges. Maggie shares with us what family recovery is and looks like, and how addiction is a disease and every family member plays a role–whether they realize it or not...2024-10-2457 min

Parent to Parent47. Nothing That Isn't Yours! Opioids & Fentanyl Use in Chester CountyWe are excited to welcome our friend and colleague Kathy Collier to the podcast to share with us what is happening in Chester County regarding opioid and fentanyl use–both intentional and accidental use. We discussed what opioids are, how the overdose epidemic is still happening, and how the drug landscape is MUCH different than when we were teens. Kathy also explained how to talk to your kids about opioids, fentanyl, and xylazine, and how it is showing up in other substances that are NOT opioids. This conversation was empowering in providing ways to stay safe and realistic–and the...2024-09-2551 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback: Find the DASD HelpersLearn where to get help this coming school year. -- "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” (Gotta love Mr. Rogers!) Today we are speaking with two of Downingtown Area School District’s (DASD) biggest helpers, Sarah Brooks, Lead Student Assistance Specialist, and Mary Wallin, K-12 Department Leader for School Counselors. Sarah and Mary are sharing with us the roles of Prevention Specialists and School Counselors, as well as other district staff they may work with to support a student and family. We learn the trends they ar...2024-08-271h 01

Parent to ParentPartner Playback: You did it right? How much do we tell our kids about our past alcohol and drug use?Well you drank in high school, right? You smoked weed before, right? These questions are bound to come to you from your kids at some point, and what IS the best way to answer these? We are so happy to welcome back Beth Bruton from Holcomb Prevention to share with us ways to answer these questions honestly without “do as I say, not as I did” vibes. Beth shares how she had this conversation with her own kids and their reactions, plus Chrissie and Bethann share a funny story about the learning opportunities that abound in a tailgating parking lot...2024-08-0636 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback: DASD Parents on the Importance of CommunityWhat if there was a place you can go to and talk about your parenting challenges and have other parents to nod along, give advice, and also have a seasoned professional there too to give expert guidance? Would you go? Well it DOES exist and it is CTC’s monthly (FREE) Parent to Parent Building Connections groups. Today we are speaking with 4 Downingtown parents who are regular participants and they are sharing the impact these group meetings have had on their parenting and overall well being. They share about the magic of Carol (the expert facilitator), that no issue is...2024-07-1650 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback: The 4 Parenting Skills You Already Have with Dr. Don McCownDid you know most parents ALREADY have all the skills to parent their kids and teach them life skills? Dr. Don McCown, PhD, MSS, LSW, sits down with Bethann and Chrissie to share about his new (FREE!) online parenting program, Learning Life Skills Together. Don shares that all parents have four key skills that can support children to learn emotional life skills–paying attention, regulating emotion, tolerating distress, and clearly communicating–we just may need to practice these skills to build them up. They also discuss how a child’s resilience is based on the resiliency of their parents and ho...2024-06-2554 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback: Creating Joy in the ChaosToday we are learning how to find joy in the chaos, including refilling our EXTRA–which our guest Rosey Celommi will explain what this EXTRA is and how we all need to care for it. Rosey is an educator of over 25 years and she previously taught and worked in Chester County. In the past few years Rosey has been on a mission to help educators care for themselves to deal with and prevent burnout. Just about all of these principles apply to parents too! Rosey shares ways to figure out what brings you joy and how to nurture it, ho...2024-06-051h 01

Parent to Parent46. You did it, right? How much do we tell our kids about our past alcohol and drug use?Well you drank in high school, right? You smoked weed before, right? These questions are bound to come to you from your kids at some point, and what IS the best way to answer these? We are so happy to welcome back Beth Bruton from Holcomb Prevention to share with us ways to answer these questions honestly without “do as I say, not as I did” vibes. Beth shares how she had this conversation with her own kids and their reactions, plus Chrissie and Bethann share a funny story about the learning opportunities that abound in a tailgating parking lot...2024-05-1536 min

Parent to Parent45. Red Flags & When to Act with Carol RotheraCarol is BACK and she is sharing her wisdom with us yet again! Today we are talking about Red Flags–behaviors or other things you may notice in your child–and when to act. Carol shares the importance of waiting in some instances when you notice red flags so kids can first combat these challenges independently–and the value of this. We also discuss what to do at times when you need to step in, and how to tell the difference between concerning mood changes and those that may be normal tween and teen moodiness. Lastly we discuss how to “be...2024-04-2341 min

Parent to Parent44. DASD Parents on the Importance of Parent CommunitiesWhat if there was a place you can go to and talk about your parenting challenges and have other parents to nod along, give advice, and also have a seasoned professional there too to give expert guidance? Would you go? Well it DOES exist and it is CTC’s monthly (FREE) Parent to Parent Building Connections groups. Today we are speaking with 4 Downingtown parents who are regular participants and they are sharing the impact these group meetings have had on their parenting and overall well being. They share about the magic of Carol (the expert facilitator), that no issue is...2024-03-2850 min

Parent to Parent43. Stealth Vaping, Snapchat & Other Drug Trends with Shannon DiCandiloHow can “soft skills” result in drug-free kids? Today we are speaking with Shannon DiCandilo from Compass Mark to talk about how social emotional learning skills are key to emotional health, academic success, and delaying and preventing underage drug and alcohol use. Shannon shares how these skills play out in real life for kids, current trends on what substances youth are using–AND how they are getting it. We also discuss the link between mental health challenges and substance use, the vaping prevention program Catch My Breath, and also what is “stealth vaping”?! Join us! Thin...2024-03-0551 min

Parent to Parent42. The 4 Parenting Skills You Already Have with Dr. Don McCownDid you know most parents ALREADY have all the skills to parent their kids and teach them life skills? Dr. Don McCown, PhD, MSS, LSW, sits down with Bethann and Chrissie to share about his new (FREE!) online parenting program, Learning Life Skills Together. Don shares that all parents have four key skills that can support children to learn emotional life skills–paying attention, regulating emotion, tolerating distress, and clearly communicating–we just may need to practice these skills to build them up. They also discuss how a child’s resilience is based on the resiliency of their parents and ho...2024-02-0654 min

Parent to Parent41. My Kid Hates School - How to Deal with Carol RotheraSHOW NOTES Does your kid say they hate school? This phrase usually appears at some point whether it be an overall dislike or a tough subject or assignment. Today we have Carol Rothera, LPC, with us to discuss what are the underlying causes of your child hating school. Carol shares how we as parents can be curious to figure out what is really going on and how to support kids to problem solve and overcome challenges. We discuss how to deal with avoidance as a coping strategy, setting expectations and family values around school, and managing low...2024-01-1759 min

Parent to ParentHappy Holidays & See You in 2024!Happy holidays from Bethann and Chrissie! We wish you a safe and healthy holiday season and happy new year and we will talk with you in 2024! In the meantime we have 40 (!) episodes in our catalog you can go back and listen to while you shop, wrap gifts, cook, clean and do all the holiday things. Thanks for being with us this year! Register for our January 24th, 2023 webinar with Family Tech–”Digital Parenting”. Parent to Parent: Building Connections Groups are meeting monthly! Join parents with similar-aged students and a trained facilitator to discover techniques, tips, and tricks...2023-12-1901 min

Parent to Parent40. UPDATE on Chrissie’s Tech Fails and Successes to ShareSo what ever happened with Chrissie’s tech reckoning following her and Bethann’s interview with Family Tech at the end of the summer? You can find out today! Bethann is “interviewing” Chrissie about what has changed in her household with tech usage since doing an end of summer reset. Chrissie shares what devices have changed for her kids, different tools that are now being used (and working pretty well!), how the tech reset went and led to device-free weekdays, and also how it is still a constant push and pull managing tech use–for everyone, parents included. Just like every...2023-12-0642 min

Parent to Parent39. Their Sport is Their Drug: Supporting Student Athlete WellnessSports are a surefire way to keep kids out of trouble and less likely to use substances, right? Well, we learned the answer is yes… and sometimes also no. What makes students great athletes also places them at greater risk of substance use. We are so happy to welcome Tina George from Caron Treatment Centers to talk with us about student athletes and how participation in sports (and other high achievement focused activities) can be both a protective AND risk factor. Tina shares what substances students are most likely to use, including caffeine and supplements, and the impact it ca...2023-11-1545 min

Parent to Parent38. It’s Too Early Until It Isn’t - How Our Experiences Influence How We ParentAs parents we can’t help but want better for our kids and wonder, “How can I make this path different for them?” Today we are speaking with Dan Brady, CTC Board President and Downingtown parent of three. Dan shares with us why prevention work is so important and how these are the things we need to do when we feel good and before we feel the need to “panic parent”. Dan and Chrissie discuss their own experience with alcohol use, how there is a lot of gray area in substance use disorder, and how our own use and family his...2023-10-2453 min

Parent to Parent37. Chrissie’s Tech Fails & Fixes from Family TechTech management has become a role that all parents have had to take on these days with phones, tablets, ipads, chromebooks and more. It is the number one topic that parents share they want help and support with and we are lucky to speak with expert Sarah Kimmel, founder and owner of Family Tech. Our goal for this conversation was to learn about parental controls and the best way to introduce technology… and unintentionally became a coaching session for Chrissie as the tech use in her family got away from her this past summer. We discuss all of Chrissie’s te...2023-10-031h 08

Parent to Parent36. Creating Joy in the ChaosToday we are learning how to find joy in the chaos, including refilling our EXTRA–which our guest Rosey Celommi will explain what this EXTRA is and how we all need to care for it. Rosey is an educator of over 25 years and she previously taught and worked in Chester County. In the past few years Rosey has been on a mission to help educators care for themselves to deal with and prevent burnout. Just about all of these principles apply to parents too! Rosey shares ways to figure out what brings you joy and how to nurture it, ho...2023-09-131h 01

Parent to ParentPartner Playback - Find the DASD HelpersLearn where to get help this coming school year. -- "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” (Gotta love Mr. Rogers!) Today we are speaking with two of Downingtown Area School District’s (DASD) biggest helpers, Sarah Brooks, Lead Student Assistance Specialist, and Mary Wallin, K-12 Department Leader for School Counselors. Sarah and Mary are sharing with us the roles of Prevention Specialists and School Counselors, as well as other district staff they may work with to support a student and family. We learn the trends they ar...2023-08-221h 01

Parent to ParentPartner Playback - How Tech & Gaming Effects Kids BehaviorWe are at the point of the summer when we may have hit screen overload. Listen for tips to find balance! -- How does technology affect kids' behavior and developing brains? Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel from Reboot and Recover returns to talk about her research on how persuasive technology is impacting kids' language, beliefs, and attitudes. She explains how social media and games are using tactics to tap into kids' innate human hardwiring to make this tech so compelling. She also discusses the impact of artificial intelligence and how it is shaping our...2023-08-0851 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback - Do “all kids” drink by the end of high school? Underage drinking perceptions and normsThis relatable conversation is one for parents with kids of all ages. -- Do all kids drink alcohol before they graduate high school? Is this a thing? Today we are breaking down the youth and parent perceptions and norms around underage drinking with Beth Bruton from Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems. We discuss all the surrounding variables that influence youth’s perception of alcohol including social media, peer influence, and family modeling. We also talk about how although some parents may serve alcohol to their kids with best intentions of teaching them to be...2023-07-2552 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback - “I Always Felt Loved”: A Parent’s Story About Supporting Their Child with Substance Use DisorderThis powerful, personal story is a must-listen! -- We are starting off the new year with a personal parent story and this one really moved Chrissie and Bethann–the first to bring tears into the conversation. Our friend and CTC Board President. Carl Gregory, joined us to share about his family’s journey with substance use disorder and the loss of his daughter. Carl talks about how he was once a person who felt “these things don’t happen to us” to someone who now speaks openly about his experience to support other...2023-07-1233 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback - Supporting Transgender Youth: A Journey to our Truest SelvesJune is Pride month so we are sharing our episode with Aubrey and Bethann on how to support transgender youth. Happy Pride! -- There is all the love for this special episode today! Chrissie is interviewing Bethann and her daughter Aubrey, who is transgender, about their journey to becoming their truest selves. In our conversation, we discussed: advice for parents who may have kids who are wanting to change their pronouns and/or questioning their identity, how to have grace and compassion with each other, and the value of letting go of control and expectations...2023-06-271h 17

Parent to Parent35. OUR Break from Socials & Summer UpdateWe did it! Chrissie and Bethann gave up social media for 3 days–and we are talking about how it went! We share our reflections on this experience and how we chose to return to socials…if at all. Spoiler alert: 10/10 recommend taking a break! We also share our plan for the pod for over the summer. Join us! Things we mentioned in this episode: Listen to our Episode 34 with Aria that inspired us to take a break! Chrissie mentioned the book How to Break Up with Your Phone b...2023-06-1330 min

Parent to Parent34. Free from Socials: A Mom’s Story of Her Break from Social MediaEver feel like giving up social media altogether? (Spoiler: We definitely do! And then just… do not.) Our Communications Director, Aria Walerski, did just that when she recently gave up her personal socials for lent and in today's episode she shares what she learned over those 40 days! Aria explained how she never realized how much she picked up her phone during the day and how this was more challenging than she expected in the beginning of her break. She also tells us how no socials made her feel physically and emotionally and how freeing it was to use her ph...2023-05-2339 min

Parent to Parent33. How Tech & Gaming Effects Kids BehaviorHow does technology affect kids' behavior and developing brains? Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel from Reboot and Recover returns to talk about her research on how persuasive technology is impacting kids' language, beliefs, and attitudes. She explains how social media and games are using tactics to tap into kids' innate human hardwiring to make this tech so compelling. She also discusses the impact of artificial intelligence and how it is shaping our kids' beliefs around why we use the internet, including creating a need for external validation and the risk of being exposed to online toxicity. Dr. Diez-Morel shares strategies parents...2023-05-0951 min

Parent to Parent32. Vaping Myths & Facts Part 2We are back for Part 2 with Selena Morresi from Caron Treatment Centers to talk about vaping! In this episode we are exploring the link between vaping and using other substances (including cocaine…what?!), the clever marketing of vape products, and the risks with vaping THC and marijuana. Selena also shares how cessation programs are a great support to youth that want to quit vaping, which led us to discuss the need for empathy and compassion for kids that find themselves newly dependent on nicotine and having a hard time not using. This conversation is packed with new information and ti...2023-04-2535 min

Parent to Parent31. Vaping Myths & Facts Part 1Are some vape products just flavors and water vapor and may not contain nicotine? Does it take a long time to get addicted to nicotine products? Vaping (or should we say “aerosoling”) is still very much a thing among youth and we are delighted to welcome back Selena Morresi from Caron Treatment Centers to share with us common myths and facts surrounding vaping. We discuss nicotine and how it impacts the developing adolescent brain including the ability to learn and pay attention. We also talk about the similarities between vaping and traditional cigarettes, including how much nicotine is in thes...2023-04-1134 min

Parent to Parent30. Feeling Anxious? Why Parent Mental Health (Really) MattersFeeling anxious? It seems most parents we know have dealt with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges at some point in their life. Does a parent's mental health affect their kids? If we are anxious or depressed do we “make” our kids anxious or depressed? In today’s episode we are answering these questions and much more with guest Mike Smolenski, M.A., L.P.C., a therapist and Clinical Director at our partner Sanare Today. We discussed how an anxious or depressed parent may interact with their kids (often unintentionally) and how our children may internalize these intera...2023-03-2845 min

Parent to Parent29. Find the DASD Helpers"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” (Gotta love Mr. Rogers!) Today we are speaking with two of Downingtown Area School District’s (DASD) biggest helpers, Sarah Brooks, Lead Student Assistance Specialist, and Mary Wallin, K-12 Department Leader for School Counselors. Sarah and Mary are sharing with us the roles of Prevention Specialists and School Counselors, as well as other district staff they may work with to support a student and family. We learn the trends they are seeing in school right now, both positives and challenges, and how to access local resources. Sarah and...2023-03-141h 01

Parent to Parent28. Do “all kids” drink by the end of high school? Underage drinking perceptions and normsDo all kids drink alcohol before they graduate high school? Is this a thing? Today we are breaking down the youth and parent perceptions and norms around underage drinking with Beth Bruton from Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems. We discuss all the surrounding variables that influence youth’s perception of alcohol including social media, peer influence, and family modeling. We also talk about how although some parents may serve alcohol to their kids with best intentions of teaching them to be responsible, studies show that kids that are given alcohol at home underage are more likely to drink more often an...2023-03-0152 min

Parent to Parent27. How Kids Deal with Grief & Ways to Support Them with Kate Lannan from A HavenWhen your family loses a loved one it impacts everyone, but how grief looks and sounds in kids can be very different from adults. Today Bethann and Chrissie are speaking with Kate Lannan, MSW, LSW, Community Services Director at A Haven, a nonprofit organization supporting grieving families and children. We discuss how grief presents differently in kids at various ages and how “play is processing and behavior is communication”. Kate explains ways to support kids while also taking care of ourselves during this time, and how to have conversations about death that are honest, factual, and brief. We also disc...2023-02-1448 min

Parent to Parent26. Running to Resiliency: Pod Swap with Tori from Meraki Run ClubToday is our first pod swap episode! Bethann and Chrissie are speaking with Tori from Meraki Run Club who has her own podcast Raising Runners. In this episode we each get a chance to be the guest and the interviewer. We discuss how anyone can be a runner and the link to mental health, what makes Meraki’s youth running programs special, and Chrissie and Bethann’s running routine and mini running community (party of 2 plus airpods). We also discussed finding balance in self care, work and family time, and how to build resilience in our kids AND ourselves as a...2023-01-3147 min

Raising RunnersRunning to Resilience with Downingtown CTC's Chrissie and Bethann!In todays episode I get to talk with Chrissie and Bethann from Communities that Care of Greater Downingtown. We do a podcast swap so we recorded their podcast but also making it ours as well. We get to talk about the run club and me but also I get to hear from them on what they do, why they do it and of course we talk RUNNING! Make sure to check out their show for some really awesome parenting tips and resources. Parent to Parent Podcast Instagram: @ctc_chrissie www.dtownctc.org ...2023-01-3149 min

Parent to Parent25. “I Always Felt Loved”: A Parent’s Story About Supporting Their Child with Substance Use DisorderWe are starting off the new year with a personal parent story and this one really moved Chrissie and Bethann–the first to bring tears into the conversation. Our friend and CTC Board President. Carl Gregory, joined us to share about his family’s journey with substance use disorder and the loss of his daughter. Carl talks about how he was once a person who felt “these things don’t happen to us” to someone who now speaks openly about his experience to support other parents and families. We discuss how a child’s peers and friend groups can make an impa...2023-01-1733 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback - Alcohol in Our Lives: Questioning Our Own Use & the Impact on Our KidsToday’s episode started out as a conversation about “gray area drinking” and ended up covering all things alcohol related (and we will likely need to record a part 2!). Dr. Jennifer Benjamin and Jerome Williams from the Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center joined us to discuss how and why alcohol use increased among adults especially parents, during the pandemic (alcohol consumption rose among adults over age 30 by 14% during the pandemic, with a 41% increase in women heavily drinking), and the impact it can have on parents themselves, and their kids. Chrissie also shares how her own alcohol use change...2022-12-1954 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback - Gaming and Gambling: The Link Between Youth Problem Gambling & Video GamesToday we are speaking with Josh Ercole, Executive Director at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, to talk about videogames and youth gambling, and how these two activities overlap and intersect. Do you know what loot boxes and microtransactions are? Or that the rating “E for Everyone” doesn’t necessarily mean a game is automatically “safe”? Chrissie learned the answers to these questions and more as we discussed how video games (and learning games) contain many elements of gambling, how gambling activities are really all around us, how to keep an eye out for signs of problem gambling and video...2022-12-051h 05

Parent to ParentPartner Playback - All Things Screens: How to find balance for your child (& yourself) in a tech-filled worldPartner Playback - Episode 10: All Things Screens: How to find balance for your child (& yourself) in a tech-filled world Smartphones, ipads, tablets, videogames…our screens and tech are everywhere! How do we manage our kids (and our own) relationships with screens and technology? Today we are getting help from Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel, the founder and Director of Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education, prevention, treatment, and research on technology-based addictions. Dr. Diez-Morel explains why we are so tied to our devices, red flags for tech dependency, how to role model our own hea...2022-11-211h 24

Parent to Parent24. Our Kid’s Mental Health Status & Simple Tips for Parents: Breaking Down PAYS Data Part 2How do students really feel about their mental health day to day? What is the link between mental health and substance use? How great is the impact of bullying on kids? What can parents do to build resilience and monitor mental health at home? We are discussing all these topics today in our Part 2 of breaking down the PAYS data. Chrissie and Bethann are joined again by Sarah Brooks, DASD Student Assistance Specialist, and another guest, Brian McGinley, Licensed Social Worker and School Counselor at the Chester County Immediate Unit. In this episode we explore what factors may be...2022-11-091h 02

Parent to Parent23. How Our Youth Really Feel About Substances and More: Breaking Down PAYS Data Part 1What if we knew what our kids really thought about drugs and alcohol? What if we knew how much youth in our community are using substances AND how they felt about peer and parent substance use? Lucky for us we do have this insight thanks to the Pennsylvania Youth Survey or PAYS. Today Chrissie, Bethann and Sarah Brooks, Student Assistance Specialist at Downingtown Area School District (DASD), are talking all things PAYS. They explain what this survey asks and how the data is used, and highlight what DASD is doing really well and also stats that stood out as...2022-10-1857 min

Parent to Parent22. All About Boundaries with Priscilla Singleton, LCSW, LMFTWhat does it mean to “set a boundary”? How are boundaries different from rules? The word “boundary” has been thrown around a good bit lately and today we are doing a deep dive into this word and how to apply it to our lives with Priscilla Singleton, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from the Council for Relationships. Priscilla explains what it means to set and respect boundaries both for yourself and others, and she shares how boundaries look different at different ages. We also discuss the benefits of strong boundary setting skills and how this, al...2022-09-2858 min

Parent to Parent21. Big Feelings: How to Build Emotional Regulation Skills for Yourself & Your KidsWhat is emotional regulation? This term has gained popularity recently and to be emotionally regulated sounds great in theory–but how do you actually do it? Chrissie and Bethann spoke with Dr. Lou Bevilacqua, CEO and owner of Sanare Today. Dr. Lou explained what emotional regulation is and why certain kids (and adults) may be wired to be more up and down than others. Dr. Lou also shares his observations on how the pandemic and technology have impacted kid’s regulation skills, how children (and parents) learn regulation skills from their experience and what is role modeled to them, and...2022-09-1257 min

Parent to Parent20. The Power of Mindfulness: How to Increase Compassion & Calm for Yourself and Your KidsWe are back! Our first episode this fall is all about mindfulness, a buzzword we are seeing everywhere these days. Bethann and Chrissie are speaking with Jan Michener, Executive Director of Arts Holding Hands and Hearts (AHHAH), a nonprofit in Chester County that provides programs and trainings to increase resiliency and create positive pathways towards productive and fulfilling futures for youth through mindfulness tools, artistic initiatives, and professional development training for staff. Jan shares with us what “mindfulness” really is and what it means to be mindful in your daily life. We also discuss how a min...2022-08-2953 min

Parent to Parent19. Update: Camp Big Brother AudioblogToday we have our last audioblog episode for the summer! Chrissie is reading our post from July about an update on how Camp Big Brother is going. Spoiler alert–not totally how she anticipated. You can find the written blog post “Update: Camp Big Brother'' with links HERE. You can find the audioblog episode on Camp Big Brother HERE. You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chriss...2022-08-1505 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback: Doing Nothing Is Not An Option: How to Navigate Mental Health Support for Your Kid & Find Your Path to Hope We are in the last weeks of summer and wanted to again share our episode with Holly O'Connell from A Path to Hope about accessing mental health support for your child. This is a great listen if you have noticed changes in your child this summer, and/or to be prepared going into a new school year. Holly gives real, hands on tips for parents and shares her experience and lessons learned. Join us! How do you know if your child’s new moods and extra time alone in their room is normal or concerning? How...2022-08-0142 min

Parent to Parent18. Camp Big Brother AudioblogToday we have another audioblog episode! Each month we publish a Parent to Parent blog post and we are trying out sharing some of these posts in audio format–which are like super short audio stories. Today Chrissie is reading our post from this past April about a summer plan she came up with called Camp Big Brother—keep an eye out for a bonus episode as an update on how this is going, coming up in our July Blog Post and a future audioblog. You can find the written blog post “Camp Big Brother'' with links HERE. 2022-07-1805 min

Parent to Parent17. How Faith Communities Support Youth & FamiliesAre you part of a faith community or church? If not, how could joining one support your family? In today’s episode Bethann and Chrissie are speaking with Caasi Grove, the Director of Student Ministries at Hopewell United Methodist Church in Downingtown. Being part of a faith community is shown to be a protective factor, meaning it is linked to positive youth outcomes, though the Downingtown PAYS data has shown youth participation in religious services has been decreasing for several years (this is also a national trend). Caasi shares the benefits of being part of a faith community, Hopewell’s fo...2022-07-0535 min

Parent to Parent16. Welcome to the Water Bar AudioblogWelcome to the Water Bar–and our first audioblog episode! At CTC, under our umbrella of Parent to Parent, we have our podcast and also a monthly blog including personal stories and reflections. Chrissie writes the blog each month and will be reading them so you can both read them and/or listen–it is like a super short audiobook. This episode is the post “Welcome to the Water Bar” and you can find the written blog HERE. You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @Chrissie.CTC for info from each epis...2022-06-2006 min

Parent to Parent15. We Were Lucky: A Parent’s Story of Supporting Their Child to RecoveryIf your family is “good on paper” how can substance use disorder and dependency happen to you and/or your child? What if you are doing “all the right things''? In today’s episode Chrissie speaks with our guest, Cynthia Black, about this and more. Cynthia is the former CTC of Greater Downingtown Board President, a Downingtown parent, and parent to three children including her youngest son who has been in recovery for substance use disorder for almost a decade–and it all started with marijuana. Cynthia shares her family’s story about her son’s use, the roles each family me...2022-06-0652 min

Parent to Parent14. Summer Plans for the Pod & WWBD (What Would Bethann Do)?Join Chrissie and Bethann for a quick chat about our plan for the podcast for the summer–no breaks here!--we are trying out audioblogs along with new episodes. Then Chrissie asks Bethann for advice on how to structure summer days and what her summers looked like back in the (much-less-tech) seasons when her kids were young. Summer is also a great time to go back to listen to past pod episodes or view past Parent Speaker Series events (links below). Happy summer! Things we mentioned during our conversation: Chrissie mentioned her...2022-05-2318 min

Parent to Parent13. Tech, Substances, the Law, and Our Kids: Q&A with Corporal Brian Gathercole, Upper Uwchlan Police DepEver want to know what is happening in your community from the viewpoint of a police officer? During our conversation with Corporal Brian Gathercole from the Upper Uwchlan Police Department we did just that! Corp. Gathercole has over 20 years of experience working in Chester County, and 16 years specifically in Upper Uwchlan Township. He (and UUPD) is a community partner offering programs for parents and youth in community and school settings on topics including internet safety and drug and alcohol prevention, and he also created and coordinates a Junior Police Academy. Chrissie and Bethann ask about what substances Corp. Gathercole...2022-05-0945 min

Parent to Parent12. Alcohol in Our Lives: Questioning Our Own Use & the Impact on Our KidsTitle: Episode 12. Alcohol in Our Lives: Questioning Our Own Use & the Impact on Our Kids Today’s episode started out as a conversation about “gray area drinking” and ended up covering all things alcohol-related (and we will likely need to record a part 2!). Dr. Jennifer Benjamin and Jerome Williams from the Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center joined us to discuss how and why alcohol use increased among adults especially parents, during the pandemic (alcohol consumption rose among adults over age 30 by 14% during the pandemic, with a 41% increase in women heavily drinking), and the impact...2022-04-2555 min

Parent to ParentPartner Playback: Not my kid is not a thing: Lessons learned from one family’s journey from substance use to recovery & resiliencyIt's spring break this week so we are sharing our very first episode to listen to again or perhaps hear for the first time! We loved this conversation with our CTC Partner, Kim Porter, from Be A Part of the Conversation. We hope you have a safe and happy spring break and we will be back with an all-new episode in two weeks! -- Welcome to our first episode of Parent to Parent: Real Life Tips to Raise Resilient Kids. Today we are talking with Kim Porter, Executive Director of Be A...2022-04-1151 min

Parent to Parent11. Supporting Your Kids to Have Healthy Relationships & FriendshipsWhen do kids start dating...and what does that look like? How do social media and various apps affect relationships? How and when do we bring up consent? What are red flags your child might be in an unhealthy relationship or friendship? Today Joe Myers from Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County returns (our first return guest!) to answer all these questions and more. We also discuss: the age when kids should have a solid understanding of reproduction, how to teach your kids to both give and get consent from others, and how consent and boundaries are BFFs. This ep...2022-03-281h 07

Parent to Parent10. All Things Screens: How to find balance for your child (& yourself) in a tech-filled worldSmartphones, iPads, tablets, video games…our screens and tech are everywhere! How do we manage our kids (and our own) relationships with screens and technology? Today we are getting help from Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel, the founder and Director of Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education, prevention, treatment, and research on technology-based addictions. Dr. Diez-Morel explains why we are so tied to our devices, red flags for tech dependency, how to role model our own healthy screen and phone usage, social media and mental health, and the importance of intention when using our devices. Dr. Diez-Morel also sh...2022-03-141h 25

Parent to Parent9. Gaming and Gambling: The Link Between Youth Problem Gambling & Video GamesToday we are speaking with Josh Ercole, Executive Director at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, to talk about video games and youth gambling, and how these two activities overlap and intersect. Do you know what loot boxes and microtransactions are? Or that the rating “E for Everyone” doesn’t necessarily mean a game is automatically “safe”? Chrissie learned the answers to these questions and more as we discussed how video games (and learning games) contain many elements of gambling, how gambling activities are really all around us, how to keep an eye out for signs of problem gambling a...2022-02-281h 06

Parent to Parent8. Supporting Transgender Youth: A Journey to Our Truest SelvesThere is all the love for this special episode today! Chrissie is interviewing Bethann and her daughter Aubrey, who is transgender, about their journey to becoming their truest selves. In our conversation we discussed: advice for parents who may have kids who are wanting to change their pronouns and/or questioning their identity, how to have grace and compassion with each other, and the value of letting go of control and expectations. Look to the show notes below for best practice resources for parents and to learn more about supporting LGBTQIA+ youth. We know that LGBTQIA+ youth and adults...2022-02-141h 17

Parent to Parent7. All Things Marijuana: Everything Parents Need to KnowToday’s episode is about all things related to marijuana, cannabis, THC, CBD, and everything in between. We are talking with Gretchen Hagenbuch, M.Ed., CPS, from Caron Treatment Centers and just a few (of the many) topics we cover include: youth trends of use, the link between marijuana use and mental health, how a parent can approach talking about their own experiences (or lack thereof) with substances, and how marijuana is unique in its ability to “lower the bar and make that lowered bar perfectly acceptable”. This episode is packed with helpful information and how-tos...2022-01-3159 min

Parent to Parent6. Doing Nothing Is Not An Option: How to Navigate Mental Health Support for Your Kid & Find Your Path to HopeHow do you know if your child’s new moods and extra time alone in their room is normal or concerning? How seriously should a parent take a change in friends, behaviors, and academic performance? If you do want to find professional help, where do you even begin? Today we are speaking with Holly O’Connell, a parent whose journey of navigating the mental health care system for her child led to her founding the nonprofit organization A Path to Hope. A Path to Hope’s mission is to empower individuals to seek treatment by offerin...2022-01-1743 min

Parent to Parent5. Bullying & Cyberbullying: It’s in the Air of Society - How Bullying Has Changed & What Parents Can DoWhat behaviors qualify as bullying? What should a parent do if their kid is being bullied, or if their child is the one bullying another child? Today we are speaking with Joe Myers, Director of Prevention and Education at Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, a partner agency of CTC. Joe provides examples of what bullying looks like at all grade levels, signs your child may be in either role of a bullying relationship, and how to support your child and role model positive behaviors. We also discuss how bullying is “in the air of society”, the importance of empath...2022-01-0343 min

Parent to Parent4. Happy Holidays from Bethann and ChrissieTitle: Ep. 4: Happy Holidays! A Lightning Round Chat with Bethann & Chrissie Happy Holidays! Join Bethann and Chrissie for a fun conversation about the holiday season. We share memories, a few tips, and learn new things we never knew about one another--despite our 16+ year friendship. We and CTC wish you and yours healthy, safe holidays and a happy New Year! Things we mentioned during our conversation: The Lazy Genius (Kendra Adachi) - She has a podcast, book, and website -Chrissie loves her and follows her. Her book would make...2021-12-2023 min

Parent to Parent3. It’s Not About Being Right: How to have early and often conversations to prevent drug and alcohol useHow early do we need to have conversations with our kids about drugs and alcohol? Studies show that the best age to begin these conversations is between the ages of 8-11 years old. Having early and often conversations really do make a difference when your child is confronted with choosing to try or use alcohol or other drugs. We speak with CTC partner Laura Wiechecki from Compass Mark to learn strategies on how to have these conversations with our kids--both what NOT to do and what can work really well. As we learn today it is not about being...2021-12-0656 min

Parent to Parent2. All Things Vaping: Essentials Parents Need to KnowToday we are talking all things vaping with Selena Morresi, MPH, CTTS, CHES, from Caron Treatment Centers. Selena is the Lead Student Assistance Program Specialist and works with middle and high school students facilitating cessation programs to support youth to be nicotine free. In our conversation today we talked about when kids may try vaping for the first time, why it is so addictive and harmful, how it is not the same as “old school cigarettes,” and how to talk to your kids about vaping. We also discuss the Juul, Puffbar, and sneaky sweatshirts...join us! Caro...2021-11-2243 min

Parent to Parent1. Not my kid is not a thing: Lessons learned from one family’s journey of substance use to recoveryWelcome to our first episode of Parent to Parent: Real Life Tips to Raise Resilient Kids. Today we are talking with Kim Porter, executive director of Be A Part of the Conversation. Kim is sharing her family’s story about her son’s substance use disorder and their journey to recovery and resiliency. Kim shares LOTS of “lessons learned” and resources for parents. She also shares that substance use and dependency can happen to any family. As she says, “not my kid, that's not a thing”. Join us for tips, strategies and conversation about what pa...2021-11-0850 min

Parent to ParentComing soon: Welcome to Parent to ParentParent to Parent: Real Life TIps to Raise Resilient Kids is a podcast from Communities that Care of Greater Downingtown. Every other week Chrissie and Bethann will meet with experts and other parents to discuss topics related to raising healthy kids--everything from drug and alcohol use to mental health to supporting independence. Each episode will give listeners concrete, hands-on tips that parents can use in their homes with their families right away. Hosts Chrissie Dziembowski and Dr. Bethann Cinelli have a combined 40+ years experience working in health education with youth, parents, schools and communities. Thank you for joining us! 2021-11-0500 min