Shows
The Parenting Pair Podcast3 Common Thinking Mistakes Parents Make with Teens—and What to Do InsteadIn this engaging episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron explore common thinking traps—those unhelpful patterns of thought that can cloud our judgment, increase stress, and hinder positive interactions with our teens. They discuss how becoming aware of these traps and learning to shift our thinking can lead to more balanced, calm, and effective parenting.Join us as we delve into:What thinking traps are, including the ‘shoulds,’ mental filters, and jumping to conclusions, and how they subtly influence our perceptions and reactionsHow these thought patterns can intensify worrie...2025-07-3026 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastWhy Am I So Irritable Lately? (and my teen too)In this insightful episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron explore the concept of vulnerability factors—those circumstances and experiences that influence how we and our teens respond to stress, frustration, and everyday challenges. They discuss how recognizing and managing these factors can help reduce emotional reactivity, foster patience, and improve parent-teen interactions.Join us as we delve into:What vulnerability factors are, from chronic issues like systemic racism or health challenges to more changeable influences such as sleep deprivation, hunger, or stressHow vulnerability factors affect our mood and re...2025-07-2325 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastShould I Push My Anxious Teen... or Let it Go, and Pull Back?Episode 11: Should I Push My Anxious Teen… or Let It Go and Pull Back?What should parents do when a teen says, "I can't do it" — whether it's going to school, trying out for a team, or facing a social situation? In this episode, child and adolescent clinical psychologists, Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron, dive deep into this common parenting dilemma: Should you push your teen to do hard things—or back off?This insightful episode explores how to support adolescents facing anxiety, avoidance, or depression with empathy, strategy, and connection. Drawing from eviden...2025-07-1621 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastHow to Stop Caring What Other Parents Think: 5 Mindset Shifts5 Mindset Shifts to Worry Less About Other Parents’ JudgmentsDo you ever find yourself second-guessing your parenting decisions… not because they feel wrong, but because you’re worried what other parents might think?Yeah — us too.In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron dive into five powerful mindset shifts to help you stop spiraling and start parenting from a place of confidence, clarity, and calm.You’ll learn:✔️ How to connect with your best self as a parent✔️ W...2025-07-0918 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastNavigating Youth Sports: Supporting Kids, Building Confidence and Fostering Positive CultureIn this engaging episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron explore the many benefits and challenges of youth sports. They discuss how sports can boost confidence, teach important life skills like resilience, teamwork, and serve as a supportive environment outside of school.Join us as we cover:The value of sports for fun, social connection, and emotional growthHow sports help develop self-efficacy and critical thinking in children and teensPractical ways parents can support their kids during games and practicesThe impact of parents' sideline behaviors, including facial expressions and tone of...2025-07-0227 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastThe New Game: Parenting Teens in the Age of Legal Sports BettingIn this insightful episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron delve into the rapidly evolving world of online gambling and sports betting and what parents need to know. Instead of a listener question, they share vivid stories and expert insights—like the rise of sports betting apps and the subtle ways gambling infiltrates teen life—to help caregivers better understand how these behaviors develop and impact young people.Join us as we discuss:How recent legal changes and the proliferation of betting apps have made gambling more accessible to teens and...2025-06-2526 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastUnderstanding ADHD Through Metaphors: Race Cars, Sailboats, and MoreIn this enlightening episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron explore creative metaphors to help parents and caregivers better understand ADHD. They share powerful visual stories—like the "race car brain" created by Ned Hallowell and a "sailboat in the storm"—to illustrate how ADHD affects motivation, attention, and executive functioning.Join us as we discuss:How the "race car brain" analogy explains the speed and impulsivity often seen in children with ADHDThe "sailboat" metaphor to understand the challenges of motivation and follow-through in teensWhy these metaphors can foster comp...2025-06-1818 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastWhen Parenting Feels Heavy: ADHD, Family Impact, & Self-KindnessIn this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron dive into the complex world of parenting children and teens with ADHD. They explore common parent feelings—from exhaustion and frustration to dark thoughts—and emphasize the importance of self-compassion and understanding.Join us as we discuss:How ADHD symptoms can look different during puberty and adolescence, especially in girls.The difference between knowing what to do and being able to do it, with relatable stories and insights.Practical ways to support your child's growth, resilience, and self-understanding.The significance of p...2025-06-1130 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastShould You Tell Your Teen About A Serious Medical Diagnosis?Navigating Hard Conversations: Talking to Teens About Family IllnessesTeenagers are incredible observers — even when we think they’re not noticing, they probably are. In this heartfelt episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, we explore the importance of honest, relationship-building conversations when a parent or family member faces a significant medical illness.Join us as we discuss:💬 Why being transparent with teens about health issues can foster trust and connection🤔 How to approach tough conversations with clarity and care, especially around diagnoses like Parkinson’s or other serious conditions💡 The ben...2025-06-0425 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastWhen Teens Talk About SuicideIn this essential episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen tackle one of the most difficult—and important—questions parents ask: What should I do if my teen talks about suicide?Drawing on clinical expertise, they break down:Why talking about suicide doesn’t increase risk—and how it can actually be protective.Common signs that a teen may be struggling, even if they don’t say the word “suicide”.What to say in the moment if you are concerned or your teen shares this with you.How to offer prese...2025-05-3024 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastWhat is Autonomy? And Why Teens Need It.In this insightful and down-to-earth episode, Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen tackle a question that resonates with many parents of tweens and teens: "Why should I give my teenager more freedom and autonomy when they don’t seem responsible yet?"Through relatable stories, real-life examples, and evidence-based psychology, Annalise and Suzanne explore the tension between a teen's need for independence and a parent's instinct to protect and control. They offer a compelling breakdown of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional autonomy, and how fostering each one can strengthen your relationship and support your teen’s deve...2025-05-2828 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastMaking Sense of Our Teens' MistakesTeens make mistakes. Adults do too! But why do these slip-ups hit us parents so hard?In this episode, Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen unpack the root causes of teenage missteps—and the often emotional responses parents have in return. With clinical wisdom and a hilarious personal story involving used cigarette butts, they help us reframe these moments not as crises, but as crucial parts of development.You’ll learn:Why your teen’s risky or confusing behavior is often developmentally normal.How parental anxiety and societal pressure crank up our reactions.How to...2025-05-2326 minThe Parenting Pair PodcastThe Teenage Years: A Chapter, Not a CrisisIn this inaugural episode, Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen—both child and adolescent clinical psychologists—take a fresh look at adolescence. They challenge the cultural narrative that the teen years are inherently difficult and reframe it through a compassionate, developmentally informed lens. With personal anecdotes, clinical wisdom, and a touch of humor, the hosts set the tone for what’s to come: practical, science-backed parenting insights for raising tweens and teens.In this episode, they will discuss:How fear or worry can lead parents to jump to unhelpful conclusions about their teensWhy understanding adolescent develo...2025-05-2018 min
College Is Fine, Everything's Fine#58 From High School to College: A Guide to Navigating Shifts in the Parent-Child Relationship with Drs. Annalise Caron and Suzanne AllenSaying goodbye to your parents is often the last thing most college students are thinking about when they tackle their “to do” list before moving in on campus. In an earlier episode, we sat down with college students who shared their experiences with relationship shifts at home. In this week’s episode, we sit down with not one, but two expert psychologists to explore the challenges and growth opportunities that arise for the parent-child relationship when young adults head off to college. They provide valuable insights for both parents and students on how to maintain strong, supportive relationships during t...2025-02-2537 min
The Type C PersonalityThe Parenting Pair: Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne AllenIn this episode, we interview the Parenting Pair: Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen, directors of the cognitive behavioral therapy-focused psychology practice CBT Westport in Westport, CT. Both Annalise and Suzanne have extensive experience and a passion for working with children, teens and families with an emphasis on attachment. They work with many Type C parents and have wonderful parenting advice for us!
Resources mentioned on today's episode:
The Parenting Pair website: https://www.theparentingpair.com/
Instagram and TikTok @theparentingpair
The Emotional Lives of Teenages by Lisa Damour, Ph.D.
Good Inside by Dr. Becky...2023-05-0940 min