Eps 632: Therapy may not be the answer for discouraged teens with Nicole Runyon

Eps 632: Therapy may not be the answer for discouraged teens with Nicole Runyon

Author: Casey O'Roarty December 9, 2025 Duration: 56:17
In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Runyon, a child psychotherapist with 22 years of experience and author of "Free to Fly." We tackle some uncomfortable truths about modern parenting—how our well-intentioned approaches might actually be contributing to our kids' struggles. Nicole shares why children are "canaries in the coal mine," sending us messages through their behavior about toxic environments (yes, including screens). We discuss the misunderstood concept of gentle parenting, why therapy isn't always the answer, and how natural consequences build resilience. If you're exhausted from hovering and rescuing, this conversation will help you reclaim your authority with love. Nicole offers practical wisdom about allowing discomfort—both yours and theirs—to foster true independence. For more show notes and info, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-632-therapy-may-not-be-the-answer-for-discouraged-teens-with-nicole-runyon/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting adolescents often feels like navigating a landscape without a reliable map, where the old rules no longer apply and connection can feel just out of reach. Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens, hosted by Casey O'Roarty, meets you right in that uncertainty. This podcast operates from a simple, powerful belief: the challenges of raising tweens and teens, while deeply personal, are also a shared human experience. Instead of offering quick fixes, conversations here focus on the foundational work of building and repairing relationships, fostering essential life skills in our kids, and perhaps most importantly, doing the internal work required of us as parents. You’ll hear honest discussions that blend practical strategies with compassionate insight, all aimed at transforming this demanding season from a battle of wills into an opportunity for mutual growth. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining a thoughtful, experienced friend who reminds you that courage isn't about being fearless, but about finding joy and resilience within the beautiful mess of family life. It’s a resource for anyone who wants to move beyond reaction and toward a more intentional, connected approach with the young adults in their home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens
Podcast Episodes
Eps 661: Diane Sorensen on Lifelong Motherhood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:57
I loved this convo! My guest, Diane Sorenson shares what shifts when you stop performing motherhood and start treating it as a lifelong relationship. We talk boundaries as an expression of your truth, why holding a firm…
Eps 660: Lori Petro on Obedience Culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:34
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Eps 659: Free-Range Teens with Lenore Skenazy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:40
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Eps 658: Lisa Woodruff helps us tame home chaos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:16
We don't parent in a vacuum, my friend. Midlife and the teen years pile on the paperwork, the appointments, the mental load—and so many of us are drowning in reactive mode. In this episode, I sit down with organization e…
Eps 657: Attia Qureshi and negotiating with teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:23
Negotiation isn't a boardroom skill—it's a parenting skill, and every hard conversation with our teens is a training ground. In this episode, I talk with negotiation expert Atiya Qureshi about asking for what we need, ma…
Eps 656: What if your teen is having a problem, not being one? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:03
If your teen's disrespect, eye rolls, and slammed doors have you feeling stuck, this solo episode is for you. I'm unpacking a game-changing reframe: your teen isn't being a problem, they're having a problem. Drawing on P…
Ep 655: "Who is this kid?!" The transition of adolescence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:50
In this solo episode, I'm diving into the messy, beautiful work of parenting through transitions. Whether you're watching your kiddo move from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, or out into young adultho…
Eps 654: Don Campbell on Raising Sons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:04
Raising a teenage boy today means navigating contradictory messages about who he's supposed to be — strong but soft, expressive but not too much. In this episode, I sit down with Don Campbell of Soul Fire Parenting to un…
Eps 653: Exploring teen cannabis use with Susan Notis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:49
If you've ever stood in your kitchen wondering if your teen's weed use is "just a phase," this episode is for you. I'm joined by parent coach Susan Norts to talk about teen cannabis dependency, why today's marijuana isn'…
Eps 652: Soft Teens or Snowflake Parenting? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:02
In this solo episode, I take you into my comments section, where a listener called my parenting content "snowflake." I use it as a doorway into what Positive Discipline actually looks like with tweens and teens — why kin…