Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Connecting with Kids Through Journaling

Have you ever considered sharing a journal with your kids? Sometimes your child may come home and isn’t ready to share about your day. Journaling is an opportunity to see how your child views the world while you’re living the same moments. It can open up opportunities to be empathetic to situations that you weren’t experiencing in the same way. It can create a safe space for questions to be asked, that you weren’t aware that they were worrying about. 

In today’s episode:

Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Five Steps to Teach Kids Coping Skills

Where do you begin when you want to teach kids coping skills? Janine has a five step system she uses to help kids learn and use coping strategies, starting with connection, and finishing up with making a personal coping toolkit for kids. 

In this episode Janine speaks about:

Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Life Lessons From Stardew Valley

Sometimes it's some of the simple things in your day to day like a game you like to play that remind you of a few strategies and values in life that are helpful to keep you going. 

In this episode, Janine speaks about the game Stardew Valley and the reminders of life lessons that she holds and was reminded of from playing this video game. She speaks about:

In today’s episode:

Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Fun with Feelings Identification

When you label your feelings, it can help you regulate your emotions better. How do you explore feelings with your child in a fun way? One of the ways to explore this with your child is via reading a story. So why not head to your local library and check out one of the following feeling focused books: 

In today’s episode:

Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Helping Teens with Stress: An Interveiw with ...

Every child needs 3 to 5 people to be part of their orbit to help shape their world and will have a significant influence on them. Whatever role you have, you could be that key person in a teenager’s life to discuss the more stressful moments in their lives. There are signs and symptoms we can look out for in our teenagers. Stress is a normal reaction for anybody in different situations. But what if these reactions are taking over our young people’s lives? 

In today’s episode:

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Help Kids Cope with BIG Feelings Using Their Senses

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Help Kids Cope with BIG Feelings Using Their Senses

We all know the 5 senses of the human body, being sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing but have you heard of proprioception or vestibular? 

Proprioception at its basic level is the information you receive from your muscles and your joints. It helps your body to understand when you are stretching, compressing or contracting a muscle. You may see difficulties with this in your child particularly in their handwriting, do they press so hard on the pencil that it breaks? Or perhaps they aren’t putting enough pressure on the pen that you can’t even see their handwriting? Proprioception works very closely with the vestibular system which is more about your brain intaking information for your balance and spatial awareness. 

In this episode I run you through 7 sensory based strategies to help your child relax and manage their feelings which includes:

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A Coping Skill to Try: Body Scan

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A Coping Skill to Try: Body Scan

In today’s episode, I wanted to try a coping skill together! It’s been such a stressful year, and I thought it would make sense to practice a coping skill together to help us relax. In this podcast, I share what got me interested in body scans in the first place and how they are related to progressive muscle relaxation. Then we’ll go through the body scan I wrote for the Coping Skills for Teens Workbook. Take a listen!

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Deep Breathing Exercises for Teens

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Deep Breathing Exercises for Teens

In the past, I've spoken about lots of different ways to encourage kids to take deep breaths by using shapes and other prompts. In this podcast episode, I focus on ways to help teens take deep breaths. Take a listen to hear some strategies I use with my adolescent clients and some resources you can explore to find more ways to encourage teens to take deep breaths.

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The Power of Connection: Mindful Parenting for Children with Additional Needs

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The Power of Connection: Mindful Parenting for Children with Additional Needs

Inside: Guest Post by Elizabeth Sautter about the Power of Connection

Parenting is a journey filled with ups and downs.  When you have a child with complex needs such as autism, ADHD, or anxiety, the journey come with additional considerations and can often be challenging to navigate.  Holding your child’s attention and finding common interests may be a bit harder but not something to give up on!  Connecting with your child is a critical piece of their development and can make things smoother for them and you in the short and long run!

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How to Use the Coping Skills Checklist

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How to Use the Coping Skills Checklist

I get asked all the time - how do I start to help kids explore coping skills? I use the Coping Skills Checklist to help kids identify their current skills and new skills to try. Take a listen to this podcast for how I use the checklist, and modifications I make when using it in different settings.

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Four Simple Ways to Introduce Mindfulness to Kids

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Four Simple Ways to Introduce Mindfulness to Kids

Mindfulness can also be a helpful tool for kids who have challenges with self-regulation or difficulty managing emotions, or want to improve their concentration. it would be helpful for them to be able to calm down and be aware of the present. When they are aware of the present, it will help them be more able to see what’s happening around them and settle themselves and their minds.

In this podcast episode, I talk about four different ways to introduce mindfulness to kids…

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Introduction to Zentangles

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Introduction to Zentangles

When you are stressed, anxious or perhaps angry and need to calm down, what techniques do you use? There are so many out there, from yoga, meditation, exercise and mindfulness but today I will be speaking to my guest Andrea about one which you’ll love if you sit on the creative side of life. It’s a mix of art and mindfulness and it’s called ‘Zentangle’. 

The topics we cover in this episode are:

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Three Benefits of Using Distraction Coping Skills

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Three Benefits of Using Distraction Coping Skills

In this episode of the podcast, I’m focused on distraction coping skills, which include things like playing and fun activities. Distraction coping skills aren’t meant to help kids avoid or suppress their feelings. Take a listen to the podcast to hear the three benefits of using distraction as a coping skill…

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Back to School Coping Skills for Kids and Families

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Back to School Coping Skills for Kids and Families

If you have school-aged children or work in education (or both!), things are intense right now as school districts and families are trying to figure out what to do. In this podcast episode, I don’t discuss how to send kids back to school safely. Instead, I discuss coping strategies that families can use, whether kids are back at school full time, remote learning, homeschooling, or learning in a pod. Take a listen for some ideas of things you can do to help yourself and your family as you navigate these uncharted waters.

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