

Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens
Casey O'Roarty
Welcome to the Joyful Courage Podcast - a place where parents of tweens and teens come to find inspiration, information and encouragement in the messy terrain of adolescenceThis season of parenting is no joke - and while the details of what we are all moving through might be slightly different, we are having a collective experience.This is a space where we center building relationship, nurturing life skills, and leaning into our own personal growth.My name is Casey O’Roarty, I am a parent coach, Positive Discipline LEad Trainer, and captain of the adolescent ship over at Sproutable. I am also a speaker and published author. I have been working with parents and families for over 20 years and continue to navigate being a mom with my own two young adult kids.I am honored that you are here… Please give back to the pod by sharing it with friends, or on social media, and rate and review on Apple or Spotify - work of mouth is how we grow!Thanks - enjoy the show!
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 26, 2023 • 58min
Eps 387: Supporting atypical teens with Dr. Norrine Russell
I’m really excited to introduce Dr. Norrine Russell to you all. Dr. Russell has truly walked the walk with her own complex children which has changed her parenting & professional paths. Dr. Russell shares what she loves about her work, what hurdles complex kids face in traditional schooling, and what parents can do to help support their atypical kids as learners. She talks on why teens need to figure out what they’re good at and how important it is to tell your teens how much you love them and the strengths you see (empowering encouragement, anyone?). I ask Dr. Russell how families can scaffold to support their complex kids, and we discuss how important it is to listen and observe your own teen, as well as how much individualizing you can do in your home to support your adolescent. We talk about how to reframe it when your kids look like “they don’t care” and whether or not “trying their best” is a reasonable and helpful expectation. Dr. Russell also shares her thoughts on motivation, laziness, ADHD, rewards, & consequences. We finish up talking about how to get teens to buy-in to coaching and what Dr. Russell wishes parents knew about complex teens. Takeways from the show:
School angst & school struggles for complex kids
Lack of flexibility, training, & resources in schools
Helping teens figure out what they are good at
The importance of “I love you” & encouraging atypical kids
Listening to & observing your teen
Individualizing things at home
Watch & wait before jumping in to help
Are “doing their best” and “trying their hardest” helpful & reasonable expectations?
When teens “don’t care” & what teens do care about
Appearing lazy, ADHD, & motivation
Getting adolescents to buy-in to coaching
For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 23, 2023 • 36min
Eps 386: Limiting beliefs and our two selves
Another intimate exploration of what it means to be human WHILE raising teenagers. We are deep diving (yet again) into our own stuff. This week focusing on the limiting beliefs we may be holding that keeps our kids small, and the war between our two selves. Join me for some personal growth and discovery! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 22, 2023 • 58min
Eps 385: School avoidance with Jayne Demsky
I am so glad that you are back with me and my amazing guest, Jayne Demsky. So many of you have talked to me about school avoidance and how to navigate this, and we’re digging in deep this week! The good thing - there is hope! Jayne shares her story & why she’s so passionate about school avoidance, and why we can’t just “make them go.” Jayne talks about different therapy options like CBT & exposure therapy, the school’s role, underlying causes, & advocating for your child. We discuss how hard school refusal is on the parents & adults and why punitive consequences do not help. I ask Jayne what parents should do first when they start seeing school avoidance or refusal, and we finish by chatting about education reform & improving schools for kids and how parents can self-care during challenging times. Takeaways from the show
What is school avoidance & school refusal?
What are the signs?
CBT & exposure therapy
The school’s role
Underlying causes
Advocating for your child
Why punitive consequences don’t work
When to intervene & what to do first
Self-care for parents
For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 18, 2023 • 32min
Eps 384: Solo Show - Communication and Staying OFF the Emotional Freight Train
The Emotional Freight Train is REAL and can take us on wild rides - especially during the teen years, There is no better way to shut down communication with a young person than to come at them with all the emotion of the EFT. Listen to this week's solo show for solidarity, communication skills, and tips for staying off that train! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 14, 2023 • 31min
Eps 383: A Radical Awakening with Dr. Shefali Tsabary
My guest this week is Dr. Shefali Tsabary, and we’re having a special conversation to celebrate Mother’s Day!Dr. Shefali tells me all about writing her book, “A Radical Awakening: Turn Pain into Power, Embrace Your Truth, Live Free” and how her divorce freed her up for a phenomenal, liberating transformation. Dr. Shefali shares about how we’re conditioned and indoctrinated from childhood and how women can lead the way away from that. We dig into owning your part of the dynamic in different relationships and how much work & courage accountability actually takes. I share a story about my marriage and my expectations, and we compare the difference between letting go and giving up. Dr. Shefali shares her wisdom on how we can challenge our obedience to culture and belief systems. Takeaways from the show
Dr. Shefali’s book: “A Radical Awakening: Turn Pain into Power, Embrace Your Truth, Live Free”
Pain & grief from divorce
Seeing the life experiences that interrupt your plan as opportunities
Conditioning & indoctrination from childhood
Accountability & owning your part in relationship dynamics
Letting go of expectations for others you’re in relationship with
Giving up versus letting go
Obedience to cultural standards
Challenging your belief systems
For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 11, 2023 • 41min
Eps 382: Solo Show - Meeting and creating life as it unfolds
Today is a solo show! Coming out you with a deep dive into the practice of being with what the universe throws your way. I share my own experience of this work and offer listeners tools and tips for personal growth and you move through what's hard.For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 8, 2023 • 44min
Eps 381: Self-care to Empower with Nikita Burks-Hale
My guest today is Nikita Burks-Hale. Listen in on this fascinating conversation with Nikita! She tells me a bit about her company, Headphones and Crayons, and how she integrates voice and color. We talk about how voice isn’t just what you’re saying, but your vibe and energy, too. Nikita shares about how she uses coloring to amplify voice & calm at home, and how we need home to be a safe-space for kids to express themselves. Nikita shares a dark moment that and how that sparked her path to Headphones and Crayons. We dig into how coloring can be contemplative, meditative, and a great conversation starter, especially with teens. We wrap up our conversation talking about coloring as a family and/or during a family meeting, and Nikita tells us where we can get some of her coloring sheets and audio. Takeaways from the show
Hearing & seeing voice
Voice isn’t just what you say
The power of using your voice
Home as a safe-space
Using coloring to amplify voice & calm at home
Positive Discipline, connection, & accepting self-expression at home
Coloring as meditation
Creating and holding the space your child needs
Coloring as a family and/or during a family meeting
For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 4, 2023 • 30min
Eps 380: The art of surrender while parenting teens
Today is a solo show. I explore the practice of surrender, what it means to me, and how it fosters more room for our teens to show up as their fullest selves.Takeaways include:
Gratitude for the journey
Surrender as being with life as it unfolds
What it means to let go of our narrative
Trusting our teens are growing through what they're going through
Letting our kids take the lead
For more show notes, including full transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 1, 2023 • 46min
Eps 379: Holistic ADHD tools for kids with Dana Kay
My guest today is Dana Kay, a board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner, best-selling author, and the CEO & founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute. Dana shares about her son’s ADHD diagnosis and how it launched her business & book, “Thriving with ADHD.” Dana talks about her ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids & reducing inflammation (which is beneficial for everyone, not just those with ADHD). She touches on the gut-brain connection, antibiotics, & your immune system. Dana suggests foods families should consider cutting out, time-saving tips for cooking, and how to pace these changes. Takeaways from the show
Pros, cons, & side-effects of ADHD meds
Dana’s “Thriving with ADHD” book & her ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids
Reducing inflammation in the body
The gut-brain connection, antibiotics, & your immune system
ADHD diet suggestions
Time-saving cooking tips
Making gradual changes
For more show notes, including full transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 25, 2023 • 36min
Revisiting Eps 323: Alternatives to Punishment Part 6
This week’s show is a solo show- the fifth of six in a series where Casey will dive deep into alternatives to punishment.Takeaways include:
Navigating big behavior
Searching for support
The process of getting help for Rowan
Holding energy of confident authority
Novelty seeking
Brain science behind risk taking
Staying curious, connected, and calm
Prioritizing taking care of yourself
For more notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


