Owen Wood suffered from anxiety as a young teenager. He tells me how he coped, what his parents did to support him, and what helped him at school during those years. We talk about how travelling on a budget during Race Across The World taught him to have faith in himself, and how he copes with the nerves of travelling alone now.   

Owen says that, just because you're an anxious teenager, it doesn't mean you're going to be an anxious adult. The trick, he says, is to try new things anyway, and to have faith in your own ability to take care of yourself. The more you experiment and realise that you can survive difficult things, the more confident you become.   

Who is Owen Wood?   

22 year old Owen Wood lives in Hertfordshire and is currently training to be a commercial airline pilot. However, you might know his name from season 4 of Race Across The World, which he won along with his friend Alfie Watts. After winning on the show last year, he went straight back out to Southeast Asia to do it all over again! He’s now planning on doing the same in Australia later this year. We talk about how it felt to be on the TV programme, and stress and excitement of the race.   

You might be forgiven for thinking that Owen owes his travel confidence to a carefree attitude to life, but he talks openly about his struggles with anxiety as a teenager. He’s now an ambassador for teenage mental health charity The Mix, a website for teenagers and young adults where you can find information and support for most issues you might face as a teenager.   

Useful links:  

 * Free counselling at The Mix [https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support/speak-to-our-team/the-mix-counselling-service]
 * Owen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/owen.wood02/]

Ep. 106: It is possible to grow out of teenage anxiety

Evan Transue started suffering with panic attacks at the age of 5. He had no family history of trauma, and due to his seemingly great life, his panic attacks went misdiagnosed for over 10 years. During this time, he developed other mental health conditions, and eventually turned to substances to numb the pain. Eventually he was diagnosed with panic disorder, and had an aha moment that changed his life.

We talk about what panic attacks feel like, how they can lead to depression, and how parents can help support teenagers as they learn to deal with them. Evan now hasn’t had a panic attack in 10 years.

Who is Evan Transue? 

Evan is the host of The Health Detective Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-health-detective-podcast-by-functional-diagnostic/id1547734801] and owner of Bucks County Light Therapy [https://www.buckscountylighttherapy.com/] and Functional Medicine Center. He graduated from Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) in 2017. Prior to finding FDN he and his mother had suffered with a variety of health challenges for over a decade. The FDN system transformed his and his mom's lives so profoundly that all of his work is now centered around spreading its teachings. Evan speaks professionally to middle and high school students about mental health challenges and to date has spoken to 50,000 students.

More teenage parenting from Helen Wills

 * Helen Wills Counselling and Parent Coaching [https://helenwills.com/]
 * Actually Mummy parenting teens blog [https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/]
 * Helen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/iamhelenwills/]

Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the Teenage Kicks podcast to hear new episodes. If you have a suggestion for the podcast please email helen@actuallymummy.co.uk.

For information on your data privacy please visit Zencastr's policy page [https://zencastr.com/privacy-policy]

Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.

Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cunningham-245586266/]

Ep. 105: Teens who panic: Managing panic attacks as a teenager

Parents often worry about the teenage years. The term 'threenager' is frequently used to describe the toddler tantrums that leave parents tearing their hair out. I used it myself, with an eyeroll and a wry smile, but now that I've been through the teenage years I'm apologetic about that. I think it's patronising, and it doesn't help our relationships with our teens. 

Katia Vlachos has experienced this from the teen point of view, and it took her until adulthood to realise that her 'good girl' behaviour wasn't serving her. She talks to me about how easy it is to raise a people-pleasing teenager (even when we think we're on the receiving end of full-scale rebellion), and why it's not such a good thing to have a teenager who sticks to the rules. 

Who is Katia Vlachos?

Katia Vlachos is a coach and author of a new book called Uncaged. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncaged-Good-Girls-Journey-Reinvention/dp/B0D94Y7JRF/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QwzM-p6u89XLuqprT_3DtFkj3xIO866m4cD1u4-L04xo7yhiU0Y1oWIY4egD-7cE18xSgyxGHvFjnvgu26bKwlgaoIpZHBLPqVwnJzIGWP8.FOii9QOKAhDkp2TUIR7rnSglrV3sEAK6OIq1VU6sBA4&dib_tag=se&qid=1725351504&refinements=p_27%3AKatia+Vlachos&s=books&sr=1-3] Raised in a traditional Greek family, Katia's early years were spent trying to please others as the perfect daughter and student, but she often found ways to embrace her rebellious spirit - including sneaking out at night and driving off into the sunset on the back of her boyfriend's Harley Davidson. As she grew up, Katia became more weighed down by this 'good girl' persona she'd be trying to live up to until one day, when she was in her 40s, she faced the reality that the life she was living had been designed to make other people happy and not herself.

After a series of life-altering events – including the death of her beloved father and the end of her 17-year marriage – Katia confronts how being obsessed with being seen as 'good' has affected her life decisions and sets out on a path of self-discovery and reinvention. Unpicking how she had been conditioned since childhood to chase societal approval and put the needs and desires of others above her own, Katia used her experiences to write a book about her story and inspire other women who are fed up of feeling guilty for wanting more.

 * Katia's book - Uncaged: A Good Girl's journey to reinvention [https://amzn.to/3X5rVBS]
 * Katia on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katia.vlachos/]
 * Katia on LinkedIn
 * KatiaVlachos.com [https://www.katiavlachos.com/]
 * How to Fail podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-fail-with-elizabeth-day/id1407451189]

More teenage parenting from Helen Wills

 * Helen Wills Counselling and Parent Coaching [https://helenwills.com/]
 * Actually Mummy parenting teens blog [https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/]
 * Helen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/iamhelenwills/]

Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the Teenage Kicks podcast to hear new episodes. If you have a suggestion for the podcast please email helen@actuallymummy.co.uk.

For information on your data privacy please visit Zencastr's policy page [https://zencastr.com/privacy-policy]

Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.

Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cunningham-245586266/]

Ep. 104: Why a rebellious teenager might be a good thing

Today's guest is content creator and copywriter Tom Pinks, who is The number of teenagers saying they don't drink alcohol is 39% [https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/huge-rise-in-low-and-no-alcohol-consumption-among-young-adults-yougov-poll-shows/686689.article#:~:text=Nearly%20four%20in%2010%20(39,from%20drinking%20alcohol%20at%20all.].

Tom talks about how he was bullied at secondary school before eventually finding a way to take control and stand up for himself. He was also dealing with his mum's diagnosis of cancer and says that it could have been quite a dark time had it not been for the resilience that kicked in as he learned to take care of his emotions.

He also talks about feeling shy when he started university - have a listen to Tom's top tip for making friends in a new environment! Tom says this is when he started using alcohol to hide his shyness and pretend to be more extroverted than he was. Whilst he says it didn't feel like a problem in the moment, he struggled to keep up with the drinking of Freshers and eventually realised it was too much.

Tom told me how he eventually cut down on drinking and became isolated as he distanced himself from friends who were drinkers.  He was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and had to take time out to address it. He tells us how difficult that experience was, and what help is available now to young people going through similar, from free counselling to support of communities online. 

Tom's experience of being sober since then is fascinating to listen to - from being fully alive at the music gigs he loved, to the experience of dating without alcohol.

Who is Tom Pinks? 

Tom is a mental health professional, writer and podcaster for The Mix, the UK's leading digital support service for under 25's. A former teacher, Tom now spends his time ensuring as many teens have the resources they need to thrive in life. Whether this be written guides on navigating relationships, identity, and general wellbeing, or podcasts with experts on how to manage and improve mental health.

Tom has been living sober for almost 18 months, and is an advocate for clean living after witnessing the many benefits this brought into other parts of his life. He now practices transcendental meditation daily, and puts his love and energy into hosting events across London designed to help young people make new friends.

Useful links:

 * The Highly Sensitive Person [https://amzn.to/3EhA53C] (affiliate link)
 * The Mix [https://www.themix.org.uk/] - essential support for under 25s, including free counselling
 * Tom's blog about sober dating [https://www.themix.org.uk/sex-and-relationships/single-life-and-dating/sober-dating-52118.html]

More teenage parenting from Helen Wills

 * Helen Wills Counselling and Parent Coaching [https://helenwills.com/]
 * Actually Mummy parenting teens blog [https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/]
 * Helen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/iamhelenwills/]

Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the Teenage Kicks podcast to hear new episodes. If you have a suggestion for the podcast please email helen@actuallymummy.co.uk.

For information on your data privacy please visit Zencastr's policy page [https://zencastr.com/privacy-policy]

Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.

Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cunningham-245586266/]

Ep. 103: The teenagers choosing not to drink alcohol

My guest today has written a book about how much we underestimate teenage girls, and why we’d do well as parents to listen more to what they have to say. Chelsey Goodan has interviewed dozens of teenage girls about what’s going on in their lives, and what they need from adults in order to thrive. We talk about perfectionism and self-esteem, shame around sexuality, and the best way to get teenagers to develop a healthy relationship with their phones and social media – spoiler alert, it doesn’t involve banning apps and confiscating their phones.

Chelsey talks about her own experience of being a people-pleaser as a teenager. Always wanting to be the 'good girl', Chelsey didn't realise how much this tendency was hurting her. She goes on to tell us how she became a 'recovering perfectionist' and gives some ideas to support mothers who have carried perfectionism into their parenting journey.

She also tells me that trying to protect our girls can backfire by giving them a victim mentality. Instead, she says, we need to empower teenage girls to trust their own inner voices, know what they need, and have agency over their own safety and directions. She answers the question "is social media dangerous" and has an interesting take on how we can introduce our teenagers to smartphones. 

Chelsey has written a great book about how what teenage girls are really feeling and how judged they often feel. It's a brilliant explanation of what's going on for our daughters and how we can support them more constructively to be the best they can be emotionally. You can find Chelsey's book here:

 * Underestimated: The wisdom and power of teenage girls [https://amzn.to/4hKA0Ed] (affiliate link)
 * Chelsey's website [https://www.chelseygoodan.com/]
 * Chelsey on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chelseygoodan/]

More teenage parenting from Helen Wills

 * Helen Wills Counselling and Parent Coaching [https://helenwills.com/]
 * Actually Mummy parenting teens blog [https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/]
 * Helen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/iamhelenwills/]

Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the Teenage Kicks podcast to hear new episodes. If you have a suggestion for the podcast please email helen@actuallymummy.co.uk.

For information on your data privacy please visit Zencastr's policy page [https://zencastr.com/privacy-policy]

Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.

Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cunningham-245586266/]

Ep. 102: Why teenage girls have more power than you think

TW: Self-harm

Ad: This episode is sponsored by training provider Flourish [https://flourish.co.uk/], and my guest today is an expert in supporting teenagers with the emotional challenges that often come with adolescence. Charlotte Gordon is a nationally recognised youth worker and trainer who has deep expertise in addressing anxiety, depression and distress, and empowers those who work with teenagers to have the practical life skills they need to help young people develop emotional resilience and well-being. Her approaches are especially effective in supporting neurodiverse young people.

As a single mother, Charlotte founded KIP Education to reach the young people who often fall through the cracks in traditional educational settings. Her programmes aim to cultivate self-awareness, mindfulness, critical thinking, communication skills and social empathy, empowering young people to manage stress and develop a strong sense of social consciousness and human values.

She talks to us about a parenting course that offers practical advice and the opportunity to improve our knowledge around mental health, wellbeing and safety. The Flourish Empowered parenting course bundle [https://flourish.co.uk/parent-bundle-launch/] covers topics such as vaping, gang violence and supporting LGBTQIA+ children. Listeners can get a 15% discount on the course by using code KICKS15 at checkout. 

USEFUL LINKS 

 * Flourish Empowered Parenting Course Bundle [https://flourish.co.uk/bundles/parenting/] - used code KICKS15 
 * Flourish's Empowered Parenting courses bundle offers practical advice and the chance to test and improve your knowledge, helping you address challenges around mental health, wellbeing and safety. It also covers specialist topics such as vaping, gang violence and supporting LGBTQIA+ children. Written by child development and education specialists, these courses empower you to approach modern parenting with confidence. Each course lasts around 30 minutes and can be taken in your own time, with our without your child.
 * Find out more about Charlotte at K [http://www.kipeducation.com/]ip Education [http://www.kipeducation.com/]. 

More teenage parenting from Helen Wills

 * Helen Wills Counselling and Parent Coaching [https://helenwills.com/]
 * Actually Mummy parenting teens blog [https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/]
 * Helen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/iamhelenwills/]

Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the Teenage Kicks podcast to hear new episodes. If you have a suggestion for the podcast please email helen@actuallymummy.co.uk.

For information on your data privacy please visit Zencastr's policy page [https://zencastr.com/privacy-policy]

Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.

Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cunningham-245586266/]

Ep. 101: Smart strategies for improving communication with your teenager

*TW - Suicide and self harm  

This week's guest is the parent of a 17-year-old transgender boy. She talks about how it felt to support her son as they came to the realisation that their assigned gender did not match who they knew themselves to be. She describes how difficult it was for her son despite her family's acceptance and support of his decision, compared to other teenagers she knows of who have not been supported by their families. I ask her why she thinks some parents don't accept their children's LGBTQIA+ feelings.   

Heidi told me the hardest part of her son's transgender journey was their decision to change their name. She says she went through a period of mourning for the daughter she gave birth to.  We talk about how difficult it can be as parents to allow our children to determine for themselves who they're going to be, without trying to influence them. She gives some insight into what age she thinks is best for a teenager to undertake surgical transition, the controversy around puberty blockers and  how normal gender and sexuality changes are to our own teenagers' generation.

Heidi also talks about her own teenagers years growing up with undiagnosed bipolar, and how easy it was to miss amongst all the teenage hormones.   

Who is Heidi L Gross? 

Heidi published her first personal and heartfelt work, Embracing Love: A Parent’s Guide to Nurturing and Celebrating LGBTQ+ Identity. Inspired by her journey as the mother of a transgender son, the book aims to support parents who are navigating similar experiences, offering them insight, compassion, and guidance.  

More from Heidi

 * Embracing Love: A parent's guide to nurturing and celebrating your child's LGBTQ+ identity - https://amzn.to/42nGW5E [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3AwVkZ6WHlqVUZweXBndEphLXItWE44MWlTd3xBQ3Jtc0tuNnVWUlpsdUgxUHc5LXNPX0hGd1VVNGszSm5RRWhTTEVuVzBkV2V1dVRKd1hMb0IyTk4zaGZwa0xPRk44OGV5ZjlfWDZlaHVfdU00ZWY2QnF5X1hwRnlOWHMxSE96aEcxZkpsbUdTd0dMM0NCSzJNZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F42nGW5E&v=uD6M1hxiTOM]

Also listen to  

 * What your transgender teen wants you to know [https://zencastr.com/z/O4tHaC0D]
 * Overcoming self-harm [https://zencastr.com/z/Qyl7tr2X]
 * Mental health, sexuality and self-harm recover [https://zencastr.com/z/OD8Mh9l-]y

More teenage parenting from Helen Wills

 * Helen Wills Counselling and Parent Coaching [https://helenwills.com]
 * Actually Mummy parenting teens blog [https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk] 
 * Helen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/iamhelenwills/]

Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the Teenage Kicks podcast to hear new episodes. If you have a suggestion for the podcast please email helen@actuallymummy.co.uk.

For information on your data privacy please visit Zencastr's policy page [https://zencastr.com/privacy-policy]  

Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.

Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cunningham-245586266/]

Ep. 100: Navigating your teenager's LGBTQIA+ challenges

It's a question I see asked a lot. There's a whole Facebook group dedicated to discussing the issues parents have when their children are preparing to leave home for university, and the questions come in cycles. Right now, it's UCAS forms and university choices, as the deadline for applications looms. In a couple of months it will be questions about A-Level revision and exam dates, and then will come the angst - in rafts - over teenagers whose parents don't think they're ready. (I have a sneaking suspicion it's the parents who aren't ready most of the time, not the kids.

My guest in this episode speaks to this parental fear as a parent herself, and as a psychologist who supports families of children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes. Professor Deborah Christie talks about how any disability makes it more difficult to leave home, especially for the often chaotic lifestyle of university. 

With data* suggesting that over a third of young adults have a long-term physical or mental health condition, disability or illness, could this be something your listeners might be interested in? Deborah offers reassurance and tips for success, whatever your fears for your child as they gain independence and have to look after themselves.

 1. * Research commissioned to mark the integration of Abbott’s [https://www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/home.html]FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus sensor with
    Insulet’s Omnipod® 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System.

More for parents of teenagers preparing for university

 * Don't fear the empty nest [https://actuallymummy.co.uk/dont-fear-the-empty-nest/] (podcast) 
 * 10 Tips for coping with empty nest syndrome [https://actuallymummy.co.uk/10-tips-for-coping-with-empty-nest-syndrome/] (read)
 * Being diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager [https://open.spotify.com/episode/51MDEEAPiFU1wgatBBjfhB] (podcast)
 * How to keep your teen safe at university [https://actuallymummy.co.uk/how-to-keep-your-teen-safe-at-university/] (read)
 * 60 Gifts for university students [https://actuallymummy.co.uk/60-gifts-for-university-students/] (list)

Who is Deborah Christie? 

Deborah Christie is a professor of paediatric and adolescent psychology at University College London NHS Foundation Trust and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. She is an internationally respected academic and award-winning clinician; with an outstanding record of peer-reviewed publications, teaching and leadership with over 200 peer reviewed papers and chapters and a bestselling book, Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Families. She co-authored the expert reports on Psychosocial Issues of infection and the Impact of bereavement for the UK government Infected Blood Inquiry.

Who is Helen?

Helen wills is a counsellor, a parent coach [https://helenwills.com/], and a teen mental health podcaster and blogger at Actually Mummy [https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/], a resource for midlife parents of teens.

For information on your data privacy please visit Zencastr's policy page [https://zencastr.com/privacy-policy]

Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.

Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cunningham-245586266/].

Ep. 99: How will my child ever be ready to go to university? 

Welcome to series 9 of the Teenage Kicks podcast, and a brand new set of brave conversations with people who had something difficult to go through in their teenage years. 

This episode features Jon Wilson Cooper, who - through his career choice as a counsellor - has explored his own relationship with his mental health at length, including how he feels about having grown up with a sibling with disabilities. 

We discuss everything from the embarrassment of being seen in public with his deaf brother, who had behavioural difficulties and a severe learning disability, the jealousy of the attention given to his brother, and the shame of feeling this way. 

Jon says there's a difference between shame and guilt, and the challenge for our teenagers  - and for us as their parents - is to reject the shame (which is paralysing) whilst managing the guilt effectively. 

Who is Jon Wilson Cooper?

Jon is a qualified psychotherapist, trainer, and organisational consultant with over 38 years’ experience of helping people with their mental health. He is the Founder and Director of The Albany Centre [https://thealbanycentre.com/] for personal and professional development, which is a counselling training institute and therapy. He also runs Mosaic Counselling Services CIC [https://mosaiccounselling.co.uk/] (a low-cost counselling service) in St Albans, Hertfordshire. He has worked in the UK, America, and India in a variety of settings with a wide range of clients, including those with addiction issues, mental health problems and histories of personal trauma. Jon has a special interest in helping individuals raise awareness of their blocks to emotional well-being and making positive life choices.

Jon is also a TEDx speaker whose talk on why people hate was chosen as one of the top TEDx talks of 2024. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su-0oL1QdHM

Jon welcomes connection - you can find him here: 

 * Connect on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilsoncooper/]
 * The Albany Centre [https://www.linkedin.com/company/tha-albany-centre/]
 * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jon.cooper.925/]
 * Follow the Albany Centre on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TheAlbanyCentre.StAlbans/]

More teenage parenting from Helen Wills:

Helen wills is a counsellor, a parent coach, and a teen mental health podcaster and blogger at Actually Mummy [https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/], a resource for midlife parents of teens.

Thank you for listening! Subscribe [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/teenage-kicks-podcast/id1501488455] to the Teenage Kicks podcast to hear new episodes. If you have a suggestion for the podcast please email helen@actuallymummy.co.uk.

You can find more from Helen Wills on parenting teenagers on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/iamhelenwills/] @iamhelenwills.

For information on your data privacy please visit Zencastr's policy page [https://zencastr.com/privacy-policy]

Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.

Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cunningham-245586266/].

Ep. 98: Childhood trauma: The shame of being different

In this final episode of my 8th season of Teenage Kicks, we hear from Betty and James Mukherjee, of Race Across The World fame. Watching the show we saw the brother and sister relationship develop as they completed challenges together, but they say it wasn't always like this - they fell out like typical siblings when they were growing up. 

They talk about how they handled their feelings during the harder times on the trip around Southeast Asia (remember when they lost their passports?) and the moment when Betty opened up to James about her diagnosis of MRKH, a medical condition which means she doesn't have a uterus. I ask Betty what it was like to be diagnosed at the age of 16 with something that changed her perception of her life, and I ask James how it felt to know at a young age that his sister's life had changed. 

They both talk about the need to allow feelings, their own and each other's, and  - importantly - to open up about those feelings rather than keeping them locked in. She describes herself as a 'glass half empty' kind of girl, and how important it is to notice when she starts to catastrophise and take steps to change her previous patterns. Betty now shares the reality of her daily life on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bettymuk_/] and in her women's wellbeing community It's a Balance Thing. [https://www.itsabalancething.com/]  She says it's important for her to talk to her friends (even though they couldn't understand) and to share with others going through the same. She recommends MRKH Connect [https://mrkhconnect.co.uk/] for other people living with MRKH. 

James tells me about the moment on the show where he gets a hug from a cameraman after feeling emotional during that conversation, and how important it feels now to help men understand that allowing emotions is also important for them. He recommends Andy's Man Club [https://andysmanclub.co.uk/] as a good place to start if you're struggling to open up about mental health. You can also message James on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jamesmukherjee1/]. 

More teenage parenting from Helen Wills:

Helen wills is a counsellor, a parent coach, and a teen mental health podcaster and blogger at Actually Mummy [https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/], a resource for midlife parents of teens.

Thank you for listening! Subscribe [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/teenage-kicks-podcast/id1501488455] to the Teenage Kicks podcast to hear new episodes. If you have a suggestion for the podcast please email helen@actuallymummy.co.uk.

You can find more from Helen Wills on parenting teenagers on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/iamhelenwills/] @iamhelenwills.

For information on your data privacy please visit Zencastr's policy page [https://zencastr.com/privacy-policy]

Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.

Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cunningham-245586266/].

Ep. 97: Betty and James (Race Across The World) on growing up with MRKH

Welcome to the Teenage Kicks podcast, where we take the fear out of parenting - or becoming - a teenager. The internet is full of parenting advice, from when you feel those first baby kicks, until they reach secondary school. And then it stops. No one is talking about teen parenting problems; so we’re going to.



Essential listening for teenagers and their parents, as well as those who work with young adults; Teenage Kicks has teen mental health at its core, and each episode will empower young people to tackle their own problems, and give parents the guidance to know how to help them.



Each week Helen speaks to real individuals who've experienced the issues that young people are dealing with now, and they don't sugar-coat it. From exam nerves and career worries to issues around sexuality and consent, we get tips and advice from expert guests who understand what it’s like to be a teenager today.



Helen will also be chatting about tough teenage problems like cyberbullying and self-harm, drugs, alcohol and teenage pregnancy, all with a heavy dose of reality from someone who's been there and made it through to the other side.



Teenage Kicks for Parents:

As parents, we understand some of our kids’ struggles, but let’s face it, it’s been a while, and things have moved on since we last panicked over a detention! Teenage choices today can seem alien to their parents because teenage life has changed so dramatically since we were young. Teenage Kicks helps you unravel topics like social media, sexting and teen self-esteem so that you can figure out what your child needs support with, and what’s just normal teenage behaviour.

 

Teenage Kicks for Teens:

Teenagers and parents come at things from different angles, we know. But teenage life can be challenging, and the support of your parents can make navigating tricky dilemmas easier. Teenage Kicks guests aren’t adults who’ve read a textbook; nor are they heavily invested in your day-to-day safety, like your mum and dad. They are real people who’ve been through what you’re dealing with, and they have the inspiration and advice you need to handle it yourself.

Join Helen each week as she chats to a different guest about topics affecting teenagers in 2020, and helps parents and teens to open up a dialogue that will make life easier to navigate on all sides.

You'll also find me chatting about teen parenting here:

 * Actually Mummy [https://actuallymummy.co.uk/] - my personal blog
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/iamhelenwills/]
 * Twitter [https://twitter.com/iamhelenwills]

Useful websites:

 * The Mix [https://www.themix.org.uk/]- good information for under 25's
 * Shout [https://www.giveusashout.org/] - for anyone struggling with anxiety or depression

This series of the Teenage Kicks Podcast is sponsored by Blue Microphones [https://www.blue-designs.co.uk/], who gave me the fabulous Yeticaster mic for all my recordings. It's really straightforward to use, and gives me great sound quality without too much editing.

Teenage Kicks Podcast

Helen Wills's Show

Taking the fear out of parenting teens.

Teenagers aren't scary! Join us to feel more empowered as you navigate teenage years. 

Helen Wills

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