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Parents, do you worry about your teen’s emotional well-being and how anxiety may be affecting their daily life? Have you felt helpless or unsure about how to support your teen through their struggles? Are you concerned about the long-term impact of anxiety on your teen’s mental health? Are you looking for guidance and support from experts who understand what you’re going through and can provide practical advice to your teen for navigating this journey? Hi, I’m Monica Crnogorac and I’m so excited that you’re here on Parenting Anxious Teens. Things may seem smooth and easy for me now, but they weren’t always this way. I remember what it felt like to be a teen and feel overwhelmed, alone, confused, and frustrated. Even though I had the awareness of how I was feeling, I still struggled to overcome the heavy emotions because I was afraid of letting anyone in. I was hoping I would be able to ignore it and shove it under the rug without really needing to address it. What happened? My feelings of anxiety and overwhelm intensified and that freaked me out. I needed to find a way to free myself from the hole I dug, so I finally decided to work with someone who helped me let go of the burdens of anxiety I was carrying for years. It wasn’t easy and it made me shed a few tears, but I was able to release the pain and move forward to living a life where anxiety doesn’t have the driver seat. Let me tell you, the time, energy, and money I put towards my own transformation is what inspired me to help teens today. Resolving my own anxiety allowed me to uncover the secret to overcoming big emotions in an easy, manageable, and adaptive way. After falling in love with the self-growth journey, I went to school to get educated and certified so I can empower you and tell you everything I know. Inside this podcast, we explore the nature of non-clinical anxiety, uncovering its triggers, signs and symptoms, and the profound impact it has on a teen’s life. Parents, you will learn how to understand, support, and empower your teens through their struggles with anxiety. You’ll learn actionable steps you can take to create a supportive environment at home and help your teen manage their anxiety effectively. But we don’t stop there. I bring on expert guests, share anxiety hacks, and equip both teens and parents with practical strategies for building resilience, coping with stress, and navigating those turbulent waters with grace and strength. We are going to simplify teenage anxiety for you because I want you see your teen happy, confident, and thriving. I want you to be able to have a strong and supportive relationship with them where everyone feels understood and supported. Most importantly, I want to help them reach their full potential despite what they’re going through. So, grab your favourite drink, get in some comfy clothes and let’s dig in. You can find me here: Instagram: @__consciouscoach Work with me: www.consciouscoach.biz Connect: monica@consciouscoach.biz
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Hi Parents!
Are you wondering how to help your teen start thinking about college or university without the pressure?
For many anxious teens, thinking about life after high school can bring more stress than clarity. The unknowns around applications, decisions, and deadlines can feel overwhelming - and let’s be honest, it can be overwhelming for you too. But summer offers a unique opportunity to begin the conversation in a calmer, more intentional way.
In this solo episode, I’m walking you through how to gently open the door to your teen’s post-secondary future. We’ll talk about how to make the most of campus tours, how to start future-focused conversations without pushing them into panic mode, and why your role as a guide, not the decision-maker, is so important.
You’ll hear a quick story from my own campus visit with my parents, and why so many teens tell me later that they wish they had done more of them. We’ll also go over what to say after a tour, how to help your teen compare schools in a practical way, and what application timelines look like for both Canadian and American parents.
By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with a summer game plan that helps reduce anxiety, create clarity, and support your teen in taking confident next steps, one conversation at a time.
Big hugs,
Monica Crnogorac
Next Steps
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
What if supporting your anxious teen didn’t mean constantly doing more - but instead, meant becoming more present, intentional, and self-aware in the moments that matter?
In this episode, I’m joined by Holly Swenson - wellness blogger, registered nurse, and author of Stop, Drop, Grow, & Glow - to explore how conscious parenting, grounded in self-care and deep inner work, can reshape how we show up for our teens.
More About Holly:
Holly Swenson is a best-selling, award-winning author, and mom of four. Through her book Stop, Drop, Grow, & Glow, Holly offers a refreshing take on modern parenting - one rooted in mindfulness, purpose, and self-compassion. With her unique background as a nurse and mother, she empowers parents to slow down, shift their mindset, and lead from their values instead of stress or guilt.
Holly’s “5 Rights of Parenting” invites parents to tune in to themselves, approach challenges with clarity, and create deeper, more authentic connections with their children. If you’ve ever questioned how to care for your teen without losing yourself in the process, this conversation is your permission slip to pause, reflect, and thrive alongside your child. Parenting can be hard - but it doesn’t have to feel like a constant struggle.
Big hugs,
Monica Crnogorac
Next Steps
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Hi Parents!
Are you worried about summer break feeling stressful?
For parents of anxious teens, the end of the school year can bring more tension than relief. With no routine, more screen time, and long days filled with “what now?” moments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the pressure to keep your teen busy, happy, and mentally well. Add in your own work schedule and responsibilities, and suddenly summer starts to feel less like a break and more like a juggling act.
In this solo episode, I’m talking about what really happens when anxious teens lose the structure of school - and what you can do to help them feel more secure and supported during these unstructured months. You’ll hear why screens become such a tempting escape, how to gently build in a sense of purpose and routine without making it feel like summer school, and how to invite your teen into planning their days so they feel empowered, not controlled.
I’ll also share a fun strategy I personally use with my friends - creating a shared summer list on a Google Doc. It’s a simple but powerful way to keep everyone connected and looking forward to things without the pressure of over-scheduling.
We’ll also explore how to carve out space for your teen to help around the house - not every day, but enough to give them a sense of contribution and accountability. And if you’ve ever felt like you’re the entertainment committee 24/7, I’ve got thoughts on how to shift that dynamic too, so boredom doesn’t always fall back on you.
This episode is filled with easy, doable strategies for creating a summer that feels a little more intentional, a little less chaotic, and a whole lot more connected.
So if you’re already bracing yourself for the summer juggle, this one’s for you.
Big hugs,
Monica Crnogorac
Next Steps
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Hi Parents!
Do screen time battles leave you feeling frustrated, drained, or like you're constantly walking on eggshells around your teen? In today's digital world, navigating boundaries around video games, phones, and other screens can feel like a daily power struggle - especially when anxiety is in the mix.
In this episode, I’m joined by Scott Novis, a former Disney executive, tech entrepreneur, and father of three who’s spent years helping families create healthier digital habits. Together, we dive into how to set screen time boundaries without the daily meltdowns - and how to foster more connection and cooperation in the process.
More about Scott:
Scott Novis is a serial entrepreneur, author, and former Vice President at The Walt Disney Company with a background in engineering and game development. He’s the founder of GameTruck, the first-ever mobile video game party company, which has now served over 10 million guests across the U.S. Scott is also a passionate advocate for helping families find balance in a tech-driven world. Through his speaking, writing, and innovation, he helps parents and kids build more connected, intentional relationships with technology - without the yelling, nagging, or shutdowns.
Scott shares practical strategies that help teens transition off screens without explosions, explains what’s really happening in their brains when they lose themselves in a game, and how to avoid the all-too-common trap of punishments that backfire. We also explore how anxiety can show up around screen time and how parents can recognize when their teen is using screens to self-soothe - or avoid something deeper.
You’ll walk away from this episode with tools to create smoother routines, reduce conflict, and better understand your teen’s emotional needs when it comes to digital spaces. Scott's insights will help you shift from feeling powerless to empowered, and from reactive to proactive in your parenting.
Big hugs,
Monica Crnogorac
Next Steps
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Hi Parents!
What if the key to helping your anxious teen wasn’t just about them - but started with you? In this episode, we’re exploring the powerful connection between emotional wounds and how they impact parenting, especially when raising teens who struggle with anxiety.
I’m joined by Shelly Robinson - certified trauma-informed parent coach, founder of Raising Yourself, and mom of two teens. Shelly specializes in helping parents reconnect with themselves so they can show up more calmly and intentionally in their parenting. Her work invites parents to move beyond reaction and into meaningful, heart-centered connection with their kids.
More About Shelly:
Shelly Robinson is a conscious parenting coach, the founder of Raising Yourself, and the creator of the Connected Kid Toolkit. She helps parents break generational cycles and build emotionally connected homes, with a global community of more than half a million parents engaging with her work. Through her warm, insight-driven approach, Shelly empowers caregivers to heal unresolved childhood wounds and raise their children with greater clarity, compassion, and presence. Her insights have been featured on MindValley, GoZen, Raised Good, and Good News LA, and her work continues to support families in creating grounded, healing-centered homes.
Together, we unpack how your triggers are actually invitations, clues that point toward unhealed parts of yourself. Shelly breaks down how self-awareness and self-compassion can change how you connect with your teen, especially when they’re overwhelmed, shut down, or angry. We also dive into what it means to normalize tough emotions, navigate conflict without projecting, and show up as a calmer, more grounded version of yourself.
By the end of this conversation, you’ll feel seen, supported, and empowered with actionable tools to parent from a place of awareness, not anxiety. Because when you heal - you create space for your teen to heal, too.
Big hugs,
Monica Crnogorac
Next Steps
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Hi Parents!
Have you ever wondered if letting your teen have a drink at home might teach them to be more responsible with alcohol? It’s a question many parents ask themselves - especially when they’re trying to balance trust, safety, and the reality that teens are exposed to alcohol earlier than ever.
In today’s episode, I’m diving into one of the most common (and complicated) parenting dilemmas: should I let my teen drink underage, especially if it’s under my supervision? I’ll walk you through the latest research, debunk some of the myths about “safe drinking environments,” and give you a deeper understanding of how alcohol impacts your teen’s developing brain and emotional well-being.
We’ll also explore the connection between underage drinking and anxiety, and why some teens use alcohol to manage their emotions or mask inner struggles. If you’ve ever worried that your teen might be using substances to cope - or you’re just not sure how to even start this conversation - this episode is for you.
I’ll share practical, real-world strategies for how to approach the topic of alcohol with your teen in a way that builds trust, encourages healthy decision-making, and opens the door to honest communication. We’ll also talk about the long-term risks of early alcohol use, why supervised drinking isn’t always protective, and how to model boundaries that still allow for connection.
By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clearer sense of how alcohol affects the anxious teen brain, why setting limits matters more than you think, and how to guide your teen with confidence - without creating fear or disconnect.
Big hugs,
Monica Crnogorac
Next Steps
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Hi Parents!
Worried your teen is choosing friends who aren’t the best influence? Maybe you’ve noticed changes in their mood, behavior, or values - and you’re not sure how to step in without being pushy or overbearing.
In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 ways to help your teen choose healthier friendships - without damaging your relationship or coming across as the controlling parent. These strategies are designed to empower both you and your teen with tools for self-awareness, communication, and decision-making.
We’ll talk about what to look for in a healthy friendship, how to open up conversations about peer pressure, and why some teens stay in toxic friendships even when they know it’s not good for them. Most importantly, I’ll walk you through how to support your teen in making better choices - while still honoring their growing independence.
By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more confident in how to guide your teen without lecturing or judging - and you’ll have practical ways to encourage relationships that uplift and support them.
Big hugs,
Monica Crnogorac
Next Steps
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Hi Parents,
What if easing your teen’s anxiety wasn’t just about therapy or medication - but also about their meals, sleep habits, and screen time?
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Matt Bernstein, clinical psychiatrist and CEO of Accord, to explore the powerful, often-overlooked link between metabolism and mental health. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Bernstein shares how everyday choices - from the foods we eat to the light we’re exposed to - can influence anxiety, focus, and emotional regulation.
We break down how metabolic dysfunction (like blood sugar crashes, poor sleep, and blue light overload) can fuel anxiety in teens - and how simple, science-backed changes can help. Dr. Bernstein explains the benefits of a whole-food, high-fat, low-carb diet, how circadian rhythms affect mood, and why walking after meals might be one of the easiest tools for mental wellness.
You’ll also hear why ultra-processed foods are more damaging than we think, how screen time affects the brain, and why sleep is a non-negotiable for well-being. If your teen struggles with anxiety, low energy, or mood swings, this episode offers clarity and hope.
About Dr. Matt Bernstein:
Dr. Matt is a board-certified psychiatrist and CEO of Accord, a platform transforming mental health through metabolic care. A leader in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, he connects brain health to lifestyle habits like nutrition, movement, and sleep. In 2023, he hosted the first public conference on metabolic psychiatry to advance this important conversation.
This episode is packed with practical strategies to help your teen feel calmer, more balanced, and better equipped to thrive - even in a world full of sugar, screens, and stress.
Big hugs,
Monica Crnogorac
Next Steps