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PODCAST

Beautifully Complex

Join parenting coach and mom-in-the-trenches, Penny Williams, as she helps parents, caregivers, and educators harness the realization that we are all beautifully complex and marvelously imperfect. Each week she delivers insights and actionable strategies on parenting and educating neurodivergent kids — those with ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning disabilities... Her approach to decoding behavior while honoring neurodiversity, and parenting the individual child you have will provide you with the tools

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

27:08

277: Redefining ADHD for Neurodivergent Kids, with...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/08/15

Are you struggling to talk to your child about their ADHD diagnosis or seeking ways to reframe it positively? In this episode of Beautifully Complex, I host an empowering conversation with Elly Both about her inspiring new children's book on ADHD. Elly shares her personal journey of being diagnosed later in life and how that revelation transformed her perspective. We explore how to harness ADHD traits like hyperfocus and creativity, and how these "superpowers" can be leveraged to help kids

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32:44

276: Executive Function Rundown, with Seth Perler, M.Ed.

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/08/08

Feeling frustrated by your child's disorganization, falling grades, and struggles with time management? Tune in to this episode of Beautifully Complex, where Seth Perler, M.Ed. and I explore the crucial role of executive function skills in your child or teen's life. Seth likens these skills to learning guitar chords — they're not innate, but they can be developed with consistent practice. He offers heartfelt, practical advice for parents and educators to recognize and support kids facing EF

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31:40

275: Starting Scared, with Chrysty Lockhart

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/08/01

Are you tired of letting fear hold you back? The key to moving beyond that is turning what you view as failure into stepping stones to success. And you can teach your kids the same. In this episode of Beautifully Complex, I’m joined by Chrysty Lockhart, who shares her transformative journey from fearful to learning to push forward despite the fear. She emphasizes the importance of pushing through discomfort, offering valuable insights into embracing the mindset that failure moves us closer to

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47:07

274 Looking at Behavior Both Inside and Out, with...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/07/25

Do you find it challenging to stay calm and mindful when your child is having a tough time in public? Gabriele Nicolet and I explore understanding kid’s behavior from both behavioral and neurophysiological perspectives. Gabriele, a seasoned speech therapist and parent coach, shares invaluable insights into decoding what behaviors signify about a kid’s internal states and sensory needs. We discuss the importance of validating those needs without letting behavior spiral out of control, and offer

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42:32

273: Getting Stuck in a Loop with Sarah Wayland, Ph.D.

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/07/18

Have you ever felt helpless as your child gets stuck in repetitive behaviors or meltdowns, leaving you wondering how to help them break free? In this episode of Beautifully Complex, I sit down with Sarah Wayland, Ph.D., to delve into the struggles and complexities faced by parents and kids, teens, and young adults when dealing with looped behaviors. This episode explores the realization that not all actions are willful but can stem from deeper neurological and biological factors.Dr. Wayland sheds

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27:41

272: What Does Anger Tell Us?, with Dr. Lori Desautels

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/07/11

Do you often find yourself misinterpreting anger in your neurodivergent child, escalating situations unintentionally? Join me and Dr. Lori Desautels as we dive deep into understanding anger and what it truly signifies. Dr. Desautels, an expert in applied educational neuroscience, explains that anger often stems from a dysregulated nervous system, feeling overwhelmed, and other underlying emotions like fear and anxiety. She emphasizes that managing behavior isn't about the kids but about us as adults

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49:23

271: ADHD and Dads: Creating the Fatherhood You...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/06/26

Struggling to connect with your child who has ADHD can be incredibly challenging, leaving you feeling helpless and overwhelmed. In this insightful episode of Beautifully Complex (first aired 2020), I’m joined by Larry Hagner, founder of the Dad Edge podcast and father of four boys, to explore how dads can create the fatherhood they crave. Larry dives deep into his own experiences with ADHD and fatherhood, sharing practical tips on using empathy, asking open-ended questions, and the importance of

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31:17

270: 3 Steps to Empower Confidence in Your Teen, with...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/06/20

Feeling like your teen or young adult is struggling to find their confidence and navigate the ups and downs of life? In this episode of Beautifully Complex, I sit down with teen life coach, Kristi Simons, to provide strategies to empower confidence in your teen. Kristi delves into the importance of allowing your teen to experience their own emotions and challenges, while also equipping them with self-reflection tools and affirmations. You'll learn why it's essential to create a safe space for your

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33:15

269: Reclaiming Community: Climate, Parenting, and...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/06/13

We’ve all but outright rejected the old adage, “It takes a village to raise a child,” in American culture. We’re more fragmented and lonely than ever. Yet, there’s clear evidence that community and connection are key to happiness. It certainly takes a community to raise a happy and resilient child, even if “community” looks different in modern life.In this episode, I'm joined by the amazing CNN journalist and storyteller, Bill Weir, who takes us deep into the emotional journey of being human. Bill

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19:45

268: What to Do When Importance Doesn’t Create...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/06/06

In this episode of Beautifully Complex, we’re examining a topic that really hits close to home for many of us — what to do when importance doesn’t create motivation, especially for our neurodivergent kids. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to get our kids started and keep them going on tasks that matter, but don’t necessarily excite them.I break down why the ADHD brain is motivated by interest and urgency, rather than importance, and share actionable strategies to help bridge that gap. We

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22:51

267: The Myth of Laziness, with Adam Price, Ph.D.

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/05/30

Today, I'm so excited to be talking with Dr. Adam Price, a nationally known clinical psychologist and best-selling author with over 30 years of experience working with kids and adults. He's the author of "He's Not Lazy: Empowering Your Son to Believe in Himself" and "The He's Not Lazy Guide to Better Grades and a Great Life."In this episode, we’re talking about the myth of laziness — that’s right, I said “myth.” We explore why adults often jump to labeling kids as lazy and Dr. Price shares valuable

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22:47

267: The Myth of Laziness, with Adam Price, Ph.D.

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/05/30

Today, I'm so excited to be talking with Dr. Adam Price, a nationally known clinical psychologist and best-selling author with over 30 years of experience working with kids and adults. He's the author of "He's Not Lazy: Empowering Your Son to Believe in Himself" and "The He's Not Lazy Guide to Better Grades and a Great Life."In this episode, we’re talking about the myth of laziness — that’s right, I said “myth.” We explore why adults often jump to labeling kids as lazy and Dr. Price shares valuable

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15:56

263: Understood Explains IEPs from Understood.org

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/05/02

The terms IEP and 504 plan may come up a lot when you’re looking into special education for your child. These school supports do some of the same things, but one can provide more services and the other is easier to get. And it’s important to know the differences in order to get your child the support they need. On this episode of Beautifully Complex, you will hear an episode of Understood Explains, where host Juliana Urtubey breaks down the differences between IEPs and 504 plans, and which one might

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27:13

262: Emotional Support Animals, with Dan Maigler, LCSW

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/04/25

In this episode, I'm chatting with my guest Daniel Maigler, about the transformative roles of emotional support animals. Dan's insights as a social worker and mental health advisor for Paws for Patrick reveal how emotional support animals can aid those facing mental health challenges.Dan shares the poignant story behind Paws for Patrick, emphasizing the support ESAs can offer, especially to young people. Throughout this episode, he differentiates between therapy dogs, service animals, and emotional

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15:28

261: Extreme Language Around Emotions, with Penny...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/04/18

In this episode of Beautifully Complex, I tackle why our kids and teens might use extreme language to express their emotions. We're recognizing that expressions like "I hate you" or phrases that include aggression or violence often aren't literal but signal an inability to articulate complex emotions.I talk about the importance of distinguishing between different feelings and emphasize the role parents play in guiding their kids to understand and communicate their emotions more precisely. Through

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16:04

258: What to Do When Your Kid Isn’t Listening, with...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/03/28

Let's talk about what to do when your kid isn't listening. Remember, they might be processing your words in non-traditional ways, so it's important to find alternative approaches to help them focus, process, and follow through. From recognizing distractions to accommodating slow processing speeds, I offer practical advice to help parents navigate these complex situations, including how to engage them physically, provide written instructions, and be mindful of their individual needs. By understanding

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26:07

257: The Control Trap, with Penny Williams

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/03/21

In this episode of Beautifully Complex, I explore the detrimental effects of trying to control kids, emphasizing the importance of a humanistic approach to behavior. After watching the recent documentary series on Netflix called "The Program," I was both horrified by the trauma that the “troubled teen industry” causes and inspired to talk about the much more helpful perspective science offers regarding behavior.I’ve identified 8 key elements that help us feel good so we can do good, and none of

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28:17

256: Breaking Down Motivation: Helping Teens and...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/03/13

In this episode of the Beautifully Complex podcast, I sit down with Dr. Melanie McNally, a clinical psychologist and brain coach who specializes in working with tweens, teens, and young adults. Together, we explore the struggles that many young adults face in finding motivation and direction. Dr. Melanie shares her expertise on helping young adults build their interpersonal skills and increase their motivation. She breaks down the components of motivation into three skill sets: drive, grit, and

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20:13

255: 7 Steps to Help Kids & Teens with Rejection...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/03/07

In this episode of the Beautifully Complex podcast, I tackle the topic of rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) and provide 7 essential steps to help kids and teens facing this challenge. I share insights on recognizing signs of RSD in kids and teens, fostering open communication, building self-esteem, challenging negative thought patterns, teaching coping strategies, practicing self-compassion, and seeking professional support when needed. Our role as parents and caregivers is crucial in helping our

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35:13

254: How to Be a Neuro-Affirming Parent or Teacher,...

Beautifully Complex ·

2024/02/29

In today's episode, Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.ED., LPC is back and we're unpacking what it means to be a neuro-affirmative parent or teacher.We explore the pressures that neurodivergent kids face, especially the expectation to camouflage their true selves. Emily, with her dual expertise in education and counseling, is sharing invaluable insights, including her CARE acronym, which stands for cultivating authenticity, recognizing strengths, empathy, and creating safety. We discuss the intricacies

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339 results

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