How can I be closer to my high-achieving teenager and improve our connection?

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, we sit down with Jess Turner, a burnout and sustainable performance coach who helps high-achieving women stop running on pressure and start building sustainable lives. This conversation is essential for moms of high-achieving teens who want to break generational burnout loops and foster a deeper, more vulnerable connection with their children through radical self-awareness.

• The Subconscious Parenting Audit: Learn how to ask your teen the "courageous question"—"How would you describe my beliefs?"—to uncover the hidden stories you may be accidentally passing down.
  
• Lighthouse vs. Tugboat Parenting: Discover why forcing your teen toward "shore" drains your battery and how standing stable as a "lighthouse" naturally attracts them to your regulated energy.
  
• The "Open Spaces" Mindset: A powerful metaphor for stress management for busy parents, shifting focus from the "poles" (problems) to the "open spaces" (solutions) to change your neurological results.
  
• Escaping the Time Scarcity Loop: How replacing "I have no time" with "I have an abundance of time" regulates your nervous system and stops energy-draining "doom scrolling".
  

The most effective way to handle intense topics is to talk while walking side-by-side. This "shared pack mentality" removes the ego-clash of face-to-face confrontation, and being in nature scientifically helps both the parent and teen feel calmer and more open-minded.

Burnout often stems from a dysregulated nervous system that burns through energy twice as fast. By practicing "sustainable performance" and viewing time as "luxurious" or "abundant," you maintain the calm needed to be present when your teen actually wants to talk.

Jess Turner is a high-performance and burnout coach who helps high-achieving women stop running on pressure and start building lives that actually feel sustainable. Her work focuses on changing the way people relate to success—shifting away from constant “doing” and toward clarity, energy, and systems that support real life. Originally from the UK and now based in the US, Jess is passionate about helping women model healthier definitions of success for the people watching them.

Connect with Jess on Instagram: @jessturner.coaching

• Coaching: Let’s Work It Out!
• Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
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In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, we sit down with Michelle Gauthier, a professional life coach and host of the Overwhelmed Working Woman podcast who helps women transition from chaos to intentional living. This episode is a must-listen for high-achieving moms who feel buried by the "mental load" of managing careers, households, and the unique demands of raising teenagers.

• Stress vs. Overwhelm: Understanding why you lose the ability to think clearly when stressors become unmanageable.
• The "Recovering People Pleaser": Why high-achieving women struggle to say no and how to begin setting essential boundaries.
• Over-Functioning for Teens: How stepping back from managing your teenager's life builds their adult competence and restores your identity.
• The Love and Fit Test: A simple two-question framework to decide what earns a spot on your calendar and what stays off.

Why do I feel like I've lost my own identity now that my kids are older? Many moms tie their "enoughness" to helping their children function, often adopting their kids' hobbies and friends’ parents as their own friends. Reclaiming your identity starts with small, daily neuroplasticity exercises—focusing on things you enjoy (a smell, a song, a color) regardless of whether your family likes them.

How do I find "White Space" when my schedule is already packed? Creating white space isn't about finding extra hours; it's about shifting from "doing more" to intentional outsourcing and automation. By automating finances or hiring help for chores like laundry, you create the calm necessary to be truly present when your teen finally steps out of their room to talk at 10:00 PM.

Michelle Gauthier is a professional life coach who helps busy, overwhelmed women create a more calm and intentional life. A former corporate executive and current single mom of two, she walked away from a 20-year career to help hundreds of women navigate home and work life with ease. In her spare time, she enjoys the gym, reading self-improvement books, and watching her kids' sporting events.

Guest Links:

• Website: michellegauthier.com
• Instagram: @michellegauthiercoaching
• Podcast: Overwhelmed Working Woman
• Free Resource: What's Causing Your Overwhelm? Quiz

Connect with Laura:

• Free Webinar: Get Through May Without Losing Your Joy, Your Mind, Or Yourself
• Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
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How do we help our high-achieving teens navigate the relentless pressure and beauty standards of a digital world? Between academic demands, athletic performance, and the curated perfection of social media, today’s teenagers face unprecedented challenges regarding their body image and self-esteem.

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, we sit down with Leslie Rose-Dethloff, a master-certified health, life, and nutrition coach specializing in the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Leslie shares her expert insights on how parents can support their teens and college students in building a foundation of confidence and sustainable health.

• The Impact of Technology and Social Media: Explore how a highly technical world and constant exposure to screens affect teen body image, self-esteem, and confidence.
• Identifying Disordered Eating: Learn to recognize abnormal behaviors like restrictive dieting, binging, or cutting out entire food groups to control weight.
• The Shift from Manager to Mentor: Discover how to transition your parenting style from managing your teen's life to walking side-by-side with them as they gain independence.
• The Freshman Formula: Essential preparation for high school seniors to manage lifestyle factors like stress, sleep, and dining hall options before launching into college.

How do I know if my teen's sugar consumption is a problem? It becomes a concern when the behavior is frequent, consistent, and begins replacing normal, healthy meals. Rather than strictly taking sugar away, parents should focus on shifting a teen's mindset to see food as nourishment and fuel.

What should I say if I notice my teen is dieting or cutting out food? Step in early and create a safe, non-judgmental space by using curious language. You might say, "I noticed you’ve been eating differently lately and cutting out carbohydrates; I’m curious what’s going on and how I can support you?"

Meet Our Expert:

Leslie Rose-Dethloff is a master-certified health, life, and nutrition coach who helps teens, college students, and parents overcome challenges related to weight, eating, and negative body image. Through approachable mindset shifts and sustainable lifestyle practices, she empowers the next generation to launch into adulthood with confidence.

• Website: LeslieRoseCoaching
• Instagram: @leslierosecoaching
• Freshman Formula: Healthy Lifestyle Habits To Thrive At College

Connect with Laura:

• Free Webinar: Get Through May Without Losing Your Joy, Your Mind, Or Yourself
• Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
• Rate this podcast!