Episode 61: Helping Teens Make Space for Painful Thoughts and Emotions with A.C.T

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My guest this week is</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Ben Sedley, a clinical psychologist based in Wellington, New Zealand. As a Peer-Reviewed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Trainer, Ben runs ACT workshops in New Zealand and Australia. He is currently in part-time private practice working with adults and adolescents struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, and life changes. He is the author of two books, ‘</span><a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Stuff-That-Sucks-Accepting-Committing/dp/1626258651/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr="><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stuff that Sucks: A Teen's Guide to Accepting to what you can't change and committing to what you can</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">’ and the newly released, '</span><a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Stuff-Thats-Loud-Unspiraling-Solutions/dp/1684035368/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr="><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stuff that's Loud: A Teen's Guide to unspiraling when OCD gets noisy'</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">co-authored with the super brainy and amazing Dr. Lisa Coyne. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, Ben and I discuss how parents can help their teens make space for painful thoughts and emotions with A.C.T (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Creating these safe spaces for teens is essential for parents to allow their child not only to open up to them in a no-judgment zone but to make room for building trust. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy works to help the individual accept their emotions and feelings in the present and allow a trigger of positive change versus adverse rebellious acts.</span></p> <p><strong>Where to learn more about Ben Sedley...</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href= "https://www.bensedley.com/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">bensedley.com</span></a></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Sedley/e/B01N6O0URW?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1588122029&