Mind On Mental Health

Series Introduction: Managing Your Mental Health During the Coronavirus Pandemic

This is a brief introduction to Penn Medicine - Princeton House Behavioral Health's newest podcast series which will be focusing on what you can do to help manage your mental health during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pandemic Parenting: Why You Should Take Your Emotional Temperature

On this episode, Kristy Champignon (Licensed Professional Counselor) and Andy Dean (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) discuss how parents can take their emotional temperature and why it’s so important.  Please go to https://www.facebook.com/PrincetonHouseBH/ for access to a free “emotional temperature” worksheet provided by Kristy and her private practice, Meadowlark CSC.
 
Kristy comes up with a new name for the podcast (:48).
 
Kristy discusses what it means to take your emotional temperature and how to do it (1:27).
 
Kristy discusses how to help your children take their emotional temperature (6:26).
 
Andy and Kristy discuss how busy parents can work this into their schedule (7:26).
 
Kristy discusses why doing this with your child regularly can help you understand how to best help them (10:15).
 
Kristy takes her own emotional temperature (13:15).
 
Andy discusses why the process of taking your emotional temperature is helpful even if you can’t do anything to change your mood in the moment (15:10).
 
Andy takes his emotional temperature (16:23).
 
Kristy discusses why it’s important to take your emotional temperature even when you are feeling good (17:27).

Two More Skills You Can Teach Your Child Today

In this episode, Daina Haines (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and Andy Dean (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) discuss two skills parents can teach their children to help them manage interpersonal relationships as well as their own emotions.
 
Daina helps Andy and his wife settle a ten year debate. (:07)
 
Daina explains the THINK skill and how adolescents can use it in relationships. (2:10)
 
Daina explains why the THINK skill is effective with teenagers when they are having a conflict with someone. (11:10)
 
How parents can model the THINK skill for their teens. (12:40)
 
Daina and Andy discuss which Sesame Street character would make the best next door neighbor. (14:30)
 
Daina explains how to “Ride the Wave” of emotions and how it helps with mental health.  (15:00)
 
Andy discusses how important it is to learn to “ride the wave” of anxiety and why it helps manage anxious feelings.  (18:08)
 
Daina gives an example from her own life on how she conceptualizes “Riding the Wave”. (20:13)

Two Coping Skills You Can Teach Your Child Today

In this episode, Daina Haines (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and Andy Dean (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) discuss two DBT coping skills parents can teach their children to help them tolerate negative emotions and manage impulsivity.
 
What it means to take your emotional temperature – and why we may need to use different skills depending on how dysregulated we are (2:40).
 
How to use the STOP Skill with your child to manage impulsivity (5:50).
 
Creating space between your emotions and what action you decide to take (10:40).
 
The importance of modeling to teach kids skills (12:00).
 
How to use the TIPP skill with your kids to help them regulate their emotions when they are distressed (15:05).