• E 252 What Is PANDAS? The Hidden Cause of Teen Anxiety and Tics
    Jul 8 2025

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    Sign up for my July Workshop: How to Calm Your Teen's Anxiety Without Triggering Yours


    Could your child’s anxiety or tics be something more? Meet Ethan Pompeo, whose health journey led to answers—and a mission to help others.

    Ethan was misdiagnosed with Tourette’s as a teen and put on over 40 medications before discovering the real root of his symptoms: PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus). In this powerful interview, Ethan shares his long road to healing, how CBD became a turning point, and why he now helps families find natural, effective relief through his company, Green Valley Nutrition.

    🎧 In this episode, we talk about:

    What PANDAS is and why it’s often misdiagnosed

    How inflammation and strep infections can impact brain function

    Ethan’s experience with conventional and alternative treatments

    Why he’s passionate about safe, THC-free CBD products for families

    His mission is to educate, advocate, and offer hope through his story

    ✅ This is a must-listen for parents of kids with anxiety, compulsions, tics, or autoimmune symptoms—or anyone curious about holistic wellness and natural healing.

    🔗 Links mentioned in the episode:
    Get a free bag of CBD gummies

    Learn more about Ethan’s book

    Visit Ethan’s website

    Follow Ethan on Instagram

    Follow on Facebook

    Watch more on YouTube

    💬 Leave a comment if you’ve experienced a long journey toward a diagnosis—or found healing through unexpected solutions. We’d love to hear from you.

    Disclaimer: This video is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your or your child’s healthcare routine.

    #PANDAS #TeenAnxiety #CBDforAnxiety #NaturalHealing #ParentingTeens #EthanPompeo #GreenValleyNutrition

    Struggling with anxiety in your family? If anxiety is causing tension, fights, or disconnect in your home, you don’t have to face it alone. I help parents bring more peace, confidence, and connection to their families. Let’s talk—schedule a free consultation today or email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com

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    Text me: 785-380-2064
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    34 m
  • Co-Parenting Conflicts: 3 Strategies to Align Your Parenting Styles for Better Family Dynamics
    Jul 4 2025

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    Parenting differences can create chaos in families, but they don't have to. In this episode, I break down the four main parenting styles—authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved—and explain how understanding these differences can transform your co-parenting relationship.

    Drawing from my own experience navigating conflicting parenting styles in her first marriage, Cynthia shares honest insights about how our backgrounds, personalities, and experiences shape the way we parent. She explores why couples inevitably clash over parenting approaches and offers practical solutions for finding common ground.

    You'll discover:

    • The four primary parenting styles and their impact on children
    • Why we parent the way we do (and why our partners parent differently)
    • How conflicting styles confuse kids and create family tension
    • Three powerful strategies for creating a united front in parenting


    Key Takeaways:

    1. Shared Family Values - How to identify 3-5 core values you both want to instill
    2. Must Agree On vs. Okay to Differ - Distinguishing between non-negotiable safety issues and acceptable differences
    3. The Pause and Plan Phrase - A code word system to avoid undermining each other in front of the kids


    Whether you're married, divorced, or co-parenting in any capacity, this episode provides actionable tools to reduce conflict, support your partner, and create the consistency your children need to thrive.

    Perfect for parents who want to stop fighting about parenting styles and start working together as a team.

    Find my podcast
    Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
    Text me: 785-380-2064
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    18 m
  • E 251 How Traffickers Use Tech to Target Kids
    Jul 1 2025

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    What if everything you thought you knew about human trafficking was wrong?

    In this powerful episode, I sit down with Erin Williamson, a national expert in child trafficking prevention and survivor care, to reveal the truth about how trafficking really happens — and what parents, educators, and caregivers must know to protect the children in their lives.

    You’ll learn:

    How traffickers use grooming and manipulation — not abduction

    Why many victims still attend school and appear "normal"

    The critical role of technology and online platforms

    Warning signs adults often miss

    What to say to your child so they see you as a safe person

    How to create tech boundaries that actually work

    Erin also shares real-life stories and practical tips from her work at Love146.org, an organization dedicated to ending child trafficking and supporting survivors.

    🎧 Listen, learn, and share this episode to help protect more kids.

    🔗 Resources Mentioned:

    Love 146: https://www.love146.org

    Caregiver resources & email series: https://www.love146.org/caregivers

    Common Sense Media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org

    Wait Until 8th: https://www.waituntil8th.org

    📢 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that help you support kids through anxiety, safety concerns, and the challenges of growing up in today’s world.

    #ChildTrafficking #OnlineSafety #ParentingTips #TeenSafety #ErinWilliamson #Love146 #DigitalParenting #HumanTraffickingAwareness

    Struggling with anxiety in your family? If anxiety is causing tension, fights, or disconnect in your home, you don’t have to face it alone. I help parents bring more peace, confidence, and connection to their families. Let’s talk—schedule a free consultation today or email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com

    Find my podcast
    Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
    Text me: 785-380-2064
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    35 m
  • Bonus: Sleep Meditation for Anxious Parents | Release the Day & Rest Your Weary Mind 🌙
    Jun 26 2025

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    Exhausted parent, this one's for you. After a day of endless decisions, mental checklists, and carrying the invisible load of family life, your mind deserves to rest. This sleep meditation is specifically designed for parents who struggle to "turn off" at bedtime.

    What you'll find in this meditation:
    ✨ Recognition of the unique mental load parents carry
    ✨ Permission to stop being "on" and just BE
    ✨ Gentle body relaxation to release physical tension
    ✨ Mindful techniques to quiet your planning mind
    ✨ Loving reminders of your worth beyond parenting
    ✨ Peaceful imagery to guide you into restorative sleep

    Perfect for when you're:

    Mentally reviewing tomorrow's schedule at bedtime
    Carrying worry about your children
    Feeling overwhelmed by the invisible labor of parenting
    Struggling to transition from "parent mode" to sleep
    Exhausted but your mind won't stop racing
    Feeling like you're never doing enough

    This meditation honors the reality of modern parenting - the beautiful chaos, the constant giving, and the deep love that sometimes keeps us awake with worry. Tonight, give yourself permission to rest knowing you've done enough today.

    Tips for best results:

    Use headphones for a more immersive experience
    Listen after your bedtime routine is complete
    Keep your phone on Do Not Disturb
    Allow yourself to drift off during the meditation

    You are enough. You have given your family what they needed today. Now it's time to give yourself the gift of peaceful sleep. 💙

    Subscribe for more parenting teens content.

    #SleepMeditation #ParentAnxiety #MomLife #DadLife #ParentWellness #AnxietyRelief #SleepStories #MentalHealth #Mindfulness #ParentSelfCare #RestfulSleep #ParentingStress

    Remember: This meditation is for relaxation and doesn't replace professional mental health care. If you're struggling with persistent anxiety or parental burnout, please consider speaking with a healthcare provider.

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    Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
    Text me: 785-380-2064
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    10 m
  • Bonus: Sleep Meditation for Anxious Teens & Young Adults | Calm Your Racing Mind 🌙
    Jun 26 2025

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    Feeling overwhelmed? Mind racing with thoughts about school, friendships, the future, or just... everything? You're not alone. This sleep meditation is specifically designed for teens and young adults who struggle with anxiety and racing thoughts at bedtime.
    What you'll find in this meditation:
    ✨ Techniques to quiet your overactive mind
    ✨ Body relaxation exercises to release tension
    ✨ Gentle reminders that you don't have to have it all figured out
    ✨ Validation for the unique pressures your generation faces
    ✨ Peaceful visualizations to drift into restful sleep

    Perfect for when you're:
    Stressed about school or grades
    Overthinking social situations
    Anxious about the future
    Feeling pressure to be perfect
    Having trouble shutting off your thoughts at night

    This meditation meets you where you are - no judgment, no pressure to be anything other than human. Your generation carries a lot, and it's okay to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Tonight, give yourself permission to rest.
    Tips for best results:

    Use headphones or earbuds for a more immersive experience
    Find a comfortable position in bed
    Dim the lights or use your phone's dark mode
    Try to listen to the whole meditation without checking your phone

    You're doing better than you think. You're stronger than you know. And right now, it's time to let sleep take care of you. 💙

    Subscribe for more sleep meditations and mental wellness content!

    #SleepMeditation #TeenAnxiety #YoungAdultWellness #AnxietyRelief #SleepStories #MentalHealth #Mindfulness #RestfulSleep #TeenMentalHealth #selfcare

    Remember: This meditation is for relaxation purposes and doesn't replace professional mental health care. If you're struggling with persistent anxiety, please reach out to a trusted adult or mental health professional.

    Find my podcast
    Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
    Text me: 785-380-2064
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    11 m
  • E 250 Understanding Gender vs. Sex
    Jun 24 2025

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    Wendy Cole: Transitioning at 67 & Living as Your True Self

    Have you ever felt like you weren’t living as your real self?

    In this powerful episode, I sit down with Wendy Cole, a Transition Mentor who made the life-altering decision to transition at age 67. Wendy shares her deeply personal story—from knowing her true identity as a child to finally embracing it decades later.

    We talk about:

    The difference between gender and sex

    Why the mental journey of transition is so often overlooked

    How to support transgender youth with love and understanding

    What parents need to know (and what to avoid)

    How to live more freely by shifting your beliefs

    Whether you're a parent, educator, ally, or someone who’s curious to learn more about gender identity, this episode offers honest education, heartfelt encouragement, and a message of hope.

    🌈 I am a gender-affirming professional who believes in creating safe spaces for all people, especially young people navigating anxiety, identity, and change.

    👇 Watch now to learn, reflect, and grow.

    🔗 Helpful Links:
    Wendy's Podcast: Demystifying the Transgender Journey

    Wendy's Article for Parents (via PFLAG)

    Wendy's Website


    🧠 Subscribe for weekly episodes that support emotional well-being, identity development, and stronger family relationships.

    Struggling with anxiety in your family? If anxiety is causing tension, fights, or disconnect in your home, you don’t have to face it alone. I help parents bring more peace, confidence, and connection to their families. Let’s talk—schedule a free consultation today or email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com

    Find my podcast
    Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
    Text me: 785-380-2064
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    45 m
  • Pride Month Reflections: Faith, Identity, and Unconditional Love
    Jun 20 2025

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    🌈 You Are Loved. You Belong. 🌈
    In this heartfelt Pride Month episode, I open up about my journey through faith, spirituality, and becoming a lifelong ally to the LGBTQIA+ community.

    Growing up in a conservative religion, I struggled to reconcile the love I felt from God with the rejection I saw around me. As an adult, I found a way to hold onto the parts of my faith that were rooted in love, mercy, and radical inclusion—and let go of the rest.

    Whether you're a young person exploring your identity, a parent navigating unfamiliar territory, or someone who's been hurt by religion—you are welcome here. This episode is my love letter to you. 💜

    🔔 Subscribe for weekly support, guidance, and real talk.

    👇 In this episode, I share:

    Why I call myself a Christian and an LGBTQ+ ally

    How my church celebrates Pride (yes, we’re painting nails at Pride Palooza!)

    What it means to truly offer safe, affirming space to others

    The role of mercy in my work with teens, parents, and families

    🌟 Next Week's Guest: Wendy Cole, a powerful transition mentor with a story you won’t want to miss.

    ✊ Let’s build a world where everyone feels seen, supported, and celebrated.


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    Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
    Text me: 785-380-2064
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    11 m
  • E 249 How Blood Sugar Spikes Trigger Anxiety
    Jun 17 2025

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    What if your anxiety isn't actually anxiety—but your blood sugar crashing?

    In this episode, board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Tracy McCarthy reveals the connection between what you eat and how you feel. After years of prescribing medications and feeling limited by traditional approaches, Dr. McCarthy discovered functional medicine—and it changed everything.

    🎯 What You'll Learn:
    ✅ The #1 hidden cause of anxiety that 99% of people don't know about
    ✅ How the "blood sugar rollercoaster" triggers panic attacks
    ✅ Why inflammation is secretly sabotaging your mental health
    ✅ 3 supplements that can transform anxiety naturally
    ✅ The truth about food sensitivity testing (and what works better)
    ✅ Simple diet changes that eliminated patients' anxiety completely
    ✅ How to use a continuous glucose monitor to hack your mood

    🔍 Key Topics Covered:

    Blood sugar spikes and anxiety connection
    Omega-3 vs Omega-6 fats and inflammation
    Magnesium glycinate for anxiety relief
    B vitamins and mental health
    The gut-brain connection
    Elimination diets vs. food sensitivity tests
    Functional medicine approach to mental health


    Balance your blood sugar - Pair carbs with protein and healthy fats
    Take magnesium glycinate - Especially at bedtime for better sleep
    Start with ONE change - Don't overwhelm yourself trying to do everything at once

    🎁 FREE RESOURCES:
    📋 Get Dr. McCarthy's FREE guide: "Top 10 Overlooked Causes of Anxiety, Depression, and Brain Fog"


    📱 Follow Dr. Tracy McCarthy:

    Website
    Instagram
    Program: Natural Mood Solution (online course)


    Struggling with anxiety in your family? If anxiety is causing tension, fights, or disconnect in your home, you don’t have to face it alone. I help parents bring more peace, confidence, and connection to their families. Let’s talk—schedule a free consultation today or email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com

    Find my podcast
    Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
    Text me: 785-380-2064
    More information

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    34 m