Welcome to the superhero Series

When you are active and live in a small community, which has been voted America’s Coolest Small Town, everyone tends to know everything about you. That being said, it’s no secret where I live that I am a mental health therapist. I get questions all of the time pertaining to mental health, relationships, challenges at school and general parenting advice. 

I’ve decided to create a 6 week series, where I try and answer these questions in a format where everyone can benefit. I would like to use this as a way to give actionable advice to people in the community.

I am a firm believer in the importance of connecting with my youth clients. My “business partner” in this is Bodhi, my beautiful yellow lab. Bodhi’s loveable, affectionate manner immediately resonated with my young clients, and make for a great way to break down some of the barriers that those in my professional experience. 

But what can parents do to break down those barriers? How can patients, who share so many familiar things with their children, connect with them? In this segment, I suggest finding common ground with the use of popular references in Pop Culture. 

Using Pop Culture to Connect with Your Kids

Leigh Thompson is a former Black Belt Instructor at one of the largest Martial Arts Schools in the USA.  He has literally taught thousands of people in the community over the last 20 years. I certainly have some familiarity with Leigh and his expertise, as he is also my husband. 

Leigh had once met a prospective student who was planning to enroll in martial arts. The prospect has planned to enroll himself in the training program in the hopes that martial arts could help him with anger issues. While talking to the prospect, Leigh noticed the young man was wearing a Hulk shirt and immediately recognized the opportunity to connect with him on something he himself knew a lot about. (I love my husband very much, but he is a self-proclaimed comic nerd). 

The results from this connection were nothing short of fantastic! The student’s parents came in the following week beaming with pride about the positive change that their son had shown. They received letters home from the school saying how the teachers noted a huge improvement in his attitude and behavior. Since applying the strategy, I can tell you the results speak for themselves!