In this episode, I am thrilled to welcome Chelsea Williams back to the podcast. Chelsea is an anxiety coach for teens and parents. When she first joined me on the podcast back in episode 8, Chelsea brought a ton of value for my listeners and now she’s back again with some very timely and relevant advice for parents. During our conversation, Chelsea talks about how to create a more flexible nervous system and why showing our teens our own vulnerability will help them learn how to navigate through their anxiety. Chelsea also shares her strategy for calming the body before trying to calm the mind. A lot of what Chelsea recommends applies to both teens and adults so this is a must-listen for anyone who struggles with anxiety. And let’s be honest, this past year has been a challenge for everyone, so there is definitely something here for everyone.
About Chelsea Williams
Chelsea Williams is the founder of Big Bad Brainery, LLC, an anxiety coaching service for teens and parents. A former private tutor and test prep expert turned trauma-informed anxiety coach, Chelsea tutored students of all ages in various subjects for over 18 years. She noticed some disturbing patterns in the way academic stress was affecting teens. As a recovering straight-A student herself, she decided it was time for a movement to make stress and overwhelm unpopular amongst Gen Z’ers! Not coincidentally, Chelsea became a stepmom to two preteen girls around the same time this change was taking place in her business. One of them suffered from severe mental health symptoms as a teenager and unfortunately received inadequate and superficial care from the medical community. This inspired Chelsea to dive into the world of trauma-informed protocol. As a result, her stepdaughter is now a thriving young adult, and Chelsea guides other teenagers and their parents to emotional well-being with her Big Bad Breakthrough™ Method. Chelsea is also a mom to two young boys, ages 13 and 7.
Episode Highlights
- Understanding the real meaning of our feelings
- Finding the silver linings of 2020
- Creating a more flexible nervous system
- Recognizing past traumas and how they create a fear response
- Polyvagal theory and three states of the nervous system
- Parents need to learn how to manage their own response
- Showing our vulnerability and our ability to work through our feelings
- The role of the prefrontal cortex during anxiety
- Identifying the root cause of our feelings
- Teaching teens to self-regulate
- How parents can provide emotional safety through physical affection
- Chelsea’s Big Bad Breakthrough method