We’re back! Didya miss me? I missed you all and it's so great to be back with new episodes of the podcast. As this new season of Focus Forward begins, I’m diving right in to tackle the difficult subject of transitions, its impact on personal growth, and what can be done to better cope. To inform this conversation, I invited Rachel Hulstein-Lowe, a licensed independent clinical social worker in the Boston area. Rachel and I talked about supporting ourselves and our kids through challenging transitions, especially back to school. If you are listening to this episode months after school has started or you are not even a parent or caregiver of children, don’t worry because the ideas that Rachel shared can be used at any time, by anyone, in any transition. We also talked about mindfulness and some easy ways to introduce mindfulness into your life. While the topics are heavy, this conversation is full of good ideas and hope.

Here are some relevant resources related to our conversation

Learn more about Rachel Hulstein-Lowe.

Learn more about Lisa Damour.

Mindfulness Resources

Getting started with mindfulness

Smiling Mind App

The impact of the pandemic on children

The Stolen Year by Anya Kamenetz

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of children and adolescents: A systematic review of survey studies

Snapshot of pandemic’s mental health impact on children

Back to School Support

Back to School Anxiety

Student Stress: Untangling the Anxiety & Executive Function Connection

Exhausted by the School Year (already)? How to Get Back on Track

Can You Help My Anxious Kid?