Beyond the Words: Supporting Your Teen’s Mental Health Through Communication (feat. Becky Funk)

How can understanding your nervous system transform not only your own mental health, but also your relationship with your teenager? In this episode of Rough Edges Podcast, I sit down with Becky Funk, former educator, certified nervous system regulation coach, recovering anxious perfectionist, and creator of the Safe Place Parenting Model.

Becky shares her deeply personal mental health journey, reflecting on growing up during a time when anxiety was rarely acknowledged and emotional struggles were often dismissed. She opens up about navigating years of chronic stress, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and a difficult season caring for her son after he was diagnosed with serious brain infections.

Through her own healing process, Becky discovered nervous system regulation and the role of the vagus nerve, an experience that completely transformed the way she viewed mental health, resilience, and parenting. Becky also shares how her coaching journey evolved from working with anxious and perfectionistic teenagers to helping parents become emotionally safe spaces for their children.

She explains that lasting change doesn't come from trying to control teenagers, it comes from building trust, understanding adolescent development, and creating genuine emotional connection. This episode is a powerful reminder that healing begins with understanding ourselves first.

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, coach, or someone navigating anxiety and chronic stress. What’s covered in this episode: ● Becky's personal mental health journey and how anxiety shaped her life ● A simple yet powerful communication strategy Becky calls the "Magic Question," which helps parents understand whether their teen needs advice, a listening ear, or help creating a plan ● Helping parents build healthier relationships with their teenagers instead of trying to control them ● Why giving teenagers autonomy strengths trust and communication Resources and links mentioned in this week’s episode: ● Connect directly with Becky Funk on her INSTAGRAM ● Find out more about Becky’s Safe Place Parenting Model via her WEBSITE ● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if anything in today’s episode resonated with you! ● Check out our faith based women of color shop HERE where you can get a variety of products from T shirts, tote bags, crewnecks, journals and many more ● Connect with us on Instagram! ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ) ● Connect with us on YouTube! ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ) ● Connect with us on Facebook! ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ● Follow us on TikTok! ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ) ● Want to be a guest on our show?

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