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Parenting Shrink Wrapped

Samantha Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner

Released: 2026-04-13

Free New

72 Episodes

Audio

Free New

72 Episodes

Audio

Released: 2026-04-13

Most Recent Episode

#72 When Your Teen is On Fire. Understanding Self-Harm and Big Emotions

Send us Fan Mail When teens feel overwhelmed by big emotions, their behavior can become confusing—and sometimes frightening—for parents. In this episode, we’re joined by therapist Katie May to unpack what’s really happening beneath high-risk beh

Time: 39:02

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When teens feel overwhelmed by big emotions, their behavior can become confusing—and sometimes frightening—for parents. In this episode, we’re joined by therapist Katie May to unpack what’s really happening beneath high-risk behaviors like self-harm, emotional shutdown, and reactivity. Together, we explore how these behaviors often serve as coping strategies, not attention-seeking, and why understanding the “why” behind them is key to helping your teen.

We also break down the difference between self-harm and suicidality, the role of validation in building trust, and practical ways parents can respond without making things worse. If you’ve ever felt unsure how to support your struggling teen, this conversation will give you clarity, language, and a path forward.

About Katie

Katie K. May is a licensed therapist, author, speaker, and group practice owner. She founded Creative Healing, a multi-location teen support center in the Philadelphia area, and wrote the #1 Amazon best-seller You’re On Fire, It’s Fine. With lived experience as a teen who turned to self-harm, Katie is one of only 11 Linehan ("Lynn-uh-hayn") Board Certified DBT Clinicians in Pennsylvania, the gold standard treatment for self-harm and suicidal behaviors. She equips parents and clinicians with practical, trauma-informed tools to decode behavior as survival and create lasting change.

Get expert support, fresh strategies, and a judgment-free parent community—so you can stop feeling stuck and start parenting your teen with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

Contact: parentingshrinkwrapped@gmail.com

Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.

Follow:

Sam – Instagram & Facebook

Melissa – Facebook

Work with Us:

Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching

Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.

Episode ID: 1000761046973

GUID: Buzzsprout-19003204

Release Date: 13/04/2026, 07:00:00

Description

Parenting Shrink Wrapped is your all-access pass to the wild and wonderful journey of raising kids! Hosted by Dr. Melissa Wellner, a double board-certified psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Samantha Straub, a licensed therapist, educator, and parenting coach, this dynamic duo brings a perfect mix of professional expertise and mom humor. With five kids between them—and thousands more they’ve supported in their professional roles—they’re here to share practical strategies and real-life stories that will help you navigate everything from tantrums to teen drama. Whether you're handling sleepless nights or the chaos of carpool, you'll find relatable advice and a good laugh along the way. Strap in, because parenting is a ride, and we're here to make it a little smoother!

Feed URL

https://rss.buzzsprout.com/2400622.rss

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