In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Tell Me It Will Be Okay Podcast shares its platform with Cynthia Coffel’s Teen Anxiety Maze for an episode titled “Overcoming Avoidance: Choose Your Path to Success,” inspired by Lynn Lyons’ book Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents. Cynthia explains how avoidance temporarily relieves discomfort but reinforces anxiety over time, showing up in everyday procrastination and in teens avoiding school, friends, parties, driving, or homework. She encourages parents and teens to identify meaningful goals, reframe “I have to” into “I choose to,” and use mindset shifts to make difficult tasks more tolerable. Cynthia emphasizes supporting kids through manageable discomfort (not panic), role modeling persistence, and preparing teens for adulthood by practicing doing hard things, and invites listeners to work with her through coaching and an “anxiety audit” call.
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:26 Meet Teen Anxiety Maze
02:03 Book Series and Coaching Offer
04:27 Why We Avoid Tasks
08:00 Avoidance in Anxious Kids
10:13 Find Goals and Motivation
14:55 School Refusal Mindset Shift
17:33 Choose Versus Have To
20:40 Parenting for Discomfort Skills
26:51 Goal Formula and Role Modeling
29:59 Wrap Up and How to Connect
You can learn more about connect with Cynthia by heading to her website, BetterRegulateThanNever.com and by following her on instagram @cynthiacoufalcoaching
Mentioned in this episode:
TELL ME IT WILL BE OK: The Practice
I invite you to check out TELL ME IT WILL BE OK: The Practice, a guided reflective journaling podcast for parents raising anxious kids in a worried world. This is not a list of things you’re doing wrong. This is not a bunch of one size fits all parenting advice. This is a place to remember what you already know. (And to learn some new stuff along the way.)
Each session is approximately 30 minutes. I help us get grounded; share resources, inspiration, and information; and then using thoughtful prompts we journal together to move you forward in your understanding. It also includes access to our own private community. You can sign up for a free sample practice at my site: OpenBookParenting.com
