Speaking & Training

The great thing about Colleen’s speaking style is she’s engaging, hilarious, practical, and deeply knowledgeable. She has a way of translating decades of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist (and mother) into tangible, real life tools to improve parent-teen relationships. Colleen speaks directly to moms’ heart and lets her know she is not alone. Then with relatable stories she shows her what is possible. Colleen is known in her community as a thought leader and her work is truly transformational.

Colleen speaks online and in person to national and state associations, and national conferences such as the National Conference on Adolescents and Young Adults. She frequently speaks to parents and caregiver’s employee resource groups, Parent Teacher Associations, churches, synagogues and NCL (National Charity League) chapters and district meetings.

If you are interested in booking Colleen for your next speaking engagement or workshop you can email her at colleen@dialdownthedrama.com.

HOW TO DIAL DOWN THE DRAMA

What robs moms from living a rich, rewarding, vibrant, and enjoyable life? You know this firsthand. D.R.A.M.A. It doesn’t matter if it’s drama with your teen, partner, friend, or colleague at work. The result is the same. It’s all-consuming and drains your energy. Drama makes it hard to move forward in your life and takes a toll on your important relationships. Though you can’t get rid of dramatic people, their drama doesn’t need to dominate and define your life. Colleen gives you takeaway strategies that you can use immediately to dial down the drama (in a big way), and reclaim your life.

You will learn . . .

• Why it’s crucial to pay attention to you. Women, especially mothers, are given very strong cultural messages that say, “It’s selfish to pay attention to you.”
• How to replenish your energy by understanding, the five essential needs for feeling good. It’s more than a manicure!
• How to move from foggy brain to clarity. Mother Fog opens the door to drama; your clarity can dial it down.
• Why it’s not personal, it’s science. Understanding the teenage brain—and your own—and realizing why timing is everything allows you to develop a new relationship.
• How to create a new dance and leave the drama dance behind.
• How to live intentionally and create your life, instead of living reactively and getting lost in a sea of negative emotions. On the other side of drama is the life you hoped for.

RECONNECT WITH YOUR TEEN AND HAVE AN AUTHENTIC, CLOSE AND ENJOYABLE RELATIONSHIP

Mothers often wonder if it’s really possible to have a good relationship with their teens. It’s not only possible but is the foundation for successful parenting. A good relationship with your teen won’t happen naturally; it takes strategy. This is because teens are hard-wired for drama. Armed with the right information and approach, you don’t have to dread the teenage years; you can actually enjoy them.

You will learn . . .

• What a healthy relationship with a teen looks like.
• Three practical ways that your teen will freely talk to you.
• When to tune in and when to tune out your teen.
• To understand the teenage brain and why your teen is hard-wired for drama
• How to create a healthy relationship that will last a lifetime: the importance of a long-term perspective.

DIAL UP THE DREAM: ENJOY THE LATE TEENS AND EMERGING YOUNG ADULT YEARS

Moms need validation, support and practical tips to transition from being a mom of a teen to a mom of an emerging young adult. This is especially helpful for moms of juniors or seniors in high school and freshmen in college. Mothers would love their child’s journey to adulthood be a straight arrow towards success, unfortunately this will not happen. Because the brain is not fully developed till twenty-five there is a Maturity Gap which impacts the young person’s life and decisions. And yet they are making decisions that will impact the rest of their life. Mom’s question, “What does my relationship with my son or daughter look like once they leave home?” “How can we stay close?” “What is my role now?”

You will learn . . .

• How to change from monitor to consultant.
• Why moms are confused: the Maturity Gap.
• Five key facets for laying a new foundation.
• How to handle setbacks.
• How to turn a hard conversation into a healing conversation.
• How to move past the Mom Crises.
• How moms can dial up their own dreams.

MANAGING FAMILY, WORK, AND YOU

Is it possible to create a life you love when you are managing family, work, and you? Yes, but it’s not going to happen naturally. Stress happens naturally.

Parents, busy with the demands of their family, often bump their essential needs to the bottom of a never-ending to-do list. Moms especially feel it’s selfish to put their needs and desires on the agenda. Well-intentioned moms end up frazzled, stressed, drained, and resentful. The truth is it’s hard to balance it all perfectly.

The place to start is getting you back into your schedule. It’s letting go of the slave driver of perfectionism and adopting a new paradigm of kindness. Small acts of kindness towards yourself help you create a live you love.

When you do, it’s a big win for you, your work and your family. Taking care of the crucial parts of you allows you to be your big vibrant self. Your kids see you as patient, clear, energetic, and fun. You become the model your kids aspire to be.

You will learn . . .

• Why it’s crucial to pay attention to all the vital parts of you. You are more than a mother machine.
• How to free yourself of (false) mother guilt and shame.
• Practical ways you can replenish your blessings and your “I feel good” energy.
• To use the Priority Pie to determine the important things that give you life, and discern how to delegate more menial tasks and reduce time wasters.
• Strategies to delegate and get off your plate by eliminating unnecessary drains, getting rid of false obligations, and building your mom team.
• How to create a life you love by being the CEO of your life and scheduling your treasures.