Choose Better with Dr. Timothy Yen

S3EP03 What If My Kid Doesn't Fit In? Friendship, Belonging and Peer Pressure

Dr. Timothy Yen — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:23:07 GMT

Dr. Timothy Yen talks with Dr. Brieanne Scott about friendship, belonging, and helping teens navigate the challenges of fitting in.

Watching your child struggle with friendships can be difficult. Dr. Scott shares how parents can support their teens, validate their feelings, and help them stay true to their values without damaging the relationship.

What You’ll Learn:

Why belonging matters during the teen years
How peer pressure, withdrawal, and perfectionism affect teens
How to help teens understand their identity and core values
Why listening without taking sides matters
How to validate feelings while offering honest guidance

The Big Idea: Help your teen feel understood before trying to fix the problem. Belonging matters, but not at the cost of who they are.

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About Dr. Brieanne Scott: https://pivot-co.com/dr-brieanne-scott/

🌐 Website: https://pivot-co.com

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Question for You: What’s something you thought everyone at school noticed about you, but nobody actually noticed?

#ParentingTeens #TeenFriendships #Belonging #PeerPressure #MentalHealth #ChooseBetter #PivotCounseling #MiddleSchool

S3EP02 Summer ends. School starts. And somehow the whole house feels it.

Dr. Timothy Yen — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:30:00 GMT

As families transition from summer to school mode, how can parents balance structure, consistency, and freedom while helping their children grow?

In this conversation, Tim and Dr. Brianne Scott explore the challenges families face during the back-to-school transition, the importance of giving children a sense of agency, and how parents can create routines without being overly controlling.

They also discuss the role of consistency in parenting, allowing natural consequences, managing parental expectations, and strengthening relationships through open communication and repair. Learn how to create a supportive family environment that encourages independence, responsibility, and meaningful connections.

Takeaways

Agency is crucial for kids.
Balance structure with freedom.
Consistency is key in parenting.
Allow natural consequences to support learning and growth.
Build stronger relationships through communication and repair.
Manage parental expectations and emotions.
Create a supportive environment that fosters growth and independence.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Summer to School Transition
04:20 Understanding Family Dynamics in Summer
10:04 The Importance of Agency in Education
13:30 Balancing Structure and Freedom for Kids
17:03 The Importance of Consistency in Parenting
18:49 Navigating Natural Consequences
21:05 Building Relationships Through Repair
22:07 Managing Parental Expectations and Emotions
24:10 Creating a Supportive Environment for Growth
27:05 Establishing Family Values and Routines
30:00 Engaging Kids in Daily Routines
33:31 Final Thoughts on Parenting Consistency

📘 Want more support for your parenting journey?

Get your free ebook from Pivot Counseling for practical insights to help you navigate parenting challenges with greater clarity and confidence.

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S3EP01 Why Back-to-School Anxiety Starts Before School Starts

Dr. Timothy Yen — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

In this conversation, Tim and Dr. Brianne Scott explore the emotional challenges faced by students and parents as they navigate the school experience. They discuss the varying emotions from excitement to anxiety, the impact of developmental stages, and the importance of understanding underlying issues in student behavior. In this conversation, Tim and Brie discuss the complexities of parenting and supporting children, particularly during transitional phases like returning to school. They emphasize the importance of fostering emotional safety, encouraging critical thinking, and being curious about children's experiences to better understand their needs.

Takeaways

Emotional challenges in students
Parental anxiety about school transitions Empower kids through curiosity
Foster emotional safety in communication

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to School Challenges
03:00 Emotional Landscape of Students
05:59 Parental Perspectives on School
09:07 Middle School Dynamics
11:56 Navigating High School Changes
14:56 Understanding Problematic Behaviors
17:38 The Role of Parents and Therapists
19:08 Testing Boundaries in Adolescence
20:43 Understanding Non-Verbal Communication
22:10 Encouraging Critical Thinking
25:55 The Importance of Curiosity in Parenting
27:41 The Growth Mindset in Parenting
29:21 Preparing for School Transitions
31:12 Creating an Emotionally Safe Environment

S2EP05 When Motherhood and Work Collide

Dr. Timothy Yen — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 18:30:00 GMT

The conversation explores the challenges of returning to work after motherhood, the evolution of values and priorities, and the importance of intentional context switching. It delves into the impact of changing roles on personal identity and the need to align behaviors with values.

Takeaways

Motherhood and returning to work present complex challenges
Values and priorities evolve with changing roles

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the First Job
01:05 Insights from Early Work Experiences
02:00 Transitioning to Big Boy Job
03:04 Responsibility and Takeaways from Military Service
04:01 New Motherhood and the Return to Work
05:00 Challenges of Maternity Leave and Transitioning Back to Work
05:59 Guilt and Identity Shift in Motherhood
06:59 Shifting Values and Priorities in Parenthood
07:58 Prioritizing Time and Selectivity
09:17 Context Switching and Presentness
10:14 Ranking Values and Identity Shift
11:12 Balancing Multiple Roles and Priorities
12:08 Challenges of Working from Home
13:07 Trade-offs and Value Shifts
14:06 Intentionality and Distraction Management
15:05 Choosing Better and Context Switching
16:04 Adapting to Changing Values and Priorities
17:02 Ranking Values and Adapting to New Roles
18:00 Letting Go of Old Values and Embracing New Ones
19:27 Being Present and Clear in Each Role
20:23 Distraction Management and Intentionality
21:22 Intentionality in Motherhood and Work
22:21 Being Present in Each Role
23:17 Context Switching and Distraction Management
24:09 Intentionality and Role Fulfillment
25:06 Embodying Values in Each Role

S2EP04 A Psychologist on Mom Guilt and Returning to Work

Dr. Timothy Yen — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

The conversation delves into the surprises and challenges of the newborn stage, including the impact of sleep deprivation, the experience of disconnection, insecurities and imposter syndrome, the challenges of parenting multiple children, and the father's perspective on bonding with the newborn. The conversation delves into the challenges of parenthood, including loneliness, guilt, resentment, and sleep deprivation. It explores the reality of newborn care and the importance of maintaining and prioritizing connection in relationships. Creative solutions for connection and the impact of small contributions are also discussed.

Takeaways

The newborn stage brings unexpected surprises and challenges for parents.
The experience of disconnection, insecurities, and imposter syndrome are common in the early stages of parenting. Navigating the challenges of parenthood
Prioritizing and maintaining connection in relationships

Chapters

00:00 Surprises of the Newborn Stage
01:29 The Impact of Sleep Deprivation
04:40 The Disconnection Experience
06:34 Insecurities and Imposter Syndrome
10:23 Challenges of Parenting Multiple Children
11:24 Father's Perspective on Bonding
12:18 Navigating Parenthood Challenges
13:18 The Pendulum Swings Hard
14:02 Loneliness and Guilt
14:32 Resentment and Sleep Deprivation
15:02 The Reality of Newborn Care
16:00 Maintaining Connection
17:27 Prioritizing Connection
19:17 Creative Solutions for Connection
23:06 Small Contributions, Big Impact

S2EP03 The Sunday Scaries, Explained by a Psychologist (and Disney)

Dr. Timothy Yen — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

In this episode:

The “Sunday Scaries” can make the transition from the weekend to the week feel overwhelming. In this episode, we explore anxiety, uncertainty, and the difference between preparing for what’s ahead and getting stuck worrying about it.

We’ll discuss how to distinguish worrying from productive planning, build resilience to uncertainty, and make more intentional decisions instead of letting anxiety take over.

📖 Want to go deeper?
Download the Choose Better e-book from Pivot Co for practical tools and insights to help you navigate anxiety, uncertainty, and everyday decisions with greater intention.

👉 Get the free e-book here:
https://pivot-co.com/about?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video-description&utm_campaign=choose-better-podcast#e-book

Chapters

00:00 The Sunday Scaries
03:23 Understanding Sunday Scaries
05:21 Anticipatory Anxiety and Planning
07:14 Worrying vs. Planning
09:09 Tolerance for Uncertainty
10:07 Rehearsing Positive Outcomes
11:33 Acceptance and Resilience
12:33 Worrying and Planning Distinctions
13:59 Emotional Anticipation and Worry
15:26 Action-Focused Planning
16:54 Building Resilience to Uncertainty
18:46 Taking One Day at a Time
20:42 Continuing the Movie

S2EP02 Vacation Is Just Babysitting With Less Resources

Dr. Timothy Yen — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

The conversation explores the challenges and dynamics of vacationing, highlighting the differing expectations, managing disappointment, and the deeper value of strengthening relationships through adversity. The conversation delves into the challenges faced during a family trip and the subsequent emotional ruptures in the relationship. It emphasizes the importance of repairing these ruptures and preemptively addressing emotional needs to maintain a healthy relationship. The value of family trips and the opportunity they provide for unity and growth is also highlighted.

Takeaways

Different vacation expectations
Dealing with unexpected challenges Repairing ruptures in relationships
Acknowledging and addressing emotional needs

Chapters

00:00 Differing Vacation Expectations
03:21 The Reality of Vacationing
05:17 Managing Expectations and Disappointment
08:09 The Deeper Value of Vacationing
10:02 Strengthening Relationships Through Adversity
13:30 Navigating Relationship Ruptures
19:01 The Art of Repair
21:25 Preemptive Relationship Maintenance
23:32 Running Fire Drills
25:11 The Value of Family Trips

S2EP02 Vacation Is Just Babysitting With Less Resources

Dr. Timothy Yen — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 21:00:00 GMT

The conversation explores the challenges of vacationing and the impact of differing expectations and unexpected challenges. It delves into the dynamics of vacation experiences and the importance of managing expectations and dealing with unforeseen circumstances. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating relationship ruptures during family trips, emphasizing the importance of repairing emotional schisms and the value of self-awareness and preemptive strategies for relationship repair. It also highlights the significance of family trips as opportunities for growth and unity within relationships.

Takeaways

Different vacation expectations
Dealing with unexpected challenges Repairing ruptures in relationships
Acknowledging and addressing emotional triggers

Chapters

00:00 Differing Vacation Expectations
03:21 Dealing with Unexpected Challenges
13:30 Navigating Relationship Ruptures
15:23 The Importance of Repair
18:12 Self-Awareness and Emotional Check-Ins
21:35 The Process of Repair
23:03 Preemptive Strategies for Relationship Repair
25:28 The Value of Family Trips

S2E01 Family Expectations vs. Your Own Values

Dr. Timothy Yen — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Dr. Timothy Yen talks with Dr. Virginia Arlene Suarez about what happens when what your family expects and what you actually value stop

They get into how cultural expectations shape decisions you think are yours, why guilt and fear can look exactly like values, and how to tell them apart. Plus what changes when your values evolve, and your family's don't.

This is episode 1 of Life Complications, a five-part series with Dr. Suarez.

Dr. Virginia Arlene Suarez, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist at Pivot Counseling (CA PSY 36350). CPT, ACT, Unified Protocol, and Compassion Focused Therapy. Full bio: https://pivot-co.com/dr-virginia-suarez/

Free eBook, Stop Second-Guessing: https://pivot-co.com/about#e-book

The conversation explores the impact of family expectations on decision-making, cultural influences, and the clash between personal values and family expectations. It delves into the challenges of navigating conflicting expectations and the evolution of personal values over time. The conversation explores the complexities of navigating cultural identity, family expectations, and personal values. It emphasizes the importance of therapy in articulating one's identity and making sense of family values. The discussion also delves into the challenges of honoring family traditions while pursuing individual aspirations, highlighting the need for intentional decision-making and understanding the good intentions behind family expectations.

Takeaways

Family expectations can significantly influence decision-making and create internal conflict.
Cultural values and personal values may clash, leading to a sense of internal tension and pressure. Cultural identity is a blend of family culture and the culture of the host country.
Therapy provides a space to articulate and make sense of one's identity and family values.

Chapters

00:00 Family Expectations and Decision-Making
01:25 Cultural Values and Personal Values
02:18 Navigating Conflicting Expectations
09:09 Influence of American Culture on Immigrant Families
14:58 Navigating Cultural Identity
16:19 Honoring Family Traditions vs. Pursuing Individual Aspirations
17:26 The Impact of Cultural Expectations on Personal Values
18:50 Challenges of Breaking Free from Family Expectations
24:05 Conversations and Understanding in Family Dynamics
25:33 Embracing Intentional Decision-Making
27:16 Understanding Family Expectations and Intentions

S1E05 Co-Parenting Without Losing Each Other

Dr. Timothy Yen — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 13:10:00 GMT

Dr. Timothy Yen talks with Dr. Hadi Yassin about co-parenting, and the stressors that pile up when the routine disappears.

They get into what clear communication actually looks like between co-parents, how to offer emotional support when you're both depleted, and why collaboration beats keeping score.

Dr. Hadi Yassin is a Psychological Associate at Pivot Counseling, working with anxiety, stress, relationships, and life transitions. Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, and telehealth. Full bio: https://pivot-co.com/dr-hadi-yassin/

Free eBook, Stop Second-Guessing: https://pivot-co.com/about#e-book

The conversation explores the common stressors and challenges faced by co-parents during the summer, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, emotional support, and collaboration. It also delves into the value of self and others, highlighting the significance of mindfulness, proactive gestures, and accepting influence within the marriage. The discussion concludes with the importance of investing in the quality of the relationship and seeking professional help when needed.

Takeaways

Clear communication is essential for co-parents to navigate labor division and avoid tension and frustration.
Investing time and resources into fostering a healthy marriage is crucial for successful parenting.

Chapters

00:00 Common Co-Parenting Challenges
03:55 Emotional Labor and Mental Load
11:33 Value of Self and Others in Marriage
20:33 Investing in the Quality of the Relationship

S1E04 Win the Fight, Lose the Kid

Dr. Timothy Yen — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 19:05:40 GMT

Dr. Timothy Yen talks with Dr. Hadi Yassin about parenting teenagers, and the cost of winning an argument with one.

They cover what teenage behavior is actually normal, why communication breaks down exactly when you need it, and how to give emotional support without dropping every boundary.

Free eBook, Stop Second-Guessing: https://pivot-co.com/about#e-book

The conversation focuses on the challenges and dynamics of parenting teenagers, emphasizing the need for understanding, communication, and emotional support. It explores the normal behaviors of teenagers, the importance of setting boundaries, and the role of parents as coaches. Additionally, it highlights the significance of fostering emotional safety and being good listeners to teenagers.

Takeaways

Understanding the normal behaviors of teenagers is crucial for parents to navigate the challenges of parenting.
Fostering emotional safety and being good listeners are key components of connecting with and supporting teenagers.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Teenage Behaviors
03:24 Setting Boundaries and Communication
06:18 Parenting as Coaches
09:42 Fostering Emotional Safety

S1E03 How Screen Time Is Affecting Your Kids | What Parents Need to Know

Dr. Timothy Yen — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 20:41:51 GMT

Dr. Timothy Yen talks with Dr. Hadi Yassin about screens, and what excessive screen time is actually doing to kids.

They trace how screens changed, why they affect adults too, and what makes them genuinely addictive. Then the practical part: how to regulate screen time, where to set boundaries, and why modeling matters more than rules.

Free eBook, Stop Second-Guessing: https://pivot-co.com/about#e-book

The conversation delves into the evolution of screens, the impact of screens on adults, the addictive nature of screens, the negative effects of excessive screen time on children, regulating screen time for children, parenting and screen time boundaries, modeling healthy screen time behavior, and aligning parental values with screen time guidelines.

Takeaways

The addictive nature of screens affects both adults and children.
Regulating screen time for children requires setting boundaries and providing alternatives.
Parental values should align with screen time guidelines for children.

Chapters

00:00 The Evolution of Screens
02:24 The Impact of Screens on Adults
03:51 The Addictive Nature of Screens
05:19 Negative Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Children
08:16 Regulating Screen Time for Children
09:45 Parenting and Screen Time Boundaries
13:00 Modeling Healthy Screen Time Behavior
16:16 Aligning Parental Values with Screen Time Guidelines

S1E02 The Parenting Mistake That Creates Lifelong Insecurity

Dr. Timothy Yen — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Dr. Timothy Yen talks with Dr. Hadi Yassin about parent guilt, and the quiet way expectations become pressure a child carries for life.

They cover comparison, where the pressure actually comes from, and how family values and identity shape a kid more than any single decision does. Plus how a family mission statement gives you something to decide against.

Free eBook, Stop Second-Guessing: https://pivot-co.com/about#e-book

The conversation delves into the concept of parent guilt, exploring the impact of parent expectations, comparison, and pressure on children. It emphasizes the importance of family values, identity, and setting a family mission statement to guide parenting decisions. The discussion also highlights the significance of positive guilt and emotional regulation in effective parenting.

Takeaways

Understanding the impact of parent guilt on children
Setting family values and mission statement for value-driven parenting

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Parent Guilt
00:59 Parent Expectations and Unmet Needs
02:28 Comparison and Pressure in Parenting
03:27 Impact on Children
10:20 Family Values and Identity
12:16 Setting Family Mission Statement
19:02 Modeling Values for Children
22:25 Positive Guilt and Emotional Regulation

S1E01 Parenting Through Summer Without Guilt, Burnout, or Unrealistic Expectations

Dr. Timothy Yen — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:08:37 GMT

Dr. Timothy Yen talks with Dr. Hadi Yassin about surviving summer as a parent.

They get into the guilt that shows up when the schedule disappears, why overcompensating backfires, and how unrealistic expectations set the whole season up to fail. Plus why consistency matters more than activities, how to hold a boundary in July, and the case for letting your kids be bored.

Free eBook, Stop Second-Guessing: https://pivot-co.com/about#e-book

The conversation delves into the challenges of summer parenting, exploring emotions, guilt, overcompensation, and the impact of expectations. It emphasizes the importance of consistency, setting boundaries, and the value of boredom and creativity in children. The significance of quality time, emotional presence, and recognizing overload and emotional fatigue is highlighted. Additionally, the role of therapy and the importance of collaboration and communication in parenting are discussed.

Takeaways

Understanding the emotional challenges of summer parenting
Recognizing the impact of guilt and overcompensation
The importance of quality time, emotional presence, and setting realistic expectations
The role of therapy and collaboration in parenting

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Summer Series
01:01 Understanding Parenting and Family Dynamics
02:35 Emotions and Challenges of Summer Parenting
03:11 The Impact of Guilt on Parenting
04:12 Overcompensation and Emotional Disruption
05:18 Consistency in Parenting and Setting Boundaries
07:20 The Pressure of Expectations and Highlight Reels
09:36 The Importance of Boredom and Creativity
12:40 Quality Time and Emotional Presence
13:09 Recognizing Overload and Emotional Fatigue
19:06 Therapy and Support for Parents
25:28 Collaboration and Communication in Parenting