In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Your Parent Coach, I sit down with licensed therapist and teen expert Katie K. May, founder of Creative Healing Teen Support Centres and author of You're on fire, it's fine. Katie has helped thousands of teens navigate depression, anxiety, and self-harm and today, she joins me to share her insights on how parents can best support their highly emotional teens.

We unpack what it really means to parent a “Fire Feeler” - a teen who feels deeply, reacts intensely, and often struggles to regulate big emotions. Katie shares practical, compassionate tools for parents to move from frustration and confusion to empathy and connection.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What inspired Katie to write You're on fire, it's fine and why this message is needed more than ever
• The concept of “Fire Feelers” and how reframing your teen’s sensitivity can change everything
• Why well-intentioned comments like “Relax” or “You’re just tired” can make things worse — and what to say instead
• The power of Radical Acceptance and how it transforms the parent-teen dynamic
• Practical ways to stop emotional escalation before it spirals
• Common misconceptions about teen emotions and how to see your teen’s behaviour through a new lens
• How parents can stay calm, grounded, and emotionally regulated in the heat of the moment
• Rebuilding trust and connection after a rocky patch and why letting go of the “fixer mentality” is key

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

If you’re a parent who feels like you’re walking on eggshells around your teen, this episode is your guide to stepping into compassion, calm, and curiosity. Our conversation is both validating and practical offering real-world tools to help you parent with understanding instead of urgency.

Connect with Katie K. May:

You’re on Fire, It’s Fine: Effective Strategies for Parenting Teens with Self-Destructive Behaviors

Instagram: @katiekaymay

Visit Katie's website for free resources: https://www.youreonfireitsfine.com/

Connect with Mel White:

www.melwhiteparentcoach.com

Instagram: @melwhiteparentcoach

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