Coping 101: Teenage Stability

"Very often our youth have experienced some sort of very large schism, either in the family or in the family's stability. There are often expectations that kids cannot meet, or kids who are basically left behind by their families. The best thing a therapist can do is provide validation, and delight in a human's presence. Find something that they just love about that person. Being able to find that and really mirror that to somebody can be super-duper healing. I think we've been able to accomplish that."

Tanya Keenan is a clinician and Behavioral Healthcare Specialist at Compass Health, working with teens that are experiencing housing instability across Snohomish County. Her work takes place at Cocoon House, one of Compass Health’s partners, working with young people, families, and their communities, to break the cycle of homelessness. Led by 18-yr-old host Gavin M., we explore the link between behavioral and housing stability in teens, and how communities can work together to address the crisis where it first begins to emerge. 

Presented by c89.5 in partnership with Seattle Children's, Coping 101 is an ongoing series led by students in Nathan Hale High School's Podcast Club that destigmatizes mental health from a teen's perspective, made possible with local support from 4Culture, Hansmire Builders, and Compass Health - NW Washington's Behavioral Healthcare leader. No matter our age or background we all face challenges, and there are healthy ways to cope. Get started with more episodes, and find community-centric resources online at c895.org/coping101

• Cocoon House: https://www.cocoonhouse.org/

• Compass Health's Mental Health Toolkit: https://www.compasshealth.org/mental-health-toolkit/