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January 16, 2025
Helping Our Anxious Kids Learn Resilience
Kids today are more anxious than ever. Why is that?
Clinical director of Counseling Services at Winning at Home, Emilie DeYoung, says two factors that are contributing significantly to mental health challenges are living in the digital age and living in an achievement oriented, performance-based culture.
She says that even in this age of influencers, parents remain the most important influencers and sources of support. Parents, you matter!!!
Emilie says that we can help our anxious kids learn resilience and gain confidence. We can also send the message of their worth by celebrating their character traits, like the fruit of the Spirit, rather than only seeing their accomplishments.
Perry opens up about a high schooler who recently found herself paralyzed by anxiety and unable to go to school. Emilie says it’s not uncommon for young people to feel overwhelmed by their commitments. They feel like they’re never enough. We can let them know they don’t have to do it all.
And our identity as “loved” is not dependent on our performance. Honestly, we need to hear that message as much as our anxious kids do.
Also in the podcast, the way of our culture does not lead us to God. At the beginning of 2025 Shawna is asking God to reorder her desires. She knows it will come with opposition because it’s the opposite of the direction the world is going, but He’s so worthy of it. Jesus is worth it!
And last, when we’re on mission with Jesus, he will prompt us toward open doors. Perry shares the story of how the Spirit prompted him to show up at the home of his college basketball coach, and the amazing way God worked in that!
IN THIS EPISODE
Dr. Emilie DeYoung
Emilie is the Clinical Director for Winning At Home. She holds a PhD in psychology with an emphasis on child and adolescent counseling and a master’s degree in social work. She has been working with adults, children and families since 1996. Specific areas of expertise include childhood anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, childhood temperament and trauma recovery.
Emilie also enjoys cross-cultural opportunities. She has the privilege of counseling missionary families worldwide and has been partnering with like-minded counselors in Rwanda, Lesotho, and Nepal for collaboration and training.
In a casual, relational style, Emilie strives to help individuals, kids and teens understand their significance and purpose. With contemporary interventions, she helps families remove the barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
Emilie and her husband live in West Michigan. They enjoy spending time with their two adult children and they have recently welcomed a son-in-law into their family.
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Perry LaHaie
Perry LaHaie's passion is to know Jesus and make Him known. “I’m all in with Jesus but not all put together. I need Jesus right now as much as I did when I first started following Him!” Perry says. In addition to co-hosting Perry and Shawna Mornings, Perry is a singer, songwriter, recording artist, and advocate for those who haven’t yet heard the gospel, especially those in the Muslim world. Born and raised in northern Michigan, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a graduate degree in Cross- cultural Communications. Perry also serves with Frontiers, a worldwide ministry to Muslims. Perry and his bride, Teresa, call Holland, Michigan home. They have two adult children, Kali and Taylor, and Taylor’s bride, Bri.
Shawna Beyer
Shawna Beyer has a way of telling stories that create personal connection— to her, to one another, and to God. She has been a homeschool mom, church planter, project lead for a consulting company, and church staff member. Though she’s been involved in ministry with her husband (Dan) in Iowa, Arizona, and now Michigan, she was born and raised in Southern California and as they say, “You can take the girl out of California . . .” She is mom to four grown kids (Bryn, Drayson, Eden, and Haven) who no longer need her but humor her anyway. Shawna is passionate about the rhythms we weave into the fabric of our lives to fall more in love with God each day. Healthy foods are her go-to, but she will abandon that whole track in a heartbeat for a homemade cinnamon roll like Grandma used to make.
Perry and Shawna Mornings
The Perry and Shawna Podcast: Real life conversations reminding you that you’re Abba’s child and that you’re blessed to be a blessing and loved to share Jesus’ love.