Episode 35

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Published on:

3rd May 2022

Emotional Suppression & How to Create a Safe Space for Your Kids to Open Up (Encore) // by Ezza Mustaffa

If you’re like me, you believe on some gut level that burying and ignoring your emotions isn’t healthy - and the research continues to back that.

A study from the University of Texas found that when we avoid our emotions, we’re actually making them stronger — which can create serious implications for your body and mind, including depression, aggression, low self-esteem, and physical problems like headaches, insomnia, heart disease, intestinal problems. 

Another thing to consider, is that opening up can go both ways.  We want to hold space for our sons and daughters, but when we’re feeling off, we make a mistake, or have big feelings, it’s also OK to share these with them in an age-appropriate way.  It’s only by knowing our hardships and obstacles that our kids will understand how resilient, persistent, and courageous we are.

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Getting your tween or teen to talk to you can be notoriously difficult. We’re all used to one-word answers and hearing “fine” when we ask how they’re doing.  

Today's article, "How to Get Kids to Open Up," comes from Ezza Mustaffa, a licensed professional counselor who works with individuals of all ages.

Learn about:

  • The importance of a safe emotional environment
  • Reptilian brain?!
  • 5 tips on how to create a safe space

Ezza Mustaffa received her Masters of Education in Community Counseling from Loyola University Chicago. She works with individuals of all ages and couples, presenting with a wide range of concerns. Ezza approaches therapy from a relational, integrative, and multicultural framework with skills grounded in mindfulness-based and evidenced-based approaches.


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About the Podcast

Know Them, Be Them, Raise Them
Helping moms be & raise strong women
Are you a growth-oriented, mindful and busy mom who wants to raise strong daughters? Me too!

Tune in for short episodes (under 25 min) filled with inspiration, insights and actionable tips from experts, moms who’ve been there, and host Carmelita Tiu (a mom of two girls herself).

Hear about timely (& sometimes tough) topics: boundaries, self-care, creating safe spaces, self confidence, intuition, negative patterns, body positivity, friendship, body image, gender stereotypes, stress, and more.

Follow @knowberaisethem on Instagram for more info.

And here’s to strong women -- may we know them, may we be them, and may we raise them.

About your host

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Carmelita Tiu

Service, creativity, and human potential -- these things inspire Carmelita Tiu as a mindset coach and life strategist for mindful moms, and as an attorney, podcaster, creative, educator and parent. After receiving her art degree and law degree, she worked as an attorney at The Oprah Winfrey Show and OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network for several years, then pivoted to the design and advertising world. She's also held adjunct professorships at DePaul University and Columbia College Chicago, and served on the boards of numerous cultural and community service organizations.

As a curious and committed mom to two daughters, Carmelita recently launched the podcast, "Know Them, Be Them, Raise Them," a show that informs and inspires mindful and growth-oriented moms of girls -- so they can show up for themselves and their daughters the way they want to. "Know Them, Be Them, Raise Them" is on all the major podcast platforms, or head to knowberaisethem.com.