Check out our latest podcast with Dr. Marc Brackett, Director, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence; Professor, Child Study Center; Co-creator of RULER approach to SEL; Author, Dealing with Feeling. This podcast is based on our new workbook: The Teens' Guide to Emotions: Your Essential Workbook for Navigating Big Feelings, Decision-Making, and Relationships with Confidence This podcast is for teens, parents, counselors, and teachers about navigating the emotional rollercoaster of raising teens. Here are some highlights of the episode: 1. Emotions are Signals, Not Problems. One big theme Dr. Brackett brings up (and we explore with him) is that emotions aren’t something to “fix.” They’re data — helpful information that guides decisions, relationships, and growth. This is huge for parents who feel stuck in cycles of frustration or avoidance. 2. Emotional Intelligence Is a Skill, Not Just a Feeling We're not born with Emotional Intelligence — we learn it. Dr. Brackett breaks it down into practical parts: recognizing feelings, understanding them, and using them to make better choices — especially in times of stress. That’s a game-changer when teens are reactive or overwhelmed. 3. Real Tools You Can Use Today Instead of just talking theory, this episode gives actionable tools — small things you can start practicing right now: - How to reflect before responding - Ways to help teens name what they’re feeling - Shifts in language that reduce conflict and boost connection (We actually demo a few of these in the podcast — so don’t skip that part!) - The Circle of Control - helpful diagram of the tool attached! 4. Why Emotional Intelligence Matters SO much for Teens Emotional intelligence affects: - how teens make decisions - how they manage pressure, anxiety, and overwhelm - how teens connect with peers and family - how they handle setbacks And parents modeling emotional awareness literally builds that capability over time.