How much of your teenage self is still showing up when you parent, love, or even react to things today? That voice that just wanted to be seen and heard?

My incredible guest, Tatjana Simakova, believes that version of us is still shaping our family dynamics, and she has built her life's work on helping us heal that unseen gap.

Tatjana's own journey is one of deep courage.

Growing up with an alcoholic mother and navigating family separation gave her a profound, lived understanding of what it means to heal from the inside out.

Now a psychotherapist, art therapist, and the founder of the S-A-L-V-U-S ParentTeen community, she has helped thousands of families move from emotional chaos to calm connection.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why the teenage years are such a critical stage for catching and working through trauma.
• The magic of art therapy - why getting messy can be the key to opening up and finding a non-judgmental outlet.
• The most common shift parents can make to stop "clamping down" and start building a stronger, more trusting connection
• Her powerful metaphor of letting your child go further away so they know they can always come back to you.
• The one place you absolutely must start if you want to see a change in your children

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that when we do the work to reconnect with our own inner teenager, we start parenting and living from a place of much deeper understanding.

You’ll be so inspired by Tatjana's story and her amazing, heart-centered work.

You can find out more about Tatjana and her community here:

Website: https://salvus-parenting.mn.co/share/UutP_DH8-zYFhv79?utm_source=manual (to join Salvus ParenTEENg for free)

Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/salvus_psychotherapy_clinic/

Thank you for spending time with me today on the Thrive After 45™ podcast! If this episode spoke to you, be sure to hit that follow button so you never miss one.

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Your journey doesn’t stop here - let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with me at denisedrinkwalter.com, and follow @thethriveafter45podcast for daily insp, tips, and support.

Remember, midlife isn’t the end - it’s just the beginning of a new, exciting chapter! Keep thriving, keep shining, and I’ll see you next time!