Ep 13. What If ‘Success’ for Your Teen Looks Different Than You Expected?

In this week’s episode, I’m unpacking something I think every parent, coach, and mentor wrestles with at some point, which is the idea of “success.”

We all want to see our teens thriving and happy, but what if success doesn’t always look like a dramatic transformation? What if it’s quieter… slower… and sometimes invisible at first?

In this conversation, I share what I’ve learned from years of working with teens and families about what real growth actually looks like — and why it takes time.

Here’s what I dive into:

  • Why there’s no guaranteed formula for transformation — and why that’s okay
  • How to rethink success when progress isn’t instantly visible
  • The power of simply having someone who listens and validates your teen
  • Why effort, honesty, and consistency matter more than perfection
  • How home dynamics can either support or stall a teen’s growth
  • The importance of playing the long game and trusting that seeds take time to grow

If you’ve been feeling unsure whether what you’re doing is working, this episode is your reminder to zoom out, take a breath, and trust the process.

💛 Connect & Learn More

If you and your teen are ready for a change and you’re looking for support, I’d love to help.

Now enrolling for:

👉 Learn more and book a call to see if these programs are a good fit for your family. Just click the program links above.

Let’s stay connected:

 

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Image of Guided Passages Founder Jasmyne Chandler next to the question, "Want a better connection with your teen?"

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Kerrick Gooden

Guide

Kerrick was raised in the Hill Country of Austin, Texas where he studied at the University of Texas. After some travel, he moved to the Rogue Valley of Oregon with a vision to farm and support youth. He completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Cultural Anthropology with Honors in 2004 at Southern Oregon University, and devoted over a decade supporting youth and their families navigate  local and state social service programs. During this time, he and his partner cultivated a food forest at their home and founded Verdant Phoenix as an educational mini-farm in 2016.

Verdant Phoenix Farm became an expression of a way of life for Kerrick. He is interested in the relationships between humans, soil, microbes, plants/trees/shrubs, food, culture, time, and the web of life. As these elements inform his horticultural practice, Kerrick enjoys supporting landscapes, gardens, farms, and their people who are interested in belonging to the land.