Unlearning with Laura

When Life Falls Apart: Parenting Through Trauma, Addiction & Separation Anxiety with Fiona McKellar

β€’ Laura Styles β€’ Season 3 β€’ Episode 15

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 41:54

Episode 15, Season 3: When Life Falls Apart - Parenting Through a Traumatic Situation with Fiona McKellar

This one is raw, honest and deeply powerful.

Fiona McKellar spent 20 years as a headteacher - working with some of the most challenging children in the school system. She was amazing at her job and amazing at coping with her own stress... until she wasn't. And then life unravelled.

Faced with her husband's substance abuse, the breakdown of her marriage, and her son's severe anxiety and separation difficulties in the aftermath, Fiona found herself stretched far beyond anything her professional knowledge had prepared her for. That experience eventually led her to set up The Wild Child Parent Coach, where she now supports parents of big-feeling, intense, beautifully complex children.

This episode is for anyone who has had their world turned upside down - whether by grief, divorce, illness, addiction, or an abusive relationship - and is trying to hold it together for their children at the same time.

We cover:

πŸ‘‰πŸ» The personal story that led Fiona to leave headship and start again
πŸ‘‰πŸ» Why she now supports the whole family unit - not just the child
πŸ‘‰πŸ» The importance of self-compassion when life suddenly looks nothing like you planned
πŸ‘‰πŸ» How her son's separation anxiety developed in the wake of family trauma - and what actually helped
πŸ‘‰πŸ» Fiona's brilliant, practical tips for supporting a child through separation anxiety πŸ‘‰πŸ» Why knowledge alone is never enough - and what really creates change

Fiona is warm, wise and super knowledgeable. I think you'll love this one.

Connect with Fi:

πŸ‘‰πŸ» Website: https://www.thewildchildparentcoach.com/

πŸ‘‰πŸ» Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_wild_childparentcoach/

πŸ‘‰πŸ» Listen to The Wild Child Parent Coach podcast here


Laura's Links:

πŸ“² Find Everything Here

πŸ“² Instagram: @themindfulgeneration

πŸ“² Connect on LinkedIn

Brand Partnership & Listener Discount This episode is brought to you by KARRI - the screen-free voice messenger designed to help children explore the world with confidence, while staying safely connected to the people who matter most.

Loved by kids. Trusted by parents. Order the KARRI Messenger and receive 15% off with code MINDFULGEN15 here: πŸ‘‰ https://karri.io/collections/all

If this episode resonated, please follow the podcast, rate and share it with another parent who needs this conversation 😊

Support the show

Podcasts we love

Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.

Women's Business Artwork

Women's Business

Nicky Denson-Elliott
Motherkind Artwork

Motherkind

Zoe Blaskey