Aftercare Coaching that Works Wonders with Dave Herz

Send us Fan MailWhen treatment ends, real life begins—and that’s where so many families feel alone. We sit down with Dave Herz, co-founder of Wonder, to unpack a practical, hopeful approach to aftercare that meets teens and young adults where they live: at home, at school, in the community. Dave shares how Wonder’s dual-coaching model pairs a parent coach with an individual coach for the young person, then brings everyone together for monthly in-home family sessions that reset expectations, strengthen boundaries, and rebuild trust.Across the conversation, we tackle the questions parents ask home at night with their child... "How do I hold a boundary without blowing up the relationship? What do I do when my kid crumbles after PHP and sobs on the floor? How do we handle school refusal that has dragged on for months?" Dave explains why the first job, the first paycheck, and opening a bank account can be more powerful than a dozen lectures—and how stacking those “small” wins rewires confidence. We also address higher-acuity realities: suicidal ideation, recent attempts, and the fear that keeps parents on edge. With real-time coaching, young people learn to reach out before they spiral, while parents practice being steady and present without rescuing.You’ll hear candid stories, clear tools, and a throughline of hope grounded in experience: boundaries that stick, rapport that’s earned, and momentum built one doable step at a time. If you’ve wondered how to translate residential gains into a life that works at home, this is a blueprint for confident, compassionate next steps. If this conversation helped, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show.