The Better Semester

Send me your Questions and CommentsRob Danzman interviewed college admissions expert and consultant Peter Ratzan to discuss the college admissions process, pitfalls, and opportunities. Peter is the President and Founder of Your College Concierge, a boutique college planning firm established in 2007 that provides step-by-step guidance on college selection, applications, and financial aid strategies. Frustrated by the massive student loan debt he and his wife, Jill, accrued after graduate school, Peter merged his deep passion for education with his expertise in corporate finance to create a science-based approach to college affordability.Before revolutionizing college planning, Peter spent 12 years in corporate America, including nine years at Motorola.However, his roots have always been in education; he began his career as a high school social studies teacher and basketball coach at his alma mater, the Ransom Everglades School in Miami. Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University and earned both a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University.Key Credentials & Achievements:Massive Impact: Guided over 13,000 students and families through the stressful college admissions process since 2007.Financial Results: His clients consistently earn an average of $33,000 per year in institutional scholarships and grants, resulting in hundreds of millions in claimed financial aid.Community Leadership: Recognized as the 2020 Mentor of the Year by Take Stock in Children, a mentoring program for at-risk youth where he serves on the Corporate Council.Elite Placements: Has successfully guided students into every Ivy League university, US military academies, and top-tier public and private institutions across the globe.The New Book: The Ultimate College Planning Playbook Alongside his wife and business partner, Jill Ratzan, Peter recently released The Ultimate College Planning Playbook: A Practical Guide to Making Better College Decisions — One Play at a Time. Distilling 20 years of expertise, the book serves as a practical roadmap for families, answering the crucial question: "How do we make college worth it?". It pulls back the curtain on how colleges actually make admissions decisions, why the sticker price is rarely the final price, and how timing can make a massive difference in financial aid.https://yourcollegeconcierge.com/The Ultimate College Planning Playbook - https://go.yourcollegeconcierge.com/collegeplanningplaybook?_gl=1*1ct9ry4*_ga*MTYxMDcxNzE3OS4xNzE1NjM0NTk3*_ga_G68585PC78*czE3ODgyNzQ5MjMkbzIyMSRnMSR0MTc4ODI3NTk0OSRqNjAkbDAkaDA.https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsIn this episode, we tackle the challenging summer transition when high-achieving college students return home. Parents often feel compelled to fix their child's burnout or job market anxiety, but playing the role of a clinician is fundamentally unqualified work that can destroy your relationship. Instead of "helicoptering" or over-managing—tactics that actively undermine a student's emotional regulation and autonomy—parents must fire themselves as therapists and promote themselves to "Chairman of the Board".This episode outlines how to navigate the critical "separation-individuation" stage by understanding hidden summer stressors, such as identity clashes, social disconnection, and a sudden loss of independence. Listeners are provided with a three-step blueprint:Establish operational boundariesValidate their young adult's emotions without micromanaging the solutions Utilize weekly check-ins to foster mutual respect and accountabilityhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsToday we’re talking about why a College Mental Health Leave is Your Student’s Competitive Advantage and not an existential crisis. High-achieving parents are often terrified that letting their kid take a semester off for mental health will permanently scar their resume in a hyper-competitive job market. Research shows the exact opposite: pushing a struggling young man through a semester often results in failed classes and deeper depression.In this episode, host Rob Danzman challenges the terrifying stigma surrounding college mental health leaves, reframing a medical withdrawal as a profound competitive advantage rather than an existential crisis. Aimed at parents of high-achieving students at elite universities, the discussion explores the rising rates of "perfectionistic burnout" and the dangerous illusion of the uninterrupted academic track.Listeners will learn a highly tactical, three-phase blueprint to manage a college medical leave with corporate-level precision:Navigating the Bureaucracy: How to formally secure a Voluntary Medical Withdrawal to protect your student's GPA and map out the strict criteria for academic reinstatement.The "Active Pause" Strategy: The importance of building a structured recovery based on clinical stabilization, low-stakes functional engagement (like a part-time job or micro-credentials), and rigorous physical architecture.The Narrative Strategy: How to deploy the "Turnaround Narrative Script" to confidently explain a resume gap to future corporate recruiters, positioning the student's recovery as an unassailable proof point of emotional maturity and executive resilience.Don't let the fear of a resume gap force a struggling student into an academic trainwreck. Tune in to discover how stepping off the elite track temporarily might be the single best way to protect your long-term investment and maximize your student's future human capital.https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsIs your high-achieving student's summer behavior just "college partying" or a developing Substance Use Disorder? In this episode, we break down the clinical differences between a heavy partier and a dependent student, looking at the locus of control, tolerance, and withdrawal. If you are noticing an inverted sleep schedule, financial burn rates on DoorDash and dispensaries, or severe isolation, this is a distress flare. We provide affluent parents with a 90-day evidence-based blueprint using Motivational Interviewing and Contingency Management to audit behavior, open a dialogue using the OARS model, and run a "stress test" before writing the next tuition check. Learn when it is time to stop the train and pivot to a medical leave of absence.https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsIn this episode, we sit down with Megan Ballard Mitchell, a prominent Title IX, education law, and criminal defense attorney who has helped countless students and families navigate some of the most stressful challenges in higher education. Megan draws on her unique experience as a former Attorney Advisor for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and her strategic defense background to explain:🔹 What Title IX allegations really mean for your student’s academic future — from suspension to lost scholarships and athletic eligibility. 🔹 Why high achieving families should pay attention to due process, evidence, and advocacy in campus hearings. 🔹 How Megan helps families protect educational opportunities at top universities, including navigating disciplinary hearings with confidence. 🔹 Practical advice for parents on preventing, preparing for, and responding to Title IX investigations.Whether your student is a freshman athlete, top scholar, or poised for graduate programs, this conversation is essential for every parent who wants to safeguard their child’s future in a world where one allegation can change everything.👉 Check out Rob's blog for more expert insights on college legal risks, parental advocacy strategies, and protecting student prospects. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsIn this episode, Rob Danzman sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Jessi Gold, the first-ever Chief Wellness Officer for the University of Tennessee System and a nationally recognized expert in student mental health. What You Will Learn in This Episode:The "Perfect Student" Trap: Why high-achieving students are experts at hiding mental health struggles until they reach a breaking point.Navigating Campus Health Systems: An insider’s guide to how university wellness centers work and how to ensure your student gets the right care.Burnout vs. Exhaustion: Dr. Gold explains the clinical difference and why "just taking a break" isn't always the cure.The Academic Pressure Cooker: Insights on resilience drawn from Dr. Gold's training at Yale and Stanford, and how to apply them to your student's journey.Emotional PPE: Tools for students entering high-stress fields (Medicine, Law, Engineering) to protect their mental well-being.Redefining Success: How to have hard conversations with your student about failure, perfectionism, and identity.About Dr. Jessi Gold: Dr. Jessi Gold is the author of How Do You Feel? One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine. Dr. Gold is a regular contributor to the New York Times, The Atlantic, and NPR. She specializes in the mental health of college students, healthcare workers, and high-performance professionals.Connect with Dr. Gold:Book: How Do You Feel? One Doctor's Search for Humanity in MedicineWebsite: https://drjessigold.com/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessi-gold-md-ms-14844bb/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@drjessigoldInstagram https://www.instagram.com/drjessigold/?hl=enX https://twitter.com/drjessigoldShow NotesLove's Executioner: and Other Tales of Psychotherapy - Irvin Yalomhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsDr. Joel Ingersoll is one of the most recognized advisers to college students and their parents in the Mid-Atlantic. He is a licensed psychologist, renowned impact performance coach and founder of school readiness programs. Joel is the creator of the BounceBack Accelerator Program, podcast host of Mental Health University and author of the brand new book Fix-It Fatigue: How Gen-X Parents Can Stop Fixing Everything and Start Raising Adults Who Can Handle Anything. Show NotesFix-It Fatigue: How Gen-X Parents Can Stop Fixing Everything and Start Raising Adults Who Can Handle Anything - Dr. Joel Ingersoll's NEW BOOK!!Lehigh University - Underrated university in north eastern Pennsylvania. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness - Jonathan HaidtOutliers: The Story of Success - Malcolm GladwellThe Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Health Self -  Michael EasterEmotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More than IQ - Daniel GolemanGrown & Flown - Great Facebook group and resources for parents of college studentshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsJason Sarouhan, Professional Gap Year Counselor, Interim Executive Director of the Gap Year Association, & Co-Founder of J2Guides. Show NotesA Complete Guide to the Gap Year - Kristin M. WhiteGap to Great: A Parent's Guide to the Gap Year - Andrea WienGap Year Advantage: Helping Your Child Benefit from Time Off Before or During College - Karl Haigler Reimagining Your Gap Year: The Watershed Experience - Bruce AndrewsThe Way Around: A Field Guide to Going Nowhere - Nicholas Triolohttps://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsSending your son or daughter off to college is more than just move-in day and tuition payments—it’s a developmental earthquake. Every pillar of their identity—academic, social, emotional, and financial—gets tested. For parents, especially high-achieving families, the transition can feel even more complicated: you want your child to succeed, stay safe, and thrive, but you also know you need to step back and let them grow.In this episode of The Better Semester, we walk parents through the evidence-based strategies that make the freshman year transition smoother and healthier—for both your student and your family. Drawing from current research, clinical experience, and real family vignettes, you’ll learn how to normalize struggles, redefine success, and communicate without conflict.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ Normalize the Struggle – Nearly 60% of college freshmen report overwhelming anxiety, and half struggle with depressive symptoms in their first semester. Instead of measuring success by whether your student is “happy,” shift the conversation: “What’s been most challenging this week, and how are you working through it?” This reduces pressure and builds resilience.✅ Letting Go Without Losing Touch – Micromanaging signals “I don’t trust you.” Research shows helicopter parenting lowers resilience and problem-solving skills. Success in freshman year isn’t a 4.0 GPA—it’s learning self-advocacy, navigating setbacks, and being healthy enough to return sophomore year.✅ Mental Health & Wellness Foundations – Sleep, nutrition, and social connection predict emotional health more than academics. Students who get fewer than 6 hours of sleep are twice as likely to experience depression. Parents can help by coaching, not managing—asking, “What’s your strategy for staying rested?” instead of nagging about bedtimes.✅ Communication Without Conflict – Parents crave reassurance, students crave autonomy. Misalignment leads to guilt, resentment, and silence. The solution? A communication contract: set agreed-upon times for check-ins. Conversations thrive when parents use curiosity-based questions rather than constant check-ins or grade-tracking.✅ Red Flags vs. Normal Struggles – It’s normal for students to feel homesick, stressed, or miss familiar food. But warning signs include withdrawal from friends, missed classes for more than a week, hopelessness, or talk of self-harm. Every parent should have three numbers saved before drop-off: campus counseling (CAPS), campus security, and student health services.Why This Matters for ParentsFamilies with high expectations often place invisible pressure on students—academic perfection, social status, and career paths. By reframing success around resilience, independence, and emotional wellness, you’ll not only protect your child’s mental health but also prepare them to thrive in competitive environments. This is about raising resilient young adults who can manage setbacks, seek help, and grow stronger—not just check boxes on a résumé.Big Takeaways for Parents:Normalize the struggle.Redefine success as independence.Coach wellness instead of nagging.Create a communication contract.Know the red flags—and the resources.This episode gives you the practical playbook you wish you had before drop-off. Whether your student is attending a top-tier university, a competitive state school, or studying abroad, these tools help you stay connected while giving them the independence they need to grow.https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsToday we’re talking about something every parent thinks they’ve mastered… until they have teens and college students--Communication (seems like mostly arguing and negotiating??)By the end of this episode, you’re going to have some solids techniques professionals use. You'll learn:Why talking to a 19-21 year-old is fundamentally different than talking to a 17-year-old.The “less is more” principle that defuses arguments before they start.Boundaries that stick without creating power struggles.How to know when to step in… and when to step back.And a three-step move to stop an argument in real time.And yes, because I’m a generous guy I’ll script out exactly what to say — word for word. Hopefully it won’t sound too cheesy. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsHere’s your episode description, under 3,500 characters, written to match Scott Galloway’s tone while making it appealing for parents of college students in 2025:Episode DescriptionYour kid’s college has a lifeboat they probably don’t even know exists — and you’ve already paid for it. It’s called CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services), and in 2025, it might be the most undervalued part of your six-figure higher education investment.In this episode, we break down what CAPS is, what it isn’t, and why the math is brutal: overwhelming demand, under-resourced supply, and waitlists that stretch longer than your kid’s attention span. We’ll dive into the latest mental health data, reveal how many clinicians are actually on campus compared to the number of students in crisis, and explain why this matters for your kid’s chances of graduating.You’ll hear:The CAPS Backstory: From Princeton’s early “moral guidance” days to today’s hybrid teletherapy options.2025 Mental Health Reality Check: Anxiety, depression, and suicide stats that should have every parent paying attention.Clinician Ratios vs. Need: Why many schools have one counselor for every 2,000+ students — and what that means for care quality.University Case Studies: The gold standard at the University of Florida, small liberal arts success stories, and the under-resourced pressure cookers that look great in brochures but break down in reality.Medication Management: How ADHD meds, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers get handled (or dropped) on campus — and the questions parents need to ask before move-in day.Coordination with Disability Services & Faculty: How CAPS can secure academic accommodations, the paperwork your student must sign, and why professors are often the untrained first responders.Your 2025 Parent Playbook: A step-by-step plan for intake, releases of information, medication continuity, and making sure your student actually shows up to appointments.The bottom line? College isn’t just an academic experience — it’s an emotional obstacle course. CAPS isn’t perfect. It’s often underfunded, understaffed, and poorly marketed. But it’s the only parachute on campus you’ve already paid for. The real question is: will your kid pull the ripcord before they hit the ground?Whether you’re sending a freshman off for the first time or trying to help a junior who’s struggling, this episode will arm you with the inside knowledge, the right questions, and the practical strategies to make campus counseling actually work for your student.https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsThere's this pervasive, seductive myth of the endless summer among college students when spring semester finishes. Summer just feels long in the beginning, doesn't it? Three glorious months stretching out before your kiddo, promising unlimited possibilities. But here’s the harsh reality: it’s not. Without even an ounce of structure, without any guiding intent, those three months vanish—Poof! College students desperately need just enough planning, just enough forward-thinking, to avoid falling into the insidious trap of "I'll do it later." Because without even a little bit of foresight, without establishing some basic goals, later almost invariably becomes never. The days bleed into one another, and suddenly, it’s August, and nothing meaningful has been accomplished.So, given this potential for drift, what should your college kiddo be focusing on? I have six absolutely must-have summer habits for college students. These are not suggestions; they are non-negotiables. They are thoroughly research-backed principles for well-being. And they are, unequivocally, absolutely protective for mental health. I’ve broken them down in today's episode and I call them the Six Pillars of a Satisfying Summer. Not a catchy title but I think you'll like hearing how students can get the most out of summer (no matter how much is left).https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsThe transition to college is a significant milestone for both students and their parents. It's a time when young adults begin to assert their independence and navigate the complexities of adulthood but also the first time that parents are experiencing their kiddo being gone for longer than a summer camp session. The role of parents during this period can be a delicate balancing act. Well, maybe not balancing act. More like being unceremoniously placed on the sidelines. While support and guidance are crucial, helicopter parenting can mess with your student's development and self-sufficiency. This article explores the fine line between supportive and overbearing parenting, the impacts of excessive involvement, and strategies for parenting your kiddo through college.https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsThis episode is a little bit of a deviation from talking exclusively about college students academics, mental health, and career. I've had so many parents reaching out describing the wheels coming off BEFORE freshman year of college so I reached out to Stef Mauler for some insights into what's going on with high school students preparing for college. Stef is owner of The Mauler Institute, a Certified Educational Planner and a professional member of IECA, HECA, AICEP and NACAC. She and her team serves students in 8th through 12th grades by providing one-on-one coaching, small group workshops and a self-guided step-by-step program for admissions coaching and planning. She's the author of The Complete Candidate, which gives tools, tips, and tricks helping students succeed in gaining admission to target schools. Here are our show notes with links to the people, places, and things we referenced.The Mauler InstituteThe Complete Candidate: A Comprehensive System for Solving the College Admissions PuzzleUS News and World Report College RankingNassim Taleb - Super smart author of several books on economics including Antifragile: Things that Gain from DisorderThe Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness - Jonathan HaidtThe Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business - Charles Duhig Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection - Charles DuhigLeonard Sacks - Fantastic author focused on gender, boys, girls, and insights for parentshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsMargo is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Academic Coach and Educational Consultant serving adolescents and college students. During our interview Margo talks about insights on how students can improve academic outcomes as well as her own personal path through undergrad and graduate school. Here are our show notes with links to people, places, and things we cited.Gonzaga University Shine Educational ConsultingEmily Oster - An economist and world-famous parenting expert, author of three books, Expecting Better, The Family Firm, and Cribsheet, (data-driven approaches to decision-making in pregnancy and parenting), and Podcast Host of Raising Parents. The Anxious Generation - Jonathan HaidtSmart but Scattered - Drs. Peg Dawson and Richard Guarehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsBooks by B. Hibbs and Anthony RostainThe Stressed Years of their LivesYou're Not Done Yet: Parenting Young Adults in an Age of UncertaintHigher Education Mental Health Alliance McMillan Speakers (B. Janet Hibbs and Anthony Rostain) LinkedIn (Anthony Rostain)Dr. B. Janet Hibbs websiteCooper University Health Care - Cooper University Health Care is an academic health system in South Jersey and provides access to primary, specialty, tertiary, and urgent care, all within one complete health system. Cooper has nearly 10,000 team members, including 1,600 nurses, more than 900 physicians, and 500+ advanced practice providers practicing in more than 75 specialties. A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction by Patrick J. Kennedy and Stephen Fried Leaving Home by Jay HaleyCollege Student Privacy: FERPA, HIPAA, and Parents - Here's my super detailed explanation of HIPAA and FERPA for parents of college students. HIPAA and FERPA - User-friendly explanation of HIPAA and FERPA.https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsAlong with his wife Maureen White,  Josh White, Sensei, MA, LCMHC, CGP is co-founder and former Executive Director of Red Mountain Sedona. Josh served as a Program Director, Clinical Director, and Executive Director in top treatment programs for adolescents and young adults.Josh earned his Master’s Degree in Psychology from Naropa University, the nation’s premier mindfulness-based therapeutic training institution. Josh has presented nationally at conferences for the Young Adult Transition Association, American Group Psychotherapy Association, Independent Educational Consultants Association, Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council, and National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs.Josh is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Certified Group Psychotherapist and a Senior Instructor of Ten-Chi Kenpo. He is a founding officer of the Colorado Group Psychotherapy Society and is active in local and national charities.In this episode, Josh and I talk about his path from martial arts to mental health treatment for young adults. It a wide ranging conversation perfect for listeners interested in hearing more of the insider's perspective on residential treatment, mental health, and how to find a rewarding career. Enjoy!Show NotesNaropa University The Journey of the Heroic Parent - Dr. Brad ReedyCalm - mindfulness app If you want even more  about mental health for college students, check out my two books:Insider's Guide to Parenting: How to Solve Messy Problems and Build a Great FamilyInsider's Guide to College: Evidence-Based Tips, Tricks, and Strategies to Win the SemesterOr tons of info about college student mental health from my blog:Rob's Blog at Motivate Counselinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsDr. Sokoll’s practice ranges from providing adolescent and adult psychotherapy to providing counseling and organizational consultation to C-suite executives. Dr. Sokoll is double board certified and an examiner for the American Board or Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  He has been a Castle Connelly and Philadelphia Magazine Top Doc for numerous years.He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, a member of the Psychiatry Residency Admissions Committee, and the recipient of the Department of Psychiatry Clinical Faculty Teaching Award.Dr. Sokoll is an expert in treating complex medical and neuropsychiatric disorders of musicians and athletes. Dr. Sokoll provides consultations to families regarding diagnostic concerns, parenting, and expert evaluation of complex cases.To learn more about Dr. Steve Sokoll, go to Haverford Psychiatry. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsToday I'm exploring organization at college. From juggling classes to managing clubs and a social life, staying organized can be a real challenge. Good organization helps lower anxiety and make students feel a sense of purpose and confidence. I've got some tips and tricks to help your college student master the art of organization. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsIn this episode I'm talking about a topic that influences every decision we make, often without us even realizing it—cognitive biases. Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from the norm or rationality in judgment, often leading to perceptual distortion, inaccurate judgment, illogical interpretation, or what we commonly refer to as "thinking errors." All of this is considerably amplified with college students for a number of reasons. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsToday I’m talking about Derealization, Depersonalization, and Dissociation.   Depersonalization is where students have the feeling of being outside themself and observing their actions, feelings or thoughts from a distance. Derealization is where they feel the world is unreal. People and things around them may seem "lifeless" or "foggy". Disassociation is experiencing a loss of connection between thoughts, memories, feelings, surroundings, behavior and identity. I’m going over what this all means for college students and what parents can do to help. It’s a fascinating yet challenging aspect of mental health that can cast a surreal haze over a student's perception of reality.https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsToday I’m talking about depression in college students. I’m going over what depression is and what it isn’t and what parents can do to help their struggling college student. I’m also going to give a brief overview of where diagnoses are listed. There's so much to cover when discussing depression so I think understanding the diagnostic context as well as the strategies parents can use are essential. It's not a single mental health challenge. Depression comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Hopefully this provides you with a solid basis from which to better understand what your college student is dealing with and what you can do about it. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsToday I’m talking about when college students should consider taking a gap year or semester. I’m going over what a gap year is, different reasons to take a gap year, and a review of the options. I’m using the term gap year but it could also stand for gap semester or even an early withdrawal from a semester. Gap years tend to refer to time off between high school and the start of college but it can also refer to taking a semester or two off when in college. These breaks are typically when students hit pause on traditional academic work and do something like volunteering, traveling with friends or participating in a therapeutic wilderness or treatment program. Show NotesGap Year Association - https://www.gapyearassociation.org/NOLS - https://www.nols.edu/en/Outward Bound - https://outwardbound.org/The Dorm Gap Year Therapeutic Program - https://thedorm.com/blog/therapeutic-gap-year-program/https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsThis episode is all about weed. l do a deep dive into its history, background, how students are using it now, the impact on them, and what treatment options look like if their use is getting out of hand. There's really good stuff in this episode for parents so I hope you enjoy. Please check out the show notes below for additional info I reference throughout the episode. Show NotesUniversity of Central Florida substance use treatment https://studenthealth.ucf.edu/recovery/Stages of Changehttps://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/mph-modules/sb/behavioralchangetheories/behavioralchangetheories6.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsToday I’m talking about college student anxiety. I’m going over some basics of anxiety disorders, what they look like from a clinical perspective and, most importantly, what can be done to treat college students. For more information, check out this episode’s show notes and visit my blog at robdanzman.com. I also have a whole chapter on anxiety in my first book Insider’s Guide to Parenting: How to Solve Messy Problems and Build a Great Family. You can find it on amazon.https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsToday I’m talking about college disability services. You'll learn what disability services are, how to sign up and what accommodations are most often requested. List of colleges with best disability services - https://www.collegechoice.net/choosing-a-college/disability-friendly-universities/Disability Services Consultant - https://ldadvisory.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsIn today's episode, Rob breaks down college privacy regulations for parents. He looks at the two more important laws: FERPA and HIPAA and how they impact parents and students accessing information and how schools share or limit information. It may not be the most exciting episode but it's jam-packed with lots of important content parents can use to develop common-sense approaches to getting the information they need from their college student's school. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsIn today's episode, Rob discusses the importance and challenges of working with university counseling centers, commonly referred to as Counseling and Psychological Services or CAPS. Below are some helpful links. Accrediting body for CAPS programs is International Association of Counseling Services. Here's a link to see if your college student's college is accredited - List of accredited CAPS programs.Grinnell College is a small but great college in Iowa that hits above their weight class and serves their students well with counseling services. Don't forget to check out Rob's comprehensive book on evidence-based mental health care and parenting - Insider's Guide to Parenting: How to Solve Messy Problems and Build a Great Family. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsThis is another episode pulled from a super popular blog post I did a few years ago on commonly used words I hear from college students. It's also in my most recent book Insider's Guide to College: Evidence-Based Tips, Tricks, and Strategies to Win the Semester. These are the twelve words that get in the way of college students changing.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsThis is one of the most important and yet overlooked keys to success at college. In this episode we look at the psychological and neurological aspects of sleep for college students and tie it all up with some solid, evidence-based strategies. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsToday I'm talking about motivation. We'll review the science behind what it is and how to improve it. You'll leave with some actionable suggestions to pass along to your college student. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsToday's episode is an introduction into how to think about and plan for medication during the semester for your college student. You'll leave with suggestions on how to ensure there's a competent healthcare provider involved as well as when NOT to change things up. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsThis episode is an update from my blog and also another chapter from my book (Insider's Guide to Parenting: How to Solve Messy Problems and Build a Great Family). I review all the different types of testing and evaluation and drill down into how to set up psychological testing for your college student if you or a healthcare provider has recommended it. We'll also cover what to expect and how to use the results from testing. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/

Send me your Questions and CommentsThis episode is pulled from my most read blog posts and book (Insider's Guide to Parenting: How to Solve Messy Problems and Build a Great Family). I do a deep dive into how to find a therapist for your college student. If you're a parent looking for a clinician at home or close to campus, you'll learn what to look for and and to set things up to prepare for the semester. https://www.youtube.com/channel/motivatecounselinghttps://robdanzman.com/