About Anastasia Arauz: Anastasia Arauz is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Registered Play Therapist (RPT), and certified family coach with over 20 years of experience supporting children and families. She holds advanced training in EMDR, trauma-informed care, and parent-child relational work, and is a certified facilitator for the Circle of Security program. Anastasia is also a former National Board Certified Teacher and has served on several boards, including the North Carolina Association for Play Therapy and Zing Zumm Children’s Museum. Through her private coaching practice, she helps overwhelmed families create healthy routines, strong communication, and sustainable support systems. Anastasia blends her clinical expertise with real-world parenting insight to guide families toward healing, connection, and balance.

In this episode, Brian and Anastasia Arauz discuss:

• The struggle to stay mentally and emotionally present during overwhelming life phases
• Navigating communication challenges in family dynamics
• The emotional toll of being stretched across multiple demanding roles
• The importance of setting boundaries and practicing self-care

Key Takeaways:

• Taking time to journal about your limits and responsibilities can help clarify what you can realistically handle and what support you need to ask for.
• Creating a weekly schedule that includes personal self-care time, such as breaks, fun, or recharging moments, is essential to avoid burnout and stay emotionally available to loved ones.
• Open communication with children and partners about ongoing caregiving situations builds mutual understanding and creates space for them to become part of your emotional support system.
• Bringing in outside help—whether through services like meal delivery or hiring someone to drive your child—can lighten the load and make space for being fully present with those who need you.

"Figuring out where you can pull supports in is very helpful." — Anastasia Arauz

Connect with Anastasia Arauz:

Website: https://www.anastasiaarauz.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasia-arauz-322b4598/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasia.arauz/

Host contact information: 

• Email: briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com



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About Leigh Shulman: Leigh Shulman is a writer, educator, and founder of The Inspired Writer Community, where she mentors women and non-binary writers around the world. With over 20 years of teaching and writing experience, she helps writers build confidence, develop consistent practices, and share their stories with impact. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wired, Vox, and more. Leigh also hosts private writing retreats and is the author of The Writer’s Roadmap, a #1 Writing How-To bestseller.

In this episode, Brian and Leigh Shulman discuss:

• Balancing caregiving responsibilities with personal and family needs
• Setting emotional boundaries while supporting aging parents
• Using journaling and writing as tools for managing caregiving stress
• Navigating difficult family decisions related to aging and health

Key Takeaways:

• Caregivers must recognize personal limitations and learn to set boundaries to prevent guilt and emotional burnout during challenging family transitions.
• Journaling provides a therapeutic and practical method for tracking critical details and processing emotional experiences during intense caregiving periods.
• Navigating sensitive conversations about aging parents' safety and medical needs requires a compassionate yet assertive approach that balances respect with necessary intervention.
• Writing about personal caregiving experiences can serve as both an immediate emotional outlet and a potential future resource for storytelling and sharing insights.

"Journaling is amazing for getting [emotions/stress/internal turmoil] out of your system. It's amazing for problem solving. It's also, particularly if you journal—do gratitude journaling—like, there was a study that showed if you write down three good things that are in your life each day, it improves your physical and mental health." — Leigh Shulman

Connect with Leigh Shulman:

Website: https://leighshulman.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighshulman

Twitter: https://x.com/theLeighShulman

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/leighshulman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leighshulman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theleighshulman/

The Writer's Roadmap: Paving the Way to Your Ideal Writing Life: https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Roadmap-Paving-Ideal-Writing/dp/0999697307

Claim your exclusive group coaching session today and take the next step in your writing journey with a vibrant, supportive community of women writers: https://leighshulman.com/podcast/

Host contact information: 

• Email: briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com



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About Lindsay Miller: Lindsay Miller is a kids' mindfulness coach, educator, and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast, where she helps children develop emotional intelligence, resilience, and self-awareness in fun and engaging ways. With over 20 years of experience in child development and mindfulness education, she specializes in teaching practical tools that help kids manage stress, navigate challenges, and build confidence. Known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh, she brings creativity and warmth to her coaching, making deep breathing and mindfulness exciting for young learners. Her insights have been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms, and publications, leaving a lasting impact on families and educators alike.

In this episode, Brian and Lindsay Miller discuss:

• Managing stress while balancing family responsibilities
• The emotional and physical toll of life transitions
• Mindfulness and stress management strategies
• The impact of family dynamics on personal well-being

Key Takeaways:

• Acknowledging stress is the first step to managing it, and writing down all the people and responsibilities relying on you can bring much-needed clarity while reducing feelings of guilt or self-blame.
• Setting firm boundaries and prioritizing responsibilities allows for a better balance, making it easier to focus on urgent family needs without feeling constantly overwhelmed or stretched too thin.
• Holding regular family meetings, such as a Sunday night check-in, creates space for open communication, ensuring that everyone has the chance to voice their concerns and feel supported.
• Prioritizing self-care is not selfish but necessary, as taking care of personal well-being improves both physical and mental health, making it easier to support and care for others more effectively.

"Giving yourself permission to feel what you’re feeling, giving yourself permission to access the help that you need is a crucial part of keeping yourself afloat." — Lindsay Miller

Connect with Lindsay Miller:

Website: https://www.thestressnanny.com/

Show: The Stress Nanny with Lindsay Miller: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stress-nanny-with-lindsay-miller/id1488383546

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-seil-miller-79a409149/

Twitter: https://x.com/thestressnanny

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestressnanny

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestressnanny

Host contact information: 

• Email: briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com



Sign up for your FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER at www.stuckinthemiddlenews.com