The HappyNurse Coach

The HappyNurse Coach Hi, I'm Mitchel Mallari, a dedicated and compassionate Registered Practical Nurse with over a decade of experience in the dynamic world of healthcare.

👩🏻‍🏫 Understanding Adolescence & the Teenage Brain
🧠 Applied Neuroscience | Self-Directed Neuroplasticity
• Mental Health Advocate
+ Insights
+ Strategies
+ Workshops My journey in nursing started within hospital settings, where I honed my skills, mentored students, and where my passion for caregiving truly flourished.
👨‍⚕️ Beyond my professional role, I stepped into the deeply personal realm of caregiving when I became the primary caregiver and advocate for my own father during his wild rollercoaster liver cancer ride until his final hours. This experience gave me the defining moment and firsthand insights into the challenges of caregiving and the importance of mental health that’s been overlooked or being normalized within the four corners of a nursing unit.
👩‍👧 As a single mother, I understand the demands of balancing family and personal well-being. My journey led me to embrace mindfulness as a guiding principle, believing in its transformative power for both individuals and caregivers.
🧠 Building on my nursing foundation, I pursued further education, mentored by one of the leading neuroscientist and well known psychologist of today, and earned a valuable certificate in Brain Health and Applied Neuroscience, as well as a certification in Positive Neuroplasticity. These qualifications allow me to integrate the latest science-backed strategies into my coaching practice.
🌈 Today, I offer coaching services that empower healthcare professionals and caregivers to enhance their mental health and well-being, navigate caregiving roles effectively, and embrace mindfulness for personal growth.
🌟 My mission is to make a positive impact on the mental well-being of individuals in the healthcare field and family caregiving alike, drawing from my personal and professional experiences. . I truly believe that collectively, we can cultivate mental resilience, foster well-being, and create a healthier, more fulfilling caregiving life. Let's embark on this transformative journey together. Get in touch to explore how I can support you on your path to success and well-being.

Your teenager can know they need to calm down and still struggle to get there.Under intense stress, thinking flexibly an...
10/09/2026

Your teenager can know they need to calm down and still struggle to get there.

Under intense stress, thinking flexibly and managing impulses can become harder. A longer lecture may ask more of them than they can manage in that moment.

Try fewer words, a steady voice, and room to breathe:
“I can see you’re upset. I want to understand. Let’s pause, then talk without shouting at each other.”

This is one way to practice co-regulation: offering support while keeping clear boundaries.

Some teens welcome company. Others need space before talking. Your calm can help, though it won’t guarantee an immediate change.

Once things settle, return to what happened and what needs to change.

You can make room for their feelings and still hold them responsible for their actions.

intentionalparenting

💁🏻‍♀️“I see it differently” deserves a different response from an insult.Before correcting their tone, check whether the...
10/08/2026

💁🏻‍♀️“I see it differently” deserves a different response from an insult.

Before correcting their tone, check whether the words were actually disrespectful or simply uncomfortable to hear.
You can expect courtesy, challenge their reasoning, and still let them question your decision.

Try: “You can disagree. Tell me what you think I’m missing.”
Then listen with enough openness that new information could matter.

If the decision remains unchanged, explain why.
Calling every objection “attitude” leaves little room to practice a thoughtful disagreement.

If we expect adolescence to bring selfishness and conflict, an ordinary disagreement may look like confirmation that “th...
10/06/2026

If we expect adolescence to bring selfishness and conflict, an ordinary disagreement may look like confirmation that “the difficult years have started.”

A study of 120 parent–teen pairs found associations among parents’ stereotypes about adolescents, communication quality, and wellbeing.

Confirmation bias can keep a parent’s picture of their teenager from changing, even when the teenager is changing.

“You’re older. Just let it go.”It can feel like the quickest way to end an argument. Yet when one child is repeatedly ex...
10/06/2026

“You’re older. Just let it go.”
It can feel like the quickest way to end an argument. Yet when one child is repeatedly expected to give way, they may begin to wonder, “When do my needs count?”

During adolescence, arguments about belongings and shared spaces can carry concerns about fairness, privacy, and being heard.

The borrowed hoodie might come with a history of nobody asking permission. The fight over a seat might follow several moments of feeling pushed aside.

We won’t know by looking at the argument alone.
Try asking: “What bothered you most about what happened?”

Then hold both responsibilities: understand the concern and address the behaviour. “Your belongings deserve respect. We also need to talk about how you expressed your anger.”

Some disagreements are simply about wanting the same thing. Stay curious.

Each child deserves a chance to be heard, clear boundaries, and reassurance that their needs matter, even when the answer is no.

Your teenager may have plenty to say about dinner, the Wi-Fi, or your rules, yet struggle to say, “I’ve had a hard day, ...
10/05/2026

Your teenager may have plenty to say about dinner, the Wi-Fi, or your rules, yet struggle to say, “I’ve had a hard day, and I need you.”

Recognizing what they feel and asking for support are skills they are still learning. Sometimes, wanting closeness comes out as repeated interruptions, complaints, or attempts to get a reaction.

The behaviour alone cannot tell us what is underneath. It gives us a reason to get curious.

“Do you want some time together? I’m here.”

You can also hold a boundary: “I want to listen. The name-calling needs to stop.”

Then help them find the words: “You can tell me, ‘Mum, I need a minute with you.’”

Make room for connection in ordinary moments, too. A shared snack. A short drive. A few minutes with your phone put away.

We can teach a more respectful way to ask while taking their need for connection seriously.

Your teenager says, “You never understand,” and suddenly you’re listing everything you do for them.Those words can hurt,...
10/03/2026

Your teenager says, “You never understand,” and suddenly you’re listing everything you do for them.

Those words can hurt, especially when you’re already exhausted.

💁🏻‍♀️Emotional awareness starts with noticing: “I’m hurt. I’m getting defensive. I need a moment.”

Recognizing an emotion is one step. Choosing and carrying out a response takes additional skills and practice.

You might say, “I want to hear you. I’m getting frustrated, so let’s pause and come back to this.”

You can hold a boundary and give yourself time to respond thoughtfully.

And when you catch yourself after shouting, there is still room for repair: “I raised my voice. I’m sorry. Let me try again.”
Your response influences the conversation. You can take responsibility for your part while your teenager learns to take responsibility for theirs.

When your teenager makes a mistake, there is something to address. There is also a young person watching how you see the...
10/02/2026

When your teenager makes a mistake, there is something to address. There is also a young person watching how you see them in that moment.

“You’re so irresponsible” turns a missed responsibility into a judgment about who they are.

“You missed the deadline. What needs to change next time?” gives them something they can work on.

Research suggests that parents’ responses to setbacks help shape children’s beliefs about failure and their capacity to improve.

You can hold them accountable, expect repair, and remain respectful.

The message we want them to carry is: “I can own my mistakes, learn from them, and still be worthy of love.”

Watching your teenager hurt can make you want to fix everything. Yet growing up includes disappointments, difficult conv...
10/01/2026

Watching your teenager hurt can make you want to fix everything. Yet growing up includes disappointments, difficult conversations, and mistakes they need support to work through.

Research on adolescent attachment describes a “secure base”: a relationship that offers support alongside room for independence.

That can mean sitting beside them after a rejection, helping them prepare to speak up, or expecting them to repair the harm they caused.

“I know this is hard. What can you handle, and where do you need my help?”

You give them room to practise facing life, with somewhere to turn when it gets difficult.

Your teenager is listening to your words while also noticing your expression, tone, and who else is watching.“Have you f...
09/30/2026

Your teenager is listening to your words while also noticing your expression, tone, and who else is watching.

“Have you finished your homework?” can sound like concern or criticism, depending on how it lands.

Research by Somerville and colleagues (2013) found heightened adolescent self-consciousness when being watched by peers. That helps explain why a correction in front of friends may feel especially exposing.

Keep the expectation clear, address the behaviour, and protect their dignity.

“The dishes need doing before you leave.”
Your teenager may still disagree. You can hold a boundary while making room for them to feel respected too.

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