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• Breath-holding spells in children: What's normal, what's not, and how to stay calm with pediatrician Dr. Caity Gilman

  Pediatrician Dr. Caity Gilman joins me this week to unpack breath-holding spells, those frightening moments when a child turns blue or pale, goes limp, or briefly loses consciousness during intense emotion or dysregulation or pain.   Together we explore:   - The two types of breath-holding spells and what triggers each of them. - Are certain children more prone to these episodes based on genetics, temperament, or other factors? - What should parents do in the moment to keep their child safe, and how to know when it's time to call their pediatrician. - What parents can do after a spell to comfort their child. - Do these spells cause any long-term harm, or are they truly benign? - How to support your child's emotion regulation and frustration tolerance between episodes.   If you're currently navigating breath-holding spells, or you simply want to feel more prepared for the unexpected moments that come with raising little ones, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance from both a pediatrician and a fellow parent who has lived this experience firsthand.     LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST: 🔗 Dr. Caity Gilman  🎧 Listen to Caity's first episode about vaccine safety      LEARN MORE ABOUT ME: 🔗 drsarahbren.com   📱 @drsarahbren     CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about what to do if your child is afraid of going to the doctor 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about temperament, personality, and parenting with Dr. Koraly Pérez-Edgar 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about helping "Big Reactors" learn to regulate and manage their intense emotions with Claire Lerner

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• Q&A: How do I start making meaningful holiday traditions with my kids when all they want is presents?

  Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...   - How to start holiday traditions when you have a toddler and a new baby (without adding more pressure and stress to your plate!) - Setting realistic expectations so you don't feel disappointed if the picture in your head and the reality with your kids look very different. - How to stay flexible as your kids grow, their interests change, and your family evolves. - Why kids often latch onto those unexpected and unplanned moments of joy and togetherness - and how realizing this can help take some of the pressure off parents. - Simple ways to create meaningful holiday rituals, avoid overwhelm, and set a tone of joy, connection, and calm for your family this season.   Whether you're navigating multiple holidays, trying to balance gifts with meaning, or simply hoping to make this season feel special (without losing your mind), this episode will help you build traditions that truly fit your family and remind you that the magic often comes from doing less, not more.     ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:   🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to keep your child from becoming spoiled 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about whether elf on the shelf is unaligned (or not!) with positive parenting  🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how kids can get dysregulated from excitement too 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about what you can do to if your child gets pressured to perform for other adults     WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:   Go to https://drsarahbren.com/question to send us a question or a topic you want to hear us answer on Securely Attached - Beyond the Sessions!

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• The psychology of autonomy and growth: Building stress tolerance, confidence, and motivation with Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson

  Joining me this week are Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson, co-authors of the bestselling book The Self-Driven Child and leading experts on the neuroscience of stress, motivation, and autonomy.   Together we explore:   - Why a child's sense of control is one of the strongest predictors of resilience, mental health, and stress tolerance. - How play, rest, and unstructured time uniquely support healthy brain development. - The hidden ways over-scheduling, overstimulation, and constant "fixing" can unintentionally increase anxiety. - What it really means to be a "non-anxious presence" — and how your calm helps regulate your child's nervous system. - How to give kids space to struggle, experiment, and try hard things without overwhelming them or abandoning them. - Practical, research-backed strategies for helping kids feel both safe and capable in a world that often feels anything but.   Whether you're raising a toddler or a teen, this conversation offers a grounded, science-backed reframe for understanding stress, resilience, and autonomy — and meaningful tools you can start using today to strengthen connection and help your child thrive.     LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUESTS: 🔗 https://theselfdrivenchild.com/  🎧 The Self-Driven Child Podcast  📚 The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives 📚 The Seven Principles for Raising a Self-Driven Child: A Workbook  📚 What Do You Say?: How to Talk with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home  🎧 The neuroscience of control: Helping kids cope with stress and become self-driven with Dr. William Stixrud     FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: 📱@selfdrivenchild 📱@drbillstixrud  📱@theothernedjohnson  📱@drsarahbren   ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: 🔗 Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience 🔗 Rest Is Not Idleness: Implications of the Brain's Default Mode for Human Development and Education  🔗 A Social-Cognitive Approach to Motivation and Personality  🔗 Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Brain Maturation in Adolescents: Implications for Analyzing Longitudinal Data 📚 The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness       CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about treating childhood anxiety through SPACE with the creator of this modality Dr. Eli Lebowitz   🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about the right (and wrong!) way to foster your child's independent play   🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about the hidden dangers of an achievement centric approach with Jennifer Breheny Wallace   🎧 Listen to my podcast about how RIE can evolve into lifelong respectful parenting with Janet Lansbury   

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• Q&A: Is it normal for my toddler to constantly say they're sorry for everything?

  Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...   - If it's normal for a toddlers to say "I'm sorry" constantly, even when they haven't done anything wrong. - Breaking down child development: How repetition and "theory of mind" shape early empathy and build social awareness. - How to know when frequent apologizing is just a normal developmental phase (and when it might signal something more). - The subtle ways parents can unintentionally reinforce this habit (and some phrases and actions to try instead.) - How to respond to your child in the moment to build confidence, connection, and emotional understanding.   If your little one apologizes for every stubbed toe, sibling squabble, or frustrated sigh, this episode will help you understand what's really going on and how to gently guide them toward more accurate empathy, without worry or overcorrection.     REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES:   📚 Want practical tools to help your child learn to manage big feelings? Go to drsarahbren.com/games to download my free guide, Strengthen Your Child's Emotion Regulation Skills Through Play. It's a resource packed with simple, fun games you can play with your child to strengthen their ability to recognize, express, and regulate their emotions.     CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:   🎧Listen to my podcast episode about understanding toddlerhood with Devon Kuntzman   🎧Listen to my podcast episode about supporting your toddler's sleep with Eileen Henry   🎧Listen to my podcast episode about how not to raise a people pleaser     WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:   Go to https://drsarahbren.com/question to send us a question or a topic you want to hear us answer on Securely Attached - Beyond the Sessions!

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• A simple parenting strategy with a big impact on kids' self-regulation, attention, and creativity, with somatic therapist Alé Duarte

  Alé Duarte, somatic therapist and creator of KidSoma joins me this week to explore how tuning into your child's natural rhythms can completely transform the way you understand their emotions and reactions.   Together we unpack:   - Why play isn't a break from learning, it is the learning. - What it means to help your child "complete a cycle" so their nervous system can settle and grow. - How "unfinished cycles" can leave kids dysregulated, impulsive, or anxious—and what parents can do to help their child complete these cycles in daily life. - Realistic ways to implement these strategies even when you're juggling busy schedules, time pressures, and the realities of everyday parenting. - Why slowing down and following your child's lead can actually make mornings smoother, transitions easier, and connection deeper.   If you've ever wished you could understand what's happening underneath your child's big emotions and find a calmer rhythm for your entire family system, this conversation will change the way you see play, presence, and parenting.     LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST: 🔗Alè Duarte  🔗 Kid Soma 🎧 Regulation, reward systems, and rest: Rewiring the way our kids interact with screens with Alé Duarte       FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: 📱IG: @aleduarte_international YouTube: @aleduartetube  📱@drsarahbren     ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: 🔗 What is Somatic Experiencing?    👉 Want games specifically designed for fostering emotion regulation? Go to drsarahbren.com/games to get my free guide packed with games you can play with kids of all ages!   CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about choosing between play therapy for kids and parenting support   🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about the benefits of mindfulness    🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about using play to strengthen your child's secure attachment bond with Vered Benhorin

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