Securely Attached is your go-to parenting podcast, supporting moms and dads from pregnancy all the way through their child's adolescence and every stage in betw...
291. Q&A: How can I help my child who’s scared every small injury is an emergency?
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... - What to do when your reassurances to your child doesn’t help soothe their anxiety. - A sample script of the type of thing you can say (and wait to try to avoid saying) to help your child believe that they can cope with the feeling of anxiety. - When our good intentions go bad - some of the most common “mistakes” parents make when navigating their child’s anxiety. - Understanding the difference between temporarily soothing your child’s fears and using a more effective long-term solution. - Is it anxiety? The questions to ask yourself to help you determine if your child is experiencing anxiety beyond a normative level. - How to tell your child you are going to start doing things differently when they start feeling anxious. - Should you respond differently when your child’s anxiety is fueled by something that is possible (like a medical misdiagnosis) rather than something we as adults know are impossible (like a monster under the bed)? REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode with Eli Lebowitz about SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) that he developed 👉🏻 If you're interested in exploring SPACE and the treatment options for childhood anxiety, CLICK HERE to learn about the support options at Upshur Bren Psychology Group or SCHEDULE A FREE CALL to learn more about the available resources for your unique needs. ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about managing your child's separation anxiety 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about that will help your determine when it's time to seek support managing your child's anxiety 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about school refusal with Dr. Erica Miller 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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290. Self sacrifice, mom-guilt, and martyrdom in motherhood: Fighting against the pressure to be perfect with Gayane Aramyan
In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Gayane Aramyan joins me to unpack the “perfect mom” pressure so many of us contend with on a daily basis. In this episode we cover: - Why our expectations of motherhood often don’t match reality—and how to stop blaming ourselves when they don’t. - The hidden ways control fuels anxiety and overwhelm, and how loosening our grip can make parenting easier. - The power of flexibility in parenting, and why giving yourself permission to adapt can be a game-changer. - What to do when you reach a stage of your child’s development that you simply don’t enjoy. - The key support systems to have in place before entering motherhood to make the transition smoother. - The differences we’re seeing with millennial mothers from what has been considered norms of the past. - How to know when the mom-guilt you feel is getting in the way of your parenting and strategies for challenging it. If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling short of the motherhood ideal, this conversation is here to remind you: You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to be you. LEARN MORE ABOUT GAYANE: https://www.therapywithgayane.com/ FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: 📱@therapywithgayane 📱 @drsarahbren CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Breaking the perfectionist mold: How embracing the messy middle is healthier for you and your kids with Monica Packer 🎧 Motherhood as a Millennial: Tuning out the noise and learning to find trust in ourselves with Marcella Kelson 🎧 Social anxiety in parenthood: Navigating play dates, mom-friends, and putting yourself out there with Justine Carino
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289. Q&A: My 5-year-old has been clingy and hyperfocused on one friend, is this normal?
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... - Dr. Sarah and Dr. Rebecca sympathize with this mom and reflects on how great it would be if we could choose our kid’s friends - but offer a mindset shift for why that actually wouldn’t be healthy. - Who to turn to for support to help you determine what your best course of action might be. - A statement you can say to your child that can help you begin to understand why they may be exhibiting more clingy behaviors. - How to get to the root of your own anxieties and fears so you can determine what you might be projecting onto your kids versus what are actual issues they need support navigating. - What to avoid saying to your child that may unintentionally cause them to pull away from you. - A formula you can use (that works with children of all ages!) to help you know whether the questions you are asking your child will likely be helpful or may lead to increased pressure. ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about fostering secure attachments in peer relationships with Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about peer rejection 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode that will help you empower your daughter with media, body image, and societal pressures with Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein 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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288. Parenting after complex trauma: A mother's journey toward healing in parenthood with Stephanie Foo
When journalist and author Stephanie Foo was diagnosed with Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), she left her job and devoted herself to healing—a journey she chronicled in her bestselling memoir, What My Bones Know. Now, as a mother, she’s navigating what it means to parent with complex trauma, balancing the high-alert nervous system that comes with C-PTSD while trying to stay present for her child. In this powerful conversation, Stephanie shares: - The difference between PTSD and C-PTSD—and why relational healing is essential for many forms of trauma. - How motherhood reshapes the brain and why it can trigger fight-or-flight responses. - The unique challenges of rupture and repair with a child versus an adult. - Why parents with complex trauma may struggle with isolation and finding a supportive community can be so helpful. - The strategies that have helped Stephanie most, all of which are useful for any parent, with or without trauma. If you’ve ever felt like parenting is unearthing deep, unresolved parts of yourself, this episode offers both insight and hope. LEARN MORE ABOUT STEPHANIE: https://www.stephaniefoo.me/ READ STEPHANIE'S BOOK: 📚 What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: 📱@foofoofoo 📱 @drsarahbren ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: Why the "Still-Face" Experiment Was a Game-Changer The Strange Situation CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 186. Using presence as the antidote to trauma: How we begin to break cycles with Dr. Jacob Ham 🎧 204. The science of “mom-rage” and how to use mindfulness as a tool for being less reactive with Diana Winston 🎧 272. Maternal health, dyadic work, and IFS: Why specialized mental healthcare providers matter with Rebecca Geshuri and Paige Bellenbaum
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287. Q&A: Is my guilt over being a working mom hurting my parenting?
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... - Dr. Sarah and Dr. Rebecca debate whether mom-guilt is inherent to all mothers or a societally structured construct (Spoiler: Dr. Rebecca wins this battle!) - The critical distinction between distress and guilt and why one can be a destructive grenade in parenting. - Releasing guilt is a form of activism - we're explaining why. - How to course correct once you’ve noticed you’re parenting from a space of guilt. - The question to ask yourself that can help guide your behaviors as a parent that come from a place of attunement and trust, rather than guilt or fear. - Using a “values-driven” distinction to help you determine the root reasons you are making certain decisions, and how bringing this into your consciousness can be helpful. ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about turning parenthood into a career asset with Lauren Smith Brody 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about managing working parent guilt with Daisy Dowling 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about balancing parenthood, partnership, and work with Dr. Yael Schonbrun 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!
Securely Attached is your go-to parenting podcast, supporting moms and dads from pregnancy all the way through their child's adolescence and every stage in between.
Join us every Tuesday as clinical psychologist and mom of two Dr. Sarah Bren shares her expertise and interviews top experts in the field, simplifying complicated concepts and pulling back the curtain on the brain science and psychology that drives and shapes the parent-child relationship.
And now, every Thursday, Dr. Sarah Bren is joined by Dr. Emily Upshur and Dr. Rebecca Hershberg for a special segment, Beyond The Sessions. We’re answering YOUR parenting questions from the perspective of clinical psychologists highly trained in developmental science and real-life moms who get that parenting is messy, and sometimes we have to laugh, cry, and throw out the “rules.”
From toddler tantrums, to effective discipline strategies, to leaning into the principles of respectful parenting, and to managing your own mental wellness as a parent—this podcast is your ultimate resource for judgment-free, research-backed information you know you can trust.
About Sarah Bren, PhD
Dr. Sarah Bren is a licensed clinical psychologist and mom of two who helps parents understand the building blocks of child development and how secure relationships form and thrive. Her work is focused on helping parents find their inner confidence so they can respond to any parenting problem that comes along and raise kids who are healthy, resilient, and kind.
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