Securely Attached

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about how to support a child who is struggling to communicate with their peers.
 
Together we explore:
 
- The difference between scaffolding and helicopter parenting, and how to find the right balance.
- How your goals for a playdate can shape how much you step in.
- The role of context, including the child your kid is playing with and how familiar they are with each other.
- What scaffolding can actually look like in the moment, beyond just helping with words.
- How narrating and "sportscasting" interactions can support both kids without taking over.
- How to tune into your child's cues to determine whether something is truly a problem.
- The trap of overthinking and how to recognize when things might actually be going just fine.
 
This episode will help you feel more confident in knowing when to step in, when to step back, and how to support your child's social and communication skills in a way that builds both competence and connection.
 
 
 
REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES:
 
👉 Want extra support in your parenting journey? Upshur Bren Psychology Group offers therapy and coaching to give parents the tools to feel more grounded and confident as they navigate parenthood and learn how to most effectively support their child. Visit upshurbren.com to explore our services and schedule a free 30-minute consultation call to find the support that's right for your family.
 
 
CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about helping a child who struggles with perfectionism 
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about what to do if your child is reading below their grade level, but resistant to going to tutoring 
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about fostering secure attachments in peer relationships
 
 
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!

Nurse and founder of My Lice Advice, Theresa, joins me to talk about one of the most common (and surprisingly emotional) parenting challenges: lice. While lice is something most families will encounter at some point, it often brings a wave of panic, shame, and overwhelm. But as Theresa explains, it doesn't have to.
 
Together, we explore:
 
- Why lice has become so stigmatized and what's actually driving the shame parents feel.
- The biggest myths about lice (including cleanliness and how it spreads).
- What lice actually is and how it's passed from child to child.
- How to talk to your child about lice in a way that is calm, clear, and shame-free.
- What you do not need to clean (and how to avoid unnecessary overwhelm).
- The most effective ways to treat lice based on current research.
- What to look for to know a treatment has actually worked.
- Simple prevention strategies that can reduce the likelihood of future cases.
- How to stay regulated and approach lice as something manageable, not catastrophic.
 
This conversation is about more than just lice. It's about how we respond to the unexpected moments in parenting, how we manage our own anxiety, and how we model calm, capable problem-solving for our kids.
 
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:
🔗 My Lice Advice 
💻 My Life Advice on YouTube 
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT ME:
🔗 Dr. Sarah Bren 
🔗 Check out my group practice, Upshur Bren Psychology Group, offering therapy and coaching for individuals, children, parents, and families 
📱IG: @drsarahbren
 
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:
 
🔗 Nit Free Terminator Lice Comb
 
👉 Want extra support in your parenting journey? Upshur Bren Psychology Group offers therapy and coaching to give parents the tools to feel more grounded and confident as they navigate parenthood and learn how to most effectively support their child. Visit upshurbren.com to explore our services and schedule a free 30-minute consultation call to find the support that's right for your family.
 
 
CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to ease your child's anxiety for doctors visits with pediatrician Dr. Rachel Geronemus
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about social anxiety in parenthood with Justine Carino

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about what to do when your child goes from calm to meltdown in what feels like seconds, especially during everyday moments like turning off the TV, leaving the park, or cleaning up.
 
Together we explore:
 
- Why going from "0 to 60" is actually more common than you think, especially for sensitive kids.
- How setting and holding limits can still be the right thing to do, even when it leads to a meltdown.
- The mindset shift that can help you feel less frustrated when big reactions happen.
- The role of transitions and why they can feel so much harder for kids than they do for adults.
- Practical ways to anticipate and soften tough moments before they escalate.
- How things like hunger, fatigue, and overwhelm can make reactions bigger and faster.
- Simple strategies like giving warnings, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and joining your child in the process.
- Why slowing down and pausing can sometimes be more effective than escalating your response.
 
This episode will help you better understand why your child's reactions can feel so sudden and intense, and how to respond in a way that keeps you grounded, holds your boundaries, and supports your child through those big feelings.
 
 
 
REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES:
 
📚The Tantrum Survival Guide: Tune In to Your Toddler's Mind (and Your Own) to Calm the Craziness and Make Family Fun Again
 
👉Click HERE for my workshop, Be the Calm in Your Child's Storm: How to Keep Your Cool When Your Child Loses Theirs, to get the exact therapeutic interventions I use with my patients that can change the way your brain and body interprets your child's dysregulation to help you stay cool in the heat of the moment.
 
💥 Tired of constant battles with your child? Watch my ✨FREE✨ workshop, Overcoming Power Struggles, where I'll teach you the exact strategies I use in my clinical practice to help parents break free from the cycle of yelling, threats, and negotiations—and instead foster cooperation, connection, and calm. Just visitdrsarahbren.com/powerstruggles to get instant access to this workshop.
 
 
CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about using Collaborative Problem Solving to navigate power struggles, tantrums, and challenging behaviors with Dr. Stuart Ablon
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about helping "Big Reactors" learn to regulate and manage their intense emotions with Claire Lerner
 
 
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!

Katherine Miller, author of The Emotionally Savvy Divorce and collaborative law professional, joins me to talk about what it actually means to navigate divorce in a way that reduces conflict, supports your well-being, and protects your children.
 
Together, we explore:
 
The difference between reacting and responding, and how this shift can change the outcome of conflict.
Why most divorce conflict is not actually about what you're fighting about, but what's underneath it.
The concept of the "conflict trap" and why the same arguments repeat over and over.
Simple strategies to pause in heated moments.
How to communicate more effectively with a co-parent, even when they are not being collaborative.
What collaborative divorce is and how it helps families reduce conflict and make more thoughtful decisions.
Why "winning" in divorce often backfires, especially when children are involved.
How to shift the dynamic with a high-conflict partner without escalating the situation.
 
This conversation is not just about divorce. It's about learning how to use your emotions as information, stay grounded under pressure, and respond in ways that align with your long-term goals.
 
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:
🔗 Miller Law Group  
📚 The Emotionally Savvy Divorce: Smart Negotiations for a Clean Break
📱 IG: @millerlaw_ny FB: Miller Law Group NY 
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT ME:
🔗 https://drsarahbren.com/ 
📱 IG: @drsarahbren
 
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:
👉 Navigating separation or divorce? Upshur Bren Psychology Group offers specialized support at every stage of the process, including therapy and coaching, parenting and co-parenting support, family therapy, and weekly divorce groups for women and children. Whether you're in the middle of a split or adjusting to a new family structure, our team is here to help you and your children feel steady and supported. Visit upshurbren.com to learn more or schedule a free 30-minute consultation call to find the right support for your family.
 
🔗 International Academy of Collaborative Professionals 
 
 
CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about busting divorce myths and breaking down the true effect it has on children Michelle Dempsey-Multack
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about the legal considerations parents need to know with matrimonial attorney Lisa Zeiderman
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about navigating high-conflict divorce while prioritizing your own needs and attachment relationships with Karen McMahon
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about whether "nesting" during a divorce is better for your kids

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about...
 
Why many parents worry that using the word "autism" might make their child feel different or labeled, and how to think about that fear.
What research and clinical experience suggest about telling your child sooner rather than later.
How giving a diagnosis a name can actually feel empowering and help your child make sense of their experiences.
What it looks like to take a neuroaffirming, strengths-based approach when talking about autism.
How to explain autism to a young child in developmentally appropriate, non-pathologizing language.Why this doesn't have to be one big, serious conversation and how to follow your child's lead over time.
The value of being the one who defines what autism means for your child, before the world does.
Simple ways to normalize and support your child through representation, stories, and everyday conversations.
 
This episode will help you understand how to talk about neurodiversity in a way that feels simple, affirming, and age-appropriate, so your child can better understand their brain, their strengths, and the ways they experience the world.
 
 
REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES:
 
🔗 Every child deserves to feel safe, understood, and supported, and every parent deserves a place to turn. At Upshur Bren Psychology Group, we offer a full continuum of autism services: diagnostic testing, individual therapy, and parent support groups for families raising children and young adults on the spectrum. Visit upshurbren.com or schedule a free 30-minute consultation call to learn more about support options for you and your child.
 
📚 Different Thinkers: Autism by Katia Fredriksen PhD and Yael Rothman PhD
 
📚 Wonderfully Wired Brains: An Introduction to the World of Neurodiversity
 
 
CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to help autistic kids build joy, confidence, and connection with Dr. Peter Vermeulen
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about treating autism with a strength based approach with Dr. Lynn Kern Koegel
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about whether a neuropsych Evaluation is right for your child with Dr. Yael Rothman & Dr. Katia Fredriksen
 
🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to modify traditional sleep strategies for neurodiverse brains with Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown
 
 
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!