The Child Psych Podcast

Is gentle parenting creating calmer, more connected families—or are some parents accidentally raising children who struggle with frustration, responsibility, and resilience?In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, child psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson take an honest look at one of the most talked-about parenting approaches today: gentle parenting. While the principles of connection, empathy, and emotional validation are powerful tools for raising emotionally healthy children, problems can arise when gentle parenting is misunderstood or applied without clear boundaries and expectations.Across social media, many parents are receiving conflicting messages about discipline, consequences, emotional regulation, and behavior management. As a result, some families find themselves stuck in cycles of negotiation, power struggles, emotional exhaustion, and increasing child anxiety.In this conversation, Tammy and Tania explore the difference between true gentle parenting and permissive parenting, why children need both connection and boundaries, and how parents can respond to challenging behaviour without resorting to punishment, shame, or fear.In this episode, we discuss:Gentle parenting vs. permissive parentingWhy boundaries are essential for children's emotional securityThe role of consequences in healthy child developmentHow over-accommodation can increase anxiety in childrenRaising resilient, responsible, and emotionally regulated kidsCommon parenting mistakes that can unintentionally reinforce challenging behaviourHow to balance empathy, authority, and connectionWhether you're parenting a toddler, child, or teenager, this conversation will help you better understand what children truly need to thrive and why effective parenting requires both warmth and leadership. If you've ever wondered whether you're being too strict, too lenient, or somewhere in between, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Childhood anxiety is more common than many parents realize — and it often shows up in ways that leave families feeling confused, overwhelmed, and unsure how to help.In this compassionate and practical episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we explore how worries take shape in a child’s mind, why anxiety can feel so overwhelming in the body, and what parents can do to help children build confidence, resilience, and bravery in the face of fear.Inspired by the ideas behind Shrink Your Worries, this conversation focuses on practical, child-friendly strategies that help children understand anxious thoughts, calm their nervous systems, and slowly face the situations that feel scary instead of avoiding them.Together, we unpack one of the most important truths about anxiety: the goal is not to eliminate fear completely, but to help children learn they are capable of moving through fear with support, courage, and connection.We discuss why anxious thoughts often grow bigger when children avoid difficult situations, how reassurance can sometimes accidentally reinforce anxiety, and why small steps toward bravery can create powerful long-term change. Parents will also learn how to respond to anxious moments in ways that help children feel safe, capable, and emotionally supported.This episode is filled with gentle encouragement and practical tools for parents, educators, and professionals supporting anxious children.In This Episode, We Discuss:Why childhood anxiety can feel so overwhelming for kidsHow anxious thoughts grow and take holdWhy avoidance unintentionally strengthens anxiety over timeHelping children calm their bodies during anxious momentsPractical strategies to build bravery and resilienceHow parents can respond without reinforcing fearSupporting children through worries with calm, connection, and encouragementWhy confidence grows when children face fears in small, manageable stepsTo find out more about Poppy, click here , more here too on Poppy's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poppyoneillbooks/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special sneak peek from the upcoming ICP Summit 2026, we are joined by Dr. Robert Melillo — renowned clinician, researcher, author of Disconnected Kids, and creator of the Brain Balance Program.This fascinating and thought-provoking conversation explores a question many parents ask themselves every day:Why is my child struggling so much despite trying so hard?Drawing from decades of research and clinical work, Dr. Melillo explains how subtle imbalances in brain development may contribute to challenges such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, OCD, learning difficulties, emotional dysregulation, sensory sensitivities, and behavioral struggles.Together, we unpack the concept of functional disconnection syndrome — differences in communication between regions of the brain, particularly between the hemispheres — and how these imbalances can impact attention, emotional regulation, learning, coordination, behavior, and social functioning.Most importantly, this episode offers hope.Dr. Melillo explains the incredible power of neuroplasticity and how the developing brain can strengthen, grow, and change through targeted intervention and supportive experiences. We explore holistic, brain-based approaches that support children from the bottom up, including movement therapies, sensory stimulation, nutrition, cognitive exercises, and environmental supports designed to strengthen neural pathways and improve long-term functioning.Whether you are parenting a child with ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning challenges, or simply trying to better understand your child’s nervous system and development, this episode offers a compassionate and deeply informative perspective.In This Episode, We Discuss:What “functional disconnection syndrome” meansHow brain imbalances may impact behavior, learning, and emotional regulationThe connection between neurodevelopment and ADHD, autism, dyslexia, OCD, and sensory challengesWhy struggling children are often misunderstoodThe science of neuroplasticity and how the brain can changeMovement-based and sensory-based interventions for brain developmentThe role of nutrition, cognitive exercises, and environmental supportWhy a holistic, brain-based approach can help children thriveThis episode is a powerful reminder that beneath every challenging behavior is a developing brain asking for understanding, support, and the right kind of help.LINK TO HIS BEST-SELLING BOOK--> https://a.co/d/0jdB23nD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode is a special sneak peek from one of the powerful masterclasses featured in the upcoming ICP Summit 2026 — and if your child has a smartphone, gaming console, or social media account, this is a conversation you cannot afford to miss.In this urgent and eye-opening episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we sit down with Constable Scott Sterling and Constable Stephanie Bosch from the Internet Child Exploitation Unit to talk about what is really happening behind children’s screens today.Together, we unpack the growing realities families are facing online — including sextortion, online grooming, explicit image sharing, gaming-based exploitation, and the emotional devastation many children experience when private images are spread or threats begin.But this conversation is not about panic or fear.It is about prevention, awareness, and giving parents the knowledge they need before a crisis happens.Scott and Stephanie explain how offenders build trust with children through games, social media apps, and private messaging platforms, why even “good kids from good homes” are vulnerable, and what warning signs parents should never ignore. Most importantly, they share practical, immediate strategies parents can use to reduce risk, strengthen communication, and create homes where children feel safe asking for help.We also discuss:What to say to your child tonight about online safetyThe biggest mistakes parents unknowingly make onlineWhat to do immediately if your child is being threatened or sextortedWhy shame keeps many children silentThe emotional impact online exploitation has on kids and teensHow connection and open communication protect children more than monitoring aloneThis is one of the most important conversations we’ve had for parents navigating today’s digital world.Please listen. Share it. And start the conversation before your child needs it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

n this deeply emotional and validating episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we’re joined by Rebecca Geshuri — licensed marriage and family therapist, IFS-informed clinician, perinatal mental health specialist, and co-author of When Good Moms Feel Bad.This conversation speaks directly to the mothers carrying invisible guilt, shame, rage, anxiety, exhaustion, and the quiet fear that they are somehow failing their children despite loving them deeply.Rebecca helps us understand a profound truth: the mothers who care the most often struggle the most.Together, we explore how Internal Family Systems (IFS) offers a compassionate and transformative framework for understanding motherhood—not through blame or pathology, but through the lens of nervous systems, emotional overwhelm, and protective “parts” that emerge during stress. Rebecca explains the difference between our “Good Mom” parts and “Bad Mom” parts, why maternal rage is often rooted in unmet needs and overload, and how shame keeps so many mothers suffering silently and alone.We also discuss the powerful concept of unblending—learning to create space from overwhelming emotions so parents can respond instead of react in difficult moments. Rebecca offers deep reassurance to parents terrified that their anger or dysregulation has already harmed their children, reminding us that repair, reconnection, and nervous system safety matter far more than perfection.Most importantly, this episode introduces listeners to the idea of the “Inner Mom”—the calm, compassionate internal leader that already exists within every parent, even when overwhelm makes it hard to access.This is a conversation every mother deserves to hear.In This Episode, We Discuss:Why loving your child deeply can sometimes make parenting feel harderMaternal rage, anxiety, guilt, and shame through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS)The difference between “Good Mom” and “Bad Mom” partsWhy mothers often feel emotionally flooded and reactiveHow shame keeps parents isolated and suffering silentlyThe power of unblending during triggering parenting momentsWhy repair matters more than perfection in parent-child relationshipsHow healing a mother’s inner world supports a child’s attachment and regulationAccessing the calm, compassionate “Inner Mom” during overwhelmIf you’ve ever whispered to yourself, “Why is this so hard if I love my child this much?” — this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and far less alone.Find Rebecca on social @rebeccageshurilmftHere is the link to her new book, "When Good Mom's Feel Bad" : https://rebeccageshurilmft.com/book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson tackle one of the most painful moments in parenting: when your child looks at you and says, “I hate you.”Those words can sting, shock, and even shake your confidence as a parent. But Tammy and Tania explain why this moment is far less about hatred — and far more about big feelings, overwhelmed nervous systems, and developing brains that don’t yet have the skills to say what they truly mean.You’ll learn what’s actually happening beneath those words, why kids often say this to the people they feel safest with, and how your response in that moment can either escalate the situation or help your child return to regulation.In this conversation, we cover:• why “I hate you” is often a sign of emotional overload, not disrespect• how brain development limits kids’ ability to express complex feelings• what not to say in the moment• how to stay calm when you feel hurt or triggered👀 Something Big Is Coming for Parents…We’re launching The Parent Coach — and trust us, you’re going to want this in your back pocket. More details soon!The 2026 ICP Parenting Summit is coming!Join us March 16–19 for 35+ expert masterclasses and four interactive half-day workshops, featuring leading voices like Ross Greene, Laura Markham, Robert Melillo, Lawrence Cohen, Kim John Payne, and Jon Fogel. We’ll be diving into the topics parents need most: screens, discipline, anxiety, emotional regulation, neurodiversity, resilience, play, and more.The summit is completely free, and VIP packages include lifetime access, toolkits, certificates, and a digital copy of The Parenting Handbook.Click here to save your seat!• how to repair and reconnect after the storm has passed• ways to build emotional skills so these explosions happen less oftenTammy and Tania share compassionate, practical strategies that help parents lead with steadiness instead of shame or punishment. You’ll walk away understanding how to hold boundaries while still protecting your connection — even in the hardest moments.If you’ve ever felt crushed, angry, or unsure what to do after hearing those words, this episode will help you see them differently and respond in a way that strengthens your relationship rather than strains it.A must-listen for parents raising emotionally healthy, resilient kids. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deeply heartfelt episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we’re joined by Princess Noor of Jordan — author, mother, and passionate advocate for emotionally healthy childhoods.Together, we explore something many parents overlook: how stories can become powerful emotional tools for children struggling with anxiety, overwhelm, big feelings, and self-expression.Drawing from her beautiful children’s books Sometimes, Pandy’s Book of Thanks, and Whisper’s Journey, Princess Noor shares how storytelling can help children feel safe enough to name emotions, process difficult experiences, and build deeper self-worth, compassion, and emotional resilience.This conversation is filled with gentle wisdom for parents raising sensitive children in an overwhelming world. We talk about mindfulness, gratitude, emotional awareness, and the quiet moments of connection that often matter most. Princess Noor also shares how motherhood shaped her writing, how her Jordanian heritage influences the messages within her stories, and why emotional connection—not perfection—is what children remember most.If you’ve ever wondered how to help your child through big emotions without forcing conversations, this episode offers a beautiful reminder: sometimes healing begins with simply sitting together and reading a story.In This Episode, We Discuss:How storytelling helps children process emotions safelyWhy emotionally intelligent kids are built through connection, not correctionSupporting anxious, sensitive, or overwhelmed children through books and shared momentsTeaching mindfulness, kindness, gratitude, and compassion in everyday lifeThe emotional power of slowing down and being fully present with our childrenWhy stories often say what children cannot yet put into words themselves Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.