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Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about... - Unpacking what "shy" really means and exploring the space between shyness and social anxiety. - When to encourage your child and push them out of their comfort zone versus when it's better to respect their boundaries. - Thinking of shyness as a feeling and not a character trait - plus a script for how to articulate that distinction to your child. - Why young children may act more shy around other kids, especially in environments like a playground. - The different levels of support you can use to stretch your child with specific real-world examples of how this may sound and play out. - Saying hello is a common struggle many "shy kids" face. We're discussing whether or not you should force them to say hello. - Different parenting approaches and strategies to try based on your child's age. ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about temperament and personality with Dr. Koraly Pérez-Edgar 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about why birthday parties may be challenging for your child 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!

In honor of ADHD Awareness Month, we're talking about how mindfulness can reduce symptoms of ADHD with Dr. Lidia Zylowska. In this episode we explore: - Does having ADHD make it harder to engage in mindfulness and meditation practices? (Spoiler: Yes, but there are things we can do about that!) - What the research reveals about mindfulness in teens and adults with ADHD and the science of how a mindfulness practice strengthens neurological deficits in the brain. - Parenthood requires so much executive functioning, sensory stimulation, and stress, so often this is when the strategies we've been using to manage symptoms of ADHD fall apart. - Concrete strategies, like the best time of day, introducing aspects of physicality, and logistical considerations for how to incorporate mindfulness practice into your life when sitting still feels too difficult or daunting. - Tips for identifying what helps you personally feel less flooded that can serve as your go-to's when things start to feel scattered, stuck, or overwhelming. - The importance of self-compassion in mindfulness and how this is an often overlooked, yet key piece of mindfulness practices. If you're curious about how mindfulness can make a real difference for those with ADHD, this episode is a must-listen! LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. LIDIA: https://lidiazylowska.com/ READ LIDIA'S BOOKS: 📚 The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD: An 8-Step Program for Strengthening Attention, Managing Emotions, and Achieving Your Goals 📚 Mindfulness for Adult ADHD: A Clinician's Guide WATCH LIDIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS: 💻 MindfulRxADHD ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: 👉🏻 ADDitude 👉🏻 Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) 👉🏻 Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) GET MORE SUPPORT: 👉🏻 Go to upshurbren.com if you're interested in resources for you or your child with ADHD, including individual, group, parenting support, and neuropsychological evaluation services tailored to your unique needs. CHECK ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 The benefits of mindfulness: How to use this practice for ourselves and our children with Diana Winston 🎧 The science of "mom-rage" and how to use mindfulness as a as a tool for being less reactive with Diana Winston 🎧 ADHD and attachment security: How to connect with and support your neurodiverse child with Dr. Norrine Russell 🎧 How do I help my child with ADHD utilize school support systems without feeling embarrassed or self-conscious?

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about... - What are the advantages of telehealth appointments and the ability to do virtual sessions from anywhere. - Do the full range of emotions and subtle nuances get lost when you're talking through a screen? (Spoiler: Our brains fill in so much it often feels like we're in the same room.) - What to consider to determine if virtual therapy may not be the best option for you. - The different levels of interventions and the types of support that can match up with each. - If you are doing virtual therapy, how to maximize the experience and specific strategies to implement to make your sessions most effective. - What is the difference between therapy and mental health coaching and what are the different rules for each based on the state you live in. REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES: 👉🏻 If you're interested in exploring our therapy and coaching support services, feel free to reach out to us at Upshur Bren Psychology Group for a free 15-minute consultation so we can suggest a treatment plan for your unique needs. ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about newborn sleep with Greer Kirshenbaum 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about staying mindful in postpartum and early parenthood with Dr. Kira Bartlett 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about going back to work after maternity leave with Lauren Smith Brody 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!

Here to talk about the unique challenges that come from pregnancy and postpartum with multiples is the founder of Gold Coast Doulas, Kristin Revere. In this episode we explore: - What exactly is a doula and how can doulas be helpful for expecting and postpartum parents, especially for those with multiples? - Understanding the emotional, physical, and logistical stress associated with having twins or triplets. - Resources that are available and insurance coverage options broken down for those seeking access to doula care (whether you're having one baby or more). - A framework—including the most important questions to ask—when looking for a doula that can meet your family's unique needs and best support you. - The difference between a night nurse and a postpartum doula and what to consider to determine what type of care would be best for your family. - Baby registry tips, postpartum strategies, and what an average day with a doula supporting multiples may look like. If you've ever wondered what a doula does and how they can help, especially if you're expecting multiples, this conversation is for you! SHOW NOTES: (link) LEARN MORE ABOUT KRISTIN & GOLD COAST DOULAS: https://www.goldcoastdoulas.com/ READ HER BOOK: 📚 Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby by Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase LISTEN TO HER PODCAST: 🎧 Ask The Doulas Podcast ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: Fertility, birth, and postpartum insurance and care resources: - Carrot - Progyny - Maven - Tricare - MomsBloom 🤳 DOWNLOAD my free postpartum mental health checklist 💻 WATCH my free workshop, Confident Parenting from the Start, to get tools and strategies that you can put into practice right away to challenge self-doubt, put an end to your panic-Googling, and finally find the ease and enjoyment in early parenthood! 👉🏻 JOIN ME in The Authentic Parent, my comprehensive self-paced course that takes my workshop to the next level and teaches you everything you need to know (that no one tells you ahead of time) for how to confidently move through your first year of parenthood. CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Maternal mental health throughout pregnancy and parenthood with birth doula Carson Meyer 🎧 Rethinking the birth plan: How to create a plan with your OBGYN that supports resilience and reduces anxiety with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany 🎧 NICU survival guide: Establishing a secure attachment even when your child is in the hospital with the founders of NICU Nook 🎧 Beyond postpartum depression: A breakdown of all PMADs 🎧 Becoming a grandparent: Embracing the complicated identity shifts that come when your baby has a baby with Carol Merle- Fishman

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... - Dr. Rebecca shares how she made the decision of whether or not to send her own two children to sleep-away camp. (Spoiler: She chose to send her older child, not her younger son.) - The logistical and financial pointers to think of that can potentially buy you some extra time to make this decision. - Is it better to send them when they're not ready, or hold them back for a year and risk the potential consequences? Dr. Sarah and Dr. Rebecca share what they suggest parents do if you're on the fence. - The developmental milestones and skills you want to look for to help you decide if your kid may be ready for camp. - Should you send your kid to sleep-away camp? It all boils down to a simple-single answer (a Beyond the Sessions first!) 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!

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Lauren Smith Brody, author and founder of The Fifth Trimester, as we explore the realities and challenges of being a working parent. In this episode we discuss: - The one thing that Lauren has observed to most galvanize people to stand up for their needs and their family's needs in the workplace. - Dr. Sarah shares the oh-so-relatable working-mom struggle that led her to be 8 months pregnant, crying alone in a coffee shop. - How to step back and identify if the "rules" aren't working for you and how you can start to feel more empowered to break them (even when it's hard!) - A simple strategy for making it easier for your work to say yes to your requests (Hint: The first step is understanding why it's an economically good decision for your boss to make the accommodations you're requesting.) - What a small business owner can do to support working parents when they don't necessarily have the financial resources to do all the big-ticket items they wish they could. - How employers can help their teams "resentment-proof" their career and their lives with solutions for the future. Tune in for a conversation packed with insights on how to empower working moms and transform workplace culture! LEARN MORE ABOUT LAUREN SMITH BRODY: https://www.thefifthtrimester.com/ READ LAUREN'S BOOK: 📚 The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom's Guide to Style, Sanity, and Success After Baby LEARN MORE ABOUT CHAMBER OF MOTHERS: https://chamberofmothers.com/ VOTE LIKE A MOTHER: https://chamberofmothers.com/vote-like-a-mother/ ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: 🎧 LISTEN to my podcast interview with fellow Chamber of Mothers member Alexis Barad-Cutler 🎧 LISTEN to my podcast interview with fellow Chamber of Mothers member Raena Boston 📚 READ The R.O.I. of Caregiving Benefits white paper

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... - What are the barriers we are grappling with as a society in terms of parental mental health? - The energy, resolve, and 'all-emcompassingness' of parenthood has long been ignored and undervalued in our society. - Is it okay for moms to make themselves a priority, even over the long list of your child's needs? - Our answer may (but hopefully won't) surprise you. - Is the "parenting industrial complex" causing parents to feel more shame, fear, and dependency? - How to tune into your instinct and feel empowered knowing you're the expert on your own kid. - Getting through the misinformation and noise to help you take some of the pressure off your shoulders. - What parents (and everyone) can do to support parental mental health! REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES: 📚 U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents 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!

Join me for a deep dive into the essential aspects of emotional regulation in parenting with clinical psychologist, Dr. Amber Thornton. In this episode we explore: - Cognitive, emotional, physical, and physiological regulation - the differences between all four and how this knowledge can help you feel more grounded. - Dr. Amber shares her PCR Method that parents can use to identify and manage their own dysregulation. - How to understand your parenting triggers (because we all have them!) so you can use more effective strategies tailored to your unique nervous system. - Gain practical approaches for reparenting yourself to meet the needs of your younger self. - Why being an imperfect parent is actually beneficial, and even optimal, for your child's development! - How understanding the scientific principles of attachment theory can help reduce fear and lower the stakes we feel in parenthood. Discover practical strategies to help you navigate the challenges of parenthood while fostering a healthier connection with your children. LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. AMBER: https://www.dramberthornton.com/ READ DR. AMBER'S BOOK: 📚 A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation: A Practical Framework for Breaking the Cycle of Dysregulation and Mastering Emotions for Parents and Children WATCH DR. AMBER ON YOUTUBE: 💻 https://www.youtube.com/@dramberthornton ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: 👉🏻 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. 👉🏻 Click HERE to download my free guide, The Four Pillars of Fostering Secure Attachment, helping you parent with a focus on attunement and trust. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @dramberthornton @drsarahbren CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 The psychology behind dysregulation with Cara Goodwin 🎧 Teaching children emotion regulation skills through coregulation with Dana Rosenbloom 🎧 What to do before, during and after we lose our cool: Helping parents navigate their own big feelings with Dr. Cindy Hovington

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about... - What is a phobia, and how can it show up (like, for this 7-year-old who developed a fear of vomiting after having a stomach bug) in kids? - How to recognize when your child's phobia or anxiety might require additional support versus when soothing and comfort may be enough to help them through their discomfort. - When to treat child anxiety or phobias with CBT and when to use a SPACE approach - and how to determine the best fit for your child. - What a supportive statement is and how it can be a powerful first step to helping your child manage their fears (plus, why mastering it can mean your job as a parent is done!) - A counterintuitive approach: how reframing our own responsibility to focus on our responses and behaviors rather than trying to change our child's behavior can take a huge weight and pressure off a parent's shoulders. - The biggest mistake that Dr. Sarah and Dr. Emily see parents make when they try to implement a SPACE approach - and how to avoid this pitfall. REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES: 📚 Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents by Eli R. Lebowitz, PhD 👉🏻 If you're interested in exploring support options for your child's anxiety, including SPACE small groups and one-on-one interventions, feel free to reach out to us at Upshur Bren Psychology Group for a free 15-minute consultation so we can suggest a treatment plan for your unique needs. WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHILDHOOD ANXIETY: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about the creator of SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) Dr. Eli Lebowitz 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about using SPACE to treat ARFID with Dr. Yaara Shimshoni 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about when it may be time for a mental health intervention to help your child manage their anxiety symptoms 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about navigating your child's anxiety with Dr. Terri Bacow 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!

After the birth of her daughter, Catherine Price noticed a disconnect—her baby was looking up at her, while she was looking down at her phone. This sparked her interest in understanding why our phones are so hard to put down, what that's doing to our memory, creativity, and overall lived experience, and how we can break free from the grip of technology to live more intentional lives. In this episode we explore: - Catherine's definition of fun: The overlapping of playfulness, connection, and flow. Plus, how understanding each can help us experience genuine fun that refills our buckets. - When our jobs don't have a clear start time and end time, it can become addicting to staying connected 24/7. Tune in for specific strategies to intentionally combat this. - Catherine coaches Dr. Sarah through the relatable struggles she and so many parents experience when attempting to put down the phone (Sneak peek: it's taken her 6 months to plug in the alarm clock she bought instead of using her phone next to her bed.) - An easy first step people can take to cut the cord with their phone. - Strategies for when and how to communicate with your kids about screen time (that don't cause them to shut down or feel defensive). Plus, how to break down the process of getting your kid their first phone into smaller steps that usher them more gradually into the digital world. - Setting appropriate tech boundaries that honor your family's values while also taking into consideration how much of kids' social lives are facilitated through technology today. Listen now for insights and actionable tips to help you free yourself from your screens to have more fun! LEARN MORE ABOUT CATHERINE PRICE: https://catherineprice.com/ READ CATHERINE'S BOOKS: 📚 The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again 📚 How to Break Up with Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life JOIN CATHERINE'S SUBSTACK: 📖 How to Feel Alive with Catherine Price ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: 👉🏻 Click HERE to sign up for Dr. Sarah's newsletter to find out if she is able to complete Catherine's challenge to take her phone out of her bedroom for the weekend! 🤳 Opal - The app Dr. Sarah said she uses to help her manage her screen time. 📱 ScreenZen, Brick, and Unpluq- Products Catherine recommends to help people manage their screen use. 📺 Watch Diane Sawyer's ABC News report, Screen Time 📳 Pinwheel, Gabb, and Troomi - Kid and teen phones Catherine mentions in the episode. 📚 Read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and the The New York Times essay, Gen Z Has Regrets by Jonathan Haidt and Will Johnson CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Regulation, reward systems, and rest: Rewiring the way our kids interact with screens with Alé Duarte 🎧 How play could be the key to mental health and well-being with Dr. Mike Rucker 🎧 What are the do's and don't for introducing screens to my toddler? 🎧 Helping our children form a healthy relationship to technology with Emily Cherkin