Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...

- What is actually happening when your toddler cries over every little thing, from dropped toys to leaving the playground.

- Why saying "don't cry" often backfires, and what actually helps shorten the crying instead.

- The simple validation strategy that calms big feelings faster, even when every part of you wants the tears to stop.

- How to model emotional regulation by moving forward without ignoring your child or shutting their feelings down.

- When to offer empathy, when to add a little distraction (and why the order you do this really matters!) for helping toddlers build resilience.

If your child seems to dissolve into tears at the smallest frustration, this episode will help you understand the developmental reasons behind all that emotion and give you practical, real-world tools for supporting their feelings while still keeping your day moving.

REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES:

👉 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 helping parents decipher whether you have a child who is anxious or just sensitive

🎧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

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!

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...

- What actually happens in a group therapy session for kids and how it differs from one-on-one therapy.

- How group therapy can help children practice social skills, build confidence, and feel less alone in their struggles.

- The fears many parents have about group therapy, including concerns about negative peer influence, comparison, or awkwardness.

- The different types of groups therapists run, including skills-based groups, process groups, and hybrid formats, and how to know which one fits your child best.

- Why peer support can be uniquely powerful for kids with anxiety or low self-esteem and how group leaders create a safe, supportive environment.

- What to ask a group leader before signing up so you can feel confident it will be the right match for your child.

If you've been curious whether group therapy might help your child feel supported, connected, and more capable in whatever challenges they are facing, this episode will give you a clear picture of what group work really looks like and how to decide if it could be a good fit for your kid.

REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES:

🔗 Want to learn more about group therapy and coaching resources at Upshur Bren Psychology Group? 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 determine the fine line between supporting your child versus feeding their anxiety

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about the different forms of therapy with Dr. Katie C. Lewis

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about why parenting 6-12 year olds is more important now than ever with Dr. Sheryl Ziegler

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about the difference between executive function coaching and tutoring

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!

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

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!

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!

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