Just One Thing for Parents with Dr Bettina Hohnen

Dr. Bettina Hohnen
  • 5.0 (1)
  • KIDS & FAMILY

Welcome to Just One Thing for Parents, the podcast designed for busy parents supporting young minds. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, these quick, 5-7 minute episodes offer a powerful daily reminder of what truly matters when it comes to your kids. Hosted by clinical psychologist Dr. Bettina Hohnen, each episode brings you expert insights from renowned guests such as Dawn Heuber, David Trickey, and Anita Cleare. These professionals, including authors, parent coaches, psychotherapists, and parenting experts, share science-backed advice and real-life experiences to help you navigate the challenges of raising children. What to Expect: Short and Digestible: Episodes are crafted to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule. Take just a few minutes every day—whether it's after dropping the kids at school, during your commute, or before diving into family life after a hectic day. Actionable Insights: Distilled complex concepts into easy-to-understand nuggets, providing you with practical tips and tools grounded in both scientific research and real-world parenting expertise. Daily Focus: Each episode presents Just One Thing for you to focus on, simplifying the overwhelming demands of parenting and allowing you to approach each day with clarity and purpose. Connect with Us: Subscribe, leave a review, and share the wisdom with fellow parents. Join the conversation using #JustOneThingforParetings and visit @DrBettinaHohnen for additional resources.

  1. 5D AGO

    Episode 60 - Supporting Children After Setbacks and Building Resilience with Ramita Anand

    How can parents help children recover when things don't go to plan? In this episode, I'm joined by Ramita Anand, teacher, educational mentor, and creator of the Elevate programme, a mentoring programme supporting preteen girls. Together, we explore how parents can support children to navigate setbacks, build resilience, and experience repair after mistakes, disappointments, or struggles. We talk about why mistakes matter, how growth actually happens through challenge, and the role parents play in creating emotional safety while not rushing in to rescue. We also reflect on modelling resilience as parents, normalising difficulty, and helping children learn that struggling doesn't mean failing — it means growing. You can find more about Ramita and her work at  https://www.elevate-ra.com/ramita-anand/

    29 min

  2. JAN 30

    Episode 59 - Why Behaviour Makes More Sense When You Understand the Nervous System, with Emily Hughes

    What if your child's behaviour isn't about disobedience, defiance, or "pushing boundaries" — but about what's happening in their nervous system?   In this episode, I'm joined by Emily Hughes, parenting coach and founder of Finding Flow Parenting, to explore what parents can do to become a nervous-system-aware family. Emily invites us to move beyond seeing children's behaviour as wilful or intentional, and instead to understand it through the lens of the nervous system. When we do this, she explains, we gain a far more accurate and compassionate picture of what is really going on for our children — and for ourselves.   We talk about why behaviour such as running away, aggression, or hitting often reflects a child's nervous system moving into fight or flight, rather than "naughtiness" or defiance. Emily shares how reframing behaviour in this way can reduce shame, soften our parental reactions, and help us stay more grounded in moments that would otherwise escalate.   You can find out more about Emily and her work at https://findingflowparenting.coach/

    22 min

  3. JAN 23

    Episode 59 - "Why Is This So Hard?" Parenting With ADHD and Letting Go of Shame with Michaela Thomas

    Parenting is demanding for everyone, but for parents with ADHD, it can feel especially overwhelming. In this episode, I'm joined by Michaela Thomas, clinical psychologist and neurodiversity specialist, to explore what parenting looks like when your own executive functions are under constant strain. Parenting is, in itself, a huge executive function task, requiring constant planning, organising, remembering, emotional regulation, and managing transitions, often under pressure. For parents with ADHD, this can create a persistent sense of falling short, even when they are trying incredibly hard.  We explore why shame and self-criticism are so common, particularly for those diagnosed later in life, and the "double whammy" many families experience when parents with ADHD are raising children with similar neurodivergent traits.  If you're a parent with ADHD and you often find yourself asking, "Why can't I just manage this?", this episode is for you. It's a reminder that difficulty is not failure, and that being a good parent does not mean getting it right all the time. Michaela offers further support through her Reset course, which is designed to help parents gently reset their nervous systems and reduce overwhelm. You can find out more here: https://thethomasconnection.co.uk/reset/

    22 min

  4. JAN 16

    Episode 58 - ADHD Medication and the Child's Brain: What's Really Going On? with Professor Peter Hill

    What should parents really know about ADHD medication, beyond the headlines and fears? In this episode, I'm joined by Professor Peter Hill to explore one of the questions parents ask most often and worry about: ADHD medication. Together, we unpack what ADHD medication actually does in the brain, why stimulant medications can be so effective when ADHD is significantly impairing a child's life, and how they help children move from constant distraction into task-focused thinking.  Professor Hill explains complex neuroscience in a clear, grounded way, helping parents understand concepts like the frontal lobes, what default mode network is, and why medication can support attention, self-control and emotional regulation rather than suppressing a child's personality. We also talk openly about the different types of ADHD medication, including stimulant and non-stimulant options, short-acting versus long-acting preparations, and how decisions are usually made in clinical practice. Importantly, we address side effects, safety, appetite and sleep, and some of the most common fears parents carry, including concerns about addiction.

    25 min

  5. JAN 9

    Episode 57 - Emotionally Based School Avoidance: What Parents Can Do with Dr Carolyne Keenan

    What can you do when your child feels so distressed that school becomes impossible? How do you support them without getting pulled into the panic yourself? In this episode, I'm joined by clinical psychologist Dr Carolyne Keenan for a compassionate and deeply informative conversation about Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) — a challenge that has become increasingly common, particularly since the pandemic, and it can leave parents feeling worried, confused and often quite alone.  EBSA isn't about a child who "won't go" to school; it's about a child who can't. Their level of distress is so high that getting through the school gate feels insurmountable. Carolyne explains why this happens, what early signs parents can look out for, and why EBSA is rarely about refusal, but about emotional safety. We also discuss how to collaborate with schools, how to spot patterns in your child's week, and how small, flexible adjustments can make the school environment feel more manageable. Above all, Carolyne reminds us that your relationship with your child is the anchor. Whatever challenges arise, the battle should never be between you and your child.  If you'd like to explore more of Carolyne's work, she offers parent Power Hours, a new EBSA course launching in early 2026, and a free downloadable survival guide. https://www.carolynekeenan.co.uk/

    28 min

  6. 12/19/2025

    Episode 56 - Navigating Diet Talk with Children in a Culture Obsessed with Thinness with Dr Anna Colton

    How do you protect children from unhelpful food and body talk when celebrations revolve around eating and family gatherings? What can parents do when well-meaning relatives, social media, or conversations about weight loss creep into festive meals?   In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Anna Colton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and eating disorder specialist, to explore how parents can manage food and diet chat around children during the festive season. Drawing on questions sent in by parents, we talk about navigating comments from grandparents shaped by decades of diet culture, handling conversations about weight loss injections, and the powerful messages children absorb about bodies, worth and self-control – often without adults realising.   Together, we reflect on why commenting on children's eating can undermine their ability to trust their bodies, how to set boundaries with family members, and why pre-empting difficult conversations can make such a difference. This episode offers guidance to help parents protect their children's relationship with food, not just at Christmas, but all year round.   More from Dr Colton https://www.dranna.co.uk/

    28 min

  7. 12/12/2025

    Episode 55 - Protecting Young People from Toxic Shame with Dr Stephen Blumenthal

    Have you ever wondered why some children seem to shrink inside themselves after a mistake, while others recover quickly and move on? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Stephen Blumenthal, clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and author, to explore an emotion that touches every family but is so often misunderstood: shame.    Drawing on his decades of clinical experience, Stephen explains how shame is both a normal and necessary part of human development, helping children understand social boundaries and navigate relationships. But when shame is constant or overwhelming, it can shape how a child thinks and feels about themselves in ways that are not helpful.   We discuss what shame actually is and how it differs from guilt. Stephen offers examples of how everyday parenting moments can either support healthy development or unintentionally tip a child into feeling defective, exposed or alone. We also explore the role of emotional connection in protecting children from pathological shame, why ruptures can be repaired, and how parents' own histories influence the way we respond to our children. Stephen shares thoughtful guidance on how parents can stay emotionally present, set boundaries in a loving way, and help young children and teenagers build resilience without slipping into criticism or humiliation.   If you're a parent – or supporting any young person growing up in an increasingly judgemental world – this episode offers clarity, reassurance and practical insight. More from Dr Blumenthal: https://stephenblumenthal.com

    25 min

  8. 12/05/2025

    Episode 54 - What Children Need Most From Us in Times of Grief with Dr Hannah Abrahams

    Grief is one of the hardest experiences a child can face, and one of the hardest moments for a parent to support.    In this episode, I speak with Dr Hannah Abrahams, an Educational Psychologist with more than twenty years of experience supporting children through bereavement. Hannah brings such warmth, clarity and reassurance to a topic that can often feel overwhelming for parents.   She explains why honesty is not only kinder but essential, especially when our instinct might be to soften the truth. She shares why euphemisms can confuse children, how their understanding of grief changes as their brain develops and why we need to expect them to revisit their loss again and again as they grow.    We discuss the role of memorialising, the value of creating rituals and memories and why talking about the person who has died keeps their story alive in a way that can be grounding for children moving forward.   Hannah shares so much practical and compassionate advice. If your child is grieving or if you want to feel more prepared for these conversations, this episode will guide you.   Dr Hannah Abrahams' website: https://www.hannahabrahams.com

    24 min
See All (61)

About

Welcome to Just One Thing for Parents, the podcast designed for busy parents supporting young minds. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, these quick, 5-7 minute episodes offer a powerful daily reminder of what truly matters when it comes to your kids. Hosted by clinical psychologist Dr. Bettina Hohnen, each episode brings you expert insights from renowned guests such as Dawn Heuber, David Trickey, and Anita Cleare. These professionals, including authors, parent coaches, psychotherapists, and parenting experts, share science-backed advice and real-life experiences to help you navigate the challenges of raising children. What to Expect: Short and Digestible: Episodes are crafted to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule. Take just a few minutes every day—whether it's after dropping the kids at school, during your commute, or before diving into family life after a hectic day. Actionable Insights: Distilled complex concepts into easy-to-understand nuggets, providing you with practical tips and tools grounded in both scientific research and real-world parenting expertise. Daily Focus: Each episode presents Just One Thing for you to focus on, simplifying the overwhelming demands of parenting and allowing you to approach each day with clarity and purpose. Connect with Us: Subscribe, leave a review, and share the wisdom with fellow parents. Join the conversation using #JustOneThingforParetings and visit @DrBettinaHohnen for additional resources.

Information

You Might Also Like