Compassionate Heart Parenting

Michelle Puster
  • 4.0 (4)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Compassionate Heart Parenting | Peaceful Parenting for Real Life You love your kids deeply — and you still lose it sometimes. You're in the right place. This podcast is for parents who are drawn to gentle parenting, peaceful parenting, conscious parenting, and Hand in Hand Parenting — but who also know how hard it can be to stay calm in the real, messy, overwhelming moments of family life. Hi, I'm Michelle — mom of 3, recovering yeller, and Emotionally Focused Family Therapist. I've been through parent burnout, depression, and anxiety, and I climbed my way out using the very tools I share here. Now I help parents find their inner calm so they can show up the way they actually want to — with patience, connection, and confidence. Each episode gives you: Practical tools to stop yelling and start connectingRelief from parenting shame, guilt, and the feeling you're failingScience-backed strategies rooted in Emotionally Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and self-compassionWays to pause and respond rather than react in your hardest parenting momentsPlayful parenting ideas that strengthen your bond with your childThe deep reminder that you are not alone — and you are a good parentTopics covered include: Gentle parenting tools · conscious parenting · peaceful parenting · Hand in Hand Parenting · parenting with self-compassion · yelling and parenting shame · emotional regulation for parents · parenting burnout · mindful parenting · sibling conflict · setting loving limits · attachment parenting · parenting anxiety · Dr. Laura Markham · Dr. Daniel Siegel · connection before correction This podcast is for you if: You want to parent gently but keep getting stuckYou're exhausted from trying to hold it all together aloneYou want to strengthen your relationship with your child, not just manage their behaviorYou're ready to do the inner work that makes outer calm possible ✨ Free Guided Pause + Regroup:  https://link.innovorise.com/widget/form/Pm5Uy0ezEwvqKxwlL8Ik 🌐 Learn more: https://compassionateheartmindfullife.com/ 🎓 Ready to go deeper? Yelling to Connecting is Michelle's 6-week online parenting course — grounded in science, rooted in compassion, and designed to help you finally yell less and connect more. This content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. Compassionate Heart Parenting does not provide psychotherapy services. If you need mental health support, please seek a qualified professional in your area.

  1. 6D AGO

    The Hidden Truth of Tantrums with Helena Mooney

    Does your child’s yelling, crying, or intense meltdowns leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure? In this episode, we sit down with Helena Mooney, a certified Hand in Hand and Aware Parenting coach, to flip the script on "bad behavior". We dive deep into the science of emotional release and why "pretexts"—like a meltdown over a pink plate—are actually healthy opportunities for healing. Helena shares practical tools for reactive parenting, including the "listening partnership" for parents and why simple games like hide-and-seek are powerful for separation anxiety. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to "stay steady" when your child falls apart.The difference between "fixing" a tantrum and providing a "safe container".Why play bypasses the prefrontal cortex to help with anxiety.How to use the "Connect, Connect, Connect" mantra in the heat of the moment. Join me each week for a tail from the trenches of parenting burnout and how I (and you) can use mindfulness, mediation and self-compassion to find your inner calm and a little more sanity in your parenting. You’ll get a story from my heart and a quick win you can use the same day. A free gift for you: the RAGE Break, a free guided audio pause for when you are about to lose or have just lost it with your kids and you need a moment to regroup. Find the audio download in the links. I created the Rage Break because it is exactly what I needed when I was struggling with anger and yelling in parenting.  This story was brought to you by “Yelling to Connecting.”  If you or someone you know struggles with yelling at your kids, losing it, or being constantly on edge this course will be a helpful tool.  A reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. I am a therapist but I am not your therapist and this is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment please find a qualified professional in your area. __________________________________________ ...

    53 min

  2. APR 16

    Why You Can’t “Fix” Your Emotions (another way)

    "I’ll give you something to cry about." Most of us grew up with messages telling us that our emotions were problems to be solved or inconveniences to be hidden. Even as a seasoned therapist, I fell into the trap of trying to "muscle through" my toughest parenting moments—until it led to total burnout. In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on a personal story of losing my cool and finding my way back through the RAIN practice. We explore why your emotions aren't something to be fixed, but something to be heard. We cover: The "Tunnel of Emotion" and why we can't skip the middle.Why "trying harder" to be calm usually backfires.How to use self-compassion as a nervous system regulator.A modified RAIN practice for parents (including the power of Interconnectedness).Reflection Question: What if the emotion you are trying to fix is actually trying to tell you something important? Join me each week for a tail from the trenches of parenting burnout and how I (and you) can use mindfulness, mediation and self-compassion to find your inner calm and a little more sanity in your parenting. You’ll get a story from my heart and a quick win you can use the same day. A free gift for you: the RAGE Break, a free guided audio pause for when you are about to lose or have just lost it with your kids and you need a moment to regroup. Find the audio download in the links. I created the Rage Break because it is exactly what I needed when I was struggling with anger and yelling in parenting.  This story was brought to you by “Yelling to Connecting.”  If you or someone you know struggles with yelling at your kids, losing it, or being constantly on edge this course will be a helpful tool.  A reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. I am a therapist but I am not your therapist and this is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment please find a qualified professional in your area. __________________________________________ ...

    21 min

  3. APR 9

    The Surprising Truth About Self-Compassion

    "If I stop criticizing myself, I’ll just stop trying." If you’ve ever felt like self-compassion is just "letting yourself off the hook" or lowering the bar for your parenting, this episode is for you. Michelle (EFT Therapist) challenges the dangerous myth that self-criticism is a motivator. Drawing on 15 years of clinical work and the latest research, she reveals why shame actually keeps you frozen in the very patterns you’re trying to break. In this episode, you’ll learn: The Accountability Paradox: Why self-compassion actually increases responsibility and motivation.The RAIN Practice: A "therapy session in your pocket" to use in the heat of a parenting meltdown.Emotional Distance: How naming your feelings moves you from being "swept away" by the storm to watching it with clarity.The Antidote to Shame: How to use the "Common Humanity" tool from Dr. Kristin Neff to realize you aren't the only one struggling.Self-compassion isn't a way to excuse your behavior; it’s the only way to change it. Whether you follow Hand in Hand Parenting or are deep into your own EFT journey, this episode provides the practical "how-to" for treating yourself with the same warmth you offer your children. Join me each week for a tail from the trenches of parenting burnout and how I (and you) can use mindfulness, mediation and self-compassion to find your inner calm and a little more sanity in your parenting. You’ll get a story from my heart and a quick win you can use the same day. A free gift for you: the RAGE Break, a free guided audio pause for when you are about to lose or have just lost it with your kids and you need a moment to regroup. Find the audio download in the links. I created the Rage Break because it is exactly what I needed when I was struggling with anger and yelling in parenting.  This story was brought to you by “Yelling to Connecting.”  If you or someone you know struggles with yelling at your kids, losing it, or being constantly on edge this course will be a helpful tool.  A reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. I am a therapist but I am not your therapist and this is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment please find a qualified professional in your area. __________________________________________ ...

    14 min

  4. APR 2

    The Lie We Were All Told About 'Negative' Emotions

    Do you ever feel an immediate wave of shame the moment you feel angry at your kids? In this episode, Michelle (Emotionally Focused Therapist) pulls apart the dangerous myth that "good parents" don't feel rage, resentment, or despair. Discover why your most painful emotions are actually vital messages from your nervous system—not evidence of failure. Michelle shares her personal journey from the bathroom floor to a place of "calm and connected" using the science of mindfulness and self-compassion. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why we were taught to fear our own "negative" emotions.How to use Kristen Neff’s Self-Compassion Break" in the heat of a parenting moment.A step-by-step practice to interrupt the stress-yell-shame pattern.How to build new neural pathways through curiosity and kindness. Join me each week for a tail from the trenches of parenting burnout and how I (and you) can use mindfulness, mediation and self-compassion to find your inner calm and a little more sanity in your parenting. You’ll get a story from my heart and a quick win you can use the same day. A free gift for you: the RAGE Break, a free guided audio pause for when you are about to lose or have just lost it with your kids and you need a moment to regroup. Find the audio download in the links. I created the Rage Break because it is exactly what I needed when I was struggling with anger and yelling in parenting.  This story was brought to you by “Yelling to Connecting.”  If you or someone you know struggles with yelling at your kids, losing it, or being constantly on edge this course will be a helpful tool.  A reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. I am a therapist but I am not your therapist and this is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment please find a qualified professional in your area. __________________________________________ ...

    30 min

  5. MAR 26

    The Cycle No One Talks About (and How to Escape It)

    Do you ever find yourself in that agonizing loop: stress builds, you lose your cool and yell, and then a wave of soul-crushing shame hits you? You promise yourself you’ll never do it again, only to find yourself back in the same spot tomorrow. In this episode, Michelle (Emotionally Focused Therapist) pulls back the curtain on the cycle that millions of parents live in but can’t quite articulate. We explore why willpower alone never breaks this cycle and why shame actually prevents the change you’re desperate to make. You’ll discover: The "Invisible Load": Why you’re "losing it" even when you think you’re being functional.The Stress-Yell-Shame Loop: How self-criticism actually fuels your next outburst.The Pattern Interrupter: A simple, 3-step self-compassion tool to use the moment the yelling stops.How to turn your "big reactions" into signals that help you heal instead of hurt.If you’ve ever sat in your car or on the bathroom floor wondering "What is wrong with me?", this episode is your permission slip to breathe again. You aren't broken—you're just caught in a cycle. Let’s step out of it together. Join me each week for a tail from the trenches of parenting burnout and how I (and you) can use mindfulness, mediation and self-compassion to find your inner calm and a little more sanity in your parenting. You’ll get a story from my heart and a quick win you can use the same day. A free gift for you: the RAGE Break, a free guided audio pause for when you are about to lose or have just lost it with your kids and you need a moment to regroup. Find the audio download in the links. I created the Rage Break because it is exactly what I needed when I was struggling with anger and yelling in parenting.  This story was brought to you by “Yelling to Connecting.”  If you or someone you know struggles with yelling at your kids, losing it, or being constantly on edge this course will be a helpful tool.  A reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. I am a therapist but I am not your therapist and this is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment please find a qualified professional in your area. __________________________________________ ...

    10 min

  6. MAR 19

    Navigating Sibling Fighting WITHOUT Losing Your Cool

    Join Michelle, fellow parent, Mom of 3, and recovering yeller, in uncovering what we, as parents, need to parent peacefully, where we get stuck & why. Sibling fighting is normal—but how we respond as parents makes all the difference. In this video, I share my journey from reactive anger and frustration to a more grounded, realistic approach that brought peace and clarity into our home. Learn simple mindset shifts and practical ways to stay calm, set loving limits, and support your kids without losing yourself in the process. Want to learn with Michelle:  Learning about attachment in my work as an Emotionally Focused Therapist, reading Dr. Laura Markham’s, Dr. Daniel Siegel’s books, and finding Hand in Hand parenting all solidified my commitment to parent peacefully. There was just one problem.  It felt impossible at times.  When my kids were small, I was easily overwhelmed. Not only did I find it difficult to parent peacefully or playfully, but also I found myself in an awful yelling pattern. I climbed my way out of parent burnout, depression, and anxiety using the tools I share here. I help parents find their inner calm and balance so they can parent peacefully and with confidence. Work with Michelle If you know … • you are tired of trying to do it all alone. • or through sheer willpower Join fellow parents who … • Prioritize their relationships with their children • By using gentle parenting methods • But also sometimes get stuck Learn and grow with Michelle in … Yelling to Connecting (7-week online parenting course) • Grounded in science • Teaching principles of Emotionally Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and self-compassion • Find and uproot blocks to responding with calm, loving limits • Focusing on strengthening your connection with your child(ren) • Finally yell less and connect more A Reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. This is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment, please find a qualified professi Join me each week for a tail from the trenches of parenting burnout and how I (and you) can use mindfulness, mediation and self-compassion to find your inner calm and a little more sanity in your parenting. You’ll get a story from my heart and a quick win you can use the same day. A free gift for you: the RAGE Break, a free guided audio pause for when you are about to lose or have just lost it with your kids and you need a moment to regroup. Find the audio download in the links. I created the Rage Break because it is exactly what I needed when I was struggling with anger and yelling in parenting.  This story was brought to you by “Yelling to Connecting.”  If you or someone you know struggles with yelling at your kids, losing it, or being constantly on edge this course will be a helpful tool.  A reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. I am a therapist but I am not your therapist and this is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment please find a qualified professional in your area. __________________________________________ ...

    7 min

  7. MAR 12

    Your Greatest Weakness May Also Be Your Greatest Strength

    Join Michelle, fellow parent, Mom of 3, and recovering yeller, in uncovering what we, as parents, need to parent peacefully, where we get stuck & why. What if the parts of yourself you’ve struggled with the most are also your greatest strengths? In this episode, Michelle shares her daughter’s dyslexia diagnosis and how it reframed her understanding of ADHD, depression, and so-called “weaknesses” as powerful gifts. Through a lens of self-compassion and mindful parenting, she invites you to see both yourself and your child in a new, strength-based light. Want to learn with Michelle:  Learning about attachment in my work as an Emotionally Focused Therapist, reading Dr. Laura Markham’s, Dr. Daniel Siegel’s books, and finding Hand in Hand parenting all solidified my commitment to parent peacefully. There was just one problem.  It felt impossible at times.  When my kids were small, I was easily overwhelmed. Not only did I find it difficult to parent peacefully or playfully, but also I found myself in an awful yelling pattern. I climbed my way out of parent burnout, depression, and anxiety using the tools I share here. I help parents find their inner calm and balance so they can parent peacefully and with confidence. Work with Michelle If you know … • you are tired of trying to do it all alone. • or through sheer willpower Join fellow parents who … • Prioritize their relationships with their children • By using gentle parenting methods • But also sometimes get stuck Learn and grow with Michelle in … Yelling to Connecting (7-week online parenting course) • Grounded in science • Teaching principles of Emotionally Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and self-compassion • Find and uproot blocks to responding with calm, loving limits • Focusing on strengthening your connection with your child(ren) • Finally yell less and connect more A Reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. This is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment, plea Join me each week for a tail from the trenches of parenting burnout and how I (and you) can use mindfulness, mediation and self-compassion to find your inner calm and a little more sanity in your parenting. You’ll get a story from my heart and a quick win you can use the same day. A free gift for you: the RAGE Break, a free guided audio pause for when you are about to lose or have just lost it with your kids and you need a moment to regroup. Find the audio download in the links. I created the Rage Break because it is exactly what I needed when I was struggling with anger and yelling in parenting.  This story was brought to you by “Yelling to Connecting.”  If you or someone you know struggles with yelling at your kids, losing it, or being constantly on edge this course will be a helpful tool.  A reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. I am a therapist but I am not your therapist and this is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment please find a qualified professional in your area. __________________________________________ ...

    16 min

  8. MAR 5

    Locked in a Cage of My Own Making - Fear

    Join Michelle, fellow parent, Mom of 3, and recovering yeller, in uncovering what we, as parents, need to parent peacefully, where we get stuck & why. Have you ever felt locked in a cage of your own making—afraid to fully be yourself? In this episode, Michelle shares a vulnerable story about shrinking to avoid rejection and how fear of not being accepted can quietly shape our parenting and relationships. Through mindfulness, self-compassion, and small courageous steps, she offers a path toward showing up more authentically—for yourself and your children. Want to learn with Michelle:  Learning about attachment in my work as an Emotionally Focused Therapist, reading Dr. Laura Markham’s, Dr. Daniel Siegel’s books, and finding Hand in Hand parenting all solidified my commitment to parent peacefully. There was just one problem.  It felt impossible at times.  When my kids were small, I was easily overwhelmed. Not only did I find it difficult to parent peacefully or playfully, but also I found myself in an awful yelling pattern. I climbed my way out of parent burnout, depression, and anxiety using the tools I share here. I help parents find their inner calm and balance so they can parent peacefully and with confidence. Work with Michelle If you know … • you are tired of trying to do it all alone. • or through sheer willpower Join fellow parents who … • Prioritize their relationships with their children • By using gentle parenting methods • But also sometimes get stuck Learn and grow with Michelle in … Yelling to Connecting (7-week online parenting course) • Grounded in science • Teaching principles of Emotionally Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and self-compassion • Find and uproot blocks to responding with calm, loving limits • Focusing on strengthening your connection with your child(ren) • Finally yell less and connect more A Reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. This is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment, pl Join me each week for a tail from the trenches of parenting burnout and how I (and you) can use mindfulness, mediation and self-compassion to find your inner calm and a little more sanity in your parenting. You’ll get a story from my heart and a quick win you can use the same day. A free gift for you: the RAGE Break, a free guided audio pause for when you are about to lose or have just lost it with your kids and you need a moment to regroup. Find the audio download in the links. I created the Rage Break because it is exactly what I needed when I was struggling with anger and yelling in parenting.  This story was brought to you by “Yelling to Connecting.”  If you or someone you know struggles with yelling at your kids, losing it, or being constantly on edge this course will be a helpful tool.  A reminder: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for private psychotherapy services. Compassionate Heart Mindful Life does not provide psychotherapy services in any capacity. I am a therapist but I am not your therapist and this is not therapy and should not be a substitute for mental health treatment. If you need mental health treatment please find a qualified professional in your area. __________________________________________ ...

    18 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Compassionate Heart Parenting | Peaceful Parenting for Real Life You love your kids deeply — and you still lose it sometimes. You're in the right place. This podcast is for parents who are drawn to gentle parenting, peaceful parenting, conscious parenting, and Hand in Hand Parenting — but who also know how hard it can be to stay calm in the real, messy, overwhelming moments of family life. Hi, I'm Michelle — mom of 3, recovering yeller, and Emotionally Focused Family Therapist. I've been through parent burnout, depression, and anxiety, and I climbed my way out using the very tools I share here. Now I help parents find their inner calm so they can show up the way they actually want to — with patience, connection, and confidence. Each episode gives you: Practical tools to stop yelling and start connectingRelief from parenting shame, guilt, and the feeling you're failingScience-backed strategies rooted in Emotionally Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and self-compassionWays to pause and respond rather than react in your hardest parenting momentsPlayful parenting ideas that strengthen your bond with your childThe deep reminder that you are not alone — and you are a good parentTopics covered include: Gentle parenting tools · conscious parenting · peaceful parenting · Hand in Hand Parenting · parenting with self-compassion · yelling and parenting shame · emotional regulation for parents · parenting burnout · mindful parenting · sibling conflict · setting loving limits · attachment parenting · parenting anxiety · Dr. Laura Markham · Dr. Daniel Siegel · connection before correction This podcast is for you if: You want to parent gently but keep getting stuckYou're exhausted from trying to hold it all together aloneYou want to strengthen your relationship with your child, not just manage their behaviorYou're ready to do the inner work that makes outer calm possible ✨ Free Guided Pause + Regroup:  https://link.innovorise.com/widget/form/Pm5Uy0ezEwvqKxwlL8Ik 🌐 Learn more: https://compassionateheartmindfullife.com/ 🎓 Ready to go deeper? Yelling to Connecting is Michelle's 6-week online parenting course — grounded in science, rooted in compassion, and designed to help you finally yell less and connect more. This content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. Compassionate Heart Parenting does not provide psychotherapy services. If you need mental health support, please seek a qualified professional in your area.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Puster
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Compassionate Heart Parenting
  • Show Website
    Compassionate Heart Parenting