The Child Psych Podcast

Institute of Child Psychology

The ChildPsych Podcast brings to you the top parenting & mental health experts in the world. Designed to educate and inspire you with current research &  concrete strategies that foster resiliency & healing in children and teens. Most importantly we’re here because we need to raise a generation of children who don’t need to recover from their childhoods. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4D AGO

    When Autism Changes Everything: A Father’s Story of Growth and Hope with Harry Psaros, Episode #181

    In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, we sit down with Harry Psaros, author of From Struggle to Strength: A Father’s Journey with Autism, to explore a perspective that is often missing in conversations around autism, the father’s experience. Harry shares his personal journey from denial to acceptance after his son’s autism diagnosis, opening up about the confusion, resistance, and emotional struggle many parents quietly face. Like many fathers, he initially found it difficult to fully embrace the diagnosis, a reality he now speaks openly about to help other families feel less alone. Through vulnerability and reflection, Harry offers insight into what helped him shift his mindset, strengthen his role as a parent, and become a more connected and supportive father. His story is not about perfection or quick fixes, but about growth, resilience, and the power of showing up, even when it is hard. This episode is especially meaningful for parents navigating a new diagnosis, families experiencing disconnection, or anyone wanting to better understand the emotional journey behind raising a child on the spectrum. In this episode, we explore: • The emotional reality of receiving an autism diagnosis as a parent • Why some fathers struggle with acceptance and how to support them • The shift from resistance to connection • Building a united, supportive family approach • How mindset, hope, and small steps can transform the journey This is a conversation about honesty, growth, and the kind of parenting that evolves through challenge, connection, and love. To learn more about Harry, please click here: https://www.harrypsaros.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  2. APR 29

    Meltdowns to Calm in Seconds: Play-Based Tools Every Parent Needs with Jon Fogel

    When your child is melting down, shutting down, or completely overwhelmed… it can feel like nothing works. In this powerful, brain-based conversation, best-selling author Jon Fogel reveals what’s really happening beneath your child’s big emotions—and why those intense feelings so quickly turn into explosive behaviors. But more importantly, he shows you what to do in the moment. Drawing from his work with families and the tools behind his upcoming children’s book Set My Feelings Free, Jon explains why talking often fails when kids are dysregulated—and why play, movement, music, and sensory tools can calm a child’s nervous system in seconds. You’ll walk away with simple, powerful strategies your child can actually use when it matters most—because the best tools aren’t the ones that sound good… they’re the ones that work in real life. What You’ll Learn:✅ What’s really happening in your child’s brain during meltdowns ✅ Why logic and reasoning don’t work when emotions take over ✅ Fast, play-based tools that help kids regulate in the moment ✅ Why one strategy can work beautifully for one child—and fail for another ✅ How to build regulation skills before the meltdown happens ✅ How to stay calm, confident, and grounded—even in the hardest moments Jon is the author of the best-selling book Punishment-Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Voice, where he outlines practical, research-informed strategies for guiding children’s behavior without fear, shame, or harsh discipline and his newest CHILDREN'S BOOK Set My Feelings Free Jon is also the host of The Whole Parent Podcast, where he shares tools, mindset shifts, and real-life applications to help parents move from reactivity to intentional, grounded leadership. Through his writing, teaching, and podcast, Jon empowers parents to build emotionally healthy homes rooted in both warmth and accountability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
  3. Working with the Explosive Child with Dr. Ross Greene, Episode #179

    APR 22

    Working with the Explosive Child with Dr. Ross Greene, Episode #179

    Challenging behavior isn’t a motivation problem, it’s a skills and problem-solving problem. In this powerful masterclass, Dr. Ross Greene (clinical psychologist, author, and founder of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions model) and Tammy Schamuhn (child psychologist and co-founder of the Institute of Child Psychology) unpack a compassionate, research-informed shift that has transformed homes and schools: kids do well if they can.  Instead of relying on sticker charts, punishments, power struggles, or “compliance-first” discipline, Dr. Greene helps adults learn to see behavior as communication: a child is showing us they’re having difficulty meeting an expectation, and there’s an unsolved problem underneath that needs our attention.  What You’ll Learn: ✅ Why consequences (rewards and punishments) don’t solve the problems that cause challenging behavior  ✅ How to shift from “They won’t” to “They can’t yet,” by identifying lagging skills and unmet expectations  ✅ The 3-step CPS/Plan B process for collaborative problem-solving ✅ How to reduce conflict by solving problems proactively, before kids reach the boiling point  ✅ How this approach supports children across settings (home, classroom, recess, coaching) while strengthening trust and connection  FREE resources from Dr. Ross Greene can be found here--> https://cpsconnection.com/ His newest book "The Kids Who Aren't Okay", His classic book "The Explosive Child" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
  4. How to Deal With Your **** So Your Kids Don’t Have To: Breaking Cycles of Anger, Rejection, and Shame with Eli Harwood

    APR 15

    How to Deal With Your **** So Your Kids Don’t Have To: Breaking Cycles of Anger, Rejection, and Shame with Eli Harwood

    In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, we sit down with attachment therapist and author Eli Harwood to explore the heart of her new book, How to Deal With Your $%$! So Your Kids Don’t Have To: An Encyclopedia for Ditching Your Emotional Baggage—releasing April 14. At the core of this conversation is a simple but profound truth: your kids can feel what you don’t heal. Together, we unpack how unprocessed anger, experiences of rejection, and lingering shame can quietly shape the way we show up as parents. These patterns often surface in our hardest moments—during conflict, disconnection, or discipline—and can unintentionally be passed on to the very children we’re trying to support. Eli offers practical, no-nonsense guidance to help parents recognize their emotional triggers, work through their own internal experiences, and respond with greater intention and connection. This is not about perfection—it’s about awareness, repair, and doing the kind of work that changes family patterns over time. In this episode, we explore: *How anger, rejection, and shame show up in parenting *Why children carry what parents don’t process *Tools to begin healing your own emotional patterns *Strategies to handle big emotions in the moment *How to break generational cycles and build secure, connected relationships ✨ Her new book, How to Deal With Your _________! So Your Kids Don’t Have To, releases April 14—your roadmap to shedding emotional baggage and raising children who feel safe, seen, and secure. Order HERE : https://www.attachmentnerd.com/books/how-to-deal-with-your-so-your-kids-dont-have-to Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
  5. Raising Kids Who Make  Others Feel Like They Belong: How to Foster Inclusivity and Battle Racism, Episode #177

    APR 8

    Raising Kids Who Make Others Feel Like They Belong: How to Foster Inclusivity and Battle Racism, Episode #177

    How do we raise children who not only feel a deep sense of belonging, but actively create it for others? In this powerful conversation, we explore what it truly means to raise inclusive, compassionate, and socially aware children. Grounded in developmental science and real-life parenting, this episode unpacks how belonging begins in the earliest relationships—through secure attachment, emotional safety, and being truly seen and heard at home. From there, we look at how children develop empathy, identity, and the courage to speak up against unfairness. We discuss why children are naturally curious—not judgmental—and how bias is learned through environment, messaging, and silence. You’ll learn why avoiding conversations about race and difference can leave children vulnerable to harmful narratives, and how open, honest dialogue builds both critical thinking and emotional safety. This episode also highlights the importance of modeling over telling—because how we respond to exclusion, injustice, and everyday moments teaches children far more than words alone. Ultimately, raising anti-racist children isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence, practice, and the willingness to lean into discomfort as we grow alongside them Dr. Gaiathry Jeyarajan is a clinical psychologist, educator, and advocate dedicated to helping children develop a strong sense of identity, belonging, and social responsibility. Through her work, she supports families and professionals in navigating conversations around race, equity, and emotional development in ways that are both developmentally appropriate and deeply impactful. She is also the author of Ella’s Choice, a children’s book that empowers young readers to recognize fairness, embrace differences, and find their voice in standing up for others. Dr. Jeyarajan’s work bridges research and real-world parenting, offering practical tools for raising compassionate, courageous children in an increasingly complex world Click here to find out more about " I Love You More Than Rice and Curry" : https://a.co/d/0bBWYpxK Dr Gaiathry's Instagram is also fantastic: https://www.instagram.com/lifeofashrink/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min
  6. ADHD: Why Traditional Approaches Fail, Episode #176

    APR 1

    ADHD: Why Traditional Approaches Fail, Episode #176

    In this episode, we sit down with education leader and co-author Mike Goldstein to unpack a fresh, real-world perspective on ADHD—based on his book I’ll Do It Later: Surviving School (and Renewing the Love) with Your ADHD Son. Drawing on detailed case studies of boys navigating school, motivation, and daily life, Mike challenges the idea that ADHD can be solved with simple strategies or quick fixes. Instead, he highlights a deeper truth: many children with ADHD genuinely want to succeed but struggle with task initiation, follow-through, and sustaining attention—especially outside structured environments like school. Together, we explore why traditional approaches often fall short, how modern factors like technology and shrinking attention spans are influencing ADHD, and what actually helps. Mike shares practical insights for parents and educators, including how to better understand executive functioning challenges, reduce frustration, and support kids in building motivation and independence over time. This conversation moves beyond labels and quick solutions, offering a compassionate, realistic look at what it’s like to live with ADHD—and how we can better support children who are trying, even when it doesn’t look like it.                                                                             What you’ll learn: *Why ADHD is often misunderstood as a motivation problem rather than an execution challenge *How executive functioning impacts homework, routines, and follow-through *Why many well-intended strategies don’t stick—and what to do instead *The role of environment, relationships, and coaching in supporting ADHD *How to shift from frustration to understanding in your parenting approach To find out more about Mike, click here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  7. How to Stop Yelling at Your Kids with Dr Laura Markham, Episode #175

    MAR 25

    How to Stop Yelling at Your Kids with Dr Laura Markham, Episode #175

    We’re airing a re-run today of one of our most popular podcast episodes with Dr. Laura Markham. Most parents think that if our child would just "behave," we could maintain our composure as parents. The truth is that managing our own emotions and actions is what allows us to feel peaceful as parents. Ultimately we can’t control our children or the hand life deals them—but we can always control our own actions. Parenting isn’t about what our child does, but about how we respond." In this podcast we interview one of our FAVOURITE parenting experts Dr. Laura Markham, Clinical Psychologist, best-selling author of the book "Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids" and "Peaceful Parents, Happy Siblings" and founder of AHA!Parenting where we talk about how to keep our cool as parents! Want more of Dr. Markham?! Use code ICPSAVE30 to TAKE 30% OFF her courses: Peaceful Parents, Happy Siblings: https://instituteofchildpsychology.com/product/peaceful-parent-happy-siblings-how-to-stop-the-fighting-raise-friends-for-life/ How to Raise an Emotionally Healthy Child: https://instituteofchildpsychology.com/product/how-to-raise-an-emotionally-intelligent-child/ Interested in more from the Institute?  The Parenting Handbook: Your Guide to Raising Resilient Children is the ultimate guide to nurturing emotional regulation, resiliency, connection, and well-being in children. Find out more here Our  parenting membership comes with over 90 Parenting & Mental Health Courses and more!. Click here Our professional membership offers affordable, accessible training all in one spot for mental health professionals! Find out more  here We have amazing free parenting content on: Youtube Instagram Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  8. Shrink Your Worries with Poppy 'O Neil, Episode #174

    MAR 18

    Shrink Your Worries with Poppy 'O Neil, Episode #174

    Childhood anxiety is more common than many parents realize, and it can show up in ways that are confusing or overwhelming for both children and the adults who care for them. In this episode, we explore how worries take shape in a child’s mind and what families 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 ways to help children understand their anxious thoughts, calm their bodies, and gradually face the situations that feel scary. Rather than trying to eliminate worry completely, the goal is to help children learn that they are capable of moving through fear with the right tools and support. We discuss why worries can feel so big for children, how avoidance can unintentionally strengthen anxiety, and why small steps toward bravery can make a powerful difference over time. Parents will also learn how to respond to anxious moments with calm, connection, and encouragement so children feel supported rather than overwhelmed. This episode is especially helpful for parents, educators, and professionals who want to better understand childhood anxiety and learn practical strategies that empower children to face their worries with courage. To 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.

    37 min
4.8
out of 5
97 Ratings

About

The ChildPsych Podcast brings to you the top parenting & mental health experts in the world. Designed to educate and inspire you with current research &  concrete strategies that foster resiliency & healing in children and teens. Most importantly we’re here because we need to raise a generation of children who don’t need to recover from their childhoods. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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