Just One Thing for Parents with Dr Bettina Hohnen

Dr. Bettina Hohnen
  • 5.0 (2)
  • 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. 2d ago

    Episode 72 - A Long-Form Special: When Life Throws a Curveball: Parenting Through Trauma, Loss and Uncertainty with Dr Rebecca Chilvers and Dr David Trickey

    What happens when life throws your family a curveball? In this special long-form episode, I'm joined by Dr Rebecca Chilvers and Dr David Trickey, both Consultant Clinical Psychologists who specialise in supporting families through trauma, loss, uncertainty, and unexpected challenges. Together, we explore what happens when the future you imagined for your child or family suddenly changes. We discuss guilt, shame, grief, uncertainty, and the stories we tell ourselves when difficult things happen. We also talk about why parents often feel pressure to fix things, why compassion matters more than certainty, and how relationships can help us navigate even the hardest experiences. This is a thoughtful conversation about parenting through the unexpected and finding a way forward when life doesn't go to plan.

    58 min

  2. May 29

    Episode 71 - Anxiety, OCD and the Two Sentences Every Parent Needs with Demetra Brege and Will Sessions

    What's one supportive sentence you can say to an anxious or OCD child that helps them feel both understood and capable? When children are caught in anxiety or OCD, parents often feel desperate to fix it, reassure them, or make the distress stop. But in this episode, psychotherapists Demetra Brege and Will Sessions explain why some of these very natural responses can accidentally keep anxiety going. Together, they introduce a simple but powerful idea from the SPACE parenting framework (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions): the "mac and cheese" response. A two-part statement that combines validation with confidence. We explore why anxiety works like a smoke alarm, how children look to parents to understand whether they are safe, and why parents do not cause their child's anxiety — even though their responses can make a meaningful difference over time. Demetra and Will explain the difference between validating distress and agreeing with danger, and why children need to hear both: "I know this feels hard" and "I believe you can handle it." We also discuss the SPACE approach developed by Eli Lebowitz and his book Breaking Free of Childhood Anxiety and OCD. This episode is full of compassionate, practical guidance for parents supporting children with anxiety, OCD, school worries, separation anxiety, and overwhelming fears.

    28 min

  3. May 11

    Episode 70 - Why Your Teen Pushes Back (And What to Do Instead) with Rachel Richards

    What's at the heart of all good rules and boundaries in the home? If you've ever found yourself in a stand-off with your child over screens, curfews, or simply getting out the door on time, this episode is for you.  Boundaries are one of the most common – and most challenging – parts of parenting, especially as children move into the teenage years. In this episode, I'm joined by Rachel Richards, former BBC journalist and host of the Untangling Teenagers podcast. Rachel brings together science, lived experience, and deep curiosity about family life to help parents rethink how boundaries really work. Together, we explore a change in how we think about boundaries – from control and towards connection. Rachel explains why unconditional love and respect sit at the heart of effective boundaries and how teenagers interpret our words through a lens of status and respect, so what we intend as guidance can often be heard as judgement.  We talk about the importance of curiosity over judgement, and why asking "why?" opens up more meaningful conversations than jumping straight to consequences, especially when children push back or make mistakes. We also look at the difference between natural consequences and imposed punishments, and why the latter so often backfire in the heat of the moment. This is a thoughtful and reassuring conversation for any parent trying to find that balance between being understanding and holding firm boundaries, without losing the relationship along the way.

    26 min

  4. May 1

    Episode 69 - Helping Your Child Through Big Emotions: Lessons from DBT with Helen Wilde

    What does your child really need when their emotions feel overwhelming? In this episode, I'm joined by Helen Wilde, a systemic psychotherapist and DBT therapist with over 25 years of experience working in CAMHS with children, young people, and families. Together, we explore how ideas from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) can support emotional regulation in everyday parenting. Helen explains that when children are overwhelmed, they're not able to think things through or respond to solutions. What they need first is validation — a sense that their feelings are understood. This might be as simple as acknowledging their experience: "I can see why you feel upset." We talk about the difference between being emotionally "above the line" (dysregulated) and "below the line" (calmer). When children are above the line, connection comes before problem-solving. Over time, these small shifts in how we respond can make a meaningful difference. Helen shares that many families notice change when parents move from trying to fix emotions to first understanding them. DBT was originally developed to support individuals experiencing intense emotional distress, including self-harm and suicidal thoughts. However, as Helen explains, many of its core principles are deeply relevant for all families. At its heart, DBT helps us understand emotions, respond to distress more effectively, and strengthen relationships. Link to Inside Out clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT6FdhKriB8

    27 min

  5. Apr 17

    Episode 68 - How Do I Know If My Child Needs Help? with Laura Dimler

    How do parents know when to worry about their child's mental wellbeing? In this episode, I am joined by developmental psychologist Laura Dimler to explore one of the most common and anxiety-provoking questions parents face. When your child is struggling, it can feel like an impossible puzzle. You don't want to overreact or pathologise what might be a normal phase. But equally, you don't want to miss something important. Laura brings a calm, science-informed framework to help parents step back and make sense of what they're seeing. Rather than focusing on one behaviour or one difficult moment, she encourages us to look at patterns over time and within context. Together, we explore how child development is not a straight line. There are periods of progress, but also regression, big emotions, and moments that can feel overwhelming for both children and parents. You can find out more about Laura Dimler and her work here: https://lauradimler.substack.com/

    17 min

  6. Apr 10

    Episode 67 - The Impact of Divorce and Infidelity on Children with Juliet Rosenfeld

    What are the short- and long-term effects of infidelity and separation on children, and how can parents protect their child's emotional wellbeing through it? In this episode, I am joined by Juliet Rosenfeld, psychoanalyst and author, to explore the impact of infidelity and separation on children. Drawing on her clinical work and psychoanalytic perspective, Juliet explains that these experiences can feel like a "seismic rupture" in a child's world. Even when children appear to adapt, they are often making sense of something they do not yet have the language or developmental capacity to fully understand. This can shape how they see themselves, their relationships, and their sense of safety in the world. We explore how these early experiences can echo into adulthood, sometimes showing up as difficulties with trust, fear of abandonment, or patterns in relationships. Importantly, this is not about blame or guilt. Instead, it is about awareness. Juliet shares that what matters most is not whether separation happens, but how it is handled. When parents can offer a united, age-appropriate narrative, protect children from conflict, and remind them that they were born out of love and remain deeply loved, this can significantly soften the impact and support children to thrive despite change. You can find out more about Juliet Rosenfeld and her work here: https://julietrosenfeld.co.uk/

    26 min

  7. Apr 3

    Episode 66 - How To Talk To Teenagers About Their Brains with Dr Sarah McKay

    How can we talk to teenagers about their brain in a way that actually helps, rather than making them roll their eyes? In this episode, I am joined by Dr Sarah McKay, a neuroscientist and author specialising in brain health, with a particular focus on women's brain health across the lifespan. Together, we explore what's really going on in the teenage brain, and why the way we talk about it matters more than we might think. Rather than asking parents to explain neuroscience to their teenagers, Sarah offers a more helpful approach: using what we understand about the brain to shape how we respond. We discuss the risks of common myths, such as teenagers being "ruled by hormones" or "unable to make good decisions", and how these narratives can shape behaviour in unhelpful ways. Instead, we reframe adolescence as a period of learning, growth and social development, where motivation, belonging and experience play a central role. With relatable parenting examples and clear, evidence-based insights, this conversation will help you better understand teenage behaviour and respond in a way that supports your relationship with your child. You can find out more about Dr Sarah McKay and her work here: https://drsarahmckay.com/

    22 min

  8. Mar 27

    Episode 65 - Breaking the OCD Cycle: How Parents Can Help with Dr Stuart Brownings

    What does OCD really look like in children — and how can parents respond in a way that truly helps, rather than unintentionally keeping it going? In this episode, I am joined by Dr Stuart Brownings, a clinical psychologist at a specialist OCD clinic who works exclusively with children, young people and adults experiencing obsessive compulsive disorder. Drawing on both research and extensive clinical experience, Stuart brings clarity, humour and deep compassion to a condition that can feel all-consuming for families. Together, we explore what OCD actually is, moving beyond common stereotypes to understand the full picture, including intrusive thoughts, images, "not quite right" feelings, and the wide range of compulsions that can follow.  A key focus of our conversation is accommodation — the everyday ways parents understandably adjust their behaviour in response to their child's anxiety, such as offering reassurance, checking things, or taking part in rituals. Stuart explains why this is so common, why it makes sense, and why it can also keep OCD stuck in a powerful cycle. This is a hopeful and practical conversation for any parent navigating OCD in their family, offering small, manageable steps that can make a meaningful difference over time. You can find out more about Dr Stuart Brownings and his work here: https://www.thespecialistocdclinic.co.uk/drstuartbrownings

    25 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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.

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