The Parenting Couch

For our final episode of 2024, we had envisioned something festive and cheerful to set the tone for a fun Christmas season. However, life had other plans. On November 18, 2024, our host, Rachel Chappell, was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer, and those plans have taken a backseat—for now. In this deeply personal episode, Rachel sits down with co-host Sarah to share her journey so far, the shock...

This week, we’re diving into speech and language development with the incredible Jules Tushuizen, an experienced Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist. Jules shares her wealth of experience to help parents navigate their child's exciting and sometimes nerve-wracking journey through communication milestones. From first words to forming sentences, we cover it all—plus what to do if your...

So many mums are stressed with juggling kids, work and the bulk of the domestic load. The creep can be gradual and suddenly it seems like we’re ‘doing everything’. This can lead to feelings of bitterness and resentment – and now we’re bickering or testing each other, to see if the other one notices or really cares. The resentment also impacts our desire to be intimate. So how can we negotiate the...

In this powerful episode, we dive into one of the hardest challenges facing kids and parents today: bullying. Joined by leading parenting expert Justin Coulson, we uncover what’s really at the heart of bullying behaviours, how they impact young minds, and, most importantly, the steps we can take to create safer, kinder spaces for our children.  What bullying actually is (and what it isn’t) How par...

In today’s episode, we sit down with Gen Muir, a renowned parenting expert, to discuss one of the biggest milestones in a child’s life — the transition to 'big' school. If you're preparing to send your little one off to kindergarten, this episode is packed with insights, tips, and advice on making the process smoother for parents and children. We chat about...  When to send? Gen pro...

If you could be a part-time foster carer and make a real difference in a young person’s life, would you do it? With flexible care options like fostering for just a week or the occasional weekend, and an urgent need for carers in Sydney, this episode busts all the common misconceptions that you might have about taking on this role. Tim and Kylie from Uniting’s Permanency Support Program join Rachel...

Welcome to today’s episode, where we’ll dive deep into the world of child mental health— a more pressing issue than ever. Did you know that 1 in 7 children aged 4 to 17 meet the clinical criteria for a mental illness over 12 months? Yet, despite these staggering numbers, only half of these children will see a clinician. Access to professional help is limited, and waiting lists can be painfully lon...

Today, we’re tackling the tricky topic of returning to work after having kids. It’s one that most mums need to consider, and it’s never an easy decision. Whilst some mums are happy to return to work or have to return for financial reasons, others simply want to spend as much time as they can with their children while they’re little. There’s no right or wrong, and everyone makes the best decision f...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Nick Fuller, a leading expert in the field of childhood nutrition and author of the new book "Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids". We dive deep into the essentials of creating a healthy, happy home environment, starting with meal planning and how to involve your kids in choosing what’s on the menu. Dr Fuller shares his insights on why eating together at th...

In a world where screens are everywhere, it can be challenging to find the right balance for our children.  In today’s episode of The Parenting Couch, we chat with Parenting Educator Gen Muir to help us navigate this digital landscape, offering strategies to create healthy habits and foster a positive relationship with technology.  Whether you're struggling with screen time rules or looking f...

As parents, we all know the daily struggle of preparing a nutritious lunchbox... that our kids will actually eat. If you're in need of a little mid-year inspiration, we've called in the expert! In this episode, we dive into the art of crafting the perfect healthy lunchbox with renowned health and wellbeing specialist, Suzanne Burke. As a busy mum herself, Suzanne understands the challeng...

Are you running on empty? Juggling a hundred things at once? And it seems there is no end in sight? Parental Burnout is real! Psychologist Dr Carryn Masluk breaks down what is happening to women, and how you can get help. In this episode, we're diving into a topic that hits close to home for so many of us: parental burnout.  Are you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you’re running on em...

In this episode of The Parenting Couch, we delve into the important topic of nutrition during perimenopause.  We’re joined by Susie Burrell, one of Australia’s leading dietitians, with extensive experience in women's health and nutrition. Susie shares valuable insights into how dietary choices can profoundly impact the symptoms and overall experience of perimenopause. You’ll learn… What is pe...

  Does your child suffer from 'School Can't'? School Can’t… also known as school refusal, school phobia, school avoidance or school anxiety, is a condition where a child or teenager refuses to attend school or experiences extreme distress when faced with the prospect of going to school. It's more than just about not wanting to go to school. It involves significant emotional dis...

Got a teenager at high school? Want to support them to reach their personal goals? Ki Yan Baldwin is an education strategist and Founder of Kalibrate Education. In this episode, we shares many practical tips about how to help your child achieve great results whilst nurturing their overall wellbeing, ensuring teenagers are poised for the best university and career prospects. Ki Yan addresses many c...

Is it possible to ‘thrive’ in motherhood? Tara Darlington from Empowering Motherhood believes that it is… and shares her wisdom about how to make that a reality! In this episode, Tara shares: How to integrate self-care into your daily life as a busy mother so that it nourishes you and your family.  The importance of creating a lifestyle and family rhythm that includes your own needs, dreams and de...

We all want to be the best parents we can for our kids... but nobody is perfect, and we can always learn new tips to help our kids thrive! From setting high expectations and comparing our kids to others, to being a little bit "too" gentle in our parenting, Dr Justin Coulson outlines the biggest mistakes parents make... and shares his expert guidance to help us get out of these traps.  Ab...

Online predators hide in all corners of the internet… and it’s more important than ever to understand the risks, how to reduce harm and what to do if you suspect something isn’t right. We chat with Jen Hoey, Parent Cyber Safety Consultant who shares her important insights into the importance of digital protection for children. From social media platforms to online gaming, our children navigate a v...

Victoria Vanstone is the creator and host of the hugely popular Sober Awkward podcast. Her new memoir A Thousand Wasted Sundays is an unashamedly warts and all look at modern day drinking culture, its impact on mental health and one mothers journey into freeing herself from the grip of socially normalised binge drinking.    Victoria grew up in 1980s England in a happy home full of laughter, booze...

Vapes, e-cigarettes, stigs, pods… they go by many names and they pose a health risk to our young people. Would your Year 5 or 6 child know what to do if a vape was offered to them? Would they understand the dangers? Would they know how to say "no"? It's frighteningly easy for kids to come across vapes. They might find one on the side of the road (yuck!) or have one offered one to th...

Want to create lasting positive habits so that you can live the lifestyle you've always wanted? We sit down with the inspiring Dr. Gina Cleo to understand the power of habits - and how we can use them to propel our lives forward. Dr. Gina Cleo is a trained dietician, author, speaker and habit researcher. Gina specialises in guiding people to transform their habits, whether it's for their...

Are you struggling with getting your baby or toddler to sleep? Or simply want to learn some tips about how to make the process easier? We chat to Baby Sleep Consultant for her expert tips about how to get more sleep for baby... and for YOU! Plus: What age should a baby be able to ‘sleep through’ the night? Should you use an app to track baby sleep? What is a holistic approach to sleep for each ind...

Want to learn how to raise your kids without bribes, threats and punishment? Emotional Intelligence Coach Stephanie Pinto, shares how you can replace this style of parenting with something much more respectful, productive and compassionate. In this episode of the Parenting Couch, you'll learn... What is emotional intelligence? How to get your kids to brush their teeth… share the ipad… or do t...

Are you feeling a little frazzled after a busy festive season? If 'self-care' has been at the bottom of your 'to do' list recently, it's time to change that. We chat with local spa owner, Jillian Coughlan, to find out some super simple ways that we can incorporate self-care into our daily lives, to improve our health, happiness and overall wellbeing.  It's the busiest...

Is your child starting high school soon? Make the transition from primary to high school a smooth one. This podcast interview with Youth Mindset Coach, Claire Eaton, is packed with invaluable tips for both parents and students to help them get off to the best start! Starting high school is one of the biggest changes that your child will go through. But it is also a time of huge excitement, maturit...