Securely Attached

Dr. Adam McCormick, professor, social worker, and author joins me to explore what happens to boys' emotional worlds as they grow up, and how parents can help their sons stay connected to the parts of themselves they may otherwise learn to hide.   Together we explore: Why so many boys gradually disconnect from emotions they once expressed freely. The powerful role shame can play beneath anger, with...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...   What to make of advice that tells you not to comfort your child when they're distressed. Why a frightened toddler at the doctor's office is communicating something very different than "bad behavior." The common misunderstanding about reinforcement that leaves m...

Author, speaker, and neuroscience educator Sarah Peyton joins me to explore what happens when attachment theory, Nonviolent Communication, and the science of resonance come together.   Together we explore:   Why feeling understood is so important for your child's developing brain, nervous system, and sense of self. The fascinating difference between empathy and resonance, and why that distinction...

Dr. Niobe Way, developmental psychologist and bestselling author, sits down with me to explore why meaningful connection is so essential for our children, and what may be getting in the way of their natural capacity to build it. Drawing on decades of research with children and adolescents, Dr. Way challenges some of our most deeply held assumptions about what kids need to thrive and offers a hopef...

Dr. Marisa G. Franco, psychologist and author of the new book Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment , sits down with me to explore a side of attachment we don't talk about nearly enough: our relationship with ourselves.   Together we explore:   Why trying to "act secure" may actually leave you feeling more insecure. What it really means to become "secure-ish," and why securit...

Jennifer Anderson, registered dietitian, founder of Kids Eat in Color, and author of the new book Feed Them Well: A Guide to Raising Healthy, Confident Eaters for Life , joins me to help parents cut through the noise around nutrition, focus on what actually matters, and let go of the guilt, perfectionism, and fear that so often surround mealtimes.   Together we explore:   Why the atmosphere around...

Dr. Siggie Cohen, child development specialist, parenting expert, and author of the new book You Are the Parent joins me to discuss why so many parents today feel overwhelmed, second-guess themselves, and wonder if they're getting it all wrong.   Together we explore:   Why so many well-intentioned parents get stuck in a cycle of trying new parenting strategies that never seem to work, and what to...

As part of our 5-Year Anniversary Summer Series, we're bringing back one of the most meaningful and foundational conversations in Securely Attached history. Many parents worry that if they didn't experience a secure attachment in their own childhood, they'll unknowingly repeat those same patterns with their children. But one of the most hopeful findings in attachment research is that our past does...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...   What intrusive thoughts actually are. How to recognize when a repetitive question or worry is more than ordinary curiosity, and the subtle clues that can help you tell the difference. The types of topics (like private parts, germs, or order) that are most commo...

Michael Fried, a family law attorney at Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein joins me to help parents navigating divorce better understand what to expect when it comes to child custody, how courts make custody decisions, and how to create a parenting agreement that truly serves their child's best interests.   Together we explore:   Why today's courts increasingly begin with the assumption that children...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...   Why staying dry overnight is very different from daytime potty training, and what many potty training books get wrong. The surprising reason some children simply aren't biologically ready, no matter how motivated they or their parents are. How to recognize the...

Vered Benhorin, music therapist and Baby in Tune founder, joins me to explore how music and connection can be powerful tools in your parenting toolbox.   Together we explore:   Why creating just a few intentional moments of connection each day matters far more than trying to be perfectly present all the time. The simple shift that can transform ordinary routines like diaper changes, snack time, or...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...   Why some children seem to worry about everything, from strange noises to monsters under the bed, even when nothing dangerous is happening. How to tell the difference between anxiety, a highly sensitive temperament, and a nervous system that's simply taking in the world more intensely....

As part of our 5-Year Anniversary Summer Series, we're bringing back one of the most impactful parenting conversations in Securely Attached history.   Few moments are more heartbreaking than hearing your child say, "I'm stupid," "I'm a bad kid," "I hate myself," or even, "I wish I wasn't here." Our instinct is often to reassure them, convince them they're wrong, or make those painful feelings disa...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...   Why children who are loving, sweet, and cooperative in many moments can still get stuck saying "no" to the smallest requests. What your child's resistance may actually be communicating, and why it often has very little to do with the task itself. A simple shift that can help break the...

In this episode, I sit down with nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, and bestselling author Dr. Uma Naidoo to explore the fascinating science behind the gut-brain connection and what it means for parents. Rather than focusing on restriction or perfection, Dr. Naidoo shares a practical, realistic approach to using food as one more tool to support your child's emotional well-being.   Togeth...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...   Why toddlers often sound rude or demanding without actually intending to be. The developmental reason young children focus on getting their needs met rather than how their words affect others. When to gently teach manners in the moment and when it's better to f...

As part of our 5-Year Anniversary Summer Series, we're bringing back one of the most downloaded and talked-about episodes in Securely Attached history.   Few parenting topics generate as much confusion, anxiety, and conflicting advice as sleep. In this conversation, neuroscientist, doula, and author of The Nurture Revolution , Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum, joins me to explore what the science actually te...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...   Why trying harder often makes tooth brushing harder, and what to focus on instead. The surprising reason lowering your expectations in the short term can actually lead to better long-term habits. How to tell whether your child is resisting because of autonomy, sensory sensitivities, o...

Oren Jay Sofer, mindfulness teacher, communication expert, and author of Say What You Mean , joins me to explore the principles of Nonviolent Communication, a powerful framework that helps us communicate in ways that foster connection, reduce conflict, and strengthen relationships.   Together we explore:   Why your child's challenging behavior may be pointing to something much deeper than disobedi...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...   Whether parents should wait to address anxiety or OCD symptoms while their child is in a PANS or PANDAS flare. How to tell the difference between supporting your child and unintentionally strengthening anxiety. Why the SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) approa...

As part of our 5-Year Anniversary Summer Series, we're bringing back one of the most popular and foundational episodes in Securely Attached history.   When children are overwhelmed by big feelings, many parents wonder how to help them calm down, listen, or use the coping skills they've been taught. But before children can regulate themselves, they first need to experience regulation through relati...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...   - The best way parents can tell their children that they are planning to separate or get divorced. - How to approach this conversation in a way that helps children feel safe, supported, and loved. - What parents should share, what they should avoid sharing, and why it's important to f...

Debbie Reber, founder of Tilt Parenting and author of Differently Wired , joins me for a deeply honest conversation about what it really means to raise a neurodivergent child and why supporting these children begins with changing the way we understand them, not trying to change who they are.   Together we explore:   What it really means to be "differently wired" and why that shift in language matt...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...   - How to support a child who struggles with separation anxiety, even at home. - Why some kids follow their parents from room to room and constantly want to stay close. - How to respond when your child says "I miss you" without accidentally reinforcing anxiety....