Securely Attached

What if understanding how your child thinks and learns could completely change the way you support them—and help them thrive in the process? Dr. Yael Rothman and Dr. Katia Fredriksen of  Neuropsych Moms  are joining me this week to demystify neuropsychological evaluations and empower parents with the tools to better understand and advocate for their children.   The surprising ways neuropsych testi...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about...   Simple, effective emotion regulation strategies that actually work for 6-year-olds when disappointment over losing takes over—and how to use them in a way that feels supportive, not controlling. When to step in and what to say—a breakdown of the best parenting approaches  before...

When your child has a chronic illness, it doesn't just impact their physical health—it can touch every corner of their life and yours. But the signs that something deeper is going on aren't always as obvious as you'd think. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Kate Herts and I dive into the emotional, behavioral, and practical complexities of parenting a child with a chronic illness—from the...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...   - It may be taboo to say, but it's very common for parents to feel more connected to one child than another.   - A sample script you can use with your kids to articulate the different types of relationship dynamics you have with each of them that will serve to...

What if small shifts in your awareness and energy could help you feel more connected, present, and empowered—not just as a parent, but as a whole person?   Energy practitioner Stephanie Filardi is joining me this week to help us explore how being aligned and connected to yourself allows you to make choices that support not only your child's mental health, but your own  well-being, too.   In this e...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...   - What are sensory seeking and sensory inhibiting behaviors and drives?   - How you can determine whether your child's "aggressive behaviors" are actually sensory seeking - and how this changes the interventions you use.   - Are these behaviors volitional? Our answer might surprise yo...

In this episode, the creator of AEDP, Dr. Diana Fosha, psychotherapist Karen Pando-Mars, and I dive into the science of healing attachment wounds and exploring how AEDP can help people create healthier patterns.   Together we explore:   - What exactly is AEDP, directly from the creator of this therapy modality herself   - Unpacking how and why attachment "styles" aren't as fixed as we often think,...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...   - The science of why transitions are so hard for the ADHD brain - it's not just that you or your child are "difficult," it's actually the way a neurodiverse brain works.   - What type of executive functioning skills need more scaffolding for a person with ADHD (and the good news, that...

The way we parent isn't just shaped by psychology—it's deeply influenced by culture, shaping how our children experience love, discipline, and security in ways we may not even realize. Joining me to unpack this is clinical psychologist Dr. Miguelina German.   In this episode we explore:   - Two overarching parenting frameworks, Attachment Theory and Baumrind Parenting Practices, and how understand...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...   - When you notice unhealthy patterns in how you tend to show up in relationships or in past therapy, how you can communicate that to your new therapist to help treatment be more successful.   - If you're feeling overwhelmed by the idea of starting with a new th...

What if small shifts in the way you parent could help prevent Imposter Syndrome in your child before it even starts? Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin is joining me this week to help parents learn how to raise a child who trusts in their own abilities, values, and worth.   In this episode we explore:   - What imposter syndrome actually is (and what it isn't!) from a scientific and psychological perspective.  ...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about...   - What to do when your reassurances to your child doesn't help soothe their anxiety.   - A sample script of the type of thing you can say (and wait to try to avoid saying) to help your child believe that they can cope with the feeling of anxiety.   - When our good intentions go b...

In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Gayane Aramyan joins me to unpack the "perfect mom" pressure so many of us contend with on a daily basis.   In this episode we cover:   - Why our expectations of motherhood often don't match reality—and how to stop blaming ourselves when they don't.   - The hidden ways control fuels anxiety and overwhelm, and how loosening our grip can make p...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about...   - Dr. Sarah and Dr. Rebecca sympathize with this mom and reflects on how great it would be if we could choose our kid's friends - but offer a mindset shift for why that actually wouldn't be healthy.   - Who to turn to for support to help you determine what your best course of act...

When journalist and author Stephanie Foo was diagnosed with Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), she left her job and devoted herself to healing—a journey she chronicled in her bestselling memoir, What My Bones Know . Now, as a mother, she's navigating what it means to parent with complex trauma, balancing the high-alert nervous system that comes with C-PTSD while trying to stay presen...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about...   - Dr. Sarah and Dr. Rebecca debate whether mom-guilt is inherent to all mothers or a societally structured construct (Spoiler: Dr. Rebecca wins this battle!)   - The critical distinction between distress and guilt and why one can be a destructive grenade in parenting.   - Releasi...

Girls are often sent messages that can leave them feeling unseen, unheard, and boxed in by societal expectations. How can we as parents help them challenge these limiting narratives and grow into their full potential?   In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein to explore:   - How societal norms shape girls' self-perception, from the "pink frilly dress" phase to body image struggles in...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...     - Exactly when we'd recommend you tell your child that you're pregnant.   - Why it's important to help your child make sense of what is happening in their life—and the conclusions they can jump to if we don't share things (in a developmentally appropriate man...

Grief isn't something we get over—it's something we integrate. Joining me to discuss this and the best way to support children through profound loss is Dr. Dan Wolfson, a clinical psychologist specializing in grief.   In this episode we explore:   - The skills needed for fostering resilience and helping children and adults learn to grieve in a healthy manner.   - The importance of "oscillation" th...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about...   - First things first, why are schools still sending out candy grams in this current climate with a loneliness epidemic on the rise?    - Cliques and posses that form in middle school are often rife with envy, jealousy, gossip, and temptation - how to help our kids navigate this. ...

Do you know the signs of postpartum depression? Many parents (and even medical professionals) often miss diagnosing new mothers with a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. Here to help shed light on this important topic is Board-Certified OB/GYN and author of the upcoming book, Then Comes Baby, Dr. Jessica Vernon.   In this episode we explore:   - Why postpartum mental health conditions are so oft...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...   - Even if we aren't adding more pressure onto our kids, the world often pushes external achievements on them - how can parents push back against this?   - Why trying to problem-solve with your child may seem like it's supporting them, but could actually be perpetuating their anxiety....

How does attachment security relate to codependency? The Codependent Perfectionist, Alana Carvalho, LMHC, is here to explore just that!   In this episode, we cover it all:   - How does codependency fit into the attachment system?   - Does this sound like what you're struggling with in your relationship? We're reviewing some of the most common challenges partners face when one person is more avoida...

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about...   - Breaking down the difference between having differing political view points versus someone having extremist views.    - How the health of our relationships with our parents is often intertwined with our relationship with ourselves, our kids, and our entire family system.    - H...

Music therapist Vered Benhorin is teaching parents how they can use play and music as powerful tools to strengthen connection, foster attachment, and make parenting feel a little easier.   In this episode, we explore:   - Why play is so important for emotional regulation, attachment, and connection—and how parents who don't naturally enjoy play can redefine what it looks like.   - What are "Bubble...