Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... When your child says “I’m bored” does that actually mean they are? How to decode their language to get to the root of their struggles. What is a developmentally appropriate amount of time parents can expect of their children to play independently? What is a “bored list” and a “bored box” and how can you create these tools to help with the summer slump. How self-regulation and exe...
Jul 03, 2025•21 min
New York Times bestselling author, therapist, and social philosopher Michael Gurian joins me for a fascinating conversation about the brain science behind why boys and girls often need different things—and how understanding these differences can help us raise emotionally healthy, resilient kids. Together we explore: The difference between sex and gender. Why boys’ brains often orient more toward spatial and kinesthetic activities, and how this shapes the way they bond and communicate. The surpri...
Jul 01, 2025•50 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about... What “scaffolding” and “accommodations” actually mean, where they differ, and where they overlap. Why the exact same parenting move can either build your child’s confidence or unintentionally undermine your intentions, and the simple trick to figure out which one you're doing! How your child’s discomfort plays a role in how you respond to them, and the important information that can r...
Jun 26, 2025•22 min
Clinical neuropsychologist and co-author of The Self-Driven Child , Dr. William Stixrud joins me for a powerful conversation about how we can raise confident, resilient kids by helping them feel a greater sense of control, without giving up our role as parents. Together we explore: Why a low sense of control is one of the most stressful experiences a child (or adult) can have, and how we can support our kids in feeling more agentful in their lives. How secure attachment and autonomy are deeply c...
Jun 24, 2025•55 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about... What is the difference between attachment bonds and parental preferences? If your child shows you their most dysregulated behaviors, doesn’t listen to you, or is their messiest self with you, what these behaviors may reveal. (Spoiler: It’s a good sign!) If your child does have an insecure attachment to you, practical strategies and interventions you can use to start repairing your rel...
Jun 19, 2025•28 min
Melinda Wenner Moyer, author of the new book Hello, Cruel World! joins me to break down the most essential skills kids need to thrive in today's complicated times. Together we explore: The three powerful themes Melinda saw again and again in her research and how you can tap into these to help you be more effective in your parenting. Practical and realistic ways to help kids feel truly seen and heard. How slowing down, staying curious, and fostering a growth mindset isn’t just for kids, but for p...
Jun 17, 2025•53 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... Why potty training blends both physiological and psychological factors and how parents can wrap their head around both to best support your child. How parents can understand the biological-psychological feedback loop and how this can affect your child’s body and mind. How to get on the same page when there are multiple caregivers and providers who spend time wi...
Jun 12, 2025•26 min
Sharon Itkoff Nacache is joining me to break down the myths and truths about art therapy—what it is, what it isn’t, and why creativity can be such a powerful tool for healing, integration, and resilience. Together we explore: The common questions people have about art therapy, and how integrating creative arts into therapy can support emotional processing, integration, and healing. The difference between open studio models, art therapy, and art psychotherapy and how each can serve different ther...
Jun 10, 2025•49 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... There is no correlation between a baby who self-weans and the development of a secure attachment. You’re going to piss off your kids a lot… that's totally normal and doesn’t mean that they won’t form a strong and healthy attachment to you. It makes sense your child wants what feels good to them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that what they want is also what they need. Helpful...
Jun 05, 2025•25 min
In this episode, I’m joined by cognitive psychologist and ADHD expert Eliza Barach to explore the brain-based differences that drive many of the challenges (and strengths!) that come with ADHD. Together we cover: The neuroscience of an ADHD brain and why having this basic knowledge can be so impactful for your parenting! How understanding the roles of dopamine and norepinephrine are important aspects of understanding your child (or yourself!) with ADHD. Why people with ADHD are more vulnerable t...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... How do you know when to encourage your child to stick with an activity versus when it’s okay to let them step away? Does your approach change if the activity is a team sport versus an individual activity? What are effective ways to talk to your partner about these concerns without triggering defensiveness or shutting down the conversation? How sibling dynamics ...
May 29, 2025•20 min
Dr. Wendy Rote is joining me to unpack some surprising and even counterintuitive findings about kids, smartphones, and social media. She and her team are in the middle of a groundbreaking longitudinal study following tweens over time, giving us rare insight into how technology is shaping the mental health and identity development of Generation Alpha. Together we explore: Why the question “Is social media making kids depressed?” might be the wrong one to ask and what we should be asking instead. ...
May 27, 2025•58 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... It’s okay to set boundaries without needing to justify why you are setting them. How to communicate your boundaries to a friend or neighbor (with a sample script you can use!) to honor your needs without burning a bridge. Effective communication strategies and suggested responses for setting restrictions on allowing one of the neighborhood kids to come over uni...
May 22, 2025•22 min
Jennie Monness is joining me this week to break down the difference between developmentally normal (and healthy!) anxiety and signs that your child may need additional support—and how you can adjust your parenting approach to effectively support both. Together we explore: Why our instinct to remove discomfort may actually make anxiety worse—and what to do instead. How to support children with separation anxiety, and the surprising stressors that often go unnoticed during transitions. Utilizing s...
May 20, 2025•56 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... What to do when your toddler spirals from silly to overstimulated in seconds. Unpacking the difference between dysregulation and high arousal—and why this distinction matters. Strategies parents can use to share joyful, silly and playful moment with your sensitive child without overwhelming them. If you stop being so silly and fun, is that over-accommodating and bowing down too m...
May 15, 2025•20 min
What if the way we talk about birth is shaping the way we experience it—before it even begins? Joining me to unpack this is journalist, professor, and author of Invisible Labor: The Untold Story of the Cesarean Section , Rachel Somerstein. Together we explore: The hidden biases and ingrained language that shape how we view birth—why terms like "failure to progress" reinforce harmful narratives. Why flexibility is a powerful tool in birth and parenting—and why we so often slip into rigidity when ...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about... What is the difference between sharing and taking turns from a developmental standpoint? When the validation of your child’s feelings doesn’t seem to work well–what to do instead. Why there actually is a form of grief as a part of the taking turns experience and a mindset shift you can use to feel compassion for that feeling (even if it feels completely ridiculous to you from an adult ...
May 08, 2025•24 min
In this episode, psychologist and author of The Crucial Years Dr. Sheryl Ziegler joins me to shine a light on the unique needs and challenges of raising 6-12 year olds - a period often overlooked in parenting conversations, despite being a period of massive emotional, social, and biological development. Together we explore: Why puberty is starting younger than ever, what’s driving this trend, and how stress and environment play a critical role. How to tell when your child’s “teenage” behaviors (...
May 06, 2025•59 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... Not all school refusal looks the same. Learn how to recognize the different types and when it’s time to seek extra support. Understanding the science of anxiety and how these feelings can actually create physical symptoms like tummy aches or headaches. Strategies for getting to the root cause of what may be causing your child’s school refusal so you can address...
May 01, 2025•27 min
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 testing can help unlock your child’s potential (hint: it’s not just about diagnoses). Why leaning into your c...
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 1 min
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 , during , and after a game to help your child manage big feelings in the moment (and build skills for ...
Apr 24, 2025•19 min
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 confusing early symptoms to the long road toward diagnosis, and everything in between. Together we ...
Apr 22, 2025•49 min
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 actually strengthen your bond. - Some kids require extra support which may lead to more friction in your...
Apr 17, 2025•21 min
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 episode, we explore: The difference between “woo-woo” energy healing and what research actually shows abou...
Apr 15, 2025•56 min
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 you! - What to do if your child’s aggressive behaviors don’t seem to be fueled by a reaction to anything in ...
Apr 10, 2025•17 min
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, and may not even be the most accurate way of thinking about attachment security...and what actually is! -...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 1 min
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 being intentional about strengthening them can be a real game changer!) - Some of these underdeveloped s...
Apr 03, 2025•31 min
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 understanding the nuances of each can help us in our parenting approach. - The importance of “warmth” in parenting...
Apr 01, 2025•50 min
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 therapist, we share a conversation starter that may make you feel more confident. - Strategies for vetting...
Mar 27, 2025•27 min
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. - Why it’s common to see self-sabotaging behaviors in people who are experiencing Imposter Syndrome - and ...
Mar 25, 2025•55 min
