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 bad - some of the most common “mistakes” parents make when navigating their child’s anxiety. - Understandin...
Mar 20, 2025•25 min
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 parenting easier. - The power of flexibility in parenting, and why giving yourself permission to adapt can ...
Mar 18, 2025•47 min
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 action might be. - A statement you can say to your child that can help you begin to understand why they may...
Mar 13, 2025•20 min
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 present for her child. In this powerful conversation, Stephanie shares: - The difference between PTSD and ...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr
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. - Releasing guilt is a form of activism - we're explaining why. - How to course correct once you’ve noticed you’re ...
Mar 06, 2025•26 min
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 their teens. - Research statistics that will blow your mind on everything from when gender bias begins,...
Mar 04, 2025•57 min
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 manner) with them. - A conversation starter and basic script you can use to introduce this concept to your yo...
Feb 27, 2025•19 min
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” through grief and how Dr. Dan works with his patients to help them learn to process their feelings without t...
Feb 25, 2025•54 min
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. - What advice to give your child when they are left out in a friend group. - How to help a child who tend...
Feb 20, 2025•23 min
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 often overlooked—even in medical training. - The types of questions Dr. Jessica started asking her prenatal...
Feb 18, 2025•51 min
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. - The one pillar you can use as a parent to guide all your interactions with your child that can help to...
Feb 13, 2025•29 min
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 avoidant, and the other is more anxious. - Challenging perceptions of what is necessary in a relationship. When ...
Feb 11, 2025•53 min
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. - How to manage feeling lost, un-seen, and destabilized when a parent shifts to being less of a secure attachme...
Feb 06, 2025•23 min
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 Moments,” and how can parents tap into these times throughout the day to deepen their relationship with t...
Feb 04, 2025•51 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... - What does it mean to be “nesting” during a divorce? - What types of logistical and emotional factors to consider to help you determine if this is a good choice for your family. - What are the pros and cons of nesting for kids (and for you!) - How to help kids feel secure during a separation, whether you’ve decided to nest with your ex or not. - A script for helping your child u...
Jan 30, 2025•20 min
Sibling relationships are some of the longest-lasting and most influential relationships in our lives, but they’re also filled with complexity. Dr. Jonathan Caspi, a renowned expert on sibling relationships, is breaking down the fascinating science behind sibling dynamics and sharing actionable advice for parents. In this episode we explore: - The surprising science behind why if you give two siblings and two strangers personality tests, the siblings wouldn't be any more similar than the strange...
Jan 28, 2025•55 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... - What is developmentally typical for 2-year-olds when it comes to manners and patience? - Understanding impulse control, joint attention, and attunement - and how to use these 3 things to help you know how to respond to your child when they are demanding your attention. - When to pause to validate your child's desire, and when it’s okay to ignore their request. - How to help you...
Jan 23, 2025•16 min
What role do early attachment relationships play in shaping who we become? In this episode, Dr. Alan Sroufe, a pioneering researcher in attachment, shares decades of insights from his groundbreaking longitudinal study. Together we explore: - How Dr. Sroufe’s research answered the question: Do early experiences leave a lasting legacy? - Why resilience isn’t just about thriving in the face of adversity, but is deeply rooted in the strength of attachment relationships. - The importance of early rel...
Jan 21, 2025•56 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about... - It can be tricky to maintain relationships when you’re in different stages of life from your friends and it’s common for some to atrophy after you become a parent. - Unpacking all the feelings you may have about this: fear, guilt, grief, and more! - Practical strategies for creating a simple routine that is easy for you to maintain, but will also allow you to keep these relationship...
Jan 16, 2025•26 min
Discover how maternal mental health care is evolving and why specialized support is critical for mothers with Paige Bellenbaum, LCSW, PMH-C and Rebecca Geshuri, LMFT, PMH-C. In this episode we explore: - What dyadic work is and how this can be especially beneficial for mothers and birthing people for developing a bond with their child. - How Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can support mothers in addressing their inner “mom parts” that contribute to feelings of failure and overwhelm. - How ...
Jan 14, 2025•57 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about... - How to best approach daycare transitions and is there a right or a wrong answer to this question? - The most important questions to ask yourself to determine which of these scenarios will be easiest for your unique child. - Is it better to have a single, potentially steeper transition or a slower, more incremental transition? - The key things to consider (like sleep habits, separati...
Jan 09, 2025•17 min
Neha Ruch is sharing strategies for embracing flexibility as you balance, shift, and grow in both your career and parenthood. In this episode we explore: - How to redefine what “career” means to you at this stage of life and navigate the evolving roles of being a working or stay-at-home parent. - Why downshifting your career can be a valuable smaller step if you're not ready to take a full pause. - Preparing for this transition to feel less overwhelming—emotionally, financially, and in terms of ...
Jan 07, 2025•54 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about... - Unpacking your own feelings about swearing (or any undesirable behaviors) your child is engaging in. - How to teach your child to attune to their environment and know when and where certain behaviors are appropriate and when and where they are not. - Zooming out to identify what your child’s intention is when they are swearing (to test boundaries, in anger, in silly moments, etc.) t...
Jan 02, 2025•29 min
A deep dive on combating parental burnout to start off 2025 with more balance. In this episode I dive deep into… - Understanding what parental burnout actually is and how it is different from regular “stress” in parenthood? - The pros and cons of the rise of the “Parenting Industrial Complex.” - The output/input formula that will inevitably lead to depletion, and why parents of sensitive children are more susceptible to an imbalance in this equation. - An exercise you can use to address (and fli...
Dec 31, 2024•56 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... - Translating the question: I don’t want a sibling may actually just mean, “I miss you.” - Zooming back to assess the environmental factors that may be taxing your child, especially when there are a lot of transitions and changes going on. - How to change the narrative in your young child’s mind so they don’t associate losing quality time with Mommy and Daddy t...
Dec 26, 2024•18 min
Discover how to use the power of play to strengthen your child’s emotional regulation and foster meaningful connection, with Dr. Abbré McClain and Dr. Jacqueline Salazar. In this episode, we explore: - How play and relationships can be foundational elements for teaching kids emotional regulation skills. - Why coregulation doesn’t have to be so serious and can be employed through play and playfulness. - The therapeutic function of play interventions and how they work in play therapy. - How to ada...
Dec 24, 2024•43 min
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... - Breaking down the different strategies you’d use with kids whether this is a single one-off big fight, or if conflict is more prevalent in your home. - What a conversation with your child might sound like and how to adapt it to be most authentic to you. - Specific things to do in order to lessen the negative impact of parental conflict on your kids. - How to help your child mak...
Dec 19, 2024•20 min
Discover the impacts of EdTech in schools and how parents can advocate for their children’s education with technology attorney Andy Liddell - What EdTech is and how technology like iPads and Chromebooks are being integrated into classrooms. - The hidden dangers of screens on the learning experience, what is at risk when hands-on learning is replaced by more passive educational experiences, and how to optimize information retention, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. - The role of big...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr
Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... - Bullying is often an expression of pain, so leading with compassion for your child is often your best entry point. - How to readjust your goal, rather than just trying to shut down your child's behaviors, for a higher likelihood of getting through to them. - Examples of real-life scenarios that middle school girls may be experiencing and how to navigate them....
Dec 12, 2024•29 min
Motherhood comes with immense challenges, but when mothers come together, they can spark transformative change. In this inspiring episode, Erin Erenberg, founder of Totum Women and co-founder of the Chamber of Mothers, shares her journey becoming a powerful advocate for maternal rights. In this episode, we explore: - Erin's personal and professional journey that inspired her to empower and support mothers. - The Chamber of Mothers mission: Uniting mothers as advocates to create a better America....
Dec 10, 2024•56 min
