Shows
Is My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastKevin & Scott Part 2 of 3: When Homework is Frustrating for EveryoneHomework is a time of frustration in many families. And there are so many root causes that contribute to the defiance that often comes with homework. In today’s episode, which is the second session with Kevin and Scott, Leslie discusses and assesses what’s going on and what to do with those homework issues. Kevin and Scott are parents to 7 year old Gavin and 4 year old Arthur - two neurodivergent boys, who are trying incredibly hard to be the best parents they can be. Leslie points out that perhaps everyone can try different, not harder.Time Stam...2025-07-2943 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastKevin & Scott Part 1 of 3: When Parenting Feels Like A Sea of ChaosAs parents we can probably relate to Kevin and Scott who describe family life as chaotic. They are parents of two neurodivergent boys, 7 year old Gavin and 4 year old Arthur. Its clear in this episode that these parents have done their homework and tried to help their boys and their family life but the frustration and uncertainly are ever present. Leslie works with Kevin and Scott to assess and understand the other important ingredients essential for effective parenting. This episode focuses on feelings and concepts such as compassion, insecurity, shame and grief. And together they that look at what happ...2025-07-2240 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastHow To Manage Parental Overwhelm with Special Guest Dr. Kiki FelhlingParenting is an overwhelming job with endless meals, cleanups, and activities. But on top of that, there’s the general overwhelm we're all feeling in our current world, and there are skills you can learn to help manage that daily overwhelm. In this episode Leslie speaks with special guest, Dr. Kiki Fehling. Dr. Kiki Fehling, a licensed psychologist, DBT expert, author and speaker, discusses the transformative impact of DBT on her life and the lives of her clients. Together Leslie and Kiki focus on specific DBT skills that can directly help parents who feel overwhelmed, including Mindfulness, TIPP, and Op...2025-07-1537 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastKrystal & Burt Part 3 of 3: When One Parent Worries and The Other Parent Doesn’tHere’s the scenario: Your 8 year old child just got a formal diagnosis of ADHD in addition to the dyslexia diagnosis. Your 12 year old son is also neurodivergent whose behaviors include humming, interrupting and fidgeting. How does a family learn to get along with all of these differences which create tension in both the children and the parents. In this third and final session with Krystal and Burt, Leslie works directly with the parenting differences…Krystal expresses her concerns about Margot's future, while Burt remains optimistic. The skills focus on mindfulness, validation and communication in order to “get along”, and learn...2025-07-0849 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastBonus Episode: Managing Car Rides With KidsKids fighting in the car is a common occurrence and is often a headache for most parents. This is a mini-bonus episode where Leslie and her producer Alletta Cooper discuss a number of strategies to help kids sit with discomfort, learn to deal with boredom and maybe along the way have some time to daydream - a way to exercise a valuable part of the brain. Screens and phones are not on the Do-Not-Use list but rather are understood for ways in which they too can be helpful. Time Stamps2:15 The...2025-07-0320 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastKrystal & Burt Part 2 of 3: When Your Tween Gets Their First PhoneWhen kids get their own phone there’s a big adjustment for everyone. And it doesn’t always go smoothly. This is my second session with Krystal and Burt where we find out how they are doing and if they did their homework to find small ways to connect. This session focuses on 12 year old Mat who gets in trouble with his phone and what parents can do when that happens. We also focus on 8 year old Margo who advocates for her own needs which is in sharp contrast to Mat’s people pleasing tendencies. The skills in this episode fo...2025-07-0147 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastKrystal & Burt Part 1 of 3: When Kids Pick up on Marital TensionThere is so much going on in a family between raising the kids, making a living to provide for the family and managing a household. In today’s session, we meet Krystal and Burt, a family based in the UK who have 2 children, 12 year old Mat, and 8 year old Margo. They recently moved to a rural farm with animals that they also raise. Making time for the kids, making time for the relationship and running their lives is what Burt called “volume overload”. And it is through that lens of “volume overload” that we unpack the sibling rivalry between the kids. 2025-06-2453 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastHow to Resolve Conflicts with Special Guest Dale RuburySibling Rivalry is a great opportunity to practice conflict resolution. In this episode we talk about the steps to help you resolve conflicts with your kids. But these same steps (easy to explain and difficult to practice) can be used with all relationships that experience conflicts. Leslie explains the steps to conflict resolution and highlights the one step that is often forgotten and without it can sabotage any attempts to resolve the conflicts. Leslie and her daughter Dale discuss these steps and apply it to real life experiencesTime Stamps2:12 Definition of conflict2025-06-1729 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastAnna Part 2 of 2: When It Feels Like Your Kids Are Growing Up Too Fast And Other FearsThere is so much fear in parenting, it just comes with the territory. Fear of kids fighting, fear of kids growing up too fast, fear of kids being influenced by peer pressure and engaging in behaviors that upset you. In this episode, Leslie works with Anna on noticing and naming her fears so that her fears don’t end up making things worse. Anna is homeschooling her three children, 8yr old girl, Sasha 5 yr old Kate and 2 yr old Daniel. And Anna updates us on the changes in the level and intensity of the sibling rivalry since her last ses...2025-06-1144 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastAnna Part 1 of 2: When Sibling Rivalry Upsets The Parent More Than The KidsSibling rivalry seems like your kid’s problem. But for most parents its not easy to tolerate all that bickering and figuring out when to step in can be confusing. In today’s session, you meet Anna, a mother of three children, 8, 5, 2 who learns that what she is doing is actually making the sibling rivalry worse. She and her husband emigrated from Ukraine in their twenties but brought with them their own experiences of growing up. Learning a bit about her history brings light to her current situation. And you may be surprised by the coaching that Leslie offers Anna t...2025-06-0351 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastUnderstanding Trauma, Shame and Chronic Invalidation with Special Guest Lorie RitschelIn today’s episode, Leslie speaks with special guest, Dr. Lorie Ritschel, a board-certified dialectic behavior therapist, and discusses the impact of chronic invalidation, trauma and shame in regards to both parents and children. Lorie emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing shame in children, noting that parents often underestimate its punishing effects. She explains DBT-PE, a treatment that combines dialectical behavior therapy with prolonged exposure to treat trauma. Time Stamps4:22 Defining Trauma - Criterion A and Traumatic Chronic Invalidation9:00 and 11:26 Trauma Treatments - DBT-PE and CPTYou are working to...2025-05-2737 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastNicky & AJ Part 4 of 4: When Rewards and Punishments No Longer WorkParents often go to therapy when the rewards and punishment no longer work because trying to get your child to do what you need them to do can be very challenging. And when the parent’s anxiety gets added to that mix, the result is frustrating and overwhelming for everyone. This is the final session with Nicky and AJ as they discuss getting their 11 year old daughter Lilly off to school each day and getting her to clean up after herself. Time Stamps3:46 Ask yourself “did it feel more effective to do something differ...2025-05-2038 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastBonus Episode: Making Hard Conversations Easier with the DEAR MAN SkillMaking requests, saying no, and having hard conversations is part of all relationships. And it's rather easy to see how common misunderstandings and conflict ensues in our interpersonal relationships. That's because we are not born with accurate and effective communications skills. This mini bonus episode is about learning and practicing the DBT skill called DEAR MAN. This is a conversation between Leslie and her producer, Alletta Cooper where they give an in-depth description of what the skill is and then how to put it into practice.Time Stamps1:41 DEAR MAN GIVE FAST is th...2025-05-1522 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastNicky & AJ Part 3 of 4: When Shame Gets In The WayWe take you “behind the scenes” of what happened before the session officially started. This episode with Nicky and AJ begins with a communication breakdown. We all struggle at times communicating with our kids, our partners or other family members. You will learn what happens when shame is in the drivers seat of your life and when shame runs in the family like with AJ and their 11 year old daughter, Lily. The episode also emphasizes the importance of vulnerability for personal growth and effective parenting. Leslie introduces the Dialectic Behavior Skill called DEAR MAN and puts it into practice. ...2025-05-0947 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastNicky & AJ Part 2 of 4: Stopping Generational TraumaHow do you deal with your child’s anger and defiant behaviors? One place to start is to look at what you as parents bring to the table and how that impacts your child. This is the second session with Nicky and AJ who are seeking help for their 11 year old daughter Lily. We cover a wide range of topics from the emotional topics of trauma and anger to learning some practical communication skills. Time Stamps3:00 Pausing, listening, validating and being curious was effective for communication with their teen7:08 The DBT GIVE...2025-05-0647 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastNicky & AJ Part 1 of 4: When Your Child's Defiance is ConfusingParents often wonder why their children won’t do what they ask them to do. This often creates conflict and disrespect in the family system. And for the parent, it's very confusing and irritating when you “couldn’t get away with that” when you were a child. In this episode, Nicky and AJ share their concerns, frustrations and fears regarding their 11 year old daughter, Lily. Lily has had big emotional reactions throughout her life and Nicky and AJ are fearful for her teenage years. They also admit to their own challenges with emotion regulation. In this episode, we focus on assessi...2025-04-2946 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastWhy Your Child's Play Is Essential Communication with Special Guest Jennifer SimsIn this episode, Leslie and special guest Jen Sims, a licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist, talk about the importance of play. Jen explains that play is the language of children, allowing them to express emotions and experiences. She specializes in Non-directive Play Therapy, which involves creating an environment where children can fully engage in play without feeling hurried. Jen emphasizes the principles of empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard, and discusses how play therapy can help children heal from trauma, behavioral issues, and other challenges.Time Stamps2:06 Play is the story...2025-04-2234 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastJean & Alex Part 3 of 3: When You Want to Get UnstuckIt's not unusual to feel stuck or trapped as a parent. Having options is the antidote to that feeling. You have options for how you think, how you behave, how you deal with emotions. And those options put you in the drivers seat…you get to see and feel the choices you have and you get to choose! This episode is the third and final episode with Jean and Alex who are dealing with their 6 year old daughter’s big emotions. We focus on how to change your mindset and review several coping strategies to help your child. ...2025-04-1548 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastJean & Alex Part 2 of 3: When Your Child Wants a Lot of Your AttentionParents get exhausted because parenting is exhausting. Parents also can get exhausted because they are in essence tripping over their own feet. Have you ever thought that your worry thoughts are the thing that is contributing to your exhaustion? Whether it's your child or yourself, worry makes people uncomfortable. In this episode, we talk about teaching her child to handle discomfort through exposure work. And when parents practice what they preach, their children are so much more likely to learn those lessons.That’s a parenting gem. We also focus on how personal vulnerability plays into parenting, how to manage...2025-04-0846 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastBonus Episode: Understanding Problematic Thinking PatternsThis is the third mini bonus episode that looks at rigid thinking which is quite common in both adults and children. It often leads to frustration and even conflict within yourself and in your relationships. In this episode, we explain problematic thinking patterns, identify lots of examples and how to catch and change your thinking to help you live more effectively to get what you want and deserve. Time Stamps1:40 Definition of Rigid thinking and its various names:All or nothing thinkingBlack and white thinkingDichotomous thinking3:01 LImits of Dichotomous thinking - cr...2025-04-0316 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastJean & Alex Part 1 of 3: When Your Kid Can't Handle Needles or BandaidsChildren need to feel safe and capable as they venture out into the world. Jean and Alex are parents who came to me for help with their 6 year old daughter’s challenging behavior when she didn’t feel safe or capable. Ellie is a highly sensitive child for whom getting a shot and then taking off the bandaid have turned doctor visits into scary events for both Ellie and her mom. In this episode we assess the problem and discuss how rigid thinking make these situations so difficult and ultimately what you can do about it. This episode will get y...2025-04-0141 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastWhen To Give In and When To Stand Firm with Special Guest Amy KalasunasOne of the more common questions parents ask is when do I give in and when do I stand firm. Todays special guest speaker is an expert on this question. Amy Kalasunas is a board certified Dialectic Behavior Therapist who, among other things, provides interventions for parents of struggling and complex young adults using DBT and SPACE, which stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions. We talk all about how parents can make an effective decision as to when to accommodate to their child’s big emotions and intense behaviors and when it's not effective.2025-03-2539 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastBonus Episode: Understanding ShameThis is the second mini bonus episode where we will focus on understanding shame. In this bonus episode we discuss the difference between shame and guilt, the beliefs and myths associated with shame and an effective skill to deal with shame. Shame was present in the third session with Sarah in its many forms. Our children can feel shame even when we try very hard not to shame them. As parents we can easily feel shame that we carry from our childhood or trying to do this job called parenting. And this list goes on....2025-03-2014 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastSarah Part 3 of 3: When Parents and Kids Feel ShameShame is a common emotion but a painful one as well. In this episode we talk about shame and its many forms. Children feel shame, parents feel shame and we can unintentionally pass down shame to our children. This is my third and final session with Sarah, a mom of two boys James, 12 yrs old and Noah 15 yrs old. Sarah and her husband are both ex-military and we discuss the impact of military life on mental health and how that impacts the family. It may be surprising to learn that in this episode I also talk sitting with emotions an...2025-03-1855 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastSarah Part 2 of 3: When Parents Struggle with ControlKids are not the only ones who are controlling and trying to get what they want. As parents we do the same thing. We really want what we want and we act in controlling ways to achieve those ends. This is the second session with Sarah, mother of 2 boys, 12 year old James and 15 year old Noah where we explore topics, including when one sibling tries to parent the other, when children feel responsible for their parents’ emotions, how to let our kids make mistakes and how to be a less controlling parent. Time Stamps4...2025-03-1141 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastBonus Episode: Understanding Why a Good Parent-Child Fit MattersWelcome to the first mini-bonus episode where I focus on one or two key concepts or skills in a conversation with my producer Alletta Cooper. Every once in a while we will add one of these bonus episodes to further explain a concept/skill that came up in the previous session. In this episode I explore and explain what the parent-child fit is and why it is so important. In parenting, there are often conflicting needs and wants. Navigating these dilemmas and finding solutions is critical for creating a validating environment which fosters a "good" parent-child fit.2025-03-0617 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastSarah Part 1 of 3: When your Teen is a Great NegotiatorWelcome to Season 3! We start this season off with a family from Australia. Sarah is a mom of 2 boys- James is 12, Noah is 15, Sarah and her husband are both ex-military personnel which has a direct impact on their parenting. In today’s episode we discuss how Sarah’s parenting style matches with James who has been recently diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, and Oppositional Defiance Disorder. Many parents can probably relate to Sarah who tween is a really good negotiator especially when it comes to getting off video games. We explore the big picture concept of the parent-child fit. I also dis...2025-03-0441 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastGiving and Receiving Feedback with Special Guest Dale RuburyDo you need feedback? Of course you do. We all do! But giving and receiving feedback whether it's from or to your child or co-parent can be challenging. Feedback can often feel like criticism and can even feel invalidating. This episode is all about giving and receiving feedback skillfully so that you or the other person doesn’t become defensive or shut down. Today’s episode welcomes back Leslie’s daughter Dale Rubury who shares how she moved from the defensive stance as a child to the open and willing stance as an adult. Time...2024-10-0846 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastThe Power of Books with Guest Speaker Deborah Farmer KrisExposure to books makes a big difference for children. Reading not only fosters cognitive and emotional development but also builds closeness and routines. This week, Leslie spoke to author Deborah Farmer Kris about her experience as a teacher and parent, highlighting the unique needs of each child and the intellectual and emotional challenges of parenting. Kris also promotes the use of public libraries and simple, consistent reading routines. Kris's books, including those in the "All the Time" series, aim to teach emotional literacy and provide caregiver tips. She stresses that being a stable, caring adult is crucial for a...2024-10-0141 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastMary and Antoine Part 3 of 3: When Parents FightAn unspoken agreement with parents raising children is that they will be on the same page and they will be a united front. But that is often easier said than done. In part 3 of our 3 part series with Mary, her husband Antoine joins us to discuss what happens when they disagree, how it affects their 6 year old Oliver, and what they’re doing to make sure they come back together in healthy ways.Time Stamps7:34 What does “being on the same page” mean to you?9:51 What does it mean when your c...2024-09-2451 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastMary Part 2 of 3: When Kids Have a Low Frustration ToleranceSometimes there’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with a frustrated child. In part 2 of our 3 part series with Mary, mother of six-year-old Oliver and a newborn baby James, Leslie explores just how exhausting being stuck in the frustration loop with your child can be—and how to break out of it. They also get into bedtime, setting limits, and parenting guilt. Time Stamps0:36 Low frustration tolerance3:03 Letting go of expectations is about accepting the moment in order to move forward. Remember: it’s supposed to be hard11:54 “I need him to” is a...2024-09-1743 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastMary Part 1 of 3: When Your Kid Hates ChangeDealing with change can sometimes feel like ripping off a bandaid. Change is stressful, whether you are five or 55; and people respond to those changes in all different ways. And it is especially challenging when you are someone who likes structure, order, and predictability. In today’s episode Leslie explores this topic with Mary. We met Mary last season when she was seeking support around grief and sleep for her then four-year-old-son, Oliver. Things have changed in Oliver's world, and that's why Mary’s back. The past year has been full of transitions and adjustments for Oliver and his famil...2024-09-1046 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastCalm the Chaos: Parenting Neurodivergent Kids with Special Guest Dayna AbrahamHaving a roadmap to deal with your child’s Intense emotions and behaviors sounds like a great idea. Oftentimes when parents reach out for professional help, they want changes and they want them NOW. But instant results are not always the reality of raising children. On today’s episode Leslie has a conversation with bestselling author and educator Dayna Abraham about raising neurodivergent children and offering listeners a roadmap that can help. We also focus on making sure our kids don’t grow up feeling “badly” about themselves even if they do feel different by creating changes in their home envir...2024-09-0341 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastPedro & Claudia Part 3 of 3: When Nagging Your Kid Doesn't WorkIs there an epidemic of overparenting? And if so, where does it come from? Is it parenting from a place of fear, from a place of information overload, from the anxiety that is all around us, the drive to make our children perfect or is it from the frustration of trying to raise a child who doesn’t do what you want them to do? In this third and final session with Pedro and Claudia, Leslie explores these questions. Pedro and Claudia want to be the best parents they can be to their 16 year old son LIam, but are overp...2024-08-2751 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastPedro & Claudia Part 2 of 3: When Panic Attacks Disrupt the Whole FamilyAnxiety attacks are not something we ever want to see our kids suffer through, especially if as parents we suffer them as well. In her second session with Pedro and Claudia, Leslie explores panic attacks and how they might differ from parent and child. The session also takes a turn towards the idea of “having the last word,” and what negative things are being reinforced when you continue to have this power struggle with your child. Time Stamps4:58 How panic attacks affect the whole family in different and unique waysSymptoms of panic...2024-08-2045 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastPedro & Claudia: Part 1 of 3: Fear and Frustration when Parenting your TeenSometimes parenting is so hard and exhausting, it doesn't feel worth it. In today’s session, Pedro and Claudia explain how much energy and effort they have spent trying to raise their 16 yr old teenage son Liam who has been diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. While supportive, Pedro and Claudia are met with resistance at every turn, and have yet to see results from their parenting. Is that an assumption or is that really true? In this episode, Leslie checks the facts, unpacks the fear and frustration, and addresses these issues with an upbeat and hopeful shif...2024-08-1349 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastThe Life of a Rule Follower with Guest Dale Rubury“How can my child be a rule follower if they always say no to the family rules?” Leslie often catches parents off guard by suggesting that their child may actually be a rule follower. In this episode, Leslie has a conversation with her daughter Dale about what it’s like to grow up as a rule follower. In this episode Leslie and Dale explore the many traits that are often associated with the rule-following child such as perfectionism and intense focus on fairness. Assessing whether you or your child is a rule-follower may not be so obvious but may be cri...2024-08-0635 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastHannah & Alex Part 3 of 3: The Balancing Act of ParentingIt’s no secret that parenting is a challenge. We want our children to be happy, and it can be difficult to see them upset or hurting. Leslie has been working through this with Hannah and Alex, parents of three year old Paxton, who’ve returned for their third and final session. Together they reinforce the changes they’ve already implemented with Paxton, like correcting habits and communicating clearly. Leslie also shows them how they’re setting Paxton up for success now when it comes to very adult things like handling disappointment and pain. Hannah and Alex have also begun co...2024-07-3048 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastHannah & Alex Part 2 of 3: When Saying No to your Kid feels ImpossibleThere are many reasons why children feel uncomfortable. And when your child is uncomfortable you as the parent often feel uncomfortable. This week we’re back with Hannah and Alex for their second session, who have come to Leslie about their three year old son Paxton. These parents are vulnerable with Leslie when they speak about how hard it is for them to say no to Paxton when he wants something. They also admit that they regret some of the parenting choices they’ve made with Paxton, and fear that they are responsible for some of their son’s habits...2024-07-2342 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastHannah & Alex Part 1 of 3: When you Feel Unprepared to be a ParentParenting is often counterintuitive and makes the job of parenting even more complex. Whether it's saying no to your child using technology or saying goodbye to your child, understanding the short term and the long term benefits and consequences is important. This is just one of the topics we explore in this episode with Hannah and Alex and their 3 year old son Paxton. The struggles of being parents of a toddler, the hindsight of seeing what they may have done that has made things worse and the desire to raise an emotionally intelligent child are some of the other...2024-07-1643 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastLouise & George Part 3 of 3: When a Parent Feels like a TraineeSometimes when parenting a child that is struggling, tensions arise between the parents. This especially goes for parents with different parenting styles, or those with different levels of experience with young children. This is what Leslie gets into on this week’s episode with Louise and George. In her third and final session with the parents of six-year-old Anna and a newborn baby, Leslie uncovers the vulnerabilities of parents who want to break away from the way they were parented and feel like they want to do better when dealing with their daughter who has intense emotions. This session is...2024-07-0946 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastLouise & George Part 2 of 3: Parenting Your Child Without Punishments or RewardsLouise and George have committed to parenting without force and want to parent without punishments or rewards, but what happens when their six year old Anna has what feels like never-ending tantrums? In her second session with them, Leslie reinforces the importance of connection, and sheds light on the pressures Anna may be putting on herself. Leslie also continues her conversation with George about helping him find joy in parenting. In an incredibly honest and vulnerable conversation, they talk about what it feels like when there’s a favored parent, what might be causing this behavior, and what Dad sh...2024-07-0240 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastLouise & George Part 1 of 3: When You and Your Kid "Flip Your Lid"Leslie delves into one of the most common challenges parents face: how to navigate a strong-willed child who doesn’t do what you want them to do, This is first session with Louise and George who have a 6 year old daughter Anna and a newborn baby. They bring to light the frustration many parents feel when their child refuses to do simple tasks, like brushing teeth or following a bedtime routine. And it is understandable when the frustration leads to the feeling that parenting is like a slog. This episode also focuses on the different parenting styles and how that...2024-06-2540 min
Complicated KidsYour Child is Not a Monster with Leslie Cohen Rubury We promise! Your child is not a monster. Leslie Cohen Rubury, LCSW and host of the "Is My Child a Monster?" Podcast, joined me today to talk about her approach to helping parents with their challenging kiddos. As the parent of a controlling anxious child, Leslie learned early on what parenting strategies were and were not working. As a therapist trained in DBT, she brings her non judgemental curiosity to all the work she does with families. Join us for this spirited discussion and how Leslie knows your child is not a monster. To find o...2024-06-1840 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastBuilding Mastery with Special Guest Dale Rubury - RepriseToday’s episode is a revisit of the conversation between Leslie and her adult daughter Dale. It focuses on the skill of building mastery with new information and resources. Parents can use this skill to build their children’s sense of confidence and competence. Building mastery can also provide a sense of accomplishment for all adults. This is an inside look at Leslie as a mother using this skill to help her anxious daughter. This episode is also a unique opportunity to hear these parenting skills from the child’s perspective. And in an unexpected move, Dale turns the tables...2024-06-1841 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastEmma Part 3 out of 3: When your Kid MisbehavesToday’s episode marks the third and final session with Emma, mother of four in a blended family who relies on parenting strategies of the past. But things change, and we may also need to change the way we raise our children. Leslie continues to explore Emma’s family patterns from her past, myths about parenting and fears that are so much a part of raising children. In this session, Leslie offers alternative strategies to the traditional punishments that parents so often rely on. Once again Leslie redefines how we understand misbehavior and more specifically how we look at “punishm...2024-06-1142 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastEmma Part 2 of 3: When You Need A Perspective ShiftThis is the second session with Emma, mother of four children. After just one session, Emma is having breakthroughs about how her own traumas are affecting her judgment with her kids. She and Leslie discuss the warning signs of rumination (a symptom of her anxiety) and how to reel it back in once she’s started. They also work through a few role-playing scenarios in order to see how Emma can validate her children without unfairly punishing them. Sibling dynamics are never easy, and while Emma’s anxiety may be telling her she needs to “fix” every problem, Leslie gently re...2024-06-0443 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastEmma Part 1 of 3: When You Think Your Kid is Manipulating YouToday is the first of three sessions with Emma who is a mom of 4 children in a blended family. Henelly, her 7 year old daughter is from her first marriage. Emma and her second husband have 3 year old twins, Grayson and Claire and a new baby, Olivia. Emma reached out for therapy concerned that Henelly is manipulating her. Parents may often feel this way but it's a serious accusation. Leslie unpacks that word and explores how Emma’s past experiences are influencing the way she interprets her child’s communication style. And there’s more to this episode which includes when pare...2024-05-2841 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastManaging Anxiety for the Whole Family with Special Guest Lynn LyonsThis week, host Leslie Cohen-Rubury sits down with anxiety expert Lynn Lyons. Together they discuss the challenges of parenting anxious children and the importance of addressing anxiety in families. Lynn’s work is research-based and her practical strategies for dealing with anxiety may surprise you but will make sense as you listen to this episode. There’s a lot to learn about anxiety. Leslie and Lynn’s conversation focuses on how parents and caregivers can unintentionally make anxiety worse, how anxiety works and how to live with it effectively - and no, the answer is not eliminating it. About our...2024-05-2142 minIs My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy PodcastLeigh & Pierre Part 3 of 3: When Your Kid is Having a MeltdownThis episode is the third and final session with Leigh and Pierre whose nearly 5-year-old daughter Jean has big emotional reactions. Leslie explores how her big emotions and reactions part of a bigger picture of anxiety, perfectionism, and discomfort with vulnerability - things so many children struggle with. And it's no surprise that Leigh and Pierre have their own history and journeys with anxiety and vulnerability. Leslie talks about ways to manage anxiety in the day to day as well as in heightened emotional states for both parents and children. Leslie also recommends teaching mindfulness at an early age be...2024-05-1434 min