Shows
Do Less Parenting20: Closing Season One, Most Frequently Asked QuestionsClosing Season One, Most Frequently Asked QuestionsRobyn wraps up season one by reflecting on the top three questions people ask her regularly! In this final episode of the season, I wanted to take a moment to look back at what we’ve talked about and what so many of you are living every day. Throughout season one, we’ve explored how anxiety shows up in kids in all kinds of ways—hesitation around separation, clinginess, avoidance, or big emotional reactions during transitions. And as I share in this episode, your child doesn’t need a...
2025-12-3021 minDo Less Parenting19: Why Having a Strategy Helps Us When We Have No More Energy to ParentWhy Having a Strategy Helps Us When We Have No More Energy to ParentRobyn explains how using these tools helps parents when we are depleted and our battery is drained.In this solo episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks about the power of stepping back so children can step forward. She reflects on how easily parents slip into doing too much—rescuing, fixing, smoothing things over—and how those patterns unintentionally reinforce anxiety. Robyn shares why giving kids more space is not about neglect. It is a research-supported approach that strengthens emot...
2025-12-2326 minDo Less Parenting18: Parenting with Understanding, How Self-Awareness and Connection Shape the Way We Respond with Meaghan HamptonParenting with Understanding, How Self-Awareness and Connection Shape the Way We Respond with Meaghan HamptonRobyn talks with therapist Meaghan Hampton about child development, discipline, and how a parent’s own wounds and anxiety shape their parenting.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by Christian therapist Meaghan Hampton for a grounded conversation about what children truly need from their parents. Meaghan shares how understanding basic child development helps parents interpret behavior accurately rather than personally. She explains how discipline works best when it is rooted in connection and guidance, no...
2025-12-1639 minDo Less Parenting17: Understanding Relational Aggression, Helping Kids Navigate Social Dynamics with Dr. Noelle SantorelliUnderstanding Relational Aggression, Helping Kids Navigate Social Dynamics with Dr. Noelle SantorelliRobyn talks with psychologist Dr. Noelle Santorelli about relational aggression, childhood social dynamics, and how parents can support kids through friendship challenges.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman sits down with psychologist Dr. Noelle Santorelli to explore the complex and often quiet ways relational aggression shows up in children’s friendships and family interactions. Dr. Santorelli explains how behaviors like exclusion, subtle put-downs, and shifting alliances can have a significant emotional impact on kids, even when the si...
2025-12-0946 minDo Less Parenting16: Doing Less is the Path to Balance with Dr. Corinne LowDoing Less is the Path to Balance with Dr. Corinne LowRobyn talks with economist and mom Dr. Corinne Low about the pressures modern women face, the myth of doing it all, and the power of doing less.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman sits down with Dr. Corinne Low, economist and professor, for an eye-opening discussion about what she calls the squeeze—the overwhelming pressure many women feel to excel at work, manage a home, and parent perfectly. Dr. Low shares how her research on women’s time use connects with...
2025-12-0248 minDo Less Parenting15: Parenting an Anxious Child when you’re anxious too! Tools and Truths with Courtney MontgomeryParenting an Anxious Child when you’re anxious too! Tools and Truths with Courtney MontgomeryRobyn sits down with author and mom Courtney Montgomery to talk about parenting an anxious child, managing guilt, and finding balance between support and independence.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks with Courtney Montgomery, author of Lily’s Special Toolbox, about the real and emotional work of parenting an anxious child. Courtney opens up about her own lifelong experience with anxiety—how it shaped her childhood, her parenting, and the way she helps her kids naviga...
2025-11-2536 minDo Less Parenting14: Connection Over Control, Parenting with Curiosity with Guest Bridget KerMorrisLetting Go of Control, How to Foster Trust and IndependenceRobyn sits down with therapist Bridget KerMorris to talk about parenting through the middle school years with connection, curiosity, and communication.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by fellow therapist Bridget KerMorris, a Stanford-trained lawyer and a mom of seven, for a thoughtful conversation about parenting during the middle school years—a season full of change, emotion, and opportunity for growth. Bridget shares her parenting framework that centers on curiosity rather than control, inviting parents to...
2025-11-1844 minDo Less Parenting13: Parenting through Bedtime Anxiety, Boundary Setting and the Need for Sleep!Parenting through Bedtime Anxiety, Boundary Setting and the Need for Sleep!Robyn and guest therapist Ellanee Wilson, Certified Pediatric Sleep Coach, Credentialed Educator, and mom of three talk about how parents navigate sleep struggles by focusing on what is really going on! Hint: it’s not only about sleep schedules! In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by therapist Ellanee Wilson for an honest conversation about parenting and sleep. Together, they explore how sleep is connected to separation, boundary setting, and overall development.Robyn and Ellanee dis...
2025-11-1138 minDo Less Parenting12: Building Resilience Together, Supporting Parents Through Their Own AnxietyBuilding Resilience Together, Supporting Parents Through Their Own AnxietyRobyn talks with fellow therapist Joanna Hardis, LISW-S about how parents can work through their own anxiety to better support their children’s growth and independence.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by fellow therapist Joanna Hardis for an honest conversation about what it really means to support anxious kids when you’re an anxious parent yourself. Together, they explore the emotional tug-of-war that happens when parents want to help but feel overwhelmed by their own worries.Robyn and...
2025-11-0438 minDo Less Parenting11: When School Becomes Scary, Understanding School Avoidance and What HelpsWhen School Becomes Scary, Understanding School Avoidance and What HelpsRobyn talks with fellow therapist Kristen McNeely about school avoidance, unpacking what’s really happening beneath the surface and how parents can help kids return to school with confidence.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by fellow therapist Kristen McNeely for a meaningful conversation about school avoidance. Together, they explore why some kids start to resist school, how anxiety plays a major role, and what parents can do to help. Rather than seeing school refusal as defiance, Robyn and Kr...
2025-10-2835 minDo Less Parenting10: When Kids Avoid, How to Support Without RescuingWhen Kids Avoid, How to Support Without RescuingRobyn explains why avoidance keeps anxiety strong and how parents can step in with support that encourages coping instead of escape.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman focuses on what happens when children avoid situations that make them anxious. She explains why avoidance feels like relief in the moment but actually makes anxiety stronger over time. Instead of helping kids feel safe, rescuing them from hard moments teaches them that they cannot handle discomfort.Robyn shares everyday examples of avoidance, from...
2025-10-2117 minDo Less Parenting9: Facing the What Ifs, Helping Kids Build Tolerance for UncertaintyFacing the What Ifs, Helping Kids Build Tolerance for UncertaintyRobyn explains how to respond when kids get stuck in “what if” questions and shows parents how to build resilience instead of feeding worry.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks about one of the most common ways anxiety shows up in children—the endless cycle of “what if” questions. She explains why answering every question with reassurance may calm things in the moment but ultimately gives anxiety more power. Instead of helping kids feel secure, it often keeps them dependent on parents...
2025-10-1419 minDo Less Parenting8: The Comparison Trap, Why Measuring Against Other Parents Increases AnxietyThe Comparison Trap, Why Measuring Against Other Parents Increases AnxietyRobyn unpacks how comparing yourself to other parents fuels anxiety and keeps you from focusing on what your child truly needs.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman explores the harmful cycle of comparison in parenting. She explains how measuring yourself against other parents can increase anxiety, fuel guilt, and distract you from tuning into your own child’s needs. Instead of bringing clarity, comparison often leaves parents feeling inadequate and children feeling pressured.Robyn reflects on her own experiences an...
2025-10-0720 minDo Less Parenting7: The Pressure to Be Perfect, How Parental Anxiety Fuels the CycleThe Pressure to Be Perfect, How Parental Anxiety Fuels the CycleRobyn explores how a parent’s own anxiety and perfectionism can unintentionally increase anxiety in their child.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman takes a closer look at the role parental anxiety plays in children’s struggles. She explains how parents’ pressure to get it right, do it all, or prevent every mistake can unintentionally model fear and reinforce the very cycle they want to break. Instead of creating safety, perfectionism can pass along anxiety and leave children feeling less capabl...
2025-09-3021 minDo Less Parenting6: Breaking the Cycle, How to Step Back Without Abandoning Your ChildBreaking the Cycle, How to Step Back Without Abandoning Your ChildRobyn shares how parents can reduce accommodations while still staying connected and supportive.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman explores what it looks like to step back from over-accommodating without leaving your child feeling alone. She explains how anxiety often leads parents to jump in quickly, fix problems, or smooth the path, but these well-meaning efforts can keep kids from developing resilience.Robyn walks through practical ways to reduce accommodations while maintaining warmth and connection. She highlights the...
2025-09-2319 minDo Less Parenting5: When Reassurance Backfires, How to Help Your Child Face UncertaintyWhen Reassurance Backfires, How to Help Your Child Face UncertaintyRobyn explains why constant reassurance can actually fuel anxiety and offers practical ways to respond with support instead.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks about a common trap many parents fall into—reassuring their children again and again when worries show up. She explains why reassurance feels good in the moment but often strengthens anxiety over time. Instead of helping kids feel secure, it can keep them stuck and searching for certainty that no parent can truly provide.Ro...
2025-09-1621 minDo Less Parenting4: Support vs Accommodation, How to Help Your Anxious Child Without Feeding the AnxietySupport vs Accommodation, How to Help Your Anxious Child Without Feeding the AnxietyRobyn breaks down the difference between support and accommodation, showing how small shifts in language and response reduce distress and build skills.In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman explains why the words we use and the actions we take matter when a child is anxious. She defines accommodation as anything we do or avoid doing that lowers distress in the short term but keeps anxiety in charge over time. She then contrasts this with true support, which helps...
2025-09-0917 minDo Less Parenting1: The Power of Doing Less, Why Parenting Martyrdom Isn’t Helping Your KidsThe Power of Doing Less, Why Parenting Martyrdom Isn’t Helping Your KidsRobyn kicks off Do Less Parenting with a powerful message, parenting doesn’t require self-sacrifice, it requires intention.In this very first episode of Do Less Parenting, therapist and mom Robyn Isman shares why this podcast has been years in the making. She opens up about her long-standing resistance to parenting martyrdom and introduces her philosophy that doing less, not more, is often the most supportive choice we can make for our children....
2025-09-0220 minDo Less Parenting2: What Are We Actually Supposed to Do Less Of?What Are We Actually Supposed to Do Less Of?Robyn breaks down exactly what she means by “do less,” clearing up misconceptions and guiding parents toward supportive, science-backed shifts.In Episode 2 of Do Less Parenting, Robyn takes time to clarify something essential, what exactly are we doing that we should do less of? This episode is all about defining the “less” in Do Less Parenting, so that parents aren’t left guessing or, worse, assuming they’re supposed to show up less or love their kids less.With her sig...
2025-09-0219 minDo Less Parenting3: Parenting While Anxious, What That Looks Like and How to Shift ItParenting While Anxious, What That Looks Like and How to Shift ItRobyn explores how your own anxiety impacts your parenting and what you can do to respond with awareness instead of reactivity.In Episode 3 of Do Less Parenting, Robyn talks about something that shows up in nearly every parenting challenge, anxiety. Specifically, parenting while anxious.Robyn walks listeners through what it looks like when anxiety drives parenting decisions, from over-researching and second-guessing to racing to fix every problem. She offers language and examples that help parents...
2025-09-0217 min
Unleashed Moms: Adventures in MotherhoodParenting the Anxious Child with Robyn IsmanSend us a textIn this powerful and relatable episode, Robyn Isman, therapist and parenting coach, sits down with Alexandria and Leesha to unpack the layers of parenting anxious kids.From letting go of control to managing our own anxiety, this conversation is filled with compassionate truth bombs and a whole lot of real talk. If you’ve ever felt like doing “all the right things” still isn’t helping, this one’s for you. Expect validation, insight, and a whole lot of “Aha” moments.Connect with Robyn Isman:Instagram:
2025-08-151h 01
The OCD Whisperer Podcast with Kristina Orlova144. Are You Fueling Your Child’s Anxiety?What if the most powerful way to help your anxious child isn’t to fix them—but to change you? In this episode of the OCD Whisperer podcast, host Kristina Orlova welcomes licensed therapist and anxiety expert Robyn Isman to discuss the SPACE protocol (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions). Robyn, certified in SPACE, explains how this evidence-based approach helps reduce childhood anxiety by focusing solely on parents' behaviors rather than direct child intervention. She breaks down the SPACE framework, emphasizing how parental accommodations—such as avoiding triggers or providing excessive reassurance—unintentionally reinforce anxiety cycles.
Robyn h...
2025-07-2936 minDo Less ParentingTrailerWelcome to Do Less Parenting — the podcast for parents who are tired of trying to do everything right.Hosted by coach, SPACE practitioner, and mom of three, Robyn Isman, this show offers a refreshing take on modern parenting: one that validates your burnout, challenges over-accommodation, and reminds you that sometimes the best thing you can do for your child… is back off.With humor, honesty, and over a decade of experience, Robyn helps you untangle anxious dynamics, respond without overreacting, and build trust in your child’s ability to handle life — even when it’s mes...
2025-07-2200 min
The Motherhood MentorWhen Helping Hurts: The Surprising Truth About Parenting Anxious Kids with Robyn IsmanSend us a textWhat if everything you’re doing to help your child’s anxiety is actually making things worse? In this eye opening episode Becca sits down with Robyn, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in helping anxious kids, by working with their parents. Our natural parental instincts to soothe, protect, and accommodate can keep our kids stuck in anxiety. Robyn shares the revolutionary SPACE protocol which flips the script. Instead of trying to control or prevent your child’s anxiety or anxious behaviors, you can learn to help your kid by changin...
2025-05-201h 09
SPILL IT GIRLEP 40: Navigating Childhood Anxiety with a Therapist Robyn IsmanIn this episode of the MomBetch Podcast, therapist Robyn Isman dives deep into the complexities of anxiety in children and the crucial role parents play in guiding them through it. Sparked by a viral Instagram reel, the discussion highlights the controversial yet essential concept of exposing anxious children to discomfort to foster growth. Robyn elucidates anxiety as a gateway diagnosis, comparing it to exercising a muscle that needs regular practice. She addresses the profound impact of screens, the COVID-19 pandemic, and evolving parenting styles on childhood anxiety. Exploring the correlation between parental and child anxiety, Robin offers practical advice...
2024-06-2759 min