Brave Being the Podcast

In this special episode of Brave Being, Bridget is joined by her young friend Elliot to discuss the pressing issues of our time: homework, dessert, the racket of lego prices, and dogs.

Topics Include:
- The tyranny of worksheets
- Benefits of Lego sets
- Reading for ages 6-12
- The value of animal/child relationships
- And other topics…

Want to connect with Bridget? Find her online at:
www.thebridgecenterforplaytherapy.com
www.bridgettedeschi.com
www.facebook/thebridgecenterforplaytherapy
www.facebook/bridgettedeschi 
@bridgettedeschi

The challenges of everyday life can create unpleasant feelings for us. Things don’t go our way, people are difficult, or sometimes we just feel off. Paradoxically, the more we resist these unpleasant feelings, the more stressed our nervous system becomes.

In today’s episode, Bridget discusses how acceptance can be used to work with feelings of unpleasantness. She discusses why acceptance is central in mindfulness and meditation, and how acceptance can help us be better parents.

Topics Include:
- Conscious discipline
- How resistance creates stress
- The power of mindfulness to create space for acceptance
- Why judgment of others leads to self-judgment
- How acceptance transforms relationships
- And other topics…

Resources Mentioned:
Conscious Discipline w/ Becky Baily: https://consciousdiscipline.com/

Want to connect with Bridget? Find her online at:
www.thebridgecenterforplaytherapy.com
www.bridgettedeschi.com
www.facebook/thebridgecenterforplaytherapy
www.facebook/bridgettedeschi 
@bridgettedeschi

The ability to regulate one’s behavior is arguably the ultimate life skill. When we model this for our children, we set them up for a lifetime of success.

But dysregulation manifests differently for children and adults, making it challenging for us to respond appropriately. When our child is in the middle of a meltdown and nothing is working, we often feel helpless and resort to counterproductive measures.

In today’s episode, Bridget discusses dysregulation and why it is the root of all challenging behaviors. She explains how understanding dysregulation can solve many of our parenting challenges, how to spot and deal with dysregulation in ourselves and our kids, and what to avoid when doing so.

Topics Include:
- Helping kids build regulatory skills
- How dysregulation differs in children and adults
- Behaviors that exacerbate and perpetuate dysregulation
- Training the brain's response to challenges
- Modeling regulatory behavior for our kids
- And other topics…

Want to connect with Bridget? Find her online at:
www.thebridgecenterforplaytherapy.com
www.bridgettedeschi.com
www.facebook/thebridgecenterforplaytherapy
www.facebook/bridgettedeschi 
@bridgettedeschi

Every parent wants to communicate with their child from a place of love. Yet, despite the deep love we have for our kiddos, we often find ourselves communicating from a place of fear.

In today's episode, Bridget discusses why intentionality is the key to communicating from the heart. She discusses how reactivity pulls us away from the heart, and how a commitment to intentional communication can help us cut through our reactive responses.

Topics Include:
- Why our reactive responses often backfire
- Holding space for communication breakdowns
- Navigating deviant behavior
- How fear prevents intentionality
- Creating a word for your year
- And other topics...

Want to connect with Bridget? Find her online at:
www.thebridgecenterforplaytherapy.com
www.bridgettedeschi.com
www.facebook/thebridgecenterforplaytherapy
www.facebook/bridgettedeschi 
@bridgettedeschi

Our obsession with being productive keeps us so busy that we often forget to stop and smell the roses.

Even when we do take a few moments of downtime, our minds are quick to rush along to the next thing we have to get done.

In today’s episode, Bridget discusses how this mindset affects our kids and hinders our capacity for connection. She discusses what we can learn from observing how our kids approach their activities and what we can do to make space for downtime and connection.

Topics Include:
- How staying busy can stunt our growth
- Trusting what needs to get done will get done
- Why spontaneity is essential for play
- Taking the preciousness of childhood for granted
- Creating connection with those you love
- And other topics

Want to connect with Bridget? Find her online at:
www.thebridgecenterforplaytherapy.com
www.bridgettedeschi.com
www.facebook/thebridgecenterforplaytherapy
www.facebook/bridgettedeschi 
@bridgettedeschi

When our kids are the target of unwanted attention, often our first impulse is to step in as their protector.

Unfortunately, our efforts typically aren't effective. And as kids grow older these types of interactions only become more complicated.

In today’s episode, Bridget explores how we can equip kids with the tools they need to navigate tough situations. She discusses why the desire to protect our kids often backfires, and how we can empower them to stand up for themselves and set clear boundaries.

Topics Include:
- When to let kids sort it out, and when to intervene
- Helping our kids problem-solve, rather than trying to solve their problems
- Avoiding “you should”, and what to say instead
- The empowering effect of standing up for yourself
- Three strategies for dealing with “that kid”
- And other topics…

Want to connect with Bridget? Find her online at:
www.thebridgecenterforplaytherapy.com
www.bridgettedeschi.com
www.facebook/thebridgecenterforplaytherapy
www.facebook/bridgettedeschi 
@bridgettedeschi

We’ve all been there. Heels dug in, both sides are convinced "I’m right," and no one's budging an inch. How do we avoid these power struggles while maintaining our authority?

In this episode, Bridget breaks down why we end up in power struggles and how to avoid them.

Topics Include:
- Why perception is the root of power struggles
- Letting go of being right
- Viewing behavior as communication
- How to honor the feelings of others while maintaining strong boundaries
- What to do when kids become aggressive
- And other topics...

Want to connect with Bridget? Find her online at:
www.thebridgecenterforplaytherapy.com
www.bridgettedeschi.com
www.facebook/thebridgecenterforplaytherapy
www.facebook/bridgettedeschi 
@bridgettedeschi

Today we discuss the importance of play and how children use play to process important events.

We discuss the TV show Bluey, why Bridget is a fan, and how we can use play to instill autonomy in our kiddos.

Topics Include:

• The importance of physical and imaginary play
• How play helps children integrate life skills
• Allowing our children to lead during playtime
• Creating dedicated time for play
• And other topics

Want to connect with Bridget? Find her online at:
www.thebridgecenterforplaytherapy.com
www.bridgettedeschi.com
www.facebook/thebridgecenterforplaytherapy
www.facebook/bridgettedeschi 
@bridgettedeschi

Uncertainty is one of the most uncomfortable feelings for humans to manage. In our rapidly changing post-COVID world, there's no shortage of uncertainty–especially as a parent.

Getting clear on our core values and defining a vision for our family can help us navigate uncertainty with purpose and confidence. In this episode, Bridget discusses how to bring awareness to our core values and how we can instill these values in our children.

Topics Include:

• Why lack of clarity leads to stress and burnout
• How clear values act as an anchor during uncertain times
• The power of clarity to calm our nervous system
• Teaching children specific values by labeling behaviors
• Creating a vision together as a family
• And other topics…

Want to connect with Bridget? Find her online at:
www.thebridgecenterforplaytherapy.com
www.bridgettedeschi.com
www.facebook/thebridgecenterforplaytherapy
www.facebook/bridgettedeschi 
@bridgettedeschi

Schools are back in session, but the gap in organized education brought about by COVID has left many parents feeling like their children are falling behind.

In this episode, Bridget discusses how we can empower our kiddos to overcome any social-emotional deficits they may be experiencing in the classroom.

Topics Include:

• Taking responsibility for your child’s social-emotional education
• Identifying age-appropriate social behaviors
• Focusing on what you can control in the classroom
• Modeling the regulation of strong feelings at home.
• And other topics…

Resources Mentioned:
Eric Erickson, developmental psychologist

Want to connect with Bridget? Find her online at:
www.thebridgecenterforplaytherapy.com
www.bridgettedeschi.com
www.facebook/thebridgecenterforplaytherapy
www.facebook/bridgettedeschi 
@bridgettedeschi