The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}

EP 244: When Watchdogs are Volcanoes: Activation below the Surface


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Is your child suddenly quiet… but you can feel something bubbling under the surface?

They aren’t yelling, running, or arguing like usual- but you can tell their system is still fired up and on high alert.

Today, we’re talking about that “quiet volcano” version of watchdog energy. It looks calm. Still. Almost possum-like.

But inside? Their nervous system is holding a TON of activation right under the surface.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to tell the difference between true shutdown and contained watchdog energy, why some kids start holding everything inside, and how to help that “stuck” activation soften and move in safe, co-regulated ways.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why watchdog energy can go quiet and look totally still, even though it’s NOT regulated
  • How to figure out what’s really going on underneath the “calm” exterior
  • What to do when your child is a volcano on the inside, including simple movement-based strategies that help the nervous system come back into rhythm and relational safety


Read the full transcript at:  RobynGobbel.com/volcanoes



Underneath every behavior is something happening in the body, specifically in the nervous system. When we support the body first, behavior often begins to shift. Even for kids who don't have a sensory processing disorder! 

Join my March 24th webinar at 8pm eastern- Sensory Strategies for Dysregulated Kids with Baffling Behaviors

RobynGobbel.com/SensoryWebinar

:::



Let's hang out this summer at two different trainings for professionals!

Therapy with Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors- June 1 & 2 in Syracuse, NY RobynGobbel.com/NY

Presence in Practice- July 15, 16, & 17 in Rockford, MI (outside Grand Rapids) RobynGobbel.com/Michigan2026

:::

Grab a copy of USA Today Best Selling book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/book

Join us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClub

Sign up on the waiting list for the 2027 Cohorts of the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Immersion Program for Professionals robyngobbel.com/Immersion

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Over on my website you can find:
Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)
eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)
LOTS & LOTS of FREE Resources
Ongoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The Club
Year-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

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The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}By Robyn Gobbel

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