Is It Just Us?

It's time to chat about Ultra Processed Foods! Is it scare mongering or do we need to take note? What if there are eating disorders and other challenges involved? In this episode we sit down to chat bout our take on this topic as friends, colleagues and parents. Debbie shares her perspective as someone in recovery from eating disorders too.

We hope you enjoy!

HIT subscribe now and share this with a friend! Email us your thoughts, comments and pod ideas at [email protected]

Head over to our site to browse our courses and join our parent hub here

Thank you so much to MimiToys for sponsoring this podcast!

MimiToys offer an expert range of developmental toys and puppets that will blow you away. Their range is curated with care by Miriam, a mother of 4, who has been running Mimi Toys for over 20 years.

As therapists we highly recommend www.mimitoys.ie for all of your toy needs! And what is better than shopping Irish and supporting family run businesses?

Use the Code: JUSTUS10 at the check out and get 10% your order 🎉

Don't forget to sign up to the Mimi Toys newsletter and get their free activity booklet featuring activities in 4 different languages!

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s one of those topics that still makes parents squirm. You might see it joked about online, hear friends say “just a little tap,” or even feel that split-second urge when tempers flare…but slapping a child is never the answer. In this episode, we dig into why hitting..even lightly..can damage trust, model aggression, and escalate rather than solve conflicts. We talk about the impact on children’s emotional development, how it affects the parent-child relationship, and practical alternatives for managing frustration, enforcing boundaries, and teaching respect. This isn’t about shaming parents.. it’s about giving tools to stay F.I.R.M. calm, consistent, and loving, even when parenting gets really hard.

We’re thrilled to welcome MimiToys as the newest sponsor of our podcast! 🎉

MimiToys offers an incredible range of developmental toys and puppets, crafted with over 20 years of passion for play and children’s well-being. You can explore her collection here and use our code JUSTUS10 at checkout to get a discount on your order. (One use per customer, so make sure you get everything you want in a single order!) Offer valid until January 31st, 2026.

Even more, when you sign up for MimiToys’ newsletter, you’ll get a free activity booklet featuring fun activities in French, Irish, Spanish, and English.

Check it out…you and your little ones are going to love it!

Don’t forget to subscribe, give us a rating & recommend to a friend. Email us any comments or queries on [email protected]

And if you would like support & connection as a parent - join our amazing parent space here

https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you heard of F*ck Around & Find Out” Parenting? Maybe sounds funny on the TikTok, but in real life? Not so much. Children and teenagers will test limits.. but leaving them to just “FAFO” their way through life isn’t exactly the supportive guidance they need.

In this episode we’re unpacking why the hands-off, wait-and-see approach doesn’t always work, what kids actually learn when adults step back too far, and how we can balance natural consequences with connection, safety, and teaching. Because our job isn’t to watch them fail...it’s to help them grow.

We’re thrilled to welcome MimiToys as the newest sponsor of our podcast! 🎉

MimiToys offers an incredible range of developmental toys and puppets, crafted with over 20 years of passion for play and children’s well-being. You can explore her collection here and use our code JUSTUS10 at checkout to get a discount on your order. (One use per customer, so make sure you get everything you want in a single order!) Offer valid until January 31st, 2026.

Even more, when you sign up for MimiToys’ newsletter, you’ll get a free activity booklet featuring fun activities in French, Irish, Spanish, and English.

Check it out…you and your little ones are going to love it!

Don’t forget to subscribe, give us a rating & recommend to a friend. Email us any comments or queries on [email protected]

And if you would like support & connection as a parent - join our amazing parent space here

https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We don’t love talking about porn, but the reality is our children and teenagers are growing up in a world where names like Bonnie Blue aren’t hidden in the shadows.. they’re a click away (and they’re the chat at school).. As parents, we might feel awkward, shocked, or even scared, but pretending it doesn’t exist won’t protect our children or teenagers. In this episode we’re unpacking why it’s so important to know who and what they might stumble across online, how porn shapes expectations and self-image, and how we can open up conversations that keep our kids safe, informed, and grounded in real relationships.

We’re thrilled to welcome MimiToys as the newest sponsor of our podcast! 🎉

MimiToys offers an incredible range of developmental toys and puppets, crafted with over 20 years of passion for play and children’s well-being. You can explore her collection here and use our code JUSTUS10 at checkout to get a discount on your order. (One use per customer, so make sure you get everything you want in a single order!) Offer valid until January 31st, 2026.

Even more, when you sign up for MimiToys’ newsletter, you’ll get a free activity booklet featuring fun activities in French, Irish, Spanish, and English.

Check it out…you and your little ones are going to love it!

Don’t forget to subscribe, give us a rating & recommend to a friend. Email us any comments or queries on [email protected]

And if you would like support & connection as a parent - join our amazing parent space here

https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We love the idea of them.. family memories, fresh air, new experiences, but the reality? Packing up half the house, refereeing sibling squabbles in the back seat, and making sure everyone else has a great time! Of course we know we’re lucky to be able to do these things, and we are grateful… but that doesn’t mean it’s not a lot. Sometimes the “fun” comes with meltdowns (theirs and ours). In this episode we’re unpacking why these supposedly joyful outings can feel so overwhelming, and giving ourselves permission to laugh, vent, and admit: maybe it’s not just us.

We’re thrilled to welcome MimiToys as the newest sponsor of our podcast! 🎉

MimiToys offers an incredible range of developmental toys and puppets, crafted with over 20 years of passion for play and children’s well-being. You can explore her collection here and use our code JUSTUS10 at checkout to get a discount on your order. (One use per customer, so make sure you get everything you want in a single order!) Offer valid until January 31st, 2026.

Even more, when you sign up for MimiToys’ newsletter, you’ll get a free activity booklet featuring fun activities in French, Irish, Spanish, and English.

Check it out…you and your little ones are going to love it!

Don’t forget to subscribe, give us a rating & recommend to a friend. Email us any comments or queries on [email protected]

And if you would like support & connection as a parent - join our amazing parent space here

https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One minute your child is watching what appears to be a harmless cartoon, the next they’re down a rabbit hole of ads, influencers, or content that’s anything but child-friendly. Add in the rise of rapid-cut shows, with flashing edits and constant noise designed to hook attention, and suddenly you’re wondering what it’s doing to your child’s focus and regulation.

In this episode, we unpack the hidden risks of YouTube, from addictive elements to the way overstimulating content can affect the developing brain. We’ll share our own parenting worries, the traps we’ve seen firsthand, and therapist insights on how YouTube and rapid cut shows can shape children’s behaviour. Most importantly, we’ll talk about what parents can actually do to keep kids safe, without resorting to bans or constant battles.

Thanks for listening! Hit subscribe, rate and recommend this podcast to a friend! We really appreciate it! Email your thoughts and ideas for future episodes to [email protected]

Get evidence backed parenting support you can trust here

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You love your kids. You love your partner. But when it comes to discipline, routines, or handling meltdowns, it can feel like you’re playing on two completely different teams. In this episode, we dive into what happens when parenting styles clash, the good cop/bad cop dynamic, the “you’re too soft/you’re too strict” arguments, and the confusion it creates for kids caught in the middle.

We’ll talk about why being aligned matters so much for children, share stories of our own parenting mismatches, and offer therapist-backed strategies to find common ground without constant battles.

Get your tickets for our Parent On The Same Page Webinar here!

Thanks for listening! Hit subscribe, rate and recommend this podcast to a friend! We really appreciate it! Email your thoughts and ideas for future episodes to [email protected]

Get our unique support and connect with a whole community of like-minded parents here

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re told we can “have it all”- the career, the family, the social life, the self-care routine! But, most days it feels like we’re just spinning plates and waiting for one to crash. In this episode, we get real about the impossible standards women face around work–life balance. From guilt that follows us around all day, to the pressure of being present for everyone except ourselves, we unpack why balance feels so out of reach!

We’ll share our own stories, the messy bits behind the scenes, and therapist-backed insights on how to rethink balance in a way that actually feels doable, or maybe accept that it doesn’t exist the way it's been sold to us.

Thanks for listening! Hit subscribe, rate and recommend this podcast to a friend! We really appreciate it! Email your thoughts and ideas for future episodes to [email protected]

Join our parent community for the unique therapist led support and connection you've been craving here https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tantrums aren’t just for toddlers - grown-ups have them too, even if they look a little different or sometimes the exact same - shouting, banging things & crying - we’ve all been there!

 In this episode, we unpack why stress, overwhelm, and emotions can push all of us toward meltdown moments. We share what’s helped us stay grounded and calm, and explore strategies that work for children and adults alike. Because sometimes, managing tantrums is really about managing ourselves.

Don’t forget to subscribe, give us a rating & recommend to a friend. Email us any comments or queries on [email protected]

And if you would like support & connection as a parent - join our amazing parent space here

https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not our sex lives (James & John can sigh with relief!) but how we talk to our children about theirs. Because despite what many of us were told, teaching children about sex isn’t “too much too soon,” and using the correct names for body parts won’t “take away their innocence.” 

In this episode, we tackle the biggest myths that stop parents from having open, honest conversations about sex, consent, body autonomy, pleasure, and safety and why starting early sets the foundation for trust, confidence, and healthy relationships down the line.

Don’t forget to subscribe, give us a rating & recommend to a friend. Email us any comments or queries on [email protected]

And if you would like support & connection as a parent - join our amazing parent space here

https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.