Securely Attached

Toddlers are often misunderstood. They're no longer babies, yet they still have very little knowledge of the world and the way things work—something that is easy to forget when we are constantly being blown away by their maturity and developmental leaps at this age.

I am so excited to be joined this week by the co-authors of the Terrific Toddlers series, Carol Zeavin and Rhona Silverbush to talk all things toddlerhood.

We'll help you learn and understand exactly how you can best support your kiddo through some common toddler situations (like potty training, sharing, becoming a big sibling, and separation anxiety) all of which will help you to walk away from this episode with a deeper understanding of just what life looks like through the eyes of your toddler.

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

Life is all about who we spend it with. But relationships—with ourselves, our partners, our children, and especially our extended family—can be complicated.

Joining me to talk about his new book, Making Great Relationships, and to offer strategies for fostering healthy, effective, and fulfilling relationships of all kinds is neuropsychologist and NY Times best-selling author, Dr. Rick Hanson.

So whether you are looking to feel deeply connected to your child, learn how to set boundaries with your in-laws, or prioritize your own needs by focusing on 4 concrete and accessible areas that can make a big impact for busy parents, this episode will be helpful for everyone who wants to nurture their relationships!

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions about postpartum psychosis, infanticide, and suicide.

As the tragic news of the mother of 3 in MA who took the lives of her children and then attempted to take her own life has spread, there has been a great deal of misunderstanding in the media and on social media.

In order to prevent the spread of misinformation, I invited Paige Bellenbaum of the Motherhood Center to join me today to help clarify the difference between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, and offer psychologically-informed information to help people more fully understand maternal mental health.

While difficult, it is important to have these conversations, to understand the symptoms associated with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), to have compassion for those affected, and to know where to find support if you or someone you love is struggling with any form of PMAD.

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

How can you raise your children to be resilient, confident, and proud when you are raising them in a non-traditional family? And how can everyone raise our children to value inclusivity and acceptance no matter what shape or size our family is?

I am honored that Dr. Erica Miller is back on the podcast to share her personal story of being a gay parent and the lessons she has learned from her own experience and her professional role as a clinical psychologist.

There is no one way to be a family and there is no right way to be a family. This episode will help you be intentional about raising your children to be compassionate and to stand up for what's right while offering practical strategies for answering tricky questions and navigating complex social situations.

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

When our kids hit 3 years old we can start to see some new behaviors and attitudes come online. At this age children often want to exert their power and independence, and seem to find a new favorite word—"no!"

Back on the podcast to help a listener and any parents who are looking for help navigating what some refer to as the "threenager" stage is Dr. Emily Upshur.

In this episode, we'll help you understand why this is developmentally healthy, what you can do during power struggles and outside the heat of the moment to reduce them, and how our own mindset can influence our child's behavior.

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

Working parents have traditionally been forced to compartmentalize their roles. Make sure we don't hear the baby crying on the Zoom. Be fully present as a parent without any distractions or interruptions. But we are whole beings, with both of those vital parts integrated to form who we are.

Here to help parents bridge that gap and shift the narrative to see how being both career-driven AND family-focused can be an incredible strength is Daisy Dowling. Daisy is the Founder & CEO of Workparent and the author of Workparent: The Complete Guide to Succeeding on the Job, Staying True to Yourself, and Raising Happy Kids.

Whether you are an employee, entrepreneur, freelancer, or employer, this episode will cover practical strategies you can use to help you create an ideal home and office environment that support your needs as a whole person.

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

From striking up conversations with other parents at the playground, hosting playdates with our child's new best friend, attending a birthday party without knowing the other parents there, and even just navigating the perceived (and sometimes very real) judgment from others, once we become parents we often find ourselves in social situations we may never have been in before.

Here to help parents work through any social anxiety they may feel and learn how they can best support the development of their child's social skills in spite of a parent's own fears, is therapist Justine Carino.

Whether you have a diagnosed anxiety disorder, or just feel uneasy about the idea of engaging in new social situations on behalf of your child, this episode will help you identify the problem and begin to challenge those fears.

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

Family planning isn't easy for all parents. And having an uncomplicated or full-term pregnancy once does not guarantee the same results the next time around.

Parenting while coping with any form of reproductive loss, be that unsuccessful IVF attempts, miscarriages, stillbirths, and beyond can be a grueling reality for many families.

Here to discuss how to navigate fertility struggles in parenthood is clinical psychologist Dr. Shara Brofman.

If you are going through something like this right now, my hope is that this episode will help you feel understood and validated and offer you strategies for coping with grief, finding ways to move forward, and seeking aligned resources for support.

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

Are you dreading your upcoming family trip? Traveling with kids can be a lot to handle and the stress of this can leave us feeling defeated, even before we board the plane or hit the road.

So joining me this week to help you feel prepared and ready for traveling with your kids is the queen of play herself, Jennie Monness.

In this episode, we'll help you set proper expectations for travel days, give you strategies based on psychology and child development, and suggest practical toys and play prompts that can make for a smoother trip this holiday season and beyond!

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

It's developmentally normal, even typical, for toddlers and young children to bite. But that doesn't mean we just sit back and let it happen.

Here to talk about the many reasons children bite and how parents can effectively respond to this behavior is the co-founder of Upshur Bren Psychology Group, Dr. Emily Upshur.

In this episode we'll talk about exactly what to do when your child bites, plan b and c for when that strategy isn't working, and advice for what to do before and after the bite occurs to work toward preventing it from happening again in the future.

Whether your child bites every now and then or this is a pattern you aren't sure how to break, this episode will offer you strategies you won't want to miss!

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources