Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads

Stefani Gets Real About Dog Phobias, Kids, and Mental Health Wins

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In this special episode, we sit down with Stefani Cohen, a clinical social worker and author of Overcoming Your Child’s Fear of Dogs. Together, we explore the often-overlooked anxiety surrounding dog phobias, especially in children, and how these fears can shape emotional development and resilience.

We’re proud to be the 2024 People's Choice Podcast Award Winner for Health and the 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner for Best Mental Health Podcast, with over one million downloads worldwide. Thank you for helping us break the stigma and create a safe space for mental health conversations.

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Quote of the Episode

"You can't always control fear, but you can control how you respond to it — and that's where real growth happens."
– Inspired by Stefani Cohen’s journey

What This Episode Is Really About:
Fear, Healing, and the Power of Understanding

In this heartfelt conversation, Stefani Cohen, LCSW, shares her insights on how childhood fears—especially the fear of dogs—can deeply impact mental health. Drawing from her extensive work as a clinical social worker and her personal experience as a parent, Stefani discusses how these fears often stem from a sense of lost control and how exposure therapy can help children rebuild confidence.

Listeners will discover how fear develops, the role parents play in shaping emotional responses, and how learning about animal behavior can promote emotional intelligence and resilience. This episode blends humor, expert advice, and vulnerability to open up meaningful dialogue about mental health and fear.

Meet Our Guest: Stefani Cohen, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker | Author | Educator
  • B.A. in Sociology, William Smith College
  • Master of Social Work, New York University
  • Over 30 years helping parents and children manage anxiety, fear, and emotional regulation
  • Specializes in exposure therapy for children afraid of dogs through her unique OFOD protocol
    • Book: Overcoming Your Child’s Fear of Dogs
    Website: https://overcomefearofdogs.com/
    Instagram: @overcomefearofdogs
    Facebook: OvercomeDogFear
    LinkedIn: Stefani Cohen, LCSW
    Key Takeaways
    • Phobias Are Real Mental Health Issues: Dog phobias in children are valid and often misunderstood.
    • Parental Influence Matters: Children can absorb anxiety from their environment, especially from their parents.
    • Understanding Can Replace Fear: Teaching kids to understand dog behavior can build emotional confidence.
      • Actionable Tips
      • Model Calm Behavior: Your reactions around dogs influence how your child feels.
      • Use Gradual Exposure: Help children slowly become comfortable with dogs in safe settings.
      • Respect Emotional Signals: Encourage awareness of body language in both people and animals.
        • Chapters & Time Stamps
        • [00:01:12] – How Stefani’s daughter’s fear inspired her mission
        • [00:02:41] – Four primary ways phobias develop in children
        • [00:08:22] – Why boys ages 5–9 are statistically more prone to dog bites
        • [00:13:19] – The role of control in childhood fear
        • [00:24:18] – Understanding dog consent and the "three-second petting rule"
        • [00:28:18] – Rapid-fire: resilience, favorite words, and self-care
        • [00:33:31] – Where to find Stefani’s work and connect
          • References & Mentions
          • Overcoming Your Child’s Fear of Dogs by Stefani Cohen – overcomefearofdogs.com
          • DSM-5 classification of specific phobias
          • Child bite prevention research and statistics
          • School-based humane education programs and therapy dog visits led by Stefani
            • Subscribe, Rate, and Review
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            #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #StefaniCohen #OvercomeFearOfDogs #DogPhobiaSupport #ParentingAnxiousKids #PhobiaTherapy #OvercomeFear #MentalHealthMatters #AnxietyInChildren #ResilientParenting #PositiveParenting #TherapyTools #FearOfDogs #EmotionalSupport #NormalizeMentalHealth #PetTherapy #ExposureTherapy

            ***************************************************************************

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            Audio Editing by NJz Audio

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            Sh!t That Goes On In Our HeadsBy G-Rex and Dirty Skittles, Bleav
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