The Parenting Couch

For our final episode of 2024, we had envisioned something festive and cheerful to set the tone for a fun Christmas season.

However, life had other plans. On November 18, 2024, our host, Rachel Chappell, was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer, and those plans have taken a backseat—for now.

In this deeply personal episode, Rachel sits down with co-host Sarah to share her journey so far, the shock of her diagnosis, and what lies ahead.

This conversation was recorded just one day before Rachel underwent surgery—a lumpectomy and axillary clearance.

You can continue to follow Rachel's Breast Cancer Journey on Instagram

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This week, we’re diving into speech and language development with the incredible Jules Tushuizen, an experienced Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist.

Jules shares her wealth of experience to help parents navigate their child's exciting and sometimes nerve-wracking journey through communication milestones. From first words to forming sentences, we cover it all—plus what to do if your little one seems a bit behind.

In this episode, Jules shares:

• Key speech milestones to watch for at different ages.
• Practical tips to support your child’s speech and language skills at home.
• Knowing when to seek professional support—and why early intervention matters.
• Where to get help
• The common language development myths (and why they may not be accurate!).
• Practical ‘do’s and don’t’s’ for parents
• What to do if you think your child may be developmentally delayed or autistic.

This conversation is packed with insights to empower you in supporting your child’s communication journey. Tune in for a lively and informative chat that will leave you feeling informed and inspired!

Jules Tushizien – Speech Pathologist, Grow & Tell

With 16 years of professional experience, Jules Tushizien is a dedicated speech pathologist passionate about empowering families to understand and support their children's communication journey. Holding a Master of Speech and Language Pathology, a Master of Inclusive Education in Autism, and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, English, and Sociology, Jules combines academic knowledge with hands-on expertise.

Jules is the Founder of Grow & Tell Speech and OT, a thriving clinic in Rhodes established in 2019. Her career spans diverse roles, including positions at the OAC Head Office in St Leonards, SDN Head Office in Crows Nest, and the Portland Women and Children’s Hospital in London. She has also contributed to the NHS in London and began her career at Blacktown Speech Pathology in 2008.

Driven by a mission to help parents navigate early childhood communication challenges, Jules aims to ensure that families recognise and address speech and language delays early while continuing to cherish the joy of parenting during the foundational years.

Ice Cream Hunt: A Fun, One-of-a-Kind Speech Sound Tracker for Kids 4–6 Years by Jules Tushuizen

Ice Cream Hunt: A Fun, One-of-a-Kind Speech Sound Tracker for Kids 4–6 Years by Jules Tushuizen, combines a charming storybook with a practical tool for tracking speech sound development. Featuring fun rhymes, engaging illustrations, and a photocopiable checklist, it simplifies identifying milestones for parents and educators using research from the 2018 McLeod and Crowe study. Designed for ages 4–6, it’s an empowering, easy-to-use resource that makes speech development fun for kids and stress-free for adults.
Get yours here for only $14.99

Grow & Tell Speech and Occupational Therapy

• Phone: 1300 848 795
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.growandtelltherapy.com.au
• Follow: Facebook or Instagram

Handy Links
📌 Get your child assessed for FREE at RNSH Community Health Centre
📌 Download Speech & Language Milestones Checklist
📌 NDIS

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So many mums are stressed with juggling kids, work and the bulk of the domestic load. The creep can be gradual and suddenly it seems like we’re ‘doing everything’. This can lead to feelings of bitterness and resentment – and now we’re bickering or testing each other, to see if the other one notices or really cares. The resentment also impacts our desire to be intimate.

So how can we negotiate the mental load and take shared responsibility for family jobs? What do realistic expectations look like and how do we get back to a place of team-work and gratitude?

In this episode, we’re joined by a special guest, Cherie Marriott, from The Good Relationship Practice, to help us unpack this topic.

About Cherie Marriott

Cherie Marriott is a Couple and Family Therapist at The Good Relationship Practice in McMahon’s Point.

Cherie says she’s passionate about relationships and family life – and has an endless fascination with how humans interact and the stories we tell ourselves. She began her working career as a journalist – writing mostly about the banking and finance sector for 20 years, and living as an expat in London, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

When her children hit primary school, she went back to University to study a Master's in Counselling and Psychotherapy. She first worked in the Women’s Health Centre Network with trauma in adults and children and then moved into private practice.

Cherie has two daughters in their early 20s, a highly entertaining, slightly crazy artist/photographer husband, and 19 nieces and nephews! She and her husband were foster parents for five years, and Cherie also teaches part-time in the counselling program at Western Sydney University.

Two years ago, she joined four like-minded therapists to form The Good Relationship Practice in McMahon’s Point on Sydney’s lower north shore. From their beautiful rooms, overlooking the cafés and the florist shop below, they see individuals, couples, and families to help them with their relationship issues.

THE GOOD RELATIONSHIP PRACTICE

• Address: Level 1, 131 Blues Point Road, McMahons Point
• Phone: 0421 33 99 11
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.goodrelationship.com.au

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In this powerful episode, we dive into one of the hardest challenges facing kids and parents today: bullying. Joined by leading parenting expert Justin Coulson, we uncover what’s really at the heart of bullying behaviours, how they impact young minds, and, most importantly, the steps we can take to create safer, kinder spaces for our children. 

• What bullying actually is (and what it isn’t)
• How parent should support their child if they suspect or know they are being bullied.
• Steps that parents can take to help their child build resilience and self-confidence in the face of bullying.
• How to address bullying with the school or teachers without escalating the situation?
• The situation when it might be okay to talk directly to the child’s parents
• When should parents consider involving professional help, like a counsellor, to support their child?
• How parents can talk to their kids about cyber bullying.
• What can parents do if they discover their child is the one engaging in bullying behaviour?

Justin’s insights and heartfelt advice give parents the tools to support their kids, empower them with resilience, and stand up against the cycle of hurt. This is an episode that every parent and educator needs to hear.

About Dr Justin Coulson

Dr Justin Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel Nine’s “Parental Guidance” and the founder of happyfamilies.com.au. He holds a PhD in Psychology and is one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts.

Over the past decade, Justin has helped innumerable families with his nine books about raising children, his hundreds of media appearances (including all of Australia’s major news outlets, and even the Washington Post and the New York Times), and two viral videos that have been viewed a combined 80 million times!

Justin earned his PhD in Psychology from the University of Wollongong. He and his wife Kylie have been married since the late 90s and are the parents of 6 daughters and the grandparents of 1 granddaughter.

Justin is also a sought-after keynote speaker, helping organisations and schools boost wellbeing and improve relationships.


Justin's new book, The Parenting Revolution

In The Parenting Revolution, Dr Justin Coulson also digs deep into the practical applications of this revolutionary new approach to parenting, looking in depth at a range of tricky parenting challenges including school refusal, homework, screen time, saying no, the morning rush, when your children don’t listen and how to parent on the same page. Buy a copy online now!

Essential Details: Dr Justin Coulson

• Visit Happy Families website
• Buy The Parenting Revolution online

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In today’s episode, we sit down with Gen Muir, a renowned parenting expert, to discuss one of the biggest milestones in a child’s life — the transition to 'big' school. If you're preparing to send your little one off to kindergarten, this episode is packed with insights, tips, and advice on making the process smoother for parents and children.

We chat about... 

• When to send? Gen provides her guidance on when to ‘send early’ and when to ‘hold back’
• Understanding the Emotional Journey: We dive into the familiar excitement and anxiety children (and parents!) experience when starting a new school. Gen shares practical ways to support your child’s emotional well-being and build resilience.
• Preparation Tips: From settling the morning routine to practising independence, we discuss how you can help your child feel more confident as they enter their new environment.
• Dealing with Separation Anxiety: Strategies for handling those tearful goodbyes at the school gate, and what to do if your child struggles with being away from home.
• Parenting Self-Care: Let's remember you! Gen offers advice on managing one's emotions and expectations as one's child embarks on this new chapter.

Starting ‘big’ school is a significant event for both children and parents, but it can be a joyful and successful transition with the right tools and mindset. Tune in for expert advice on supporting your child and yourself during this exciting time.

About Gen Muir

Gen Muir is a parent educator and founder of Connected Parenting, an obstetric social worker, and the mother of four boys.

She has assisted over 40,000 parents in the highs and lows of raising kids. She is the author of ‘Little People, Big Feelings’, and co-host of the ‘Beyond the Chaos’ Podcast.

She has a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from UNSW, a Graduate Diploma in Grief and Bereavement Counselling. She is also a qualified Circle of Security and Tuning into Kids facilitator.

Gen has appeared on Sunrise, The Morning Show, Studio 10, 2Day FM and ABC.

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If you could be a part-time foster carer and make a real difference in a young person’s life, would you do it? With flexible care options like fostering for just a week or the occasional weekend, and an urgent need for carers in Sydney, this episode busts all the common misconceptions that you might have about taking on this role.

Tim and Kylie from Uniting’s Permanency Support Program join Rachel and Sarah to bust some of the most common myths.

From who can foster, to the realities of what it takes, this conversation reveals the truth behind the myths that hold people back from making a difference. Get ready for an enlightening  chat that’ll leave you feeling informed, inspired, and ready to challenge what you thought you knew about foster care!

Becoming a Uniting foster carer may be easier than you think

Being there for a vulnerable child or young person is both a privilege and a significant learning experience. While it’s not for everyone, there are many ways to become a foster carer, and it’s often less complicated than you may imagine. With Uniting’s support, you can start by offering occasional overnight or weekend care or open your home and your heart to a child who needs longer-term care.

Respite care gives full-time foster carers a break

Some people begin their foster care journey by offering regular periods of care for a child who already has a permanent placement with a foster family. Called respite care, it gives people a break from full-time caring while expanding children’s support networks. It can be a one-off arrangement, or maybe for one weekend a month.

Emergency care is another option to consider

Another essential way of supporting a child is to provide emergency care at short notice, giving someone who may be leaving a critical situation a safe place to stay until they can return home or until a more permanent place is found. This type of short-term care may also be needed when a child cannot move to another carer immediately. It may just be for an overnight stay or for a few months while alternative arrangements are made.

Uniting supports your foster care journey, every step of the way

With decades of experience supporting foster families, you’re in excellent hands for every step of your fostering journey – from enquiry to application and beyond. You’ll receive a non-taxable allowance for each child in your care, access 24/7 phone support, and connect with our community of carers for training and wraparound assistance. We value diversity of age, faith, gender and experience  and warmly welcome all enquiries.

The right time is now

If you’ve ever considered helping a child or young person in need – full-time, part-time or sometime - now is the time to take action. Flexible care options that fit with your life and your family can also offer a gateway to discovering if this is something you’d like to do on a more regular or permanent basis.

Find out how you can foster your way with Uniting. 

• Phone: 1800 864 846
• Email: [email protected] 
• Website: uniting.org/fostercare

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Welcome to today’s episode, where we’ll dive deep into the world of child mental health— a more pressing issue than ever.

Did you know that 1 in 7 children aged 4 to 17 meet the clinical criteria for a mental illness over 12 months? Yet, despite these staggering numbers, only half of these children will see a clinician. Access to professional help is limited, and waiting lists can be painfully long.

To help guide us through this complex and often overwhelming issue, we are joined by Dr Billy Garvey, a developmental paediatrician, senior specialist at one of Melbourne's largest paediatric hospitals, and host of the Pop Culture Parenting podcast. With his new book Ten Things I Wish You Knew About Your Child’s Mental Health, Dr Billy is on a mission to arm parents with the knowledge and tools they need to support their children, whether they’re grappling with anxiety, low self-esteem or behavioural challenges.

Dr. Billy believes there is no such thing as a "bad child." He emphasises the importance of understanding the critical foundations of good mental health—from attachment and social skills to self-esteem and anxiety management. 

Join us as we explore the strategies that can help foster hope and resilience in our children’s lives.

‘Ten Things I Wish You Knew About Your Child’s Mental Health’ is Dr Billy Garvey’s first book, and it’s out now.

About Dr Billy Garvey

Dr Billy Garvey is a developmental paediatrician with over 20 years of experience working with children. He is a senior specialist at one of the largest tertiary paediatric hospitals in the world, where he sees families, trains clinicians and other professionals working with children and conducts research in child development and mental health. He is also the founder of Guiding Growing Minds, a social enterprise that aims to allow all children to reach their potential and live rich and meaningful lives. The Pop Culture Parenting podcast is a part of this vision. 

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Today, we’re tackling the tricky topic of returning to work after having kids. It’s one that most mums need to consider, and it’s never an easy decision. Whilst some mums are happy to return to work or have to return for financial reasons, others simply want to spend as much time as they can with their children while they’re little.

There’s no right or wrong, and everyone makes the best decision for their family. 

But… what if there was another option? 

Today, we’re talking to Lauren Perrett… a Sydney mum who struggled when returning to work when her first baby was seven months old. She knew she wasn’t the only mum struggling with this and wanted to find another way. 

So, she created BubbaDesk! She launched in Erina a few years ago… providing hot desks and meeting rooms for parents and on-site childcare for kids. She now has three more centres—in St Leonards Caringbah and Wollongong… with more locations opening soon!

In this episode, Lauren shares

• Her personal struggles with returning to work
• How she turned a ‘lightbulb moment’ into a business. 
• Her advice to new mums about their rights 
• How they can negotiate flexible return-to-work conditions
• How to build a community of mums for your support
• Tips on how to balance work and motherhood

BubbaDesk: The story so far

BubbaDesk was founded by Lauren and Tom Perrett. Lauren returned to work after just six months of maternity leave and was riddled with post-natal anxiety, plus she found it challenging to find reliable (and affordable!) care for their son, Charles. They juggled working from home with a baby for a few months, but felt guilty that their child wasn’t getting the present, playful parents they wanted to be.

They dreamed of a space where they could work, but also have their baby nearby. They knew that many of their friends faced the same struggle, so decided to turn that dream into a reality. The idea was to build a space where they could be super productive, and have their child close by being looked after by trusted professionals seemed like a no-brainer. And that’s where the idea for BubbaDesk started. Find out more about BubbaDesk.

Essential Details: BubbaDesk

• Address: 92 Chandos Street, St Leonards
• Phone: 0418 999 277
• Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 8.30am-4.30pm
• Website: bubbadesk.com/st-leonards
• Follow: Instagram | Facebook

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In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Nick Fuller, a leading expert in the field of childhood nutrition and author of the new book "Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids".

We dive deep into the essentials of creating a healthy, happy home environment, starting with meal planning and how to involve your kids in choosing what’s on the menu. Dr Fuller shares his insights on why eating together at the kitchen table can have a profound impact on family dynamics and why breakfast truly earns its title as the most important meal of the day.

We also explore the do’s and don’ts of encouraging your children to eat—why bribing or forcing them is never a good idea, and what strategies you can use if your child is a fussy eater.

Dr. Fuller explains why the first five years of a child’s life are crucial for introducing a variety of foods and how to make movement and incidental activity a natural part of your family’s routine.

And, because no discussion about health is complete without addressing sleep, we’ll also cover the importance of a good night’s rest and practical tips to ensure your family is getting the quality sleep they need. Whether you’re a parent or

This episode is packed with actionable advice to help you foster a healthier lifestyle for your family.

About Dr Nick Fuller

Dr Nick Fuller is an internationally recognised health expert and leading obesity researcher with degrees in exercise physiology, nutrition and dietetics, and a doctorate in obesity and weight management.

He is currently responsible for the clinical research program within the Boden Initiative, located within the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney. He is also the director of clinical trials within the Department of Endocrinology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Dr Fuller is a familiar face and voice across the Australian media spectrum. He is the resident Weight Loss Expert for Channel’s 9’s TODAY EXTRA breakfast morning show. He writes weekly for The Daily Telegraph, has a regular segment on the Number 1 AM Breakfast Show 2GB, and has regular appearances on Channel 7, 9, 10, ABC and SBS TV.

He is also the author of the bestselling books Interval Weight Loss, Interval Weight Loss for Life, Interval Weight Loss for Women and Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids.

Nick is a father of two children.

For more information visit Interval Weight Loss and Feeding Fussy Kids.

Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids, by Nick Fuller

Providing your kids with the best start in life begins with parents, and leading health expert Dr Nick Fuller has distilled his years of research into six essential steps to setting parents and families on a path towards a positive relationship with several key areas of life: food, exercise, sleep and technology. Understanding your child’s needs at each stage of their development and modelling practical boundaries and positive decisions around these areas will bring your family energy, joy and freedom.

Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids offers a clinically proven blueprint to total family wellness, including more than 100 tasty recipes. You’ll never be at a loss for delicious meal ideas for even the fussiest kids as you reconnect with a variety of fresh, healthy food—and each other—at the kitchen table. The ultimate goal is maintaining a natural optimum body weight throughout life and establishing healthy habits to last a lifetime.

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In a world where screens are everywhere, it can be challenging to find the right balance for our children. 

In today’s episode of The Parenting Couch, we chat with Parenting Educator Gen Muir to help us navigate this digital landscape, offering strategies to create healthy habits and foster a positive relationship with technology. 

Whether you're struggling with screen time rules or looking for ways to enhance your child's digital well-being, this episode is packed with actionable advice to make screen time work for your family. Tune in to learn how to set boundaries that are both effective and achievable.

In the episode, we discuss:

• Why screen time isn’t the enemy
• The pressures of modern parenting & how parents shouldn’t be hard on themselves
• How to set healthy boundaries around screen time, what these look like for young kids and how they work with older kids
• How joining your child in some of their screen time can make life better and increase cooperation
• How to use play to bring their screen time interests to life

About Genevieve Muir

Genevieve Muir is a parent educator and founder of Connected Parenting, an obstetric social worker, mother of four boys and LEGO® DUPLO® ambassador.

She is passionate about helping families to connect and thrive amid the many challenges of modern parenting.

Gen has a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from UNSW and a Graduate Diploma in Grief and Bereavement Counselling. She is also a qualified Circle of Security and Tuning into Kids facilitator.

She has assisted over 40,000 parents on the highs and lows of raising little ones. Author of Big People, Little Feelings published in 2024 and co-host of the Beyond the Chaos Podcast.

Gen has appeared Sunrise, The Morning Show, Studio 10, 2Day FM and ABC, and is a spokesperson for LEGO Duplo, H&M Parent Hub and Kiindred.

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