Help! My Child's Anxious
Help! My Child's Anxious
Podcast Description
Parenting is hard. And when anxiety enters the picture, it can feel impossible. If your child is struggling and you're not sure what to do next, this is the podcast for you.
Join broadcaster Vanessa Feltz and her daughter, child therapist Saskia Joss, as they unpack the emotional rollercoaster of raising kids - especially when anxiety or emotional overwhelm start to take over. With a powerful mix of professional insight, real-life stories, and no-judgment honesty, each episode offers clear, compassionate advice to help you feel more equipped and less alone.
From school refusal and separation anxiety, tricky teens to bedtime battles, they tackle the hardest parenting moments with warmth, humour, and expert guidance - because while parenting doesn’t come with a manual, this podcast might be the next best thing.
Want to get in touch? Email us: [email protected]
For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: [email protected]
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on navigating the challenges of parenting, especially in the context of anxiety, covering topics like separation anxiety, school refusal, and bedtime battles while providing practical advice and emotional support.
Parenting is hard. And when anxiety enters the picture, it can feel impossible. If your child is struggling and you’re not sure what to do next, this is the podcast for you.
Join broadcaster Vanessa Feltz and her daughter, child therapist Saskia Joss, as they unpack the emotional rollercoaster of raising kids – especially when anxiety or emotional overwhelm start to take over. With a powerful mix of professional insight, real-life stories, and no-judgment honesty, each episode offers clear, compassionate advice to help you feel more equipped and less alone.
From school avoidance and separation anxiety, tricky teens to bedtime battles, they tackle the hardest parenting moments with warmth, humour, and expert guidance – because while parenting doesn’t come with a manual, this podcast might be the next best thing.
Want to get in touch? Email us: [email protected]
For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: [email protected]
In this episode of Help! My Child’s Anxious, hosts Vanessa Feltz and Saskia Joss are joined by child, family, and adult psychotherapist Zara Kadir (from The Therapy Shed) to explore how anxiety and neurodiversity intersect in children.
Zara shares insights from both her professional practice and her personal journey parenting a son with ADHD. The conversation dives into the common ways anxiety manifests—from school avoidance and separation anxiety to phobias and rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD)—and offers practical strategies for parents.
Topics covered include:
- Understanding Accommodation vs. Support: Why removing every anxiety trigger can accidentally make fears bigger, and how parents can “outsource confidence” and stay grounded instead.
- Scaffolding for Neurodivergent Kids: Practical tips for building routines, using executive-function tools (like dementia alarm clocks), and setting up intentional morning systems.
- Managing Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD): How to reduce shame, believe your child’s lived experience, and sit with their big emotions without rushing to fix them.
- The Impact on Siblings: Addressing the “tyranny of the weak” dynamics, balancing attention, and ensuring siblings of neurodivergent children aren’t forgotten or forced into premature responsibility.
- Practical Co-Parenting: Simple team strategies for partners, including burn-out code words and avoiding post-bedtime debrief fatigue.
Disclaimer
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