Advertise on podcast: Just One Thing for Parents with Dr Bettina Hohnen

What can you do when you've tried everything to help your child at school and nothing seems to be working? In this episode, I'm joined by Julianne Miller, a SEND and neurodiversity consultant and specialist teacher with twenty years' experience supporting neurodivergent children, their families and their schools. Julianne explains how schools decide what support to offer and why that support can stall, even when there's a detailed assessment report available. She shares the questions parents can ask to check whether an intervention is really working, and why the answer is often to look more closely at what's already in place before pushing for more. We also talk about how to keep the partnership with school steady when trust starts to wear thin, what an EHCP can and can't offer, and Julianne's advice for families whose child has had years of extra help without the progress they hoped for. You can find out more about Julianne Miller here: juliannemiller.co.uk

What should you say when your child comes to you convinced something is wrong with their body? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Lynette Ewart, a GP of 20 years. Many of you will know her from her social media, where she shares her work as a doctor alongside her strength training content as a personal trainer. Lynette has seen worry about ordinary bodily sensations grow in her consulting room over recent years. We talk about where that pressure on families comes from, starting with comments at the school gates and continuing through to social media, online searches and AI. We also discuss why a parent's reaction matters so much when a child or teenager comes to them with a symptom, and how health anxiety can turn into a cycle that's hard to break. Lynette shares some really grounding ideas for what to do instead. These include how to take a worry seriously without rushing to act on it, why keeping a note of symptoms over time can help, and what Professor Steve Peters' Chimp Model can teach us about the anxious part of the mind. The approach she recommends might sound simple, and she explains why it can make such a difference. You can find out more about Lynette here: https://www.prescriptionstrength.co.uk/

What makes a young person more likely to reach out for support? In this episode, I'm joined by Kyle Morrison, a youth leader and an outreach and resilience worker in a substance support service for under 25s. Kyle brings both his professional work and his own experience of growing up to this conversation. He describes how he didn't recognise at the time that he needed support, and how the adults who eventually made the difference were the ones who had built a real relationship with him first. He also talks about why the vulnerability of the adult so often has to come before a young person feels able to share anything at all. We go on to talk about what young people are really looking for when they turn to drugs or alcohol, why so many of them believe things have to get bad enough before they deserve help, and the balance parents have to hold between stepping in and standing back. We finish with the one thing he would say to any parent who wants their child to come to them. You can find out more about Kyle here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamkylemorrison/

What's just one thing you can do when you feel like you just can't get through to your child? Dr Russell Woodhead is a clinical psychologist whose therapeutic work is built around exactly this problem: how to reach young people who don't want to be reached. In this episode, he introduces the concept of epistemic trust, our built-in filter for deciding whose knowledge and guidance we're willing to take on board, and explains why this can be hardest to earn in the teenage years, though the same trust has to be built at every age. Russell walks through why rushing in to fix things or offer advice too soon can actually close a child off further, and what to do instead: getting curious about the facts of their world before their feelings, resisting the urge to jump to your own perspective, and showing your child that you genuinely understand how things look from where they're standing. It's an idea that many parents will recognise straightaway, with real, practical steps attached. You can find more from Dr Russell here: https://www.drrussellwoodhead.co.uk/

What if the most calming thing you could put on a screen for your kids was also the most alive? In this episode, Bettina talks to Tucker Malarkey, creator of the Migration Project — a live-streaming platform broadcasting real wildlife migrations in real time. No narration, no AI, no editing. Just nature, unfolding as it happens. Tucker shares the unexpected moment that started it all, why this kind of screen time affects the brain so differently from anything else your child watches, and the emerging science that's now catching up to what parents are already noticing. Her one thing for parents is surprisingly simple — and you can try it tonight. 🎥 Watch live at livemigrations.com or search Live Migrations on YouTube.

What's just one thing parents can do to help their child switch off before bed? This week I'm joined by Mark Westmoquette, an astrophysicist turned Zen meditation and yoga teacher, whose work brings together the science of the night sky and the practice of mindfulness. He's the author of Look Up at Bedtime, a book of five-minute mindful activities and stories to help families share the wonder of the universe. Bedtime can be one of the most stressful moments of a parent's day; full of separation, fear of the dark, and the hope that they'll just go to sleep on time for once. In this conversation, Mark offers a gentle shift in perspective: instead of a battle to be won, bedtime can become a shared moment of curiosity. He explains how looking up at the stars, or even noticing the sounds and air of the night, can broaden a child's perspective, soothe anxiety, and strengthen your connection at the same time. We talk about why mindfulness comes so naturally to children, why not knowing the answers together can be a gift rather than a worry, and how a sense of awe and wonder can lift both parent and child out of the busyness of the day.  You can find out more about Mark Westmoquette here: https://markwestmoquette.co.uk/

What's just one thing parents can do to help a child who is restricting what they eat? In this episode of Just One Thing for Parents, I'm joined by Yaara Shimshoni, clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine. Yaara has extensive experience training, supervising and treating families using SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), and she has recently adapted this approach to ARFID, or avoidant restrictive food intake disorder.  Together, we explore why mealtimes can become such a battleground, and why the instinct to keep the peace can, over time, make things harder rather than easier. Yaara explains the difference between the normal fussy eating that so many toddlers go through and the more significant restriction that starts to affect a child's growth, health or daily life. We talk about all the things parents understandably do to help a child feel less distress in the moment, from making separate meals to buying one particular brand, and why these short-term fixes can reinforce a child's fears in the long run. For any parent who dreads mealtimes or worries they are getting it wrong, this episode offers a compassionate, science-based way to step back, ease the pressure, and focus on what is genuinely within your control. You can find out more about Yaara Shimshoni's book here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/breaking-free-of-picky-eating-9780197769447

What's just one thing parents can do to feel less overwhelmed? In this episode of Just One Thing for Parents, I'm joined by Dr Yael Schonbrun, clinical psychologist, writer and author of Work, Parent, Thrive. Together, we explore why, when family life feels too full, the answer may not be to book another appointment or sign up for another activity. Sometimes, what helps most is taking something away. Yael explains the science behind why our brains often reach for additive solutions when we feel overwhelmed, and we talk about how parents can pause and ask themselves a different question: what could I take off my plate? Values can help parents work out what to keep, what to let go of, and what can wait for another season of family life. We also talk about how this can help children and teenagers learn that they do not always have to follow the crowd, and that different families can make different choices. For any parent feeling stretched by the demands of modern family life, this episode offers a helpful way to pause, make space, and think carefully about what really matters. You can find out more about Dr Yael Schonbrun and her work here: https://www.yaelschonbrun.com/

What happens when life throws your family a curveball? In this special long-form episode, I'm joined by Dr Rebecca Chilvers and Dr David Trickey, both Consultant Clinical Psychologists who specialise in supporting families through trauma, loss, uncertainty, and unexpected challenges. Together, we explore what happens when the future you imagined for your child or family suddenly changes. We discuss guilt, shame, grief, uncertainty, and the stories we tell ourselves when difficult things happen. We also talk about why parents often feel pressure to fix things, why compassion matters more than certainty, and how relationships can help us navigate even the hardest experiences. This is a thoughtful conversation about parenting through the unexpected and finding a way forward when life doesn't go to plan.

What's one supportive sentence you can say to an anxious or OCD child that helps them feel both understood and capable? When children are caught in anxiety or OCD, parents often feel desperate to fix it, reassure them, or make the distress stop. But in this episode, psychotherapists Demetra Brege and Will Sessions explain why some of these very natural responses can accidentally keep anxiety going. Together, they introduce a simple but powerful idea from the SPACE parenting framework (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions): the "mac and cheese" response. A two-part statement that combines validation with confidence. We explore why anxiety works like a smoke alarm, how children look to parents to understand whether they are safe, and why parents do not cause their child's anxiety — even though their responses can make a meaningful difference over time. Demetra and Will explain the difference between validating distress and agreeing with danger, and why children need to hear both: "I know this feels hard" and "I believe you can handle it." We also discuss the SPACE approach developed by Eli Lebowitz and his book Breaking Free of Childhood Anxiety and OCD. This episode is full of compassionate, practical guidance for parents supporting children with anxiety, OCD, school worries, separation anxiety, and overwhelming fears.

What's at the heart of all good rules and boundaries in the home? If you've ever found yourself in a stand-off with your child over screens, curfews, or simply getting out the door on time, this episode is for you.  Boundaries are one of the most common – and most challenging – parts of parenting, especially as children move into the teenage years. In this episode, I'm joined by Rachel Richards, former BBC journalist and host of the Untangling Teenagers podcast. Rachel brings together science, lived experience, and deep curiosity about family life to help parents rethink how boundaries really work. Together, we explore a change in how we think about boundaries – from control and towards connection. Rachel explains why unconditional love and respect sit at the heart of effective boundaries and how teenagers interpret our words through a lens of status and respect, so what we intend as guidance can often be heard as judgement.  We talk about the importance of curiosity over judgement, and why asking "why?" opens up more meaningful conversations than jumping straight to consequences, especially when children push back or make mistakes. We also look at the difference between natural consequences and imposed punishments, and why the latter so often backfire in the heat of the moment. This is a thoughtful and reassuring conversation for any parent trying to find that balance between being understanding and holding firm boundaries, without losing the relationship along the way.

What does your child really need when their emotions feel overwhelming? In this episode, I'm joined by Helen Wilde, a systemic psychotherapist and DBT therapist with over 25 years of experience working in CAMHS with children, young people, and families. Together, we explore how ideas from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) can support emotional regulation in everyday parenting. Helen explains that when children are overwhelmed, they're not able to think things through or respond to solutions. What they need first is validation — a sense that their feelings are understood. This might be as simple as acknowledging their experience: "I can see why you feel upset." We talk about the difference between being emotionally "above the line" (dysregulated) and "below the line" (calmer). When children are above the line, connection comes before problem-solving. Over time, these small shifts in how we respond can make a meaningful difference. Helen shares that many families notice change when parents move from trying to fix emotions to first understanding them. DBT was originally developed to support individuals experiencing intense emotional distress, including self-harm and suicidal thoughts. However, as Helen explains, many of its core principles are deeply relevant for all families. At its heart, DBT helps us understand emotions, respond to distress more effectively, and strengthen relationships. Link to Inside Out clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT6FdhKriB8

How do parents know when to worry about their child's mental wellbeing? In this episode, I am joined by developmental psychologist Laura Dimler to explore one of the most common and anxiety-provoking questions parents face. When your child is struggling, it can feel like an impossible puzzle. You don't want to overreact or pathologise what might be a normal phase. But equally, you don't want to miss something important. Laura brings a calm, science-informed framework to help parents step back and make sense of what they're seeing. Rather than focusing on one behaviour or one difficult moment, she encourages us to look at patterns over time and within context. Together, we explore how child development is not a straight line. There are periods of progress, but also regression, big emotions, and moments that can feel overwhelming for both children and parents. You can find out more about Laura Dimler and her work here: https://lauradimler.substack.com/

What are the short- and long-term effects of infidelity and separation on children, and how can parents protect their child's emotional wellbeing through it? In this episode, I am joined by Juliet Rosenfeld, psychoanalyst and author, to explore the impact of infidelity and separation on children. Drawing on her clinical work and psychoanalytic perspective, Juliet explains that these experiences can feel like a "seismic rupture" in a child's world. Even when children appear to adapt, they are often making sense of something they do not yet have the language or developmental capacity to fully understand. This can shape how they see themselves, their relationships, and their sense of safety in the world. We explore how these early experiences can echo into adulthood, sometimes showing up as difficulties with trust, fear of abandonment, or patterns in relationships. Importantly, this is not about blame or guilt. Instead, it is about awareness. Juliet shares that what matters most is not whether separation happens, but how it is handled. When parents can offer a united, age-appropriate narrative, protect children from conflict, and remind them that they were born out of love and remain deeply loved, this can significantly soften the impact and support children to thrive despite change. You can find out more about Juliet Rosenfeld and her work here: https://julietrosenfeld.co.uk/

How can we talk to teenagers about their brain in a way that actually helps, rather than making them roll their eyes? In this episode, I am joined by Dr Sarah McKay, a neuroscientist and author specialising in brain health, with a particular focus on women's brain health across the lifespan. Together, we explore what's really going on in the teenage brain, and why the way we talk about it matters more than we might think. Rather than asking parents to explain neuroscience to their teenagers, Sarah offers a more helpful approach: using what we understand about the brain to shape how we respond. We discuss the risks of common myths, such as teenagers being "ruled by hormones" or "unable to make good decisions", and how these narratives can shape behaviour in unhelpful ways. Instead, we reframe adolescence as a period of learning, growth and social development, where motivation, belonging and experience play a central role. With relatable parenting examples and clear, evidence-based insights, this conversation will help you better understand teenage behaviour and respond in a way that supports your relationship with your child. You can find out more about Dr Sarah McKay and her work here: https://drsarahmckay.com/