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The Child Psych Podcast

The Child Psych Podcast

Institute of Child Psychology 184 Episodes Jul 22, 2026

The Child Psych Podcast features top parenting and mental health experts who share current research and concrete strategies to foster resiliency and healing in children and teens. The show aims to raise a generation of children who don't need to recover from their childhoods.

Episodes

Common Phrases Parents Should Stop Saying (And What to Say Instead) with Tammy Schamuhn & Tania Johnson
Common Phrases Parents Should Stop Saying (And What to Say Instead) with Tammy Schamuhn & Tania Johnson Jul 22, 2026 22:10 Are well-meaning parenting phrases doing more harm than good?In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, child psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson unpack five common phrases many parents use every day—phrases like "Good job!" and "Be careful!"—and explore how they may unintentionally shape children's confidence, resilience, independence, and self-belief.While these phrases often come fr
Raising Boys with Purpose: Dr. Alan Hahn on Masculinity, Mental Health, and Mentorship
Raising Boys with Purpose: Dr. Alan Hahn on Masculinity, Mental Health, and Mentorship Jul 15, 2026 39:52 Boys are struggling — academically, emotionally, socially, and developmentally. But what do boys actually need to grow into healthy, grounded, responsible young men?In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, Tammy sits down with Dr. Alan Hahn doctoral-level educator, founder of Iron Academy, and author of The Iron Academy, to explore the modern crisis facing boys and young men.Together, they disc
When Your Child Falls Apart Over “Nothing”: Sensory Processing, Meltdowns, and the Nervous System
When Your Child Falls Apart Over “Nothing”: Sensory Processing, Meltdowns, and the Nervous System Jul 8, 2026 50:55 Why does your child fall apart over “nothing”—the wrong socks, a transition, a loud sound, or being asked to leave the house? In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, Tammy sits down with pediatric occupational therapist Kathryn Hamlin-Pacheco to unpack what may really be happening beneath those big reactions.Kathryn explains how children’s nervous systems are constantly scanning for cues of sa
A Story of Love, Loss, and Healing with Emily Souder and Mahaley Patel
A Story of Love, Loss, and Healing with Emily Souder and Mahaley Patel Jul 1, 2026 38:20 Content Note: This episode includes discussion of infant loss, grief, and NICU trauma.Some stories change us forever.In this deeply moving episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we sit down with Emily Souder, LCSW-C, PMH-C, and Mahaley Patel, LMFT, PMH-C, therapists, mothers, and co-authors of Your NICU Story: Reflecting on Your Family's Experience.What begins as a conversation about the NICU quickly
Why Gentle Parenting Can Backfire: What Parents Get Wrong About Boundaries, Consequences, and Raising Resilient Kids
Why Gentle Parenting Can Backfire: What Parents Get Wrong About Boundaries, Consequences, and Raising Resilient Kids Jun 24, 2026 19:15 Is gentle parenting creating calmer, more connected families—or are some parents accidentally raising children who struggle with frustration, responsibility, and resilience?In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, child psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson take an honest look at one of the most talked-about parenting approaches today: gentle parenting. While the principles of connecti
Autistic Girls, Puberty & Sexuality: What Parents Need to Know
Autistic Girls, Puberty & Sexuality: What Parents Need to Know Jun 17, 2026 15:51 How do you prepare an autistic daughter for puberty, body changes, periods, privacy, and personal safety?In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, psychologist Dr. Natasha Poulopoulos shares practical guidance for navigating some of the most important conversations parents will have with their autistic daughters. We discuss why these conversations should begin earlier than many parents real
The Secret to Better Behavior? More Play and Less Power Struggles!
The Secret to Better Behavior? More Play and Less Power Struggles! Jun 10, 2026 43:52 In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Kim Van Dusen, psychologist, parenting expert, and author of Parenting Through Play: Creative Strategies for Building Better Behavior, Deeper Connection, and Positive Communication. Together, we explore the powerful role of play in child development and why play is one of the most effective tools parents can use to strengthen co
Why Kids Can’t Stop Scrolling: The Dopamine Trap Behind Screens, Cravings, and Modern Childhood | Michaeleen Doucleff
Why Kids Can’t Stop Scrolling: The Dopamine Trap Behind Screens, Cravings, and Modern Childhood | Michaeleen Doucleff Jun 3, 2026 56:43 Screens aren't just hard for kids to put down because they enjoy them. As Michaeleen Doucleff explains in Dopamine Kids, screens can become powerful "dopamine magnets," pulling children back again and again, often without leaving them feeling calmer, happier, or more fulfilled afterward.In Part 2 of this important conversation on The Child Psych Podcast, Tammy Schamuhn and Michaeleen Dou
Why Kids Can’t Stop Scrolling: The Dopamine Trap Behind Screens, Cravings, and Modern Childhood | Michaeleen Doucleff
Why Kids Can’t Stop Scrolling: The Dopamine Trap Behind Screens, Cravings, and Modern Childhood | Michaeleen Doucleff May 27, 2026 55:43 In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Tammy Schamuhn sits down with Michaeleen Doucleff, author of Dopamine Kids, to explore what is really happening in children’s brains when they beg for more screen time, melt down when devices are taken away, or seem unable to pull themselves away from video games, social media, YouTube, or ultra-processed foods.Many parents have been tau
The Indoor Epidemic: What We're Doing to Kids Without Realizing It with Dr. John La Puma, Episode #183
The Indoor Epidemic: What We're Doing to Kids Without Realizing It with Dr. John La Puma, Episode #183 May 20, 2026 36:09 Why Anxiety, Meltdowns, Sleep Problems, and Emotional Dysregulation May Have More to Do With Modern Childhood Than We ThinkChildren today are more anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, and emotionally exhausted than ever before.But what if one of the biggest threats to their mental health isn’t something happening online…It’s what’s missing offline?In this incredibly powerful and emotional episode o
Beyond “Just Take a Bite”: A Better Way to Handle Picky Eating , Episode #182
Beyond “Just Take a Bite”: A Better Way to Handle Picky Eating , Episode #182 May 13, 2026 45:42 In this insightful and practical conversation, we sit down with Katie Kimball, founder of Kids Cook Real Food and author of Kids Cook Real Food: Healthy Kids, Happy Moms, to explore the real story behind picky eating.If mealtimes in your home feel like a constant battle, this episode offers a refreshing and evidence-informed perspective. Katie challenges the common belief that picky eating is simp
When Autism Changes Everything: A Father’s Story of Growth and Hope with Harry Psaros, Episode #181
When Autism Changes Everything: A Father’s Story of Growth and Hope with Harry Psaros, Episode #181 May 6, 2026 30:59 In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, we sit down with Harry Psaros, author of From Struggle to Strength: A Father’s Journey with Autism, to explore a perspective that is often missing in conversations around autism, the father’s experience.Harry shares his personal journey from denial to acceptance after his son’s autism diagnosis, opening up about the confusion, resistance, and emotio

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