Episode 62 - Helping Children Make and Keep Friends with Dr Eileen Kennedy-Moore

How can we help our children make and keep friends — especially when friendships feel messy, painful or confusing?   In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a clinical psychologist, author and friendship expert. Together, we explore why friendship is so foundational to children's wellbeing and why almost every child will struggle socially at some point. Eileen explains how parents can support the development of perspective-taking — the essential skill that underpins healthy, lasting friendships.   We talk about what to say when children come home upset and why empathy must come before problem-solving. Eileen shares practical, memorable tools, including her "maybe game" for broadening perspective and her "soft criticism" framework for addressing unkind behaviour. This episode is full of usable language to help you support your child's friendships with confidence.   You can find out more about Dr Eileen and her work here: https://eileenkennedymoore.com/ including her podcast for children called Dr Friendtastic    A Long-Form Special: Living in the Age of Diagnosis with Dr Anna Hutchinson and Dr Libby Nugent   Diagnosis in mental health and neurodiverity is on the rise - what's really going on and what does this mean for children, families, and society?   In this special long-form episode, the first in a series of extended conversations, I'm joined by Dr Libby Nugent and Dr Anna Hutchinson, both clinical psychologists. Together, we explore the role of diagnosis in modern life, particularly in the fields of mental health and neurodiversity, where increasing numbers of children and adults are being assessed and identified, while waiting lists continue to grow.   We discuss how diagnoses can validate pain, reduce shame, and help people make sense of their experience, while also considering their limitations, the power they hold within systems, and the broader historical and political context in which they sit. This is an in-depth conversation about both the usefulness and the risks of psychiatric labels — and what families might need to consider as they navigate them.