S2E17: Cycle Breaker - Transforming Parenting for a Stronger Future

Hello, and welcome back to The Parent Doctor Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Marissa Caudill. Please rate and follow this podcast to help spread this resource, and be sure to visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theparentdoctor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to sign up for my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or join the monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, both are FREE! Interested in working with me directly? Sign up for my monthly Office Hours call ⁠here⁠.  In this episode, I share the personal story behind "The Parent Doctor" and my mission to help parents become more than just "good enough." As a double board-certified adult and child psychiatrist, and a mom of two, I reflect on my own upbringing, the challenges my parents faced, and the generational patterns I’ve seen in over 17 years of clinical practice. I open up about how my family history — including my father’s struggle with alcoholism and my grandparents’ experiences growing up during the Great Depression — has shaped my understanding of the cycles that can impact families for generations. Through my work as "The Parent Doctor," I aim to empower parents to break these cycles and build stronger, healthier relationships with their children. I also talk about the research of psychologist Diana Baumrind, explaining how a parenting style that’s both firm and loving leads to the best outcomes for kids. I believe that by setting boundaries and providing structure, while also showing warmth and support, we can help our children develop emotional regulation, social skills, and resilience — and reduce the risk of problems like substance abuse later in life. I’m deeply committed to supporting families in crisis, which is why 20% of "The Parent Doctor" profits go to organizations helping single mothers and families living in poverty. I want to help parents reflect on their own parenting, break harmful generational patterns, and strive for better-than-good-enough parenting. If you're ready to be a cycle breaker and build deeper connections with your kids, this episode is for you! Tune in for insights, inspiration, and my own personal journey.