PODCAST · kids
Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child
by Dr. Hilary Mandzik - Psychologist
Parenting is the hardest job ever – and parenting a highly sensitive child who’s struggling can feel downright impossible.If you’re suffering through endless meltdowns, walking on eggshells to avoid your child’s huge emotions, and losing sleep worrying that you’re failing your child, you’ve landed in the right place. I’m Dr. Hilary Mandzik – clinical psychologist, parenting specialist, and mom of 3. And I’m here to help you feel GOOD about parenting your highly sensitive child.Join me each week on the Raised Resilient podcast as we explore the topics parents worry about most when it comes to raising highly sensitive kids: managing meltdowns, building emotion regulation, understanding highly sensitive kids, making sense of challenging behaviors, building self-esteem, finding parenting strategies that actually work *with* your child’s sensitivity ... and everything in between.I’ll help you understand your child’s behavior (and your reactions to it!) so that even the really hard m
Episodes
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The Shame Vs Guilt Difference That Lets You Correct Your Sensitive Child Without Them Hearing ‘I Am a Bad Kid’
If you’ve ever googled “are time outs effective,” puzzled over time out vs time in, or typed “do time outs work” because something just doesn’t feel right, this one is for you. In this episode, I break down the difference between a punishment timeout and a break your child needs. You’ll learn…
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Siblings Fighting Again? The Hidden Toll Your Sensitive Child’s Meltdowns Take on Their Sibling
Have you ever read every book and saved every script, only to freeze the second your child starts kicking and throwing things? In this episode, I share my conversation with Jen, a scientist and mom of a seven-and-a-half-year-old daughter and a five-and-a-half-year-old son, who completed Chaos to...
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Is Your Kid Always Angry? Here’s Why Anger Is a Secondary Emotion (and How to Create Emotional Safety)
Does your child go from angry at breakfast to yelling "I hate you" by dinner? In today's episode, I unpack why your child seems angry all the time and what's REALLY going on underneath. We get into where does people pleasing come from, which is an important starting point since so many of us…
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163: Am I Raising a Narcissist? Why Sensitive Kids Show a Lack of Empathy When They’re Upset
Have you ever caught yourself Googling "am I raising a narcissist" at 2am after another rough day? Does your child hit their sister, call you names, and show zero remorse? Do they melt down every time you say no, or shut down the second you ask them to own what happened? In this episode, I…
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162: Why Gentle Parenting Is Not Working for Your Sensitive Kid: 5 Proven Ways to Handle Your Child’s Meltdowns
Is gentle parenting not working even after every script you've tried? Gentle parenting was never meant to be a list of scripts you follow perfectly. Your child is unique, and what helps one child calm down can make another child feel even more overwhelmed. So, in today's episode, I share five...
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161: Why Are My Kids Always Fighting? Here’s Why Sibling Rivalry Isn’t the Problem
Does your day feel like one meltdown right after another? Do you dread the sound of your two kids playing in the other room, because you already know how it's going to end? In today's episode, I unpack what changed for Angela and Andrew, parents of Hudson, who turned three in January, and Nala,...
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160: The Hidden Cycle Making Your Sensitive Child’s Meltdowns Worse (And How to Break It)
Why does clearing your whole afternoon for a special outing with your sensitive child so often end in a meltdown over dinner? In this episode, I walk you through why special outings and one-on-one time backfire, and what your child needs from you instead of another gentle parenting script. I...
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159: Why The “Easy” Child Needs Emotional Attention Too (and How to Help Them Express Big Feelings Before They Become a People Pleaser)
Have you ever noticed that your easy child never seems to have a hard day, no matter what's happening with their sibling's meltdowns? In this episode, I walk you through why the child who never falls apart is often the one working the hardest to keep their feelings from showing. I also talk about...
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158: Kindergarten Transition for Sensitive Kids: What the Bedtime Meltdowns Really Mean and How to Help Your Child Adjust
Does your sensitive child seem totally fine at school, calm at drop off and easygoing with their teacher, only to completely fall apart when bedtime comes, leaving you wondering what a meltdown showing up somewhere you weren't looking actually means? In this episode, I walk you through how I'm...
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157: Are Your Sensitive Child’s Meltdowns Holding Your Family Hostage? How To Rebuild The Connection Underneath It All And Enjoy Your Family Again
Does every day bring another emotional meltdown that lasts an hour or longer, leaving you walking on eggshells at home, afraid that one wrong word will set off your highly sensitive child? In this episode, I'm joined by Nick and Kelsey, parents of a four-year-old son and an almost two-year-old...
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156: Tantrum Vs Meltdown: How Tell the Difference -- and How to Handle Temper Tantrums When Your Sensitive Child Is Completely Overwhelmed (and How Em...
Can you tell the difference between tantrums and meltdowns? In this episode, I walk you through what causes each one and what to do differently for each. In this episode, you'll learn: Why a tantrum and a meltdown look identical from the outside Why your child holds it together at school and...
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155: Tried Every Gentle Parenting Script And Still Stuck In The Meltdown Cycle? What Validating Feelings Advice Left Out (And What To Do Instead)
Have you validated every emotion, stayed calm through the hitting, and still watched the meltdowns stretch on for hours over nothing? In this episode, I walk you through how gentle parenting got confused with permissive parenting and what to do when nothing you've tried has working results. I…
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154: What Age Should Your Sensitive Kid Get a Smartphone? My Honest Answer as a Psychologist Mom, the Real Risks, and the Exact Plan I’m Using With My...
Is your child asking for a first phone? How do you know if they've actually reached digital readiness? And what happens once you hand over that device and can't take it back? In this episode, I share parent guidance on making the smartphone decision that fits your child's maturity and your…
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153: Why Parenting Strategies Aren’t Working (& What to Do Instead) - Jeanne & Josh’s Story
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less For eight years, their son had never once said "I love you", and waking him up for school usually meant getting kicked or hit. Jeannie and Josh are the parents of an eight-year-old adopted, neurodivergent, highly sensitive...
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152: What to do If Your Sensitive Child Shows No Empathy For Others
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less Sensitive kids don't lack empathy. They're buried under so much shame they can't reach it. Sensitive kids feel more, not less. When they hurt someone, that "I'm a bad kid" feeling floods them so hard they wall off any softer...
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151: 5 Ways to Teach Your Sensitive Child to Handle Frustration & Anger
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less If your sensitive child melts down the second something feels too hard, their brain is sending you a message: they don't know how to handle frustration yet. As a Harvard-educated clinical psychologist, parenting coach, and…
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150: How to Handle Screen Time With Sensitive Kids (Without Triggering a Meltdown)
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less If you hand a sensitive child a phone too early, their brain gets wired to chase a dopamine hit that normal life can't match. Screen-time meltdowns with sensitive kids aren't a behavior problem; they're a nervous system…
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149: How Mike & Mara Stopped Walking on Eggshells Around Their Highly Sensitive Kid
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less Have you ever felt like you have tried everything to end your child's meltdowns, but nothing worked? They're parents of four, and their highly sensitive eight-year-old son's big feelings had started running the whole household....
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148: Why Sensitive Kids Hate It When You Validate Their Feelings (And What to Do Instead)
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less If validating your child's feelings sends them deeper into a meltdown, you're not doing it wrong… you're missing the part nobody talks about. I'm a clinical psychologist, parenting coach, and mom of three emotionally intense...
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147: The Most Important Parenting Reframe Parents Need to Know About
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less When your child acts out, the instinct is to shut the behavior down. That instinct needs to be ignored. I'm a clinical psychologist, parenting coach, and mom of three sensitive, emotionally intense kids. After a decade in this...
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146: How to Handle Your Kid’s Meltdowns When Your Partner Has A Different Parenting Style
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less When your kid's meltdowns start straining your marriage, the fight with your partner usually isn't really about the kid. This episode is for the parent who's stuck in the meltdown cycle with a sensitive, emotionally intense…
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145: This Simple Parenting Mindset Shift Will Change How You Handle Meltdowns - Nathalie’s Story
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less How do you stay calm with your child when you can feel your own anger rising? My guest, Nathalie, is a working mom raising a young child within a long-distance blended family, often parenting on her own while managing a…
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144: Is Your Kid Going to Outgrow Meltdowns?
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less Have you ever wondered: “Will my kid outgrow these meltdowns?” It is the question almost every parent of a sensitive, emotionally intense child asks, and the honest answer might be hard to hear. Kids do sometimes outgrow the...
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143: Why Your Child Is Still Having Meltdowns Despite Play Therapy
Watch my video → How to End Your Child's Meltdowns in 8 Weeks or Less I didn’t expect my own child to be the one who challenged me the most. I could stay calm with teenagers screaming at me in residential treatment, but I found myself completely thrown off by my own toddler in a lunch line at a...
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Holiday Rewind: 3 Tips for Smoother Holiday Gatherings with Your Highly Sensitive Child (Even When Meltdowns Happen)
Holiday gatherings can be joyful — and for highly sensitive kids, they can also be a lot. The noise, the people, the excitement, the expectations. This re-released episode revisits a topic so many families struggle with: holiday meltdowns that seem to pop up right before (or during) events. In…
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Holiday Rewind: The Real Reason You’re So Exhausted: Unpacking the Invisible Mental Load of the Holidays as a Parent to a Sensitive CHild (& 3 Tips to...
The holiday season is here again — and while it’s full of magic and meaning, it can also feel like a lot, especially when you're the one quietly coordinating all the joy. Gifts, gatherings, school events, traditions… the mental load piles up fast. So this week, we’re re-releasing one of our...
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Holiday Rewind: From Toddler Tantrums to Big Kid Meltdowns — How to Handle the Season’s Big Feelings Like a Pro
The holidays feel magical for kids, with nonstop activities, treats, and excitement. But all that joy can also stir up tantrums, meltdowns, impulse-control struggles, and plenty of big feelings for sensitive little ones. So this week, we’re re-releasing an episode that so many parents found...
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Why Is My Child So Ungrateful? The Real Reason Sensitive Kids’ Big Emotions Look “Ungrateful” — and How to Teach Real Gratitude (Without Forcing It or...
Have you ever spent a whole day pouring into your sensitive child, only for them to fall apart the moment you walk through the door? It stings — and it’s easy to think, “Why does this feel so ungrateful?” In this episode, I’m unpacking what’s really behind those big emotions, and why they’re not...
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How to Support Your Highly Sensitive Child Through a Big Transition Like Moving — 3 Things We Accidentally Do That Make Transitions Harder (and the Ap...
Big changes are tough for sensitive kids — even the exciting ones. And without meaning to, we sometimes make those transitions harder by over-preparing, over-explaining, or hyping things up in hopes it will make them easier. Whether it’s a move, a new sibling, or a big end-of-year transition,...
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Why Mornings Go Off the Rails — 3 Reasons Your Sensitive Child Melts Down (and What to Do Instead)
If mornings with your sensitive child feel like an emotional rollercoaster — one wrong move and everything spirals — you’re definitely not alone. Maybe they wake up already grumpy, refuse to get dressed, or melt down over something tiny. You start the day exhausted before it even begins. In this...
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Parenting Reflections: When My Daughter’s Hair Clip Meltdown Wasn’t Actually About the Hair Clips — How I Resisted the Urge to “Fix It” While Parentin...
If your child has ever completely melted down over something tiny — like the wrong cup, the favorite shirt that’s in the wash, or in my case this week… hair clips — this episode is going to feel very familiar. Because it’s never really about the thing, even though it really feels like it in the...
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How Kids Actually Learn to Regulate Their Emotions — and Why It Matters So Much for Highly Sensitive Kids (Hint: It’s Not What You Expect!)
We all dream of the day our kids can handle their big feelings with ease—when their emotions don’t rule the day, and they can take life’s bumps in stride. But how do kids actually get there? In this episode, we’re diving into what helps children truly build emotional regulation skills—and spoiler...
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Parenting Reflections: Lesley’s Story of Growth and Grace — From Single Mom Facing Big Meltdowns to Building a Calm, Connected Blended Family
This week’s episode features Lesley, a mom whose parenting journey took some unexpected (and beautiful) turns. When she first joined the program, she was a single mom navigating intense meltdowns with her 5-year-old daughter—big emotions, hurtful words, and all the overwhelm that came with them....
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Why You Can’t Reason With a Dysregulated Child (& What Actually Helps in the Moment!)
Have you ever tried to explain something perfectly clearly to your child—only to be met with tears, frustration, or a complete meltdown? It feels like the more sense we try to make, the less sense it actually makes to them. That’s because when kids are emotionally activated, logic goes right out...
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Parenting Reflections: How My 4-Year-Old Learned to Ride a ’Big Girl’ Bike—And Why Building Frustration Tolerance in Small Moments Made All the Differ...
This week, I’m sharing one of those small-but-big parenting moments: my 4-year-old daughter learning to ride her two-wheel bike. It was both ordinary and magical, watching her step into something brand new with so much determination. I’d spent time preparing her for what it feels like to learn...
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Why “Just Stay Calm” Doesn’t Work During Your Child’s Meltdowns—And What to Focus on Instead
We’ve all heard the advice: “Just stay calm when your child is melting down.” But if you’ve ever tried it, you know it’s not that simple—and there’s a reason for that. In this episode, we’re unpacking why staying calm can feel so hard in the moment, what’s really going on inside us when our kids...
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Parenting Reflections: From Vacation Chaos to Calm at Home: How Emily Went from Cutting a Family Trip Short to Celebrating Milestones and Peaceful, Co...
What do you do when your child’s meltdowns get so big they disrupt everyday life—even cutting a family vacation short? That’s where Emily found herself as a mom of a highly sensitive child. Between the constant meltdowns and the stress of preparing for kindergarten, she was stretched thin and...
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Will My Sensitive Child Ever Outgrow the Meltdowns? Here’s Why Emotional Sensitivity Doesn’t Just Disappear (& How to Help Your Child Cope Instead)
Ever find yourself wondering if your highly sensitive child will ever “grow out” of the meltdowns? You’re not alone. A fellow mom asked this exact question after feeling stuck in the cycle of escalating emotions, hitting, and endless late-night worries about the future. It’s the question that so...
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Parenting Reflections: How I Prepared My Sensitive Child to Handle the Middle School Transition with Confidence
Starting middle school is a big milestone, and for a highly sensitive child, it can feel overwhelming. In this episode, I share how my oldest son’s recent transition went surprisingly smoothly—and the preparation that made all the difference. I’ll walk through what we did ahead of time to help…
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When Back-to-School Feels Like Too Much for Your Highly Sensitive Child—Here’s What’s Really Going On (& How to Support Them Through the Transition)
The back-to-school transition can feel like a mountain for sensitive kids—new routines, new faces, and new expectations all at once. And it doesn’t have to be a big milestone year for them to feel the weight of it; even returning to the same school can stir up nerves and overwhelm. What feels...
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Summer Rewind Series: How to Communicate Effectively with Your Sensitive Child’s Teacher for a Successful School Year with Jess Hammond – Part 2
In this final Summer Rewind episode, I’m joined once again by veteran teacher and fellow parent Jess Hammond for the second half of our honest, two-part conversation. This time, we’re talking about helping kids build independence with their schoolwork—and what to do when they hit a wall. We also...
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Summer Rewind Series: How to Communicate Effectively with Your Sensitive Child’s Teacher for a Successful School Year with Jess Hammond – Part 1
In this 5th episode of our Summer Rewind Series, we’re bringing back part one of a heartfelt, insight-packed conversation with one of my closest friends—a teacher with 23 years of experience and a parent to two elementary-aged kids. Her dual perspective is one every parent needs to hear. We talk...
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Summer Rewind Series: Beyond Sleep Training or Co-Sleeping Forever: Finding the Baby Sleep Middle Ground with Rachael Shepherd-Ohta
We’re continuing our Summer Rewind Series by bringing back another favorite episode—because baby sleep struggles never really go out of season. If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “how do I get my baby to sleep?” at 3am, you’re definitely not alone. Baby sleep can feel like one of the hardest...
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Summer Rewind Series: Intuitive Eating for Kids: How to Help Picky Eaters & Heal Food Trauma with Bekah Groop
This episode is the third in our Summer Rewind Series, where we’re bringing back past favorites to revisit with fresh perspective. If you’ve ever struggled with picky eating, mealtime stress, or worries about your child’s nutrition, this conversation is one you’ll want to hear. In this replay, I...
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Summer Rewind Series: “How Do I Get My Partner On Board with Gentle Parenting?” with Bryana Kappadakunnel
Summer’s a great time to slow down, reflect, and revisit some of the most powerful parenting conversations—and that’s exactly what we’re doing in the Summer Rewind Series. This week, we’re revisiting an honest and relatable episode all about navigating parenting when you and your partner don’t...
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Summer Rewind Series: The Benefits of Unstructured Outdoor Play (& How to Get Your Child Outside!) with Allana Robinson
We’re kicking off the Summer Rewind Series with some of your favorite past episodes—perfect for summer walks, long drives, or relaxing in the backyard. Even if you’ve heard them before, these conversations still hold so much value, and you just might hear something new now that you're in a...
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5 Sneaky Ways You’re Still Trying to “Fix” Your Highly Sensitive Child’s Feelings (Without Even Realizing It!)
You know your child’s emotions aren’t something to fix—but in those overwhelming moments, it’s easy to fall into sneaky habits that quietly send the message, “Let’s make this feeling go away.” Especially with highly sensitive kids, the urge to soothe or solve can show up even when you’re trying...
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Parenting Reflections: What It Looks Like in Real Life to Co-Regulate Through Big Emotions (Hint: It’s Not Always Simple or Pretty, and You’re Still D...
Co-regulation with highly sensitive kids is powerful—but it can get really messy. In this episode, we’re talking about what it looks like to stay grounded when your child is overwhelmed, pushing you away, and drowning in big emotions. I’m sharing a personal story from a recent parenting moment…
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When Someone in the Family Is Struggling—Here’s How to Talk to Your Highly Sensitive Child About Hard Dynamics (Without Shame or Blame)
When a family member is struggling—or no longer part of the picture—it can be hard to know how (or if) to talk about it with your child. But with highly sensitive kids who notice everything, silence often feels heavier than the truth. In this episode, we’re exploring how to gently and honestly…
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Parenting Reflections: The Toughest Parenting Moment I’ve Faced in a Long Time—What Went Right, What I Did Wrong, & How I Moved Forward With My Highly...
Some parenting moments feel impossible—and in this episode, I’m sharing one of the hardest I’ve had in a long time. It was a perfect storm of exhaustion, overwhelm, and a tough transition for my oldest, who’s struggling with the shift to middle school. When a big emotional explosion hit right at...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Parenting is the hardest job ever – and parenting a highly sensitive child who’s struggling can feel downright impossible.If you’re suffering through endless meltdowns, walking on eggshells to avoid your child’s huge emotions, and losing sleep worrying that you’re failing your child, you’ve landed in the right place. I’m Dr. Hilary Mandzik – clinical psychologist, parenting specialist, and mom of 3. And I’m here to help you feel GOOD about parenting your highly sensitive child.Join me each week on the Raised Resilient podcast as we explore the topics parents worry about most when it comes to raising highly sensitive kids: managing meltdowns, building emotion regulation, understanding highly sensitive kids, making sense of challenging behaviors, building self-esteem, finding parenting strategies that actually work *with* your child’s sensitivity ... and everything in between.I’ll help you understand your child’s behavior (and your reactions to it!) so that even the really hard m
HOSTED BY
Dr. Hilary Mandzik - Psychologist
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child have?
Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child currently has 234 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child about?
Parenting is the hardest job ever – and parenting a highly sensitive child who’s struggling can feel downright impossible.If you’re suffering through endless meltdowns, walking on eggshells to avoid your child’s huge emotions, and losing sleep worrying that you’re failing your child, you’ve landed...
How often does Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child release new episodes?
Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child publishes regularly with 234 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child?
You can listen to Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child?
Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child is created and hosted by Dr. Hilary Mandzik - Psychologist.
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