TELL ME IT WILL BE OK

How to Talk with Kids About Death and Other Hard Topics (with Dr. Elena Lister)

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dawn Friedman hosts the Tell Me It Will Be Okay podcast and interviews therapist and adult and child psychiatrist Dr. Elena Lister about her book Givi...

The Power of Giving Up (Judiciously)

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Letting Go to Focus on What Matters in ParentingDawn Friedman introduces her podcast and explains “judicious giving up,” a practice of letting go ...

Cultivating a Culture of Empathy and Kindness with Brandy Jemczura

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Tell Me It Will Be Okay, I interview Brandy Jemczura of Columbus, Ohio, founder of Seeds of Caring, a nonprofit that connects child...

Activism, Hope and Parenting: Talking with Frida Berrigan

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In a timely episode (hey, I planned it that way!) I'm sharing my conversation with Frida Berrigan, a peace activist and author, who shares her experie...

The Connection Between Child Anxiety and Depression

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

n this episode of the Tell Me It Will Be OK podcast, we delve into the relationship between anxiety and depression, especially in children. Drawing fr...

Catastrophizing: Assuming Worst Case Scenarios in Child Anxiety

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the very first episode of the TELL ME IT WILL BE OK podcast, which used to be the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast. In this episode, we explain th...

Should I tell my child that they have anxiety?

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, I address a common concern from parents: whether to tell their children they have anxiety. I explain...

How is perfectionism related to child anxiety?

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast!. In this episode, I address a listener's query about the relationship between perfectionism and child anxiet...

Should I step in to calm down my anxious child?

01 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, Dawn Friedman addresses a listener's question about whether to step in and help a child calm down or...

Taking Care in Troubled Times

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, hosted by Dawn Friedman, who has over three decades of experience working with children and families. In thi...

What should I do if my anxious child backslides?

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, we've got a listener's question about handling backsliding in anxious children. I emphasize that bac...

How can I help my anxious child build distress tolerance skills?

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, hosted by Dawn Friedman, an expert with over 30 years of experience in working with children and families. I...

Podcast Update and Summer Plans

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Taking a Summer Break and Future PlansHi everyone and welcome to the Child Anxiety Fact Podcast. My name is Dawn Friedman, and I've spent over three d...

What do I do if I can't make my anxious child feel better?

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, hosted by Dawn Friedman, a seasoned expert in child and family support with over 30 years of experience. In ...

How can I involve siblings in our family's child anxiety management?

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dawn Friedman, an experienced child anxiety expert, answers a listener's question about how to involve siblings in the management of ...

Is it my child's anxiety? Or is it a preference?

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we address a common concern among families—distinguishing between a child's anxiety and personal preferences. We explore how to ide...

What are your thoughts about reward charts for anxious children?

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, Dawn Friedman addresses a listener's question about the use of reward charts for anxious children. D...

Why did my anxious child's good work in therapy wear off?

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, Dawn Friedman addresses a listener's question about why a child's progress in therapy can seem to we...

How can I encourage my child to become more independent in managing their anxiety?

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Child Anxiety FAQ podcast, Dawn Friedman addresses how to encourage children to become more independent in managing their anxie...

What do I wish I'd done differently as the parent of an anxious child?

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I get personal and share lessons and reflections from my own parenting experiences—specifically, what I wish I’d done differently...

What do I do if I've pushed my anxious child too far?

15 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast with Dawn Friedman, where listeners' questions about child and teen anxiety are answered by a seasoned child ...

Is my anxious child coping or overwhelmed?

01 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to "The Child Anxiety FAQ" podcast, where we dive deep into the everyday challenges and questions that parents face when dealing with child an...

How do I deal with my child's hurt feelings when I push them to face their anxiety?

15 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is an issue that's present for many of the families with whom I've worked so I thought I'd bring it here to the podcast and talk about the underl...

Why shouldn't I ask my anxious child why they're anxious?

01 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A better question might be WHEN shouldn't I ask my anxious child why they're anxious but this episode gives us a good start to the topic. Besides, of ...

How do I tell if it's my child's anxiety or mine?

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we explore the dynamics of family functioning patterns and what the research has to say about how to intervene when families are stru...

What does healthy coping with child anxiety look like?

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode I'm talking about what healthy coping really looks like—it’s not always pretty, but understanding this helps us prepare to keep...

How do I help my anxious child deal with worries about real life events?

15 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we're discussing how to talk about real-life worries, the big worries that maybe are already keeping you up at note, too, like climate...

How can I determine if my own anxiety is influencing my parenting of my anxious child?

01 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(Sorry about the audio quality -- I'm having some issues with my editing software!)  Welcome to The Child Anxiety FAQ podcast!  Today's episode answ...

How do I set limits for my anxious child without feeling guilty?

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, we're diving into the  topic of setting limits for your anxious child without succumbing to guilt. We talk about the complexities...

What are some practical steps I can take to encourage my child to tolerate their anxiety?

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ, host Dawn Friedman MSEd addresses a crucial question from our listeners: What are some practical steps I ...

How do I deal with my anger towards my anxious child?

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to another episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ, where your questions about child and teen anxiety are answered. I'm your host, Dawn Friedman...

How can I support my anxious child while also addressing their behavior?

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, we tackle a common but complex question: "How can I support my anxious child while also addressing their inappropriate behavior?" ...

Should I let my anxious child have a phone?

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hey, everyone. Welcome to the Child Anxiety FAQ podcast, where we tackle your pressing questions about child and teen anxiety. I'm Dawn Friedman, your...

What are some practical ways to address the academic pressures and expectations that contribute to my child's anxiety?

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to The Child Anxiety FAQ podcast, where we tackle listener questions about child and teen anxiety. I'm your host, Dawn Friedman, and with...

Do already anxious children struggle more with anxiety as they enter adolesence?

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ podcast, we’re talking about whether already anxious kids struggle more with anxiety as they enter their te...

How can I create a bedtime routine that helps my anxious child feel more secure and comfortable?

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to The Child Anxiety FAQ podcast! In this week's episode, we're diving into the world of bedtime routines for anxious children. I share i...

What are some tangible signs that my child's anxiety is impacting their sleep?

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ, we talk about the tangible signs that a child's anxiety is impacting their sleep. Drawing from my extensive ...

How can I prioritize both my child's sleep needs and my own well-being as a parent without feeling guilty or overwhelmed?

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This month, we're focusing on sleep, to coincide with the launch of my 6-week coaching program, Bedtime Navigator. Today's question addresses the chal...

How do I know if my anxious child is having typical sleep struggles or something more serious?

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Child Anxiety Back podcast, we dive into the topic of sleep and child anxiety. We address a common concern: how to distinguish ...

What are some ways to set limits and consequences for my anxious child's behavior without causing shame or distress? 2

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ, we continue to explore the delicate balance of setting limits and consequences for anxious children w...

What are some ways to set limits for my anxious child's behavior without causing shame or distress?

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ, we challenge the notion of avoiding distress and emphasizes the importance of helping children learn to cope...

I am super busy, how can I prioritize working on my child's anxiety?

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week's question is a common one: "I am super busy. How can I prioritize working on my child's anxiety?" In this episode, we'll explore the import...

How can I help my anxious child understand their feelings of resentment and blame toward me as a parent?

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode we talk about helping anxious children understand their feelings of resentment and blame toward their parents. As children navi...

How can I manage the guilt and emotional struggles that come with parenting an anxious child?

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we talk about how guilt can hinder decision-making and the importance of moving forward despite feeling guilty. I emphasize the signi...

What are some effective strategies to help my child when they engage in negative self-talk?

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we're getting into some solid strategies to help out kids dealing with negative self-talk. We tackle the challenges of the tween and ...

What are some practical strategies for reorienting myself to a less anxious mindset so I can better support my child?

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we talk about the importance of acknowledging and working through personal anxieties, and I share specific techniques to help parents manage...

How can I identify specific areas to work on with my anxious child without overwhelming them?

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week I share insights on disrupting anxiety patterns, identifying manageable starting points, and honoring both parental and child capacities.Men...

What do I do when I'm not enjoying my anxious child?

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is such a painful place to be! But pain can also be the motivation we need to revisit what we're doing and start doing something different! Mostl...

How do I help my anxious child process their feelings?

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You know what's hard about this one? Well, first not all anxious kids WANT to process their feelings and second sometimes processing their feelings ge...

What did I do to cause my child's anxiety?

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Spoiler alert -- you're not the cause but yes, you are the solution. Both things can be true! I talk about the fallacy that a child's diagnosis ALWAYS...

Is my anxiety causing my child's anxiety?

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This question is less important than the asker thought it was and I use this episode to explain why. I also talk a little bit about why it's ok if two...

What are some specific tips you have for parents of anxious teens?

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Specifically? Help your teen get more sleep! It's my number one wish for ALL anxious kids and other humans! Learn more this week on The Child Anxiety ...

What can I do about my anxious child's low self esteem?

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Poor self esteem is super common in child anxiety and no wonder -- anxiety upends our ability to do the things they want to do or that are expected of...

Do you have any tips for an overwhelmed parent dealing with my child's anxiety? the child anxiety FAQ episode 96

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I have several tips, mostly about finding new ways to consider what parenting an anxious child is supposed to be, which might help you feel less press...

How do I know if my anxious child is just being manipulative?

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We interrogate this whole idea of manipulation, look at child development, and talk about better ways to consider the situation.Mentioned in this epis...

How can a parent deal with acting out behaviors in their anxious child?

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A parent contacted me about an 8-year old whose separation anxiety means their child meltsdown every time she tries to leave the house. We talk about ...

Homeschool made my child's social anxiety worse. Now what?

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Because there was so little detail offered in this question it gave me the chance to explain what we need to know and why we need to know it to hopefu...

Is social anxiety disorder caused by trauma and bullying?

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A brief summary of this episodeMentioned in this episode:Sign up for Resiliency Sprint at a discount!My signature course, Resiliency Sprint, is availa...

Can someone grow out of having an anxiety disorder?

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A brief summary of this episodeMentioned in this episode:Sign up for Resiliency Sprint at a discount!My signature course, Resiliency Sprint, is availa...

How can I get my anxious child to use their coping tools?

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we discuss "coping" and how sometimes parents misunderstand what that means. Mentioned in this episode:Sign up for Resiliency Sprint at a d...

How can I tell if my child's anxiety is general or situational?

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The person who asked this question is trying to figure out if the anxiety she's seeing in her child is just due to a specific situation or a sign that...

How do I make my anxious child change?

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Parents reach out for help because they need their anxious child to learn to not be anxious or to handle their anxiety more effectively. But we can't ...

What do you do when a child is still as anxious if not more anxious of something after exposing them to it?

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This question from a listener gives us the opportunity to talk about some of the details we need to know to appropriate address our individual child's...

Is it my anxiety? Or my child's?

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week I explain why it almost doesn't matter whose anxiety started the anxious patterns in the family because the intervention is the same -- at l...

When should I be concerned about my anxious child?

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we explore parental concern in regards to child anxiety and what it means if the child is anxious and what if it means if they aren't (or at...

How do I help my anxious child feel heard and understood?

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we talk about how we can support our anxious child and help them feel validated without joining them in their anxiety.Mentioned in this epis...

Can children have panic attacks?

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about what panic attacks are; discuss panic disorder; and get into some of the controversy and complications around the issue.Mentioned in thi...

Should I homeschool my anxious child?

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I get a lot of questions about homeschooling for kids with social anxiety or separation anxiety. Get my take on this week's episode of The Child Anxie...

How do I help my anxious child?

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about what you can do FOR YOU to best help your anxious child with a promise to get into more specifics in future episodes.   Mentioned in t...

How do I calm down my anxious child?

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A brief summary of this episodeMentioned in this episode:Sign up for Resiliency Sprint at a discount!My signature course, Resiliency Sprint, is availa...

What are some signs that a child has anxiety?

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode I share common signs that a child might be struggling with anxiety. I talk about somatic symptoms and behavioral symptoms and h...

Does an anxious parent make an anxious child?

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Short answer? No. Long answer? That's what this episode is all about!Mentioned in this episode:Sign up for Resiliency Sprint at a discount!My signatur...

How can I treat my child's anxiety naturally?

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I usually get a version of this question asking about diet, supplements, or herbal remedies. I explain why I'm not the right person to answer THAT and...

Are there techniques for teaching emotional regulation to anxious children?

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we go over ways to tune into our dysregulated child's calm between anxious moments to better head off anxiety meltdowns.Mentioned in this episod...

How do I talk to my anxious child about death?

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast I gave a shout out to some of my favorite people, namely, librarians, Mr. Rogers and child life specialists!Mentioned in this episode:...

How do I help my anxious child learn to cope without making them feel like they need to be fixed?

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Based on a question I got on TikTok, I address how to support an anxious child in learning to cope when they have no interest in learning to cope. We ...

What do I do if my anxious child is bullying their siblings?

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A big topic that's hard to cover in a quick podcast but in general, it's appropriate to help kids live up to expectations that will serve them as they...

Could my toddler have anxiety?

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We look briefly at the DC: 0-5: Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood to consider anxi...

What do I do about my child's anxiety?

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After getting inundated with that question on the comments to a TikTok post, I figured it was time to do a down and dirty explanation of avoiding avoi...

What about gentle parenting for older kids with anxiety?

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I respond to a longer question a listener had about her 10-year old refusing to sleep alone with some general thoughts about gentle parenting and chil...

Can I parent so well that my child won't have anxiety?

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode offers a special message to the parent who's feeling guilty about the struggles of their anxious child or teen. Mentioned in this episod...

How do I handle child anxiety meltdowns?

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the difference between anxious tantrums and meltdowns and talk about first steps for learning how to deal with them.Mentioned in this ep...

How do I get out of the anxious reassurance loop?

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Reassuring is the stickiest and the sneakiest of the parenting pitfalls. Let's talk about getting out of the reassurance loop!Mentioned in this episod...

What if I don't mind being stuck in the Parenting Pitfalls?

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I appreciate this question from a parent who's been listening to the podcast and says she doesn't mind being stuck in the Parenting PItfalls and wante...

What does successful child anxiety treatment look like?

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Since anxiety doesn't really have a cure -- because anxious brains are gonna be anxious -- what can parents expect from successful child anxiety treat...

Are there any downsides to practicing gentle parenting with an anxious child?

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look at gentle parenting, conscious parenting, respectful parenting, attachment parenting -- whatever term you use -- and consider how it im...

How does Pathological Demand Avoidance or PDA fit with regular anxiety?

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode we do a quick dive into the controversies around the PDA diagnosis then jump to how it relates to anxiety treatment. You can ch...

Should I tell my child that they have anxiety?

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This question comes up for parents who are concerned that giving their child a diagnosis may limit their functioning in some way. We explore it and di...

What do I need to teach my child about anxiety?

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tackling child anxiety has two tasks. The first is to confront the anxiety. The second is learning the cognitive behavioral tools to manage anxiety. W...

How do I find time to manage my child's anxiety?

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Think of learning to manage your child's anxiety like learning to cook. We dive into that metaphor to explain just why it might be messier than you th...

What do I do when my child doesn't want to deal with their anxiety?

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we talk about how child anxiety is always a family systems issue and how we can shift the system by shifting our own behavior whether or not...

Does my child have social anxiety or are they just shy?

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It can be difficult to understand the differences between a shy child, an introverted child, and a socially anxious child especially when those things...

How can I tell the difference between an accommodation and a support for my child's anxiety?

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we explore the difference between accommodations and support using the definition from the study cited below, which is "changes in parents’ b...

Does mindfulness help child anxiety?

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we discuss what mindfulness is, how it works, how it helps child anxiety, and how to do it. I also invite you to get my free 7-day Get Yours...

How do I address child anxiety that's the result of trauma?

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week I talk about anxiety in the context of a post traumatic stress disorder diagnosis and discuss how it should be addressed. I mention EMDRIA.o...

What can I do when I feel like I've failed my anxious child?

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a response to a listener having a tough time and I hope they hear it and find comfort in the answer. And if you, too, are needing supp...

What derails child anxiety treatment?

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s question is meant to address the concerns of parents who contact me and say they’ve tried to get their child help and it isn’t worki...

Does social media cause teen anxiety?

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The short answer is yes, social media absolutely can cause teen anxiety so I use this episode to talk about what parents can -- and should -- do about...

Do you recommend any supplements for child anxiety?

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While the answer to this question is out of my professional scope of practice, I was able to find information in a literature review specifically abou...

How do I explain to my anxious child that they don't need to be scared?

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week I explain why we need to reframe the question "How do I explain to my anxious child that they don't need to be scared" to "How do I help my ...