Securely Attached
Securely Attached is your go-to parenting podcast, supporting moms and dads from pregnancy all the way through their child's adolescence and every stage in between.
Join us every Tuesday as clinical psychologist and mom of two Dr. Sarah Bren shares her expertise and interviews top experts in the field, simplifying complicated concepts and pulling back the curtain on the brain science and psychology that drives and shapes the parent-child relationship.
And now, every Thursday, Dr. Sarah Bren is joined by Dr. Emily Upshur and Dr. Rebecca Hershberg for a special segment, Beyond The Sessions. We’re answering YOUR parenting questions from the perspective of clinical psychologists highly trained in developmental science and real-life moms who get that parenting is messy, and sometimes we have to laugh, cry, and throw out the “rules.”
From toddler tantrums, to effective discipline strategies, to leaning into the principles of respectful parenting, and to managing your own mental wellness as a parent—this podcast is your ultimate resource for judgment-free, research-backed information you know you can trust.
About Sarah Bren, PhD
Dr. Sarah Bren is a licensed clinical psychologist and mom of two who helps parents understand the building blocks of child development and how secure relationships form and thrive. Her work is focused on helping parents find their inner confidence so they can respond to any parenting problem that comes along and raise kids who are healthy, resilient, and kind.
- Update frequency
- every 3 days
- Average duration
- 41 minutes
- Episodes
- 341
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
40. Nurturing our child's relationship with food: A conversation with registered dietitian Katie Thomson
How and what we feed our child can be a polarizing topic for many parents. But we can likely all agree that we want our children to have a healthy, balanced and open relationship to food.
Joi…
39. Understanding parenting styles and the benefits of an authoritative approach: Q&A with Dr. Emily Upshur
Joining me today is my partner from our joint practice Upshur Bren Psychology Group, Dr. Emily Upshur. We’re diving into Diana Baumrind’s 4 parenting styles - Permissive, Authoritative, Authoritari…
38. The parallels between couples and family therapy: And the takeaways we can use from both with Dr. Marina Rosenthal
The ripple effects of how we were raised can often be felt in adulthood as we form and show up in relationships. Joining me this week is clinical psychologist and couples therapist Dr. Marina Rosen…
37. Finding your confidence in your child's first year: Two moms share their experience
Hearing stories about how other parents have handled similar situations can make us feel less alone and helps give us context of how other “real” parents apply the principles I talk about within th…
36. Maternal mental health throughout pregnancy and parenthood with birth doula Carson Meyer
Whether it’s in pregnancy, birthing or parenthood, being informed and properly supported can make parents feel safe, present and less anxious.
Joining me this week is birth doula, childbirth …
35. Rethinking the birth plan: How to create a plan with your OB/GYN that supports resilience and reduces anxiety during and after pregnancy with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany
Pregnant women are being bombarded with a never-ending stream of opinions and advice. How can we find that middle ground, where we feel prepared and knowledgeable without surrounding ourselves with s…
34. The pressures of motherhood in our society: And how we can come together to feel less alone with Alexis Barad-Cutler
Sacrificing all we have and who we are in our pursuit of being a perfect parent has become a badge of honor in our society. But this isn’t a healthy or sustainable model.
Joining me today is …
33. How parents can use music as an emotion regulator with music therapist Vered
Have you ever noticed the way we speak to babies? Our baby-talk voices tend to be a lot more melodic than our natural speech patterns. And there’s a good reason for that! Music is more emotional.
…
32. Going back to work after baby: Maintaining a healthy and secure attachment bond Q&A with Dr. Emily Upshur
Secure attachment is not that fragile! After all, it’s biologically hardwired in our children to connect with us to ensure their greatest likelihood of survival—we have to actively work against our…
31. It's not about me: How to not take your child's behavior so personally with Kim John Payne
As parents, we may want to shield our children from any pain or sadness they may face, but if we’re honest with ourselves, we know this is impossible. So rather than fighting the inevitable, our ch…
30. Preparing your mind and body for pregnancy, birth and postpartum with The Bloom Method's Brooke Cates
It's important for women to feel powerful, capable and confident during their pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey. After all, our bodies have an innate knowledge of how to do this, we just need…
29. Self-care strategies to reduce stress, increase confidence and prevent burnout in parenthood with Dr. Erin O'Connor
Joining me today is developmental psychologist Erin O’Connor, co-creator of Scientific Mommy and co-host of the podcast Parenting Understood. Last week Erin had me on her podcast, and we discussed al…
28. An honest look at respectful parenting: The 5 parenting "rules" I break as a mom
While I am a follower of RIE (resources for infant educarers) and use responsive parenting principles in the way I choose to raise my own children, that doesn’t mean I 100% follow these prescriptive …
27. What do you do when your child says “I’m stupid,” “I hate myself,” “I’m a bad kid,” or worse with Dr. Emily Upshur
Dr. Emily Upshur joins me again this week to help a mom whose son is getting frustrated and calling himself “stupid” and “bad.” If you've been there, you may have felt yourself start to panic when yo…
26. Redefining trauma informed parenting: How parents can utilize this framework for all children with Robyn Gobbel
In this episode, therapist Robyn Gobbel joins me to discuss the lessons we've garnered from our knowledge of treating trauma, the principles of attachment theory and our understanding of how the h…
25. Why COVID pushed parents to the brink and what we can do about it with Julia Dennison
It takes a village, but what happens when it’s suddenly unsafe to be a part of that supportive village? Parents learned the hard way when COVID-19 hit and we were forced into isolation. Now, as we be…
24. The psychology behind dysregulation with founder of Parenting Translator Cara Goodwin
If you have a toddler you’re likely no stranger to tantrums, aggressive behaviors or limit testing. Joining me on the podcast is clinical psychologist and founder of Parenting Translator, Cara Goodwi…
23. Nurturing your child's relationship to music with musician and dad Mark Joseph
As parents, we often strive to encourage a strong foundational relationship between our child and music. Whether placing headphones on your pregnant belly, attending music class with your toddler, or…
22. The evolution of love: How to use attachment theory to break cycles and worry less in your parenting with Bethany Saltman
Parents often worry, will my child attach to me? And the answer is almost always - yes! Attachment is less about whether or not a child will form a bond with their primary caregiver, and is more focu…
21. Considering hitting pause in your career? Redefining what it means to be a stay-at-home parent with Neha Ruch
Parents are redefining what it means to be a working mom or dad and embracing what today’s guest, Neha Ruch, calls the grey area. As the founder of Mother Untitled she has a unique pulse on the minds…