On today's episode I chat with Susan Stiffelman, a licensed marriage and family therapist, author, parenting coach, and host of the Parenting Without Power Struggles podcast. We talk about parts, of course. Parenting parts. Spiritual seeker parts. Inner children who hide behind locked doors. And how she gently helps people return to center.

Susan shares stories from her work and from her own life, including how she stayed connected to herself (and her child) during a divorce, and why she believes parenting is one of life's most profound trailheads.

Key takeaways from this episode:

What happens when we parent from our “hijacked” parts
The power of staying tethered to ourselves, even when our kids are dysregulated
How to move out of the “fixer” role and into the calm anchor our kids need
What’s underneath those big reactions?
Why she says: “We are a society of disembodied people”

What parts of you get activated when your child is dysregulated or distressed?
Can you be curious about the fear underneath your frustration?
What would it mean to “sit in the fire” without jumping in to fix it?

Susan welcomed me on her podcast recently to talk all things parenting + IFS, which I hope you'll check out as well. Register for our live Self-Led Parenting Masterclass happening May 1, 2025 (replay available)

Favorite quote: “This isn’t about parenting, it’s about the journey of coming home to our true nature.” -- Susan Stiffelman

About Susan Stiffelman

Susan Stiffelman is a licensed Marriage, Family, and Child Therapist and the author of Parenting Without Power Strugglesand Parenting With Presence (an Eckhart Tolle Edition). She helps parents become the calm, confident “Captain of the ship”. Susan hosts a popular podcast with over 1.5 million downloads and offers online classes and memberships with guest experts like Dan Siegel, Byron Katie, and Gabor Maté.

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Parenting with presence

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