Dr. Aliza Pressman: Why Parent Mental Health is Essential for Our Kids

As a parent, have you ever worried about whether you’re doing a good enough job? Do you feel the pressure to be perfect? Have you felt drained by the demands of parenting?

In this deeply personal conversation, the Surgeon General (and dad of 2) and psychologist Dr. Aliza Pressman put the spotlight on parent mental health. Dr. Pressman changes the conversation from trying to be the perfect parent to growing as a parent. To help our kids’ mental health, we also need to prioritize and care for parent mental health.

Drawing from her research, Dr. Pressman offers reassuring approaches to help parents find self-compassion and stay regulated so kids can better regulate themselves. She also shares how to turn moments when things go wrong into moments for repair and growth in parent-child relationships.

The conversation ends with a parenting Q&A, hosted by Dr. Murthy and surprise Q&A co-host Kate Bowler! 

(04:00)    What challenges does Aliza Pressman see parents facing today? 

(05:00)    Why can it feel difficult to talk about the joys of parenting? 

(07:55)    What’s the upside of being an imperfect parent? 

(10:15)    How does parent mental health influence kids? 

(12:49)    What does Dr. Murthy see in his own parents parenting journey? 

(18:55)    What is self-regulation and how do we cultivate it? 

(30:47)    Why do parents feel exhausted and drained these days? 

(34:21)    Can we get clear on the goal of parenting? 

(43:44)    How does Aliza handle the flow of news and information to herself and her kids? 

(50:38)    What are 5 ways to help children become resilient people? 

(57:30)    Parenting Q&A with the Surgeon General & Kate Bowler

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at ⁠housecalls@hhs.gov⁠ with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit ⁠www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls⁠. 

Dr. Aliza Pressman, Psychologist & Author 

Instagram: ⁠@raisinggoodhumanspodcast⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠@raisinggoodhumanspodcast⁠ 

Substack: ⁠@dralizapressman⁠ 

About Dr. Aliza Pressman  Dr. Aliza Pressman is a developmental psychologist with two decades experience working with families.  She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, “The 5 Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans,” and the host of the popular podcast “Raising Good Humans”.  Aliza is the co-founding director of The Mount Sinai Parenting Center and is an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai Hospital. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College, Teacher's College, and Columbia University. Aliza is the mother of two teenagers.