

Play Therapy Parenting Podcast
Dr. Brenna Hicks
The path to calm, confident, and in-control parenting starts now. The Play Therapy Parenting Podcast is hosted by Dr. Brenna Hicks, The Kid Counselor®. All content, no fluff.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 31, 2023 • 15min
How To Bond And Connect With Your Baby In The Best Way
One of the podcast listeners, Josh, emailed me and asked how to best connect with their baby. Play therapy principles still apply in relationship building with babies and infants! So in this episode, I'll go into how to connect and bond with your infant in three ways: Physical, Emotional, and Engagement. Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/

Jan 11, 2023 • 12min
The Dangers Of TikTok
As a child therapist, I'm on the front lines of the damage that devices and social media are doing to our kids. The worst of all, in my opinion, is TikTok. There is nothing redeemable about TikTok, especially in light of what it's doing to our teens and young adults. In this episode, I talk about the following topics related to TikTok: The fact that China owns TikTok and what that means The dangerous content for kids The warnings that are coming out about TikTok Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/

Jan 6, 2023 • 20min
Handling Behavior With Appropriate Consequences
In this episode, I discuss the following topics: Three types of consequences: Natural, Related, and Unrelated consequences What changes behavior in children The goal of discipline

Dec 27, 2022 • 21min
Spanking and the Rationalization Trap: How Some Parents Use Flimsy Excuses to Justify Physical Discipline
In this episode of the podcast, we will be exploring the often-controversial topic of spanking, by way of a viral video that I saw this week highlighting the ways in which some parents use excuses to justify their use of physical discipline. We will delve into the ways in which these justifications are often flawed, and how they can be harmful to children. We will also explore alternative methods of discipline that are more effective and less harmful to children. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or simply interested in the topic, this episode will provide valuable insights into the debate surrounding spanking and the ways in which we can move beyond physical discipline in favor of more positive and effective approaches to parenting. Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/

Dec 22, 2022 • 18min
Do You Hear Me? Do You See Me? Do I Matter?
"Every day, in a hundred small ways, our children ask us...Do you hear me? Do you see me? Do I matter? And their behavior often reflects our response." This is a powerful quote by L.R. Knost that perfectly describes play therapy and what I'm trying to communicate on this podcast. In this episode, I'm discussing the following topics: The "Be with" attitudes The Behavior Spectrum Labels that we put on our children's behavior Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/

Dec 19, 2022 • 21min
The Baker Act Epidemic: Know Your Rights As Parents
Baker Acts (involuntary commission to a mental health facility) are on the rise, and there are many things that parents don't know. In this episode, I discuss the following topics: What you should know about the process at the Baker Act facility What you should know about psychiatrists prescribing medication Ways to advocate for your child as a parent so you don't get taken advantage of Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/

Dec 7, 2022 • 15min
The Importance Of Sleep And Getting Outside
I had a personal reminder the other day about how being outside promotes restorative sleep. So I tell that story in this episode, and then I relate it to how much kids are affected by simply getting some outdoor time, and how that helps the deep sleep cycle. All of this, in turn, affects everything about kids... their behavior, mood, emotional well-being, etc. Topics in this episode: Importance of deep, restorative sleep and how to make sure your kids are sleeping well Benefits of outdoor activities Consistent physical activity Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/

Nov 29, 2022 • 22min
100th Episode Special! A Look Behind, And A Look Ahead
We did it! In this 100th episode of the Play Therapy Parenting podcast, I take a look back (all the way to 2006!), and a look forward and where I'm going with everything. In this episode I talk about the following topics: The 4 most important lessons from the first 100 episodes of this podcast Where we are going Why I do this podcast and what is the purpose

Nov 18, 2022 • 55min
Kids And Screens @ Discovery Church In Orlando Florida
This is a special episode of the Play Therapy Parenting podcast. I was invited to speak at a "Parent Huddle" at Discovery Church in Orlando, FL on the topic of kids and screens. I was given permission to record this talk so that I could share this with my podcast family, so I hope you enjoy this special episode!

Nov 11, 2022 • 24min
How To Handle Yourself When Your Child Treats You Like Garbage!
It might seem backwards to think that kids treat the people the worst, that love and accept them the most. However, most times this is true of our kids. It shouldn't surprise you that your kids, to various degrees, "keep it together" during the day, and then when they get home to you, they lose it. This is normal and expected behavior, and when you understand the "why" behind it, you'll have a whole new perspective on your kid's behavior. In this episode, I dive into the following topics: Unconditional love and acceptance "Be a thermostat, not a thermometer" Behavior reflection and their internal state Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/