This week’s episode is a little different—less about a single parenting topic and more of a reflection on three unexpected but powerful conversations I had with my teenager. None of them were planned. They unfolded while folding laundry, sitting at the dinner table, and driving home from school. Yet, each one highlighted how simply being present can open the door to deep connection.

Here’s what we dive into:
✨ Conversation 1: Saying No Without Hurting a Friend’s Feelings – Supporting teens as they balance boundaries, kindness, and people-pleasing.
✨ Conversation 2: Supporting a Friend Through a Hard Time – Why listening and showing up matter more than having the “perfect” words.
✨ Conversation 3: Dealing With Self-Pressure and Perfectionism – Helping kids reframe achievement with a growth mindset and separate effort from outcome.

Throughout these stories, I share how I apply both my psychologist training and my own parenting instincts, weaving in the communication strategies I also teach in my Chaos to Calm program. You’ll hear how keeping things low-pressure and simply “being around” gives our kids the safety to open up.

Key takeaway: Parenting teens isn’t about hovering or lecturing—it’s about staying nearby, staying calm, and staying available. Sometimes, it’s the casual, everyday chats that end up mattering most.

If this episode resonates with you, please share it with another parent raising a teen. Parenting can feel lonely, but when we share our experiences and tools, we realize we’re all in this together.

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Email me: hello@leannetran.com.au
Visit my website: www.leannetran.com.au

Do you ever find yourself yelling more than you’d like, feeling like the noise, clutter, and constant demands at home never stop? You’re not alone—and this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation, we’re diving into practical, realistic ways to create a calmer home environment without needing perfection or exhausting effort. From reducing sensory overload to setting up predictable routines, you’ll learn how small environmental and routine tweaks can make a big difference for both you and your kids.

We’ll talk about:

• Why your home environment matters for stress and regulation (for both parents and kids)

• How sensory needs—like light, sound, and visual clutter—impact neurodivergent kids (autistic, ADHD, anxious)

• Practical adjustments you can try, such as soft lighting, quiet zones, and calming corners

• The role of routines and predictability in reducing stress and meltdowns

• Why one small change at a time is the key to lasting calm

And yes—there’s even a story about my dog going wild over reflections, which perfectly illustrates how changing the environment often works better than pushing for behavior changes.

If you’ve been wishing your home felt more peaceful, safe, and supportive, this episode will give you the tools and encouragement to get started—without overwhelm.

✨ Free resources mentioned: learn.leantran.com.au/free

Follow me on:

Instagram: @leannetranpsychology
Facebook: @Leanne Tran
Linked In: @leannetranpsychology

Email me: hello@leannetran.com.au

Visit my website: www.leannetran.com.au

This week on Parent Like a Psychologist, I’m joined by paediatric occupational therapist and author Dave Jereb, whose book Challenging the Story is changing the way parents and professionals think about children’s behaviour.

We dive into what it really means to support the people who support the kids—and why connection, not compliance, is the key to helping children thrive.

💡 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why even experts lose their cool sometimes (and how to repair afterward)

• The difference between compliance, comfort, chaos, and connected caregiving

• Dave’s ABC Ideas Framework for understanding behaviours and getting to the “why” behind them

• How “today’s consequence becomes tomorrow’s antecedent”

• Practical ways parents can reduce conflict and build stronger relationships with their kids

If you’ve ever wished parenting came with a roadmap—or if you’ve felt that sting of reacting in a way you regret—this episode will leave you with tools, hope, and a whole lot of reassurance.

🔗 Show Notes & Links

• 🌐 MoveAbout Therapy Services – Philosophy, book, and courses

• 📸 Instagram (Personal): @davejereb_ot – Reflections, OT insights, parenting moments

• 📸 Instagram (MoveAbout): @moveabout.ot – Therapy activities, parent strategies, team content

• ▶️ YouTube: MoveAbout Therapy Services – Videos on regulation, behaviour tools, and OT activities

✨ Available now wherever you get your podcasts!

Follow me on:

Instagram: @leannetranpsychology
Facebook: @Leanne Tran
Linked In: @leannetranpsychology

Email me: hello@leannetran.com.au

Visit my website: www.leannetran.com.au