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

In this episode of Parent Like a Psychologist, we explore Low Demand Parenting by Amanda Diekman — a compassionate and practical approach gaining attention among parenting circles and neurodivergent communities. Drawing from Diekman’s lived experience as a late-diagnosed PDA autistic woman, pastor, parent coach, and mother of neurodivergent children, the book offers a roadmap for parents raising kids who struggle to meet typical expectations.

I unpack the six-step framework Amanda outlines — from assessing and dropping demands to creating safety and building a low-demand life — and share real-world examples to make it tangible (yes, even the dreaded “put on your shoes” scenario). We’ll discuss how this approach differs from permissive parenting, the boundaries it maintains, and why connection-based parenting sits at its heart.

Alongside the strengths, I also offer a reality check: what to consider if you can’t completely drop demands due to work, school, or other commitments, and the emotional resilience this approach requires from parents. You’ll hear about:

• How low demand parenting can lower stress and restore calm at home

• Practical adjustments to demands without sacrificing safety or values

• The difference between permissive parenting and intentional, low-demand choices

• Ways to work with your brain and nervous system as a parent

• Why professional or peer support can be key when implementing change

Whether you’re a parent of a child with high anxiety, strong demand avoidance, or you simply feel like every request turns into a meltdown, this episode provides tools, perspectives, and encouragement. Take what works for your family, leave what doesn’t, and remember — parenting differently takes courage, but it can also bring relief, connection, and hope.

Episode Notes & Links:

Amanda Diekman’s Information:
📖 Low Demand Parenting – The Book
📸 @lowdemandamanda on Instagram

Resources for Families:
🔹 Problem Solving with Your Child – Free Guide

Follow me on:

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

Email me: hello@leannetran.com.au

Visit my website: www.leannetran.com.au

In this powerful and validating episode of Parent Like a Psychologist, I’m joined by the insightful Lisa Chan — former Pediatric Occupational Therapist and creator of the Chaos to Calm course — to unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface of our kids’ challenging behaviors, and what parents can do when traditional parenting approaches just aren’t working.

Together, we explore the critical skills that so many neurodivergent children struggle with — sensory overwhelm, executive functioning, and emotional regulation — and how these difficulties are often misunderstood as laziness, defiance, or disorganization. Lisa shares her practical, compassionate approach that helps families move from constant conflict to deeper connection.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why your child’s behavior isn’t your failure — or theirs

• How executive functioning struggles show up in everyday life (and how to support them)

• The real reason your mornings feel like chaos — and how to shift the dynamic

• Why slowing down is not a weakness, but a necessity for both kids and parents

• How early support builds long-term independence (without creating dependence)

• The emotional toll of a world not designed for neurodivergent kids — and how parents can buffer that

If you’re raising a child with ADHD, autism, sensory differences, or emotional regulation challenges — and feeling like you're stuck in a cycle of meltdowns, nagging, or guilt — this episode will help you breathe a little easier. You are not alone, and you are not doing it wrong. It’s time to shift the approach.

Links & Resources:

• 🌐 Lisa's website: thelisachan.com

• 📚 Free tools & guides: thelisachan.com/resources

• 🎓 Chaos to Calm parenting course: thelisachan.com/course
  
  

Follow me on:

Instagram: @leannetranpsychology
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Email me: hello@leannetran.com.au

Visit my website: www.leannetran.com.au

In this powerful and practical episode of Parent Like a Psychologist, host Leanne Tran, psychologist and parent, explores the unique challenges autistic children face in school environments—and how parents can advocate effectively for the support their kids need.

Drawing on her dual perspective as both a psychologist and a parent, Leanne unpacks:

• Why primary schools can be overwhelming for autistic kids—sensory overload, social fatigue, executive functioning struggles, and masking expectations

• The invisible signs of stress your child might be experiencing, even if everything looks "fine" at school

• What meaningful and proactive support looks like in a school setting, including visual schedules, sensory accommodations, movement breaks, social/emotional support, and flexible transition planning

• How to talk to your child’s teacher and school in a collaborative, empowered way (without feeling like “that parent”)

This episode is not about generic checklists—it’s about individualising your child’s support plan based on their real needs and strengths.

Leanne also shares a free downloadable guide to help parents start school-based conversations and advocate for their child's wellbeing. You can find it here: https://learn.leannetran.com.au/free

Whether your child is already diagnosed, you're in the process of assessment, or you're simply trying to figure out how to help them feel less overwhelmed at school, this episode is full of compassionate advice and actionable steps.

Tune in to feel empowered, informed, and ready to help your child not just survive—but thrive—in the classroom.

The guide for advocating for your child with confidence is here:
👉 https://learn.leannetran.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

How do we become the kind of parent our kids actually need—especially when they’re autistic, neurodivergent, or simply wired differently than we expected? This episode unpacks one of the most essential but often misunderstood parenting skills: attunement—or simply, tuning in.

Whether you're raising an autistic child, have ADHD yourself, or just sometimes feel out of sync with your kid, this conversation offers the clarity, tools, and perspective to shift from confusion to connection.

What You’ll Learn:

• What attunement really means—and how it can prevent trauma

• How to read a child’s unspoken cues and respond in a way that builds trust

• Why kids don’t need to be “fixed”—just seen, heard, and accepted

• The role of boundaries, validation, and emotional presence in strengthening the parent-child relationship

• Simple, actionable steps to help children feel safe to be exactly who they are

Rooted in both clinical insight and lived experience, this episode is practical, heartfelt, and deeply affirming. A powerful reminder that perfection isn't the goal—presence is.

Why Listen:
For any parent wanting their child to grow up knowing they are enough—without having to perform, mask, or change to be loved—this episode is a must-listen. Especially valuable for those raising autistic or neurodivergent children and seeking to build emotional safety, resilience, and lasting connection.

Show Notes:
✨ Free Resource: Download the Connection Through Collection guide to help build everyday routines that foster stronger connection:
👉 learn.leannetran.com.au/free

Have questions or reflections? Head to the website to get in touch.

Follow me on:

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

Email me: hello@leannetran.com.au

Visit my website: www.leannetran.com.au

In this insightful and heartwarming episode of Parent Like a Psychologist, we return from the school holiday break refreshed—and ready to dive back into a crucial topic in our autism series: why stimming matters for autistic kids.

Stimming, or self-stimulatory behavior, often includes repetitive movements, sounds, or phrases like hand flapping, rocking, or echolalia. It’s frequently misunderstood or discouraged by well-meaning adults—but what if we’ve been thinking about it all wrong?

This episode reframes stimming not as a problem to fix, but as a vital form of emotional regulation and joyful expression. Drawing on inspiration from the recent Yellow Ladybugs conference (featuring Sandhya Menon from Onwards and Upwards Psychology), we explore:

🔹 Why stims help autistic children regulate their nervous systems
🔹 How suppressing stimming can lead to shutdown, masking, or emotional overwhelm
🔹 The difference between stress stims and joy stims
🔹 Supportive strategies to help your child regulate at home and school
🔹 How to shift your mindset from “How do I stop this?” to “How can I support this?”

With warmth, clarity, and practical advice, this episode will empower you to tune into your child’s unique needs, embrace their ways of coping, and support their emotional wellbeing.

💡 A must-listen for parents, educators, and professionals seeking to better understand and support autistic kids—with compassion and respect.

🎙️ Listen now and learn why stimming is more than OK—it’s essential.

🌐 Resources mentioned in the episode:

• 🧭 Free guide for advocating for your child at school: learn.leannetran.com.au/free

• 📘 Helpful resources from Sandhya Menon and Onwards and Upwards Psychology: onwardsandupwardspsychology.com.au/worksheets

• 💛 More about Yellow Ladybugs: yellowladybugs.com.au

Follow me on:

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

Email me: hello@leannetran.com.au

Visit my website: www.leannetran.com.au