In the latest episode of Psych for Life, I chat with Dr Jenny Brown about how the over-professionalisation of parenting is eroding parents' trust in their own instincts and increasing anxiety, guilt and burnout.

Dr. Jenny Brown is a family therapist, founder of the Parent Hope Project and host of the Parent Hope Podcast. She's also a mum and a grandma. Her work helps parents ditch the guilt and stop trying to get it all 'right'. Her approach explains that parents aren’t doing it wrong, but good parents are often doing too much of the right thing, fuelled by cultural anxiety and messaging.

Jenny’s dedication is encapsulated in her recent book, “Facilitating Parents’ Agency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Helplessness to Hope,” and her best-selling book “Growing Yourself Up.” Her upcoming book for parents is “The Parenting Paradox: Loving our children by giving them space to grow.” Published by Bloomsbury. As the founder and Director Emeritus of the Family Systems Institute in Sydney, Jenny has made significant contributions to family therapy, earning recognition and awards for her work in Australia and the USA. 

Listen in to our chat on -

• how the rise of “professionalised parenting” is increasing anxiety, not confidence
• the parenting paradox: the harder we try to perfect parenting, the more reactive we become
• what is The Parent Hope Project approach: strengthening the parent, not fixing the child; why shifting the focus from child behaviour & emotions to parental functioning is needed
• the traps of getting into a worry cycle as a parent

And so much more.

You can connect with Dr Jenny Brown -

Latest book: The Parenting Paradox (coming July 2026)

The Parent Hope Podcast

Website https://parenthopeproject.com.au/about-us/

The Family Systems Practice for parent hope clinical support that builds agency. www.thefsp.com.au

Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia).I

If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now.

Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and leave a comment or send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.