Just One Thing for Parents with Dr Bettina Hohnen

What should parents really know about ADHD medication, beyond the headlines and fears?
In this episode, I'm joined by Professor Peter Hill to explore one of the questions parents ask most often and worry about: ADHD medication.
Together, we unpack what ADHD medication actually does in the brain, why stimulant medications can be so effective when ADHD is significantly impairing a child's life, and how they help children move from constant distraction into task-focused thinking. 
Professor Hill explains complex neuroscience in a clear, grounded way, helping parents understand concepts like the frontal lobes, what default mode network is, and why medication can support attention, self-control and emotional regulation rather than suppressing a child's personality.
We also talk openly about the different types of ADHD medication, including stimulant and non-stimulant options, short-acting versus long-acting preparations, and how decisions are usually made in clinical practice. Importantly, we address side effects, safety, appetite and sleep, and some of the most common fears parents carry, including concerns about addiction.

What can you do when your child feels so distressed that school becomes impossible? How do you support them without getting pulled into the panic yourself?
In this episode, I'm joined by clinical psychologist Dr Carolyne Keenan for a compassionate and deeply informative conversation about Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) — a challenge that has become increasingly common, particularly since the pandemic, and it can leave parents feeling worried, confused and often quite alone. 
EBSA isn't about a child who "won't go" to school; it's about a child who can't. Their level of distress is so high that getting through the school gate feels insurmountable.
Carolyne explains why this happens, what early signs parents can look out for, and why EBSA is rarely about refusal, but about emotional safety.
We also discuss how to collaborate with schools, how to spot patterns in your child's week, and how small, flexible adjustments can make the school environment feel more manageable. Above all, Carolyne reminds us that your relationship with your child is the anchor. Whatever challenges arise, the battle should never be between you and your child. 
If you'd like to explore more of Carolyne's work, she offers parent Power Hours, a new EBSA course launching in early 2026, and a free downloadable survival guide. https://www.carolynekeenan.co.uk/

How do you protect children from unhelpful food and body talk when celebrations revolve around eating and family gatherings? What can parents do when well-meaning relatives, social media, or conversations about weight loss creep into festive meals?
 
In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Anna Colton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and eating disorder specialist, to explore how parents can manage food and diet chat around children during the festive season. Drawing on questions sent in by parents, we talk about navigating comments from grandparents shaped by decades of diet culture, handling conversations about weight loss injections, and the powerful messages children absorb about bodies, worth and self-control – often without adults realising.
 
Together, we reflect on why commenting on children's eating can undermine their ability to trust their bodies, how to set boundaries with family members, and why pre-empting difficult conversations can make such a difference. This episode offers guidance to help parents protect their children's relationship with food, not just at Christmas, but all year round.
 
More from Dr Colton https://www.dranna.co.uk/

Have you ever wondered why some children seem to shrink inside themselves after a mistake, while others recover quickly and move on? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Stephen Blumenthal, clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and author, to explore an emotion that touches every family but is so often misunderstood: shame. 
 
Drawing on his decades of clinical experience, Stephen explains how shame is both a normal and necessary part of human development, helping children understand social boundaries and navigate relationships. But when shame is constant or overwhelming, it can shape how a child thinks and feels about themselves in ways that are not helpful.
 
We discuss what shame actually is and how it differs from guilt. Stephen offers examples of how everyday parenting moments can either support healthy development or unintentionally tip a child into feeling defective, exposed or alone. We also explore the role of emotional connection in protecting children from pathological shame, why ruptures can be repaired, and how parents' own histories influence the way we respond to our children.
Stephen shares thoughtful guidance on how parents can stay emotionally present, set boundaries in a loving way, and help young children and teenagers build resilience without slipping into criticism or humiliation.
 
If you're a parent – or supporting any young person growing up in an increasingly judgemental world – this episode offers clarity, reassurance and practical insight.
More from Dr Blumenthal: https://stephenblumenthal.com

Grief is one of the hardest experiences a child can face, and one of the hardest moments for a parent to support. 
 
In this episode, I speak with Dr Hannah Abrahams, an Educational Psychologist with more than twenty years of experience supporting children through bereavement. Hannah brings such warmth, clarity and reassurance to a topic that can often feel overwhelming for parents.
 
She explains why honesty is not only kinder but essential, especially when our instinct might be to soften the truth. She shares why euphemisms can confuse children, how their understanding of grief changes as their brain develops and why we need to expect them to revisit their loss again and again as they grow. 
 
We discuss the role of memorialising, the value of creating rituals and memories and why talking about the person who has died keeps their story alive in a way that can be grounding for children moving forward.
 
Hannah shares so much practical and compassionate advice. If your child is grieving or if you want to feel more prepared for these conversations, this episode will guide you.
 
Dr Hannah Abrahams' website: https://www.hannahabrahams.com