Dr. Carrie Mackensen brings 25 years of clinical expertise and real-world experience as both a psychologist and a mother of two boys. Her diverse background spans Cedars Sinai Hospital, K-12 schools, private practices in Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach, and serving as Clinical Director for premier treatment programs. With a Ph.D. in Individual, Family, and Child Psychology, Dr. Carrie combines professional wisdom with the practical insights of a “battle-tested” mom, offering evidence-based strategies with warmth and humor.

SUMMARY:
Screens are in our kids’ lives. Dr. Carrie Mackensen helps parents know about how to navigate our kids’ digital world without evoking parental panic, guilt, shame, or the desire to trade in your home and move your family to a cave. Carrie shares what the research says about how screens are impacting brain development, the current recommendations for screentime by age group, and simple, easy ways that parents can say no to screens with their kids using her CARE framework. She also talks about how and when to do a digital detox.

SUMMARY:
Caroline Griswold talks about how to help kids with aggressive behavior. The first step is to understand the fears and needs underneath kids' behavior, so that parents can respond with warmth rather than anger. Caroline shares how to stop kids from hurting others, when to jump in, and when to allow them to fight, and how to remember their goodness, even during a tough time. With warmth and encouragement, Caroline reminds parents to go slowly, take breaks, get support for our feelings, care for ourselves, and build a support network.

SUMMARY:
If you are wondering how to talk to your child about sex, Rebecca Reber, has answers. She explains why parents can’t rely on the school alone to teach sex education, how to increase the odds that your child will feel comfortable coming to you for information about sex, and what to say at each age and stage. Research shows that if we have these (perhaps uncomfortable) conversations with our kids early and often it makes it less likely that they will become a victim of sexual violence, or have an unwanted pregnancy.

SUMMARY:
It’s natural for parents to want to fix and solve your child’s problems, but Emma Gleadhill recommends doing something else instead. She advises parents to slow down, move into curiosity, bear witness, and observe. We chat with her about why it’s so hard–but so important–to stay in those moments when our child or teen is in touch with their pain. Emma says, “healthy relationships–secure attachments–are characterized by the capacity to be vulnerable”. Emma shows us that when we can be open to our kids, they can be more open to us.