reflective journaling for parents raising anxious kids in a worried world

Tell Me It Will Be OK:
The Practice

Instead of another checklist of what to do, this weekly guided practice connects you to information, inspiration, and your own inner wisdom to bring you greater calm, greater confidence, and more connection to your child and to your self.
Launching July 8th!

Join the waitlist

a narrative exercise

About The Practice

Parenting has never been more challenging especially for empathetic parents of sensitive kids. This weekly guided Practice gives quiet, calm, reflective space for you to connect with your wisdom and intuition.

Each session is approximately 30 minutes. I help us get grounded; share resources, inspiration, and information; and then using thoughtful prompts we journal together to move you forward in your understanding.

Launching July 8th!

Reserve your spot today

Why Reflective Journaling?

research informed and evidence based

Better Emotional Regulation

Reflective practices significantly improved affective control (and parent-child relationship quality).

Isfahani, R., Shahidi, M., & Dehghani, A. (2025). Examining the Effectiveness of Reflective Parenting Training on Emotion Regulation and Parent-Child Relationship in Mothers with Children Under 6 Years. Applied Family Therapy Journal.

Increased
Well-Being

Structured self-reflection practices can improve resiliency and capacity in parents under stress.

Fomani, F., Mirlashari, J., Nia, H., Begjani, J., Khoshakhlagh, F., Shiri, M., & Teymuri, E. (2022). Exploring the effects of self-reflection practice on cognitive emotion regulation and resilience among mothers of premature neonates. Nursing Practice Today.

Improved Child Outcomes

Parental reflective functioning is connected to more attachment security.

Camoirano, A. (2017). Mentalizing Makes Parenting Work: A Review about Parental Reflective Functioning and Clinical Interventions to Improve It. Frontiers in Psychology, 8.

Dawn Friedman MSEd

For more than 30 years, I’ve helped hundreds of children, teens, and families move through challenges — ordinary and extraordinary — with research-informed, proven strategies rooted in my experience as a preschool teacher, family case manager, clinical counselor, and parent educator and my own lived experience, too. My passion is helping parents uncover the power of connection to cultivate ongoing growth and resilience.

You can learn more about my training and background by heading here!

What folks say

Testimonials

Thanks to the families who have generously allowed me to share their kind words here!

★★★★★

“I’m really so grateful to be connected to you, you’ve helped me so so so much understand things about myself and my child.”

Daphne, parent to an anxious child

★★★★★

“Dawn, you are doing such important work. I so appreciate you.”

Elise, parent to an anxious child

★★★★★

“Thank you for welcoming our family, Dawn. We felt supported and understood by you and never felt judged.“

Marcus, parent to an anxious child

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a stand in for therapy?

No. The Practice is a reflective journaling experience, not a clinical treatment. It is designed to be part of your wellness routine, and you may find it makes a helpful adjunct to therapy if you are currently working with a counselor.

Important Note: If you are in crisis or need clinical intervention for your child, I encourage you to text or call the 988 Lifeline (in the US) or visit here
to find your local resource.

How much time does this take?

Each weekly session is approximately 30–40 minutes. This includes time for grounding, a short teaching or reflection, and dedicated space for guided journaling. This is meant to be a welcome pause for self-care each week, not another item on your to-do list.

What do I need to participate?

A quiet-ish space, a notebook, something to write with, and your phone or laptop to listen to the audio.

How do I listen?

You can easily listen in Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or directly via the web player on our private member site.

Please note: Because this is a private, ad-free feed, it is not currently compatible with Spotify. I provide a simple, 1-minute setup guide to help you get the audio into your favorite podcast player!

What if I miss a week?

There is no “falling behind” here. All sessions are archived so you can go at your own pace, repeat sessions that resonate deeply, or skip a week and come back when you have the margin.

What is reflective journaling anyway?

It’s a way of thinking about our thinking. Instead of me telling you what to do, I share information, inspiration, and resources through prompts that help you discover what you already know or connect you to a new idea that was just waiting for you to find it. I draw from Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and CBT to help you become the expert on yourself, your child, and your relationship.

How long do I have access?

Tell Me It Will Be OK: The Practice is an annual subscription. Pay once and you have access to every session released during your subscription year, as well as the full archive of past sessions.

Tell Me It Will Be OK:The Practice

About The Practice

Why Reflective Journaling?

Better Emotional Regulation

IncreasedWell-Being

Improved Child Outcomes

Dawn Friedman MSEd

Testimonials

Frequently Asked Questions

Tell Me It Will Be OK:
The Practice

Increased
Well-Being