Dawn Friedman MSEd

Hi all! Thanks for checking out my channel! I post episodes of my podcast, The Child Anxiety FAQ, where I answer frequently asked questions about child and teen anxiety. I’ve been working for parents and kids for a long, long time and have my masters in clinical mental health counseling and post-grad certification in infant-toddler mental health. I love working with loving parents with anxious kids and teaching them how to free their families from the trap of child anxiety.

You can learn more about the work that I do at my website, ChildAnxietySupport.com and that’s also where you can post your question anonymously for me to answer on the show or, of course, you can comment on any of my videos with your questions.

Please note that the content I shared here should not replace the advice you’re given by your own or your child’s own mental health provider!

Welcome to The Child Anxiety FAQ podcast on YouTube, where we explore practical steps to help your child tolerate anxiety. In this episode, Dawn Friedman, MSEd, shares insightful techniques for parents guiding children through anxious moments. Learn about the importance of educating your child about anxiety, normalizing their experiences, and using creative approaches like externalizing anxiety and giving it a persona. Equip your family with empowering strategies that inspire resilience and flexibility.

00:00 Child anxiety podcast: Dawn Friedman advises on practical steps for parents to help their children tolerate anxiety, emphasizing education about anxiety as a normal reaction.

03:19 Externalizing anxiety as a character helps children and adults manage it. Naming anxiety (e.g., as “Tom”) allows conversation with it, aiding understanding and negotiation.

09:08 Some kids are slow to warm to new experiences; patience helps them adjust at their own pace.

10:26 Take the parenting pitfalls quiz at openbookparenting.com/quiz to assess child anxiety issues.

Welcome to The Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, where parenting expert Dawn Friedman MSEd dives deep into the complexities of parenting an anxious child. In this episode, “How Can I Determine if My Own Anxiety is Influencing My Parenting of My Anxious Child?” Dawn explores the connection between a parent’s anxiety and their child’s anxiety. Discover the power of interrupting anxiety patterns, whether they originate from your child or yourself, and learn how to tackle avoidance behaviors with confidence.

Gain insights into supporting your child by recognizing and addressing your own anxiety, leaning on psychoeducation, and building strong parent-child relationships amid challenging situations. Discover how to navigate societal judgments, and why a blame-free approach is essential in managing childhood anxiety effectively.

Welcome to The Child Anxiety FAQ, where Dawn Friedman, MSEd, addresses your frequently asked questions about child and teen anxiety, helping parents navigate the complexities of raising anxious children. In this episode, Dawn explores the question, “How do I set limits for my anxious child without feeling guilty?” With over three decades of experience in working with children and families, Dawn provides thoughtful insights into building a supportive environment that encourages both growth and independence.

In this episode, Dawn discusses the nuances of parenting guilt, especially when it comes to setting age-appropriate limits for anxious children. Parents often find themselves caught between wanting to alleviate their child’s anxiety and fostering an environment that allows for developmental growth. Dawn highlights practical strategies for setting limits while managing the emotional challenges that accompany these decisions. Learn how to disentangle your own experiences and emotions from those of your child to become a more effective and compassionate parent.

Keywords: child anxiety, parenting guilt, limit setting, anxious child support, developmental growth, emotional resilience

In today’s episode I’m talking about what healthy coping really looks like—it’s not always pretty, but understanding this helps us prepare to keep going even when it’s hard. Realistic expectations and an understanding that (to quote Jessica Baird), “Crying is coping” makes it so much easier to power through as we support our kids in overcoming their anxiety. 

Learn more about Jessica Baird and her services at Kids Can Cope http://kidscancope.com