{"podcast":{"title":"Securely Attached","slug":"securely-attached-4474030","podcast_index_feed_id":4474030,"rss_url":"https://securelyattached.libsyn.com/rss","website_url":"https://drsarahbren.com/securely-attached-podcast","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/4/0/e/9/40e91292d34d26f7e55e3c100dce7605/Design_1_Final.png","author":"Dr. Sarah Bren","episode_count":423,"summary":"Securely Attached is your go-to parenting podcast, supporting moms and dads from pregnancy all the way through their child's adolescence and every stage in between. Join us every Tuesday as clinical psychologist and mom of two Dr. Sarah Bren shares her expertise and interviews top experts in the field, simplifying complicated concepts and pulling back the curtain on the brain science and psychology that drives and shapes the parent-child relationship. And now, every Thursday, Dr. Sarah Bren is joined by Dr. Emily Upshur and Dr. Rebecca Hershberg for a special segment, Beyond The Sessions. We're answering YOUR parenting questions from the perspective of clinical psychologists highly trained in developmental science and real-life moms who get that parenting is messy, and sometimes we have to laugh, cry, and throw out the \"rules.\" From toddler tantrums, to effective discipline strategies, to leaning into the principles of respectful parenting, and to managing your own mental wellness as a parent—this podcast is your ultimate resource for judgment-free, research-backed information you know you can trust. About Sarah Bren, PhD Dr. Sarah Bren is a licensed clinical psychologist and mom…","last_synced_at":"2026-06-18T18:19:44.542224+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/securely-attached-4474030"},"episode":{"title":"Q&A: How should I respond when my child touches herself?","slug":"q-a-how-should-i-respond-when-my-child-touches-herself","published_at":"2026-06-11T09:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/securely-attached-4474030/q-a-how-should-i-respond-when-my-child-touches-herself","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/securely-attached-4474030","url":"https://drsarahbren.com/419-qa-how-should-i-respond-when-my-child-touches-herself","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/clean/secure/securelyattached/419_BTS_TouchingSelf.mp3?dest-id=2868554","summary":"Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... Why it is completely normal for young children to explore their bodies and engage in self-soothing behaviors. How parents can respond to self-touching in a calm, shame-free, developmentally appropriate way. The difference between setting healthy boundaries and unintentionally communicating shame around bodies or pleasure. Why some children may use self-touching as a form of sensory input, comfort, or emotional regulation, especially at bedtime. How to teach children about privacy and body boundaries using neutral, age-appropriate language. What to do when self-touching is happening in a shared bedroom or around siblings. Ways to help children expand their self-soothing toolbox with other calming sensory and bedtime supports. Why parents' own discomfort or cultural messaging around sexuality can sometimes shape how these moments feel. How to navigate sibling questions or reactions without making the behavior feel scary or secretive. The importance of helping children feel safe, accepted, and connected to their bodies while still maintaining appropriate boundaries. This episode will help you feel more confident responding to common childhood self-soothing and body exploration behaviors with calm, clarity, and compassion. REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES: 👉 Want extra support in your parenting journey? Upshur Bren Psychology Group offers therapy and coaching to give parents the tools to feel more grounded and confident as they navigate parenthood and learn how to most effectively support their child. Visit upshurbren.com to explore our services and schedule a free 30-minute consultation call to find the support that's right for your fami…","meta_description":"Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... Why it is complet…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":897,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/securely-attached-4474030/episodes/q-a-how-should-i-respond-when-my-child-touches-herself/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/securely-attached-4474030/q-a-how-should-i-respond-when-my-child-touches-herself.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}