In this episode, I answer a question from a mom whose seven-year-old daughter has struggled with pee withholding since potty training. We explore why toileting challenges are often about much more than the bathroom, including how control, anxiety, and emotional patterns can become deeply ingrained over time. I explain why children sometimes hold onto control in unexpected ways and how understanding what's happening beneath the surface can completely change the way we respond.

I also share one of the most practical tools in child-centered parenting: empowerment choices. You'll learn why simply giving children freedom isn't the same as intentionally giving them meaningful choices, how choices help children experience healthy power and responsibility, and why this approach can gradually reduce the need for children to seek control through difficult behaviors. If you're navigating toileting struggles—or any behavior rooted in control or anxiety—this episode will give you a new perspective and practical strategies you can begin using today.

Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com

My New Book! Parent Companion for Play Therapy: Want to go deeper into the concepts discussed in this series? Check out Parent Companion for Play Therapy, created to help parents better understand their child, the play therapy process, and how lasting emotional growth takes place.
https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Companion-Play-Therapy-Understanding/dp/B0H2D98F18/

My First Book: Device Detox: A Parent's Guide To Reducing Usage, Preventing Tantrums, And Raising Happier Kids
https://a.co/d/bThnKH9

Podcast HQ:
https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/

My Newsletter Signup:
https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/

My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless:
https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/

Common References:
Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge.
Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge.

In this episode, I answer a question from a mom who is worried about the relationship between her four-year-old son and his younger brother. If you've ever wondered whether sibling rivalry, rough play, jealousy, or competition between siblings is normal, you're not alone. I explain some of the common dynamics that naturally emerge between siblings who are close in age, including power struggles, birth order influences, and why older siblings often have a difficult time adjusting after being "dethroned" as the only child.

I also share practical ways parents can respond when sibling conflict triggers strong emotions in themselves. We discuss the importance of staying regulated during difficult moments, setting expectations outside of conflict, and intentionally creating positive shared experiences between siblings. This episode is full of encouragement for parents who are trying to support healthy sibling relationships while managing their own worries, frustrations, and protective instincts.

Previous Episodes Mentioned in This Episode:

Be a Thermostat, Not a Thermometer
This episode connects to the idea of staying regulated as the parent instead of matching your child's emotional escalation.

When a Child Is Drowning, Don't Try to Teach Them to Swim
This episode explains why expectations and teaching moments are best handled when your child is calm, not in the middle of conflict.

S3E27 – Parent Companion for Play Therapy: Understanding Power Struggles in Child-Centered Play Therapy
This episode gives more context for understanding power, control, and the family dynamics that often show up in sibling conflict.

Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com

My New Book! Parent Companion for Play Therapy: Want to go deeper into the concepts discussed in this series? Check out Parent Companion for Play Therapy, created to help parents better understand their child, the play therapy process, and how lasting emotional growth takes place.
https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Companion-Play-Therapy-Understanding/dp/B0H2D98F18/

My First Book: Device Detox: A Parent's Guide To Reducing Usage, Preventing Tantrums, And Raising Happier Kids
https://a.co/d/bThnKH9

Podcast HQ:
https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/

My Newsletter Signup:
https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/

My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless:
https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/

Common References:
Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge.
Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge.

In this episode, I answer a question from a mom whose daughter witnessed the death of her father at a very young age. Now that her daughter is older, she's wondering how that experience may still be affecting her development, emotions, and behavior. I explain how children remember traumatic events differently than adults do, why early experiences can continue to influence a child years later, and how healing often unfolds in stages as children mature and gain the ability to understand their experiences in new ways.

I also share practical ways parents can support children who are processing grief, loss, or trauma. As children grow, they often revisit difficult experiences with new questions and deeper understanding. By providing a safe space for emotions, answering questions honestly, and responding with empathy rather than assumptions, parents can help their children continue to heal and grow. This episode offers encouragement for families navigating loss and reassurance that children can develop resilience, confidence, and hope even after experiencing profound hardship.

Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com

My New Book! Parent Companion for Play Therapy: Want to go deeper into the concepts I discuss in this Podcast? Check out Parent Companion for Play Therapy, created to help parents better understand their child, the play therapy process, and how lasting emotional growth takes place.
https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Companion-Play-Therapy-Understanding/dp/B0H2D98F18/

My First Book: Device Detox: A Parent's Guide To Reducing Usage, Preventing Tantrums, And Raising Happier Kids
https://a.co/d/bThnKH9

Podcast HQ:
https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/

My Newsletter Signup:
https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/

My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless:
https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/

Common References:
Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge.
Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge.