Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons: For Parents Who Worry
Psychology & Relationships
About
Parenting isn't easy, and it's normal to worry. Lynn Lyons, therapist, author, and speaker is one of the world's experts on helping parents, kids, and teens manage anxiety. She talks with co-hosts sister-in-law Robin Hutson and brother Ed Gerwig in a weekly podcast full of laughs, and practical advice without the psychobabble. Since 2020, they've been talking about anxiety and worry, their love for Mr. Rogers, and the crazy things the mental health field gets WRONG about anxiety. Anxiety Expert Lynn Lyons has been a therapist for over 35 years. She's an author of 3 books with a new one coming out in...
Episodes
- Anxiety Can Be Exhausting, So Do We Give Our Kids A Break From Exposure?
This episode addresses a listener's question about whether to give an anxious child a break from a challenging event due to OCD and panic. It explores strategies for parents supporting children with anxiety.
- Best of: Managing the Big Feelings Around Graduations
This episode of Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons re-casts a discussion about end-of-school-year emotions and big feelings around graduations. The hosts share their personal experiences with this emotional time.
- When My Kids Are Afraid To Try Something, How Hard Do I Push Them?
This episode of Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons discusses how much parents should push their children to try new activities, focusing on a listener's dilemma about her son and swimming lessons. The hosts offer solutions for encouraging childre…
- How Denying A Problem Keeps Families Stuck & Disconnected
This episode of Flusterclux with Lynn Lyons discusses how denying problems can keep families stuck and disconnected. It emphasizes that denial prevents children from learning to problem-solve and engage in productive struggle.
- Why Kids Should Not Be In Therapy Without Their Parents
This episode addresses a listener's concern about being excluded from her children's therapy after their father's death. Lynn Lyons explains the benefits of involving parents in children's therapy and offers advice on finding therapists wh…
- The Power of “Coregulation” and How Your Family Can Have More
This episode explores the concept of "coregulation" and its role in helping children manage emotions through adult modeling. It emphasizes the importance of family togetherness and connection through shared activities in fostering communic…
- Best of: High Anxiety & Good Grades: Our Toxic Achievement Culture
This episode of Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons re-examines the impact of achievement culture. It offers insights for parents on navigating high anxiety and maintaining good grades.
- How To Handle Panic Attacks
This episode of Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons addresses how to help someone experiencing a panic attack, differentiating anxiety symptoms, and consistent methods for managing them. The discussion includes strategies for retraining the brain…
- Why the ODD Diagnosis Doesn't Help Parents Help Children
This episode of Flusterclux with Lynn Lyons explores the diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and its helpfulness to parents. It discusses the limitations of the label and considers how parents can help children with unmanageab…
- Health Anxiety and Catastrophizing Every Symptom: How To Stop!
This episode of Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons discusses how anxiety can amplify physical symptoms and create a loop where symptoms become the source of anxiety. It references "The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain" by…
- How To Not Pass On Your Social Anxiety To Your Kids
This episode discusses how parents can avoid passing on social anxiety to their children. It explores the impact of parental communication on a child's social confidence and provides verbal strategies to help.
- When One Child’s Needs Dictate A Family’s Routines, How Can We Support the Siblings?
This episode discusses how parents can support siblings when one child has significant needs due to anxiety, OCD, or medical conditions. It explores how these situations impact siblings and offers strategies for families to manage routines…
- ARFID Is More Than Picky Eating: Lynn & Mindy Szelap Offer Help
Lynn Lyons and Mindy Szelap discuss ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), explaining what it is, busting myths, and providing practical steps. They cover normal developmental eating, mealtime strategies, and the impact of pare…
- Highschoolers, Homework, and Meltdowns: Guiding Our Kids Through Junior & Senior Year
This episode discusses guiding high school students through academic demands, including managing overwhelming homework and meltdowns. It explores skills to teach adolescents and messages parents should reconsider.
- The Importance of “Quality Control” When Selecting Coaches & Advocates
This episode discusses the importance of quality control when selecting coaches and advocates for families. It provides guidance for parents seeking qualified help for issues such as trauma, OCD, anxiety, and general parenting struggles, h…
- Giving Yourself Permission To Let Your Kids Feel Uncomfortable
This episode of Flusterclux with Lynn Lyons discusses the importance of allowing children to feel uncomfortable emotions like frustration, disappointment, anger, or boredom. It explores strategies for parents to help their children navigat…
- 6 Ways to Level Up in 2026 When Managing Your Kid’s Anxiety
This episode of Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons focuses on six practices for parents to manage and prevent anxiety in their children. The hosts aim to provide guidance for smoother days and better moods, offering resources for new listeners.
- The 3 Types of Bullies In Your Kid's Class and What To Do About Them
This episode discusses the three types of bullies in a child's class and provides guidance for parents on how to handle bullying and challenging interactions among children. It emphasizes understanding different bullying behaviors and the…
- Best of: The 7 Essential Anxiety Disruptors For Families: #2 Talk to Worry
This episode, a recast of Part 2 of the 2022 series "7 Essential Anxiety Disruptors For Families," focuses on externalizing worry. Lynn Lyons discusses how to teach children and parents to notice how worry operates and change their respons…
- Best of: The 7 Essential Anxiety Disruptors For Families: #1 Expect To Worry
This episode of Flusterclux with Lynn Lyons discusses the first essential anxiety disruptor for families: Expect To Worry. It is part of a series on Lynn Lyons’ approach to anxiety management for parents and kids.
- How Parents Can Accidentally Strengthen Their Kids' Worry & Depression
Lynn Lyons and Ed explore how well-meaning parents can inadvertently strengthen their children's worry and depression. They discuss the concept of 'doing the disorder' in relation to anxiety, physical symptoms, and depression. The episode…
- Tackling Tummy Troubles... A Talk On the Brain/Gut Connection with GI Psychologist Dr. Ali Navidi
In this episode, Dr. Ali Navidi, a GI psychologist, and Lynn Lyons discuss the brain-gut connection, focusing on how anxiety can manifest as gastrointestinal symptoms in children. They explore methods to disrupt these patterns, including p…
- "You, Your Husband, and His Mother"... A Talk with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish
Dr. Tracy Dalgleish joins Lynn Lyons on Flusterclux to discuss her book, "You, Your Husband, and His Mother: Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Mother-in-Law--and Your Spouse--in Five Simple Steps." They explore managing relationships…
- Best Of: Families Can Be Judgy: A Holiday Survival Guide
This episode of Flusterclux discusses how to manage family judgment during holiday gatherings, particularly concerning parenting. It provides strategies for reducing conflict and improving interactions.
- Why Distraction Isn't The Solution For Anxiety
Lynn Lyons and Ed discuss the use of distraction as a coping mechanism for anxiety, examining both its potential benefits and drawbacks, particularly focusing on what they term "destructive distraction." They provide insights for parents a…
- Why Hanging Out Is More Important for Teens Than SAT Prep Courses
This episode discusses why hanging out is more important for teens than SAT prep courses. It examines the decline in teen in-person interactions, delayed driving, and the potential impact of the pandemic, technology, and parenting on their…
- Sorting Out "Shy" Vs. "Introverted" Vs. "Socially Anxious" Kids
This episode discusses the differences between shy, introverted, and socially anxious children. It explores when to intervene to help a child and when solitude is beneficial, clarifying terms that can be confusing and often overlap.
- From Gentle Parenting to FAFO Parenting - Which Schools of Thought Make You A Better Mom Or Dad?
In this episode, Robin and Lynn discuss current parenting styles and their potential impact on parents. They explore the jargon and benefits associated with different approaches.
- How To Handle The Child That Says “This Is Not Worry!”
This episode of Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons explores how parents can handle children who insist their feelings are not worry, despite parental efforts to address anxiety. Lynn Lyons provides insights for parents facing defiance and demands…
- What To Do When Your Kid Wants to Stay Home: School Avoidance 101 for Parents
Lynn Lyons and Robin discuss strategies for parents dealing with school avoidance in middle schoolers. They explore managing school attendance, communicating with schools, and addressing how expectations around school attendance have shift…
- Why Kids Who Contribute Do Better Emotionally and Socially
This episode explores the clear research indicating that children who contribute in a useful way demonstrate improved confidence, autonomy, and self-efficacy, and experience better moods. It discusses how to encourage children's contributi…
- How To Teach Your Child To Handle Frustration
This episode addresses listener questions on how to improve frustration tolerance in rigid children and provides alternative phrases to use for managing anxiety. Lynn Lyons and Robin discuss the importance of becoming bored with worry's ta…
- Sounding the Alarm On Smartphones and the Impact On Kids With Dr. Jean Twenge
Psychologist Dr. Jean Twenge joins host Lynn Lyons to discuss the impact of smartphones and social media on children and teens. They explore insights from Dr. Twenge's book, 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World.
- Concrete Reminders About Avoidance and Accommodation
Lynn Lyons provides four key phrases and conversation starters for parents looking to reduce their children's avoidance and accommodation habits. This episode aims to help families navigate the shift toward action.
- Why Manners and Social Awareness Are Important In A Disconnected World
This episode of Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons discusses the importance of manners and social awareness for children, highlighting their role in fostering decency, respect, kindness, and connection. The hosts explore how etiquette can serve a…
- In Session: I Want My 13-Year-Old Out of My Bed!
In this episode of Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons, a parent seeks guidance on helping her 13-year-old daughter with ADHD and anxiety sleep in her own bed. Lynn Lyons provides coaching to address the family's avoidance of conflict and support…
- How "Productive Struggle" Helps Decrease Anxiety and Depression
Lynn Lyons and Ed discuss the importance of 'productive struggle' in learning and growing. They explore how parents can support their children through the challenges of moving from initial discomfort to mastery.
- Best Of: Off to College: Let's Talk About Roommates
In this episode of Flusterclux, Lynn Lyons discusses the challenges and benefits of college roommates for first-year students, addressing listener questions on how parents can help their children navigate this transition. The episode also…
- A Back-To-School Reboot For Anxious Kids and Parents
Lynn Lyons and Robin discuss strategies for a back-to-school transition, covering topics such as managing routines, screen time, and communication with anxious children. The episode also highlights resources for parents, including curated…
- In Session: How Trying To “Talk Through” Bedtime Worries Backfires
In this episode of Flusterclux with Lynn Lyons, Lynn discusses how parents can address an anxious child's bedtime rituals of rumination. She specifically advises Sarah on why trying to talk through these worries is ineffective and how to c…
- With Anxious Kids, We’re Getting the Idea of "Consistency" All Wrong
Lynn Lyons discusses why the common advice of consistency can be counterproductive for anxious children. She explains the distinction between providing false certainty and teaching necessary anxiety-management skills like flexibility, prob…
- In-Session: Is Bossiness During Playdates An Anxiety Issue?
In this session, Lynn Lyons discusses managing a six-year-old child's bossiness and rigidity during playdates. The conversation explores how parental responses and temperaments impact a child's need for control.
- Best Of: 911 Marriages: Tips From Divorce Prevention Expert Michele Weiner Davis
Relationship expert Michele Weiner-Davis joins this episode of Flusterclux to discuss how prioritizing children over a marriage can impact relationships. She also shares insights and tips from her work in divorce prevention.
- Letting Your Kids Learn to Manage Conflict and Problem Solve
In this episode of Flusterclux, Lynn Lyons discusses how parents can navigate conflicts between children, including when to intervene and when to encourage independent problem-solving.
- Best Of: The Anxiety Around Your Kid's Health with Pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman
In this episode of Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons, pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman discusses the challenges and experiences of addressing children's mental health in a primary care setting. The conversation explores balancing the role of pro…
- How Phobias Like Fear of Vomiting Can Spiral and Take Over Families
Lynn Lyons discusses emetophobia (fear of vomiting), explaining its impact on families, how it relates to OCD, and how parents can support their children and find appropriate help.
- Best Of: How To Support Your Anxious Child 101
This episode provides a roadmap for parents to support anxious children, focusing on understanding anxiety, addressing family patterns, and shifting perspectives on a child's worries. Lynn Lyons outlines three keys for parents and referenc…
- Postpartum Anxiety and Depression: What Moms and Dads Need To Know
This episode explores postpartum anxiety and depression, examining how these conditions manifest differently in mothers and fathers. Lynn Lyons provides insights on managing these anxieties and discusses the impact of parenting apps.
- "Parents Still Matter!" Lynn Discusses Recent Research Surrounding Our Kids
Lynn Lyons reviews recent research findings related to prevention, exercise, labels, and warmth in the context of parenting. The episode also provides resources and information on managing anxious children.
- Puberty and Parenting: How to Evolve Communication with Your Tween with the Hosts of "This is So Awkward"
In this episode, the hosts of 'This is So Awkward,' Vanessa Kroll Bennett and Dr. Cara Natterson, join the show to discuss how communication with children needs to evolve during the tween and teen years. They cover the importance of discus…