EP 253: Caring for your Own Watchdog and Possum as a Parent with a History of Trauma: Part 4 of 6

Content note: This episode discusses trauma, nervous system activation, and protective responses such as shutdown, dissociation, anger, and urgency. There are no graphic details, but please take care while listening. If you have a history of trauma, your watchdog and possum parts have likely been working hard for a long time. And when you’re parenting a child with big baffling behaviors, those protectors can get loud. In this episode, we draw inspiration from Dan Siegel’s work to explore what it means to be with your watchdog and possum without becoming them. This isn’t about silencing your protectors. It’s about building a relationship with them. In this episode, you’ll learn: How state integration allows you to notice your watchdog and possum parts without fusing with them Why curiosity and compassion widen your window of tolerance more effectively than control or self-criticism How caring for your protective parts begins with awareness, gratitude, and understanding what they need Resources mentioned in this podcast: Free Resources Hub! Robyngobbel.com/webinar Read the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/caringforyourown Calling all professionals who work with the families of kids with dysregulated and big, baffling behaviors! I'm hosting my annual, FREE audio-training the week of May 4th! Head to RobynGobbel.com/BafflingBehaviors NOW to register so the moment the audios go live on May 4th, you'll have access right here in your podcast app! *** Let's hang out this summer at two different trainings for professionals! Therapy with Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors- June 1 & 2 in Syracuse, NY RobynGobbel.com/NY Presence in Practice- July 15, 16, & 17 in Rockford, MI (outside Grand Rapids) RobynGobbel.com/Michigan2026 ::: Grab a copy of USA Today Best Selling book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/book Join us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClub Sign up on the waiting list for the 2027 Cohorts of the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Immersion Program for Professionals robyngobbel.com/Immersion Follow Me On: Facebook Instagram Over on my website you can find: Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE) eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE) LOTS & LOTS of FREE Resources Ongoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The Club Year-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

You can listen to EP 253: Caring for your Own Watchdog and Possum as a Parent with a History of Trauma: Part 4 of 6 online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

EP 253: Caring for your Own Watchdog and Possum as a Parent with a History of Trauma: Part 4 of 6 is an episode from Parenting After Trauma with Robyn Gobbel by Robyn Gobbel.

This episode is 40:59 long.

This episode was published on Feb 17, 2026.

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