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Kids & family

Parenting Without Power Struggles

Susan Stiffelman

Susan Stiffelman is a family therapist, parent coach, and one of the country's premiere parenting experts, and the author of Parenting Without Power Struggles and Parenting With Presence (an...

Episodes

20 of 108 episodes

4:8  ​Being Present with Disappointment: an IFS Perspective

In this episode, Susan explores what happens when our children are disappointed, upset, or frustrated — and why our instinct to fix, minimiz...

15:12Oct 6, 2026

4:7 After the Anger: An IFS Look at Repair

In this episode, Susan explores what happens after Lawyer or Dictator mode has taken over and you've lost your cool. She explains why the go...

17:07Sep 28, 2026

4:6 An IFS Look at Power Struggles: Captain, Lawyer, or Dictator?

In this episode, Susan connects Internal Family Systems to three modes she's taught for years: Captain, Lawyer, and Dictator. Using a real d...

18:00Sep 18, 2026

4:5 Tormentor or Mentor? An IFS Reframe on Parenting's Tough Moments

In this episode, Susan unpacks Richard Schwartz's term "tor-mentor" — the idea that our children, in the moments they frustrate us most, are...

17:08Sep 10, 2026

4:4 The Perfectionist, Controller & People Pleaser: Your Manager Parts Explained

Susan continues her Parenting Without Power Struggles series on Internal Family Systems, introducing "manager" parts. A healthy manager keep...

18:11Aug 26, 2026

4:3 Calming Rage With IFS: Helping Protective Parts Relax

Susan continues her Parenting Without Power Struggles series on Internal Family Systems, exploring how "firefighter" parts trigger intense r...

21:48Aug 20, 2026

4:2 Blindsided by Rage: An IFS Look at Firefighter Parts

In this episode, Susan explores what Internal Family Systems (IFS) calls "firefighter" parts — protective parts that flood in with fast, int...

14:14Aug 13, 2026

4:1 Calm, Confident, Clear: Anchoring to Your Wise Self

In this episode, Susan introduces the core idea behind Internal Family Systems and what it means for parenting: beneath our anxiety, anger,...

13:17Aug 8, 2026

1: 71 Encore episode: A Conversation With Dr. Kristin Neff

In this conversation, Susan and Dr. Kristin Neff talks about the importance of cultivating both fierce and tender self-compassion, offering...

31:01Apr 9, 2026

1:79 Co-Parenting with a Narcissist, with Dr. Ramani Durvasula

In this episode, Susan talks with Dr. Ramani Durvasula, author of author of the new book, It's Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narciss...

40:53Apr 2, 2026

2:10 Five Principles of Parenting with Aliza Pressman

Susan talks with Dr. Pressman about the five guiding principles for raising a good human: relationships, reflection, regulation, rules, and...

23:53Mar 25, 2026

3:48 The Uncomfortable Path to Resilience

Resilience isn't a trait kids either have or don't — it's something they build through repeated experiences of feeling hard emotions and get...

15:12Mar 17, 2026

3:46 "I Didn't Mean to Say That!"

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14:28Feb 20, 2026

3:45 Captain of the Ship Meets IFS

In this episode, Susan is joined by Lisa Spiegel, author of Internal Family Systems Therapy with Children , for a conversation about how und...

14:25Feb 13, 2026

3:44 When Kids Turn to Chatbots for Emotional Support

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15:00Jan 28, 2026

3:43 Sparks of Joy in Everyday Parenting

In this podcast, Susan explores the quiet, everyday joy that often gets lost in the stress, demands, and constant pressures of parenting—and...

13:08Jan 16, 2026

3:42 ADHD, with Dr. Ned Hallowell

In this episode, Susan and Dr. Hallowell share tips for talking with children about ADHD that emphasizes its benefits rather than using a "j...

12:31Jan 9, 2026

3:41 Parenting With Less Drama and More Connection

In this episode, Susan explores what power struggles really are, why they arise so instinctively, and how parents can step out of them by em...

19:10Dec 10, 2025

3:40 Raising Kids Who Can Handle Differences with Kelsey Blahnik

Susan speaks with clinician and author Kelsey Blahnik about her new book The AND Way, a model that helps people navigate tension while stayi...

22:32Dec 3, 2025

3:39 Raising Resilience: Parenting Without Rescue

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13:24Nov 17, 2025