The Child Anxiety FAQ

About The Child Anxiety FAQ

Tell Me It Will Be OK is the conversation for parents of anxious kids who have read all the books, listened to all the experts, and still feel like something is missing. Host Dawn Friedman, MSEd, has spent over thirty years in the trenches with families as an educator, family case manager, and clinical counselor. She knows that in a world of climate crisis, political upheaval, and digital noise, there is no such thing as a "quick-fix" script or a one-size-fits-all solution. Parenting bright, sensitive, and anxious children requires more than just a new technique—it requires a paradigm shift. Each week, Dawn moves beyond the "how-to" to dig into the "why" and the "what now?" through: --Deep-Dive Interviews: Conversations with researchers, activists, authors, and practitioners who look at the big picture of raising children today. --Practical Wisdom: Evidence-based clinical insights (including SPACE and infant-toddler mental health) applied to the messy reality of daily life. --The "No-Need-To-Be-Perfect" Philosophy: Shifting away from anxious perfectionism and toward the inner wisdom that helps us connect with our kids when things are hard. To learn more about Dawn and the work that she does, you can check out her site, Open Book Parenting.

Publisher

Dawn Friedman MSEd

Category

health & fitness · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Jan 2021

Latest episode

3 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

153 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Aug 2026

   Treating Kids with Gut-Focused CBT and Clinical Hypnosis with Dr. Ali Navidi

   In this episode of Tell Me It Will Be OK, I talk with Dr. Ali Navidi about disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs)—common, impairing GI conditions affecting 13–20% of children and especially likely in kids with anxiety, trauma history, eating disorders, or autism. We discuss the complex, bidirectional “chicken-and-egg” relationship between anxiety and GI symptoms, emphasizing that symptoms are real and not “all in the head,” while warning against simplistic gut-health claims used to sell supplements. Dr. Navidi explains how hypervigilance, catastrophizing, gut-brain signaling, and visceral hypersensitivity reinforce symptoms, and outlines evidence-based treatment using gut-focused CBT and clinical hypnosis, which are supported by decades of research and included in GI guidelines. He describes psychoeducation, hypnosis “talent” tests, and how telehealth services at GIPsychology.com provide access nationwide. Takeaways: The podcast episode delves into the intricate relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms in children and their resultant anxiety, illustrating the complexities involved in understanding this connection. I emphasize the notion that while dietary changes may influence anxiety levels, the idea that anxiety can be solely cured through diet or supplements is overly simplistic and misleading. The discussion introduces the concept of disorders of gut-brain interaction, which are surprisingly prevalent among children, particularly those with anxiety or trauma histories. Dr. Ali Navidi shares that effective treatment for these conditions often requires specialized approaches, including gut-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and clinical hypnosis, both supported by substantial research. We highlight the importance of educating parents about the nature of their child's symptoms, emphasizing that understanding is a crucial first step toward effective treatment. Lastly, the podcast underscores the role of imagination and focused attention in managing anxiety, suggesting that children can leverage these skills to alleviate their symptoms in a therapeutic context. Links referenced in this episode: gipsychology.com (https://gipsychology.com) Mentioned in this episode: Tell Me It Will Be OK: The Practice 🌟 READY TO FIND YOUR ROOM TO BREATHE? Tell Me It Will Be OK: The Practice is a weekly, 30-minute audio-guided journaling sanctuary designed to help you connect with your own inner wisdom, calm, and connection.ry a free 30-minute sample session today and lock in your spot on our priority waitlist for the July 8th launch. Get your free sample session at OpenBookParenting.com!

2. 

   1 Jul 2026

   Using Expressive Arts to Help Anxious Kids with Dr. Roxanne Deleo

   Dawn Friedman MSEd interviews Roxanne Deleo, an expressive arts and somatic therapist who works with kids and families. Deleo describes her early work with hospitalized and terminally ill children and how training at Harvard, including Dr. Herbert Benson’s relaxation-response research, shaped her focus on the mind-body connection and breath. She explains expressive arts therapy as a nonverbal, right-hemisphere approach using music, rhythm, imagery, drawing, painting, and other art forms, emphasizing process over product and why it can fit children who resist talk therapy. Deleo discusses somatic principles, psychoneuroimmunology, and examples from hospital settings where imagery and art supported calming and healing. She shares practical techniques for parents, guided imagery storytelling, resources on her website, and a free “Head and Heart Anxiety Reset” call. 00:00 Introduction 02:21 Roxanne's Origin Story 05:28 What Are the Expressive Arts? 07:37 Why Expressive Arts Over Talk Therapy for Kids 08:20 Somatic Work & the Mind-Body Connection 28:26 Working with Perfectionist Kids 31:53 Storytelling & Guided Imagery 40:42 Breathing & the Holistic Approach 44:58 Resources & How to Connect with Dr. Roxanne Download Dr. Deleo's story, The Magic Seed: Courage as an mp3: http://drroxannedaleo.com/roxanne_daleo_magic_seed_1.mp3 (http://drroxannedaleo.com/roxanne_daleo_magic_seed_1.mp3) Her website is at: http://drroxannedaleo.com (http://drroxannedaleo.com/roxanne_daleo_magic_seed_1.mp3) Mentioned in this episode: 🌟 READY TO FIND YOUR ROOM TO BREATHE? Parenting has never been more challenging especially for empathetic parents of sensitive kids. TELL ME IT WILL BE OK: The Practice is a weekly, guided practice that gives quiet, calm, reflective space for you to connect with your wisdom and intuition. For July, we're writing about and exploring the topic of ANGER -- ours, our own, and what we are trying to understand about it. 🧡 This is not a list of things you’re doing wrong. 🧡 This is not advice. 🧡 This is a place to remember what you already know. Learn more and get a free session by going to OpenBookParenting.com

3. 

   15 Jun 2026

   Good Parenting Doesn't Always Feel Good

   Dawn Friedman hosts a solo episode of the Tell Me It Will Be OK podcast for parents raising anxious kids, challenging the belief that good parenting should feel good and arguing that struggle, conflict, and insecurity can be normal signs that an approach needs to change as children grow. She emphasizes that parents can’t control kids’ feelings or behavior—whether a child falls asleep or feels anxious belongs to the child—so the work is to focus on what parents can control, avoid codependent attempts to force change, and use frustration as information to clarify values, boundaries, expectations, and strategies. Using bedtime and sleeping alone as an example, she describes planning for worst-case scenarios and viewing growth as an ongoing process for both child and parent. She also announces “Tell Me It Will Be OK: The Practice,” a weekly guided journaling private podcast with a community, launching July 6, $25/year at OpenBookParenting.com (http://OpenBookParenting.com). 00:00 Introduction 05:53 Understanding Child Anxiety 06:46 The Bedtime Deep-Dive 12:34 Parenting Is For Parents Too 19:23 Tell Me It Will Be OK: The Practice (http://OpenBookParenting.com)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

20,912

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

84

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.