Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Help! My Child's Anxious

Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss look at the explosion of mental-health content online, why some children are identifying strongly with diagnostic labels, and how parents can take their concerns seriously without accepting everything an algorithm tells them.

They discuss misleading ADHD content on TikTok, why symptoms can look different between children, what teachers can help parents spot, when a professional assessment may be useful and why children can often receive helpful support even before a diagnosis.

Plus, Saskia answers a parent's question about mysterious stomach aches before school and explains how anxiety can produce very real physical symptoms.

Help My Child's Anxious with Vanessa Feltz and Saskia Joss. This podcast provides general information and discussion. It is not a substitute for individual medical or mental-health advice.

Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/HQyo0clazko

Back-to-school anxiety can appear at the school gates, after the school day, around exams or in the way a child suddenly talks about themselves. In this episode of Help! My Child’s Anxious, Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss answer real questions from parents struggling with the return to school. What should you do when your child cries and refuses to go into school? Why can a child behave brilliantly all day, then completely fall apart the moment they get home? How do you help a teenager who has lost confidence after disappointing exam results? And when should you let your child quit an after-school activity? Vanessa and Saskia discuss: • School refusal, separation anxiety and difficult drop-offs • Why settling into a new school year can take several weeks • Exam anxiety, motivation and avoiding shame • “After-school restraint collapse” and why children melt down at home • Low-demand evenings after overwhelming school days • Helping children rebuild confidence and self-esteem • What parents can do when a child says they are “the worst” in their class • When children should stick with an activity and when it may be time to stop Plus, Vanessa reveals how a trip to Cadbury World became a memorable attempt to motivate Saskia at school. Help! My Child’s Anxious is hosted by broadcaster Vanessa Feltz and her daughter, child therapist Saskia Joss. Subscribe for practical, compassionate conversations about childhood anxiety, parenting and emotional wellbeing.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VanessaandSaskia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpmychildsanxiouspod/

#ChildAnxiety #Parenting #SchoolAnxiety #BackToSchool #VanessaFeltz

What if the answer to an increasingly connected, anxious childhood is to go backwards?

Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss explore the growing “90s summer” trend, where parents are swapping packed schedules, constant screen time and endless online stimulation for bikes, books, boredom, playing outside and a little more freedom.

But can you really take the phones away without making summer feel like a punishment?

Vanessa and Saskia discuss what children may have lost as childhood has become more connected, why real life can struggle to compete with the intensity of screens, and how parents can recreate the best parts of their own childhood without pretending the 1990s were perfect.

Plus, they answer a listener whose eight-year-old daughter's friend has started her period. How early should parents talk to children about puberty, periods and their changing bodies?

Help! My Child's Anxious is hosted by broadcaster Vanessa Feltz and her daughter, child therapist Saskia Joss, offering practical advice for parents navigating childhood anxiety, emotions and everyday family life.

Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/LyXkogjdxT8

In this episode of Help! My Child’s Anxious, hosts Vanessa Feltz and Saskia Joss are joined by child, family, and adult psychotherapist Zara Kadir (from The Therapy Shed) to explore how anxiety and neurodiversity intersect in children.

Zara shares insights from both her professional practice and her personal journey parenting a son with ADHD. The conversation dives into the common ways anxiety manifests—from school avoidance and separation anxiety to phobias and rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD)—and offers practical strategies for parents.

Topics covered include:

• Understanding Accommodation vs. Support: Why removing every anxiety trigger can accidentally make fears bigger, and how parents can "outsource confidence" and stay grounded instead.
• Scaffolding for Neurodivergent Kids: Practical tips for building routines, using executive-function tools (like dementia alarm clocks), and setting up intentional morning systems.
• Managing Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD): How to reduce shame, believe your child’s lived experience, and sit with their big emotions without rushing to fix them.
• The Impact on Siblings: Addressing the "tyranny of the weak" dynamics, balancing attention, and ensuring siblings of neurodivergent children aren't forgotten or forced into premature responsibility.
• Practical Co-Parenting: Simple team strategies for partners, including burn-out code words and avoiding post-bedtime debrief fatigue.

A seven-minute walk was taking Shakira Akabusi three and a half hours. From the outside, nobody had a clue.

In this episode of Help! My Child is Anxious, Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss sit down with women's health expert and StrongLikeMum founder Shakira Akabusi to talk about body anxiety, OCD, and what happened when pregnancy pulled the floor out from under her.

Shakira grew up in a sporting family with an Olympian father, and still ended up with obsessive-compulsive disorder so severe it cancelled a family holiday at the airport check-in desk. She talks openly about the compulsions, the isolation of new motherhood, and how she recovered through hypnotherapy, talk therapy and movement, without medication.

Then the conversation turns practical. Saskia explains why compulsions are really an attempt to control something uncontrollable, and why pregnancy so often brings buried fears to the surface. Shakira shares what actually works for families: the after-dinner walk, the indoor obstacle course, the kitchen dance, and why the word "workout" puts most parents off before they start.

If you are the parent holding everything together and quietly running on empty, this one is for you. Anxiety does not only live in the head. It lives in the body too, and that is often the easier door to open.

Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/dJKxakAG5F0

Your child holds it together all day at school, then falls apart the moment they get home. If that is your house, this episode is for you.

Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss are joined by Lisa Lloyd, autism advocate and author of Unmasking Mum, for one of the most honest conversations we have had on this podcast.

Lisa is mum to two autistic children, and she was only diagnosed autistic herself at 41. Her son took four years to get a diagnosis because he masked so well at school that nobody could see what was happening at home. Her daughter has a PDA profile, which means being asked to do almost anything can trigger an anxiety response. Lisa talks about the mornings that swallow two hours over a pair of shoes, the meltdowns in public that stop looking acceptable once your child is over six foot, and the friendships that quietly disappeared because she kept having to say no.

Saskia explains why anxiety is the most common condition to travel alongside autism, what a meltdown actually is, and how masking works. She describes it as walking around with a pin stuck in your side and telling nobody.

If you are somewhere in the assessment queue, or you have a diagnosis and no support, or you are simply exhausted and starting to wonder whether it is you, this one will make you feel less alone.

In this episode:

• Why the child who masks is often the one suffering most

• What PDA (pathological demand avoidance) really is, and why it is anxiety-driven

• Which demands you have to hold, and which you can safely let go

• Why a diagnosis does not automatically bring any support • Children who fall between mainstream school and specialist provision

• Why anxiety and autism so often turn up together

• What actually helps: structure, ear defenders, getting ahead of change

• Meltdowns in public when your child is bigger than you

• The loneliness, the lost friendships, and the fear of who will be there when you are gone

• Building independence in very small steps

• What autism parenting does to a marriage, and how Lisa and her husband protect theirs

• What Lisa wishes neurotypical parents knew, including one simple thing that changes everything

We want to hear from you. Which part of this landed hardest? Tell us in the comments. If your child masks at school and unravels at home, say so. There will be a parent reading who thought they were the only one. Subscribe to Help! My Child is Anxious for new episodes every week. Warm, practical, honest conversations for parents raising anxious children in a world that rarely slows down.

Buy Lisa's latest book:

https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/312673/lisa-lloyd

Welcome to Help My Child's Anxious, hosted by broadcaster Vanessa Feltz and her daughter, child therapist Saskia Joss. In this episode, Vanessa and Saskia welcome special guest Laura Amies (known as Nanny Amies), a former nanny turned parenting expert and mother.

Laura opens up about her personal journey after her daughter Elizabeth was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). She candidly shares how dealing with a rare genetic condition impacted her mental health—bringing on her first clinical panic attack—and how she finds positivity and strength through daily routines.

Later in the show, the team tackles listener questions from Instagram:

• Potty Training: How to manage parental anxiety, introduce low-pressure routines, and handle stubborn toddler resistance.
• Nursery Drop-Offs: Tips for managing drop-off distress and separation anxiety.
• Bedtime Struggles: How to help a child who hates being left alone at night using the "checking method".
• Fears & Phobias: Simple ways to desensitize children to loud noises like hand dryers and animals like dogs.

They wrap up with their favorite segment, "Never Felt So Good," sharing budget-friendly ways to bring instant joy and connection into family life

It's our one-year anniversary! Vanessa Feltz and her daugther child therapist Saskia Joss look back on twelve months of Help! My Child's Anxious — from topping podcast charts in 47 countries (yes, including the Solomon Islands) to what a year of talking about anxiety has taught them both.

This week they tackle a headline-grabbing claim from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson: are anxious, "helicopter" parents raising a generation of children who can't cope? Saskia unpacks what "overparenting" actually means, why doing too much for your child can backfire, and where the line is between helping and hindering.

Plus, don't miss this week's Never Felt So Good — a ridiculously simple (and soaking wet) summer activity using nothing but a clothes airer, magnetic tiles and a water gun, guaranteed to buy you an hour of peace.

And a first look ahead: this summer, Help! My Child's Anxious is bringing you back-to-back guest episodes with some of their favourite parenting experts and mums. Don't miss it.

Get in touch: Instagram @helpmychildanxiouspod or helpmychildanxious@gmail.com

If you are currently trying to figure out how to help an anxious child while facing an absolute crisis in youth healthcare access, you are not alone. In this episode of Help! My Child's Anxious, veteran broadcaster Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss confront the reality of the 2-year CAMHS waiting list and explain how parents can step in to build a safe psychological sanctuary at home right now.

We dissect the staggering new statistics showing over 1 million UK children referred for mental health care and answer critical reader questions about why modern children are masking anxiety, how high-altitude sociological stressors change our kids' brains, and how to tell the difference between malicious lies and anxiety-fueled childhood coping mechanisms.

Watch this episode on the Youtube Channel Now:

https://www.youtube.com/@VanessaandSaskia

Everyone's talking about "anxiety bags" on TikTok — but is packing your child a bag full of comfort objects actually helpful, or does it risk making anxiety worse? In this episode, child therapist Saskia Joss and her mum Vanessa Phelps unpack the trend, explore the psychology of transition objects and sensory tools, and share why reframing it as a "confidence kit" might work better.

We also tackle a listener question about a 9-year-old suddenly terrified of lions despite living nowhere near any — and what it reveals about how children's fears actually work. Plus, what real resilience looks like (hint: it's not about not feeling scared), and this week's "Never Felt So Good" — a silly, free game to bring some laughter back into an anxious household this summer.

In this episode:

• What's actually in a TikTok "anxiety bag" (and the science behind it)
• Why labelling it an "anxiety bag" might backfire — and a better alternative
• How to handle sudden, seemingly random fears in children
• What resilience really means (and why it's hard for adults too)
• A free, silly game to try with your kids this week

Got a question about your child's anxiety?

Send it to us on Instagram @HelpMyChildsAnxiousPod or email helpmychildanxious@gmail.com — we'd love to help.

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If this episode helped, please subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us a review — it really helps other worried parents find the show.

Child therapist Saskia Joss explains to her mother Vanessa Feltz why Grandparents play such a crucial role in the lives of children. They also go into how you can Grandparent from afar. Saskia answers a question about boredom and Vanessa gets interviewed for a job at the Palace.

Watch and Subscribe to the Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@VanessaandSaskia

Follow the show on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/helpmychildsanxiouspod/

Email the Show: Helpmychildsanxious@gmail.com

Vanessa Feltz chats to her child therapist daughter about why parents feel they are in constant competition and what parents can do to address this feeling. Saskia also answers a very funny listener question and they also hear from comedian Francine Lewis.

Subscribe to the Help! My Child's Anxious Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@VanessaandSaskia

Child therapist Saskia Joss explains Survival Mode and how to escape it to her mother Vanessa Feltz. Saskia gives us some simple tips to help parents go from surviving to thriving.

Watch this episode on the Youtube Channel:

https://youtu.be/9hicNxbeqZA

Follow the Show on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/helpmychildsanxiouspod/

You can make your child have the safest home and build them a strong network of people but bullying may still take place when they're at school. We talk about the signs to spot and how you can help your child with opening up to you

We didn't lie to you this is part 2 to our social anxiety episode. Last week we spoke about anxiety for littlens and this week we're talking about teenagers. The signs are slightly harder to notice but we're here to help with that!

Social anxiety is such a debilitating anxiety but as you'll hear in todays conversation it doesn't just stick to kids.

Wellcome back all for another episode this week we're talking about 'Gentle Parenting'. Does gentle parenting work or does it raise rabid children?

A big thing lots of children therapists are noticing in children is burnout. You make think these little characters in your life have bundles and bundles of energy but they're actually getting burnt out - And we're here to help you!

This week we talk about the accusation that anxiety isn't real or being blown out of proportion. We have an anxiety specialist (our very own Saskia Joss) break down how anxiety is in fact VERY real.

Welcome back! This week on the podcast we're talking about how to assist your Childs anxiety with events or objects. If your child doesn't like dogs, parties or clowns you may think the best way to get over these fears is by making them experience the things that scares them. This may not actually be the case...

This week we're doing things a little differently - instead of focusing on one form of anxiety we're looking into what you should actually say to your anxious child. We're sort of scripting what you need to be saying to assist your child.

We had the incredible Narinder Kaur on the show this week and she shares her anxiety she has about her daughter at university. What can you do when your child has left the nest to know that they're safe? We answer all of these questions on the podcast!

This week we discuss the best ways to discipline a child. Every generation has their own style of parenting none of which are perfect but we talk about why some are better than others

The internet is a very odd place sometimes and we are discussing one of those times. Mummaxxing is a new trend taking over the world but is it a playful online thing or is it actually surprisingly damaging?

When the world is in such tricky times where the news has never been so busy. Your child may hear or watch a news story that may upset them. The dynamic duo discuss the best way to help your child understand such terrible news in the safest way possible!

Parenting burn out happens to even the best parents. It doesn't make you a bad person it makes you human - but luckily we have a dream team who are happy to help you out!

After our chat with Helen Flanagan we decided we'd do a full episode on how to not push your anxieties onto your children.

This week the dynamic duo aren't alone! We are blessed to be in company of the lovely Helen Flanagan who has just written a book all about her anxiety growing up called Head and Heart, which is out now. She opens up about her eating disorder and how she's noticing her anxieties growing in her children.

This new trend of FAFO Parenting really has started taking off and our lovey duo discuss if it's the right way to parent OR do they think it'll harm the child in the long run?

You asked us for advice so we're responding! How do you talk to your kids about Mummy and Daddy cuddles in the safest way and how do you inform your child about their changing bodies without embarrassing them. Its all explained in this weeks episode!

There was really only one thing this week we could be discussing and that is OF COURSE Brooklyn Beckham talking about his anxiety of being born into a celebrity family. Saskia shares how she can understand Brooklyns pains.

Welcome back! This week we talk all things social media. It's a dangerous place online so should we actually be allowing our children to use it? Australia has just banned children under 16 from using it should the whole world follow suit?

Do you know what Janxiety is? It's the anxiety you get at the start of the year where you may feel a little bit lost when the date rolls over. We discuss how you as a parent may feel letting your kid go back to school and how tracking them may not be the right thing to do...

This week we asked you all on our instagram at Help! My Childs Anxious Pod what questions do you want answered and they came in thick and fast and so we have answered a good chunk of them on this special episode - perfect for Christmas Day listening!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

This week our two Turtles Doves deliver us some incredibly useful help on how to deal with Christmas anxiety for both yourself and your child!

This week we discuss the top news story of last week, is my child actually anxious? How can I tell if my Childs actually anxious or just doesn't like doing certain things? With doctors over diagnosing how can I tell if my child is actually anxious?

Warning!! This is a much more serious conversation than what we're use to! This week we talk about pregnancy anxiety and all the fears that come with pregnancy!

Ben Rebuck joins us on the podcast this week to talk about what it's like to be a good dad. There's a lot on emphasis on being a mother and the dads often get left to figure it out on their own. Ben opens up about the struggles on becoming a second time father.

This week, the duo talk about fears of the future, the uncertainty of what will happen as the year comes to a close, when the nights grow incredibly long and summer feels so far away. How do we support our children during times of such uncertainty?

Join the dynamic duo as they dive into the fascinating world of phobias; exploring what they are, why children develop fears of certain things, and how parents and caregivers can support little ones in overcoming them. Whether it’s spiders, the dark, or something in between, this episode sheds light on childhood fears and offers practical tips to help your child feel safe and confident.

This week on the podcast, the dynamic duo is joined by the amazing Gemma Alster! Gemma, a much-loved mumfluencer, opens up about her experiences with imposter syndrome and how social media fame has shaped her journey. Together, the gang dives into what imposter syndrome really is, why so many of us struggle with it, and how you can support your child in building confidence and self-belief.

On this week’s episode, the dynamic duo discusses panic attacks; what to do if you’re having one, and how you can help someone who’s experiencing them.

On this weeks episode we look into a really interesting anxiety which is centred around both you and your child - is your child anxious about your wellbeing? When your child learns more about dangers in the world and you may not be able to do all things you used to do for them they get anxious. Their routine is changed and for a child that's frightening. But don't worry Vanessa and Saskia are here to help address these issues and give you useful tips and ticks to help you and your child.

We are joined in the studio today by one of our favourite people ever - Tash Gershfield! She graciously joined us in the studio to talk all things divorce and the power of regrowth. She was also nice enough to answer some of your questions!

In this week’s episode, we dive into how the constant stream of headlines and breaking news can fuel anxiety not just for adults, but for our children too. We explore the troublesome world of Current Affairs Anxiety and what parents can do to help their kids feel informed without feeling overwhelmed.

We also discuss sleeping anxiety for older children and get ready for some REALY good limericks!

This week, Vanessa and Saskia dive into the world of child health anxiety, why it shows up, what it might look like in your little one, and how you can support them when worries take over.

In this week’s episode, the dynamic duo are joined by none other than the Rapping Science Teacher himself, Matt Green! We talk to Matt about why he started creating educational raps, how teachers can support anxious children in school, and he even shares a personal story about anxiety at home. This episode has it all including Matt’s “Never Feltz So Good.”

Does your child get stuck trying to be perfect? Maybe they avoid challenges, get stuck over small mistakes, or feel crushed by the pressure to always get it right.

In this episode, we explore how perfectionism fuels anxiety in kids, why it shows up, and what you can do to help. With practical tips and compassionate insight, we’ll help you support your child to let go of perfection and build confidence instead.

How safe are our children in the digital world? In this episode, we explore the rise of childhood anxiety in the age of constant screen time and online pressures.

 Vanessa opens up about her own struggles with going digital world, reminding us that if adults can feel overwhelmed online, the impact on young, developing minds can be even greater. Join us as we ask the tough questions about protecting children, supporting their mental health, and creating a safer online space for the next generation.

Is your child feeling anxious about going back to school? You're not alone. In this episode, broadcaster Vanessa Feltz and her daughter, Child Therapist Saskia Joss, dive into the common worries children face as the new school year begins, from separation anxiety to social fears and academic pressure.

Together, they share practical tips, expert insights, and real life strategies to help parents support their children through the transition and make the return to school a little less overwhelming.