Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

How to support children through their fears and phobias - whether it's buttons, beards, or anything in between - without escalating their anxiety. Key Points: Children's fears, no matter how irrational they seem, are genuinely frightening to them Trying to have rational conversations with emotional children is counterproductive Telling children they have "no choice" increases anxiety rather than reducing it Creating emotional safety must come before addressing the fear itself Gentle exposure combined with patience is more effective than forced confrontation Quote of the Episode: "Your child is not being difficult. He is experiencing a difficulty. There's a really big difference there." Key Insights: The importance of validating feelings before problem-solving Why social normalisation often helps naturally reduce fears How creating distance between stimulus and response can help The value of giving children agency in finding solutions Why parent-led solutions are often sufficient without therapy Resources