Parenting is the hardest job we’ll ever do. And parenting a sensitive child who’s struggling can feel like an endless emotional marathon.
But what if raising your sensitive kid with big emotions could actually feel GOOD? Enter Raised Resilient with Dr. Hilary — the parenting podcast I wish I’d had as a first-time mama!
This podcast exists to support you as you parent your highly sensitive child — start at the beginning, or search below for the episode that’s most relevant for you right now!
Welcome to Raised Resilient with Dr. Hilary — empowering support for parents of sensitive kids with big emotions.

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Why Gentle Parenting Isn’t Working for Your Sensitive Child
(& 3 Shifts to Help You Parent More Effectively!)
Gentle parenting is often imagined as staying calm, speaking softly, and always keeping our cool—but that version of it just doesn’t work for highly sensitive kids. In fact, if you’ve ever tried to white-knuckle your way through frustration, you know it doesn’t help.

Featured
Rethinking Child Therapy: 5 Reasons Why It May Not Be the Best Approach for Sensitive Kids
Have you ever considered therapy for your sensitive child, hoping it might be the key to managing their meltdowns and learning to regulate their big emotions? If so, this episode offers 5 compelling reasons to reconsider this intervention — from a play therapist & parenting specialist.

Featured
“You’re the Worst Mommy Ever!”: Navigating Children’s Mad Feelings
Anger is one of the trickiest emotions we deal with as parents. When our kids are angry – especially *at* us – it can be SO tough to stay calm and regulated and to respond in a way that feels good!
83. Constantly Yelling at Your Child? Why Staying “Calm” Isn’t Always the Goal & What to Focus on Instead
If you’re feeling like the messaging from all the parenting experts saying you’ve got to constantly stay calm as a parent is nothing but constant pressure, you’re not alone. In this podcast episode, I reveal why focusing on always being calm is setting you up to fail — and I share what you can focus on instead to feel more successful.
Parenting Reflections: "Go Away and Die, Mommy!": How to Respond to Mean Words from Your Highly Sensitive Child
In this episode, I share how I responded when my just-turned-3-year-old told me to “go away and die.” I share how I felt, how I initially reacted, and how I responded after having the time and space to do some important mindset work. Don’t miss this if your highly sensitive child says mean things to you when they’re upset!
82. Raising a Strong-Willed, Anxious, or Perfectionistic Kid? What These 3 Kids Have in Common (& How to Understand Your Child Better!)
What do strong-willed, anxious, and perfectionistic kids have in common? I break it all down in this podcast episode — and I share what these kids need in order to thrive.
Parenting Reflections: What to do When Your Highly Sensitive Child’s Feelings Don’t Make Logical Sense
We've all been there: Our child loses it over something so minor ... or in the situation described here, something that didn't even happen! What's a parent to do? In this episode, I share why these moments happen & how I responded to my own child in a real-life example.
81. Why Your Highly Sensitive Child’s Sensitivity is Actually Their Superpower
If your highly sensitive child is stuck in a cycle of meltdown after meltdown, it's probably tough to see that their sensitivity has an upside -- but I promise you it does! In this podcast episode, Dr. Hilary explores why your child's sensitivity is actually their superpower.
Parenting Reflections: How to Handle Birthday Meltdowns with Your Highly Sensitive Child (& Managing Your Own Emotions)
If your child has ever struggled with meltdowns & big feelings on their birthday or a holiday, you don't want to miss this episode, where I share how I navigated birthday meltdowns with my own child.
80. Making Sense of Your Highly Sensitive Child’s Challenges: The #1 Reason Behind the Meltdowns
Ever wondered why your highly sensitive child loses it over the smallest things? Or why they have perfectionistic tendencies? Or can’t take no for an answer & always have to be in control? These struggles all have the same root cause — tune in to find out what that is!
Parenting Reflections: How to Regroup When You’ve Had a Rough Parenting Day (Yelling, Losing Your Cool, and Feeling Shame & Guilt)
In this episode, I share about my own rough parenitng day — where I yelled at my kids multiple times — and how I regrouped, repaired, and helped everyone recover and get back on track.
79. Managing Separation Anxiety: Expert Tips for When Your Highly Sensitive Child Won’t Let You Leave Their Side
If you can’t leave the house without your highly sensitive child losing it with a complete meltdown, you’re not alone. In this episode, I share why that happens and how to help.
78. 5 Not-So-Obvious Signs Your Child is Highly Sensitive
In this episode, Dr. Hilary talks about what high sensitivity is and is not and shares 5 not-so-obvious signs that often point to high sensitivity in a child.
77. Why I’m Taking a Short Break from Podcasting (& Why You Should Take a Break from Something Too!)
Dr. Hilary shares why she is taking a short break from podcasting, when I’ll be returning, what exciting things you can expect from this show once I return, and why taking a break is sometimes the most important thing we can do.
76. Practical Tips to Make Time for Exercise as a Busy Parent with Lauren Chante
As busy parents, we’re all trying to fit in self-care around the 24/7 job of caring for our kids. It’s not easy, and sometimes it can even feel impossible to make time for things like exercise when you’re raising little kids. Dr. Hilary talks with Lauren Chante about how you can ensure that you move your body each day, even if you feel like you have zero time and no childcare.
75. How to Know if Your Child is Kindergarten Ready (& Why “Kindergarten Readiness” is Probably Not What You Think It Is!)
Kindergarten readiness has become a whole thing. There are flash cards, online programs, and books all designed to ensure that your child is ready for kindergarten (and the messaging is that you should get started pretty much as soon as your kid can walk). It’s enough to make your head spin! Dr. Hilary tells you why you actually don’t need books, programs, or flash cards.
74. 4 Reasons You Should Let Your Child be Bored (& How to Deal with Boredom)
Most parents dread the inevitable “I’m bored” from our kids. Those words can conjure up feelings of guilt for us as parents, and we might feel compelled to jump in and suggest a list of activities or organize a craft or put on a movie. Dr. Hilary shares four reasons why you should resist the urge to jump in and instead just let your child be bored.
73. 4 Tips to Encourage Your Child to Play Independently More Often (& For Longer!)
As parents, we all want our kids to be comfortable with independent play – but how do we actually get there, especially if your child is resistant to the idea of playing alone? Dr. Hilary shares four tips to help you encourage your child to play independently more often and for longer.
72. Traveling with Kids: 5 Tips to Make Your Next Family Trip Less Stressful
Traveling with kids can be amazing … but it can also be stressful. Long car rides, plane trips with strangers, schedule changes, busy days, and later bedtimes can spell challenges, especially with toddlers and preschoolers. Dr. Hilary shares five tips to make your next family trip feel less stressful and flow more smoothly.
71. The Benefits of Unstructured Outdoor Play (& How to Get Your Child Outside!) with Allana Robinson
Getting kids outside is magical -- and getting kids outside without a structured plan is amazing for everything from mood to sleep to building executive functioning. In this podcast episode, Dr. Hilary talks with Allana Robinson about how to build more unstructured outdoor play into your child's daily routine.
70. Water Safety for Kids: 5 Tips to Keep Your Child Safe (& Why This Topic Is So Important to Me!)
Swimming and water play is so much fun! But water safety is really important, especially considering that drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4. In this podcast episode, Dr. Hilary shares 5 tips to keep your child safe in and around water this summer!
69. How to Get Your Child to Talk to You (Even About the Hard Stuff!)
We all want our kids to come to us when they're struggling. But how do we get our kids to actually open up and tell us what's going on in their lives? In this podcast episode, Dr. Hilary shares 5 tips to help you learn to really listen so that your child will talk to you about anything (even the hard stuff!).