The In-Between Years with Dr. Sheryl

The Parenting Guilt Trap

Episode Summary

Dr. Sheryl is joined by psychologist Dr. Juli Fraga, who has spent years studying the emotional lives of parents. Together, they unpack why guilt shows up so quickly in parenting—and why it’s often pointing us in the wrong direction.

Episode Notes

You know the feeling.

You replay something you said.

You second-guess a decision.

You wonder, “Did I mess that up?”

That’s parental guilt—and for most of us, it shows up a lot more than we talk about.

In this episode, Dr. Sheryl is joined by psychologist Dr. Juli Fraga, who has spent years studying the emotional lives of parents. Together, they unpack why guilt shows up so quickly in parenting—and why it’s often pointing us in the wrong direction.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between actually doing something wrong and just feeling like you did
• Why your child’s discomfort can trigger guilt (and what to do instead)
• How guilt quietly leads to overgiving, overthinking, and burnout
• A simple way to respond when guilt hits—so it helps instead of hurts

This isn’t about getting rid of guilt.

It’s about understanding it—so you can stop spiraling and start showing up with more clarity, steadiness, and confidence.

Learn more about Good Inside for Teens & Tweens.