@drbeckyatgoodinside: When I saw this scene from Ted Lasso where Ted sits next to Alice while she is upset, I got excited because it perfectly captures what I call the Feelings Bench: resilience comes from sitting with your kid in a hard moment, not pulling them out of it. I hear from so many parents asking what to say to diffuse difficult moments with their kids. But there's something more impactful than sharing a script. And that's sharing a framework, because this is something we can really hold onto. When kids are upset, they are plopped down on the bench of that feeling. It may be an Angry Bench or even a Nobody-Likes-Me Bench. And here's what kids (and adults) want when they're on a bench, even the dark uncomfortable ones: someone to sit with them. Once someone sits with us, the bench doesn't feel so dark and cold. Now we have a "bench warmer." So the next time your kid, a friend, or anyone you love is going through something hard, remember the Feelings Bench. Sitting down next to them can do more than fixing it or saying one more thing.

Dr. Becky | Psychologist

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Friday 09 October 2026 15:00:29 GMT