Restoring Balance When Life Feels Chaotic
Shownotes
Season 2 Episode 9
Most parents know the feeling: the schedule is too full, the to-do list keeps growing, and family life feels overwhelming. But when family life feels chaotic, is doing more really the answer?
In this episode of You’re Doing It Right, hosts Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen are joined by Dr. Dillon Browne, Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo and Canada Research Chair in Child and Family Clinical Psychology. Together, they explore how stress affects the whole family, why relationships between parents and caregivers matter, and how families can find a little more balance without adding another task to their already full plates.
Because sometimes restoring balance isn't about doing more. It's about recognizing what matters most.
About the Podcast
Parenting is one of life's greatest joys, and one of the greatest challenges. Every day brings new questions, and every family is different.
You’re Doing It Right is a parenting podcast hosted by acclaimed clinical psychologists Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, it’s where science meets real life. Leslie and Lianne are researchers, clinicians, and parents themselves, bringing honest, evidence-informed conversations to the everyday questions families face - no judgment, no single "right" way, just practical support for real life.
Each episode combines the latest research, expert guests, and practical strategies to help parents navigate everyday challenges with greater confidence and less stress.
At the heart of the podcast is a simple belief: parenting was never meant to be done alone. The goal is to provide trusted information, compassionate support, and practical tools that help families thrive.
Because parenting isn't about perfection - it's about showing up, learning as you go, and remembering that you're doing better than you think.
Subscribe and join us each week for conversations that remind parents, in more ways than they realize, they're doing it right.
About the Hosts
Dr. Leslie Roos
Dr. Leslie Roos is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and families.
As a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Implementation Science and co-lead of the PRIME Initiative (Partnering for Research Innovation in Mental Health through eHealth Excellence), she leads innovative research that expands access to evidence-based mental health care for families.
Dr. Roos is also the co-developer of the BEAM program, an accessible digital mental health program designed to support both parents and children through peer connection, coaching, and evidence-based resources.
Her research focuses on family mental health, early childhood development, mental health equity, and community-based approaches that translate scientific evidence into practical strategies parents can use every day.
Through her research, clinical work, and commitment to knowledge sharing, Dr. Roos helps families navigate parenting with confidence, compassion, and evidence-based support.
Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen
Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen is a psychologist, researcher, and professor whose work focuses on supporting the mental health and well-being of parents, children, and families.
She is the Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Equity at the University of British Columbia and co-leads several nationally recognized research initiatives, including the Pregnancy During the Pandemic study and the BEAM (Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health) program.
Her research explores how family relationships, sleep, and mental health shape child development, with a focus on creating practical, evidence-based solutions that improve outcomes for families.
Drawing on extensive clinical experience in mindfulness, self-compassion, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and emotionally focused interventions, Dr. Tomfohr-Madsen brings a compassionate, research-informed perspective to the realities of parenting.
She is passionate about translating leading-edge research into practical tools that help families build resilience, connection, and well-being.
Guest Expert
Dr. Dillon Browne is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Waterloo, a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Child and Family Clinical Psychology, and head of the Whole Family Lab. A clinician-scientist trained at the University of Guelph, OISE, and UC San Francisco, he studies how trauma, adversity, and economic hardship affect children’s development and ripple through entire families and across generations. His work shows that families are “more than the sum of their parts,” so understanding a child’s mental health means looking at the whole family. He also develops and tests trauma-informed, family-based interventions with service providers across Canada and the U.S.
Resources & Links
Fortune - Parental Stress is Debilitating
CBC - What Causes Parents Stress
UBC - Parenting Style Affects Children
Social Media Clips
The Neuropsychological Impacts of Parent Conflict
Next Episode
Next time we tackle - food! Navigating picky eating. Dr. Kylee Clayton talks about how to manage the food conversation. See you next time, this is You’re Doing It Right