Today, Lara sits down with a truly insightful guest who has dedicated her career to helping families nurture emotional wellness through trust, connection, and expert guidance.
Dr. Zia Lakdawalla is a clinical psychologist and the founder of Foundations for Emotional Wellness, where she empowers children, teens, and parents to navigate emotional challenges with confidence and compassion. After earning her B.A. in Psychology from McGill University and completing her Masters and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Dr. Lakdawalla gained extensive experience across community mental health centres, private practice, hospitals, and day treatment programs. She is passionate about equipping families with the tools they need to build resilience, strengthen relationships, and foster lasting emotional health.
In today’s episode, Lara and Dr. Lakdawalla dive into the essential—but often tricky—topic of boundaries and emotional regulation in children. Dr. Lakdawalla explains why clear, loving boundaries are not just helpful but critical for a child’s emotional security and development. Together, they explore the impacts of shifting parenting styles, why kids actually crave structure (even if they resist it at times!), and how setting limits can be one of the most compassionate things a parent can do.
Dr. Lakdawalla also shares practical, research-backed strategies for setting healthy expectations without damaging the parent-child bond—and how doing so lays the foundation for greater self-esteem, confidence, and emotional resilience in kids.
If you’ve ever second-guessed your approach to discipline or struggled to find that perfect balance between kindness and firmness, this episode is for you. You’ll walk away with actionable tools and a renewed sense of confidence in your parenting journey.
Because when children feel both loved and securely guided, they are free to grow into their best selves.
-----Find more of Dr. Lakdawalla work:Foundations for Emotional Wellness-----Follow on Instagram:@ffew_mental_health
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Learn more about Tutor Teach https://tutorteach.ca/-----Intro Music: Good Times by Patrick PatrikiosSting Music: Purple Planet Music - Timelapse