Welcome to the home of The Balanced Parent Podcast!

Parenting is often lived in the extremes. It's either Great Joy or chaotic overwhelmed. In one moment you’re nailing it and the next you're losing your cool I want to help you find your way to the messy middle, to a place of balance. You see, balance is a verb not a state of being. it is a thing you do not a thing you are. it is an action a process a series of micro-corrections each and every day to keep ourselves feeling centered. We are never truly balanced. We are engaged in the process of balancing.

Hello, I’m Dr. Laura Froyen and this is the Balanced Parent podcast, where overwhelmed stressed out and disconnected parents go to find tools, mindset shifts and practices to help them stop yelling at the people they love and start connecting on a deeper level, all delivered with heaping doses of grace and compassion. Join me in conversations that will help you get clear on your goals and values and start showing up in your parenting, your relationships, YOUR LIFE, with open-hearted authenticity and balance. Let’s go!

What happens when you finally have the life you worked so hard for… but still feel overwhelmed, anxious, or strangely unhappy inside it?

In this week’s episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, I sit down with therapist Tracy Torrelli to explore overfunctioning, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and the emotional exhaustion so many parents quietly carry.

Here are the main points:

Why do parents feel unhappy despite having their desired life
Reframing self-criticism and separating identity from struggles
How overfunctioning and unrealistic expectations create exhaustion
Prioritizing connection over perfection in parenting
Structured planning and future-self thinking to reduce overfunctioning
Flexible problem-solving and resilience-building skills
ADHD-related cycles of overfunctioning and paralysis
Parenting overwhelm, scrolling, and avoidance coping
Self-regulation, rest, and sustainable habit change strategies

You can learn more about Tracy Torrelli and her work at her website tracytorelliLCSW.com, follow her on Instagram at @tracytorelli, and connect with her on Facebook @tracytorelli

Remember, even when life looks the way you hoped, it’s still possible to feel overwhelmed—and noticing your patterns of overfunctioning, perfectionism, or avoidance is the first step toward change.

Tune in to understand why so many parents feel emotionally exhausted despite doing so much, and learn practical ways to shift into more balance, self-compassion, and sustainable ways of showing up for your family and yourself.

Laura Froyen, PhD

Laura Froyen, PhD

Balanced Parent Podcast

Laura Froyen, PhD

Welcome to the home of The Balanced Parent Podcast!

Episode 259: Overfunctioning and Perfectionism in Parenting: Why So Many Parents Feel Exhausted with Tracy Torelli