No parent is going to be perfect. This is not practical nor necessary, but I believe that every parent wants to do the best for their child. Research shows that when we parent calmly, connect with our children, and help to co-regulate their emotions, it creates positive changes in children’s brains. Their prefrontal cortex develops faster and the amygdala is less reactive. What this leads to is less meltdowns, better problem-solving skills, higher emotional intelligence, and a home that feels calm and joyful.
Some may wonder why they should invest in parent counselling & coaching. This is a short-term investment that will pay dividends over the long term. A strong parent-child relationship is the foundation for a child’s success and has an enduring effect. When we parent in a calm and connected manner, the outcome is often less guilt and shame for the parents and better behavior and healthy functioning for children. I will work with you to discover a coherent roadmap and the skills and confidence to support your child through difficult behaviors, emotions, and adversity. Over time, this will change your brain, your habits, and your behavior. The change will first occur in you, then it will occur in your child. This can lead to an improved home life for the whole family.
Parenting is the most difficult, most rewarding, and the most vulnerable role one will ever have. When issues arise with your child, you may fear that you are not doing enough or that you are damaging your child in some way. You may feel overwhelmed with the demands of parenting and feel frustrated or unsure how to help your child. You may feel increasingly dysregulated yourself or feel disconnected from your child and wonder why you don’t feel joy or delight in parenting.
You may have found some helpful resources in the form of books, podcasts, or courses, and yet you still find yourself returning to old habits or unhelpful ways of being with your child. You may notice that you are making some of the same mistakes your parents made even though you never wanted to parent that way. You may have tried timeouts, bribes, and threats to have your child behave or listen but it doesn’t seem to be working and you are noticing that the behavior is actually getting worse. As you search for guidance, you encounter a plethora of information, often with competing viewpoints, so it is easy to feel overwhelmed with where to even begin.
Education about parenting can be very beneficial. Yet, we know from research that for many parents what really shifts their awareness, reflection, and change is having individualized support. This enables you to gain deeper insight into what is uniquely happening in your family.
“Attachment is not about being a perfect parent but rather about consistently meeting your child’s needs.” - Mary Ainsworth