The Hidden Impact of Anxiety on Parenting: Recognizing and Addressing It
Parenting is an emotional marathon. Love, joy, and pride run parallel with fear, guilt, and exhaustion. But for many parents, especially those experiencing anxiety, everyday challenges can feel like emotional minefields. The tricky part? Most don’t realize anxiety is playing a central role in how they show up as parents.
Replacing Punishment with Problem Solving in Parenting
Every parent wants the best for their child, but in moments of chaos, yelling, time-outs, or grounding can seem like the only way to manage behavior. But have you ever asked yourself: Is punishment truly teaching my child what they need to learn?
Co-Regulation Strategies for Parents of Highly Sensitive Children
Parenting a highly sensitive child is a bit like walking a tightrope while carrying your heart outside your body. Their emotions are big, fast, and deeply felt. You might notice they react more intensely to everyday situations, need more time to recover from upsets, or are overwhelmed by sensory input or changes in routine.
The Role of Interoception in Anxiety Management for Kids
Have you ever watched your child freeze before school with a tummy ache, only to realize later it was worry, not illness? Or maybe they burst into tears and say, “I don’t know why—I just feel weird.”
Tools for Behavior Regulation at Every Stage of Childhood
As parents, we often find ourselves navigating a sea of emotions, not just our children's, but our own, too. From the baby who wails the moment they're set down, to the teen who slams the door after a tough day, behavior can feel confusing or even overwhelming.
How EMDR Therapy Supports Parents Coping with Trauma
Have you ever found yourself reacting to your child’s meltdown with a level of panic or anger that surprises even you? Maybe it's not just the spilled juice or the whining — maybe it’s something deeper. For many parents, the stress of daily life can awaken old wounds, especially if you’ve lived through trauma yourself. Parenting can feel like trying to stay calm in a storm, while carrying weather from storms past.
Supporting Highly Sensitive Kids in a Fast-Paced World
In today’s fast-moving, always-on world, raising a highly sensitive child can feel like an uphill battle. Bright lights, loud noises, packed schedules, and social expectations can quickly become overwhelming for kids who deeply feel and process everything around them.
The Power of Co-Regulation: A Parent’s Role in Emotional Development
Have you ever watched your child meltdown over something small and felt your own frustration rise with theirs? It’s a natural reaction—big emotions can be overwhelming for both kids and parents. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to fix every problem or stop every tear.
Building Emotional Regulation Skills Through Play and Connection
Emotional regulation is one of the most important life skills a child can develop—but it doesn’t come naturally. Tantrums, meltdowns, and outbursts are all part of the process as kids learn to recognize, express, and manage their feelings. The good news? They don’t have to do it alone.
Mentalization-Based Treatment: Thinking About Thinking to Improve Parenting
Parenting is a journey filled with moments that test our patience and deepen our love. But have you ever wondered what’s happening inside your child’s mind during those big feelings or quiet moments? That’s where mentalization comes in—a skill that allows us to step into our child’s world and understand their thoughts, feelings, and intentions.
IFS and Why Your Therapist Loves Inside Out
Have you ever wondered why your therapist might gush over a children’s movie like Inside Out? Sure, it’s a heartwarming story about an 11-year-old navigating big life changes, but for therapists, it’s also a near-perfect illustration of a transformative therapeutic approach called Internal Family Systems (IFS).