The Emotion-Focused Parenting Workshop
My work with families begins in two ways - Parents are struggling with a specific issue: “My child doesn’t listen. My child has issues with emotion regulation (major tantrums, throwing things, yelling…). My child won’t go to school. My child is really anxious. My child child has ADHD. We don’t know how to help, so we need your help”. Or, Parents are worried they are going to mess things up for their children. “My parents yelled a lot so I don’t want to yell, but sometimes I can’t stop myself. I get anxious about a lot of things and I’m worried I am going to make my child anxious. I’m a people pleaser and want my child to trust their inner voice” and other concerns like that.
But we all need to learn and apply the same basic strategies as the foundation of how to talk to our kids so our kids will listen. We need to learn how to communicate to their emotional brain and the nervous system, rather than the logical brain which our children can’t access when they are scared, angry, embarrassed or sad. We need to learn what our own go-to’s are with our kids (fixing, rationalizing, problem-solving, cheerleading…), when they are helpful and when they won’t help but just make things worse.
Instead of spending one hour once per week with me individually, getting delayed because of work and scheduling and illness, join this 2.5h interactive workshop where you will learn the basic fundamental skills to do things differently. Plus, get the added benefit of hearing what others are struggling with, realizing you aren’t alone, and applying those discussions to your own situation.
One point I want to get across is that THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR EVERY PARENT. Whether you are looking to solve a particular problem, or you just want to support your child’s emotions and mental health in proactive way with what current emotion science and neurobiology says works best, this workshop is essential. In fact, its likely that you will find this so interesting that you will want to know even more later.
Here is just some of what the workshop will cover:
The connection between emotion and behaviour (Hint: Your child’s behaviour is a reflection of how they are feeling)
Why talking doesn't work and why self-regulation is a myth
What to say and when to say it that calms emotions, encourages communication and builds confidence and trust
How to be a "Co-Regulator" for your child so they can one day self-regulate their emotions
How to implement boundaries, consequences and other stuff kids don't like
Tangible, actionable skills to use right away
Opportunity for Q & A
You will leave with a new understanding of how to support your children's emotional and mental wellbeing now and in the future. You will have tools and techniques to use for challenges that arise, and feel more skilled and confident as a parent, knowing you are giving your children a gift you never had, that pays off for generations to come.
This workshop is only run twice per year. With the holidays coming up, I guarantee you will need these skills to navigate things like getting your kids to leave fun activities, saying no to candy / more dessert, ending screen time for the night, getting ready to go back to school after holiday fun is over, and other big feelings that are bound to come up.
One thing we know is that when our kids are feeling better, everyone feels better. So investing in these skills that last a lifetime are essential (and may also be covered by your insurance benefits too!).
Can’t wait to see you for the last workshop of 2024!
Gillian