Coping skills are so important. You work hard as parents to teach your children how to handle their big feelings during challenging episodes. 

The only time to really teach these skills is outside the heat of the moment, when you can communicate with your child's owl brain. When emotions are running high, the brain disconnects from the owl brain, making it hard not only to teach coping skills, but to even remember to use the ones your child already knows. It is not that different for humans parents either.

The important point to remember with the process of teaching coping skills, is not to be surprised if your child, or you, do not remember to use them when upset. The best time to use coping skills is at the beginning of a challenging moment which requires practice noticing.

As parents, when you work with me, I will focus on helping you notice the early stages of autonomic activation or the fight or flight response, in your children and in yourselves. You will get to know and notice early on, your emotions, thoughts, and sensations, so you can offer cues of safety. You will learn how to connect to your nervous system to down regulate the sense of danger.

If you are looking to strengthen your stress response system to be steadier, and a more emotionally safe relationship with your child, then give me a call.

(626) 755-4059

I offer a free phone consultation to see if I am the right therapist for you or your family.

My motto: "I help parents become the healers in the home."